Here are all of the things we are rooting for (besides the Cowboys) on Sunday.
Heading into Week 6, the Dallas Cowboys are among a pack of 3-2 teams in the NFC. As we approach the season’s halfway mark, each week brings more clarity to the playoff picture. This week’s rooting guide presents several key games that could impact Dallas’ eventual postseason positioning.
Of the six teams sitting at 3-2 right now, two lead their divisions (Falcons and Seahawks) while the four others (Bears, Bucs, Cowboys, Packers) are firmly in the wild card hunt. It’s still early to break down the specifics, but your Cowboys would be the seventh seed if the tournament started today. If things stay congested as the season progresses, Dallas will need things to swing their way throughout the NFC.
Here’s how they need games to swing in Week 6:
Ravens over Commanders
This is easily Washington’s toughest assignment so far in 2024 and a great chance to see who they really are. If the Cowboys can get a huge win over Detroit this Sunday, it’d be even sweeter if the Commanders drop this one and allow Dallas to pull even with them in the NFC East. If the Lions get the win they’re projected to, then that makes it all the more critical for Washington to go down here and keep the Cowboys within a game.
Browns over Eagles
Coming off an early bye week, Philly is probably going to roll 1-4 Cleveland. The week off, plus getting WR A.J. Brown back, should help the Eagles’ offense restore some order. Beating the Browns won’t mean they don’t still have issues, but it will quell the negativity for at least a week.
Giants over Bengals
While their road win over Seattle last week was impressive, it’s still hard to buy that New York is about to turn their whole season around. They still feel like an eventual bottom-rung team, so let them have this one and hurt their record for draft purposes.
Seahawks over 49ers
This is a tough one to pick. If the Seahawks win the NFC West, they could make trouble for Dallas later on should the Cowboys also win their division. But the 49ers as a wild card team is scary for multiple reasons, either potentially taking a spot from Dallas or being a scary first-round opponent. Better they fall further down the standings.
Saints over Buccaneers
New Orleans has gone into freefall since that big Week 2 win in Dallas, losing their last three and now having to start Spencer Rattler at QB. Tampa is a more likely contender down the road so it’d be good for them to drop this one.
Cardinals over Packers
Panthers over Falcons
Jaguars over Bears
Three easy picks here. Atlanta, Chicago, and Green Bay are all in that 3-2 cluster we mentioned before. The Jaguars are in the AFC and Carolina isn’t a threat, so no harm in them winning. Arizona has enough talent to get hot and eventually contend for a wild card spot, but we’d still rather see them hang a loss on the Packers this week.