Playoff Chances: Week 14

Once again, sorry for the late post. But here we go again with this weeks playoff chances after week 14 (not counting last nights game with the Colts and Jaguars).

Lets begin the analysis with the NFC East and the Cowboys. To be honest, this loss does not hurt our chances too much. Out of the final four games on our schedule, this was definitely the one to lose because it was a non-conference game. That being said, it still lowers our chances a little. We lose a little ground to the Eagles in the division race. The Eagles are now a clear favorite, and their win over the Giants makes it extremely difficult for the Giants to win the division now. The Eagles have just about locked up a playoff spot and the Giants are falling behind a little in the wild card race. Overall, we still have a good chance to enter the playoffs, but more likely now as a wild card than a division winner. All we really need to do is win the same amount or more games than the Giants do and we are set. We both have games at the Redskins, but it looks like the Giants have it a little easier otherwise. They are home versus the Panthers and at the Vikings, while we are at the Saints and home versus the Eagles.

Elsewhere in the NFC: in the North the Bears have been officially eliminated. They couldn't do us a favor and beat the Packers, so now Green Bay is almost a lock for a wild card spot. Also, the Vikings have locked up a playoff spot. But in all probability they have won that division. In the South, the Falcons and Panthers both lost which puts them on the brink of elimination. They are pretty much a nonfactor in the playoff race. And finally, in the West, the 49ers beat the Cardinals to keep the division race alive, but that division just about belongs to the Cardinals. Either way, whoever does not win that division has almost no shot at a wild card spot.

In the AFC: the East is still a tossup between Jets, Pats, and Dolphins. And they are all making an improvement in their small wild card chances too, while the Bills are almost eliminated. In the North, the Steelers chances were damaged by their loss last week while the Ravens chances at a wild card have improved. The Bengals should lock that division up shortly. In the West, the Chargers just about have the division and the Broncos are looking like a wild card team. And finally in the South, the Titans and Texans are still nonfactors and the Jaguars are making a decent wild card push (once again, this does not count last nights game).

And here are the changes in the Cowboys chances over the season...

And the same table in chart form...

via i576.photobucket.com

As you can see, the overall chance of the Cowboys making the playoffs only dipped slightly. Mainly because we are more likely than ever to be a wild card contender. But for the second week in a row our chances to win the division fall even further. That will probably depend greatly on the last game against the Eagles. I have to say that a loss tomorrow night against a conference opponent will hurt us even more, and once again give the Giants a chance to steal a wild card spot away from us. I am not saying a loss tomorrow will eliminate us, it certainly will not. But it will may force us to win the last two games to make the playoffs. Once again, all I can say is that we need a win. A three game losing streak in December would be killer. They need to beat the undefeated Saints...