We are 13 games into this thing. We think we know by now "who the Dallas Cowboys are,'' and "what the Dallas Cowboys 'identity' is'' and such ...
But the NFL schedule and the NFL standings and the hard numbers of the playoff chase tell us ...
There is still so, so much to learn.
In the NFC, the only team that has even clinched a spot is the San Francisco 49ers - even though they have the same record as two other NFC powers, the Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The NFL will release its official clinching scenarios coming up on Tuesday as we approach Week 15, but for now, here's how the NFC playoff picture looks heading into the weekend. ...
DIVISION LEADERS
1. 49ers (10-3): San Francisco - by virtue of beating both teams - owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over both Dallas and Philadelphia.
2. Cowboys (10-3): Dallas can currently claim to be "the second-best team in the NFC.'' And Dallas can currently claim to be in first place in the NFC East as it owns the tiebreaker over Philadelphia based on having one more win in the NFC East. But of course those opportunities will even out, suggesting that Philly is still the favorite in the division.
3. Lions (9-4): They lead the NFC North. Can anybody there catch them?
4. Buccaneers (6-7): Tampa Bay owns the tiebreakers over both the Saints and the Falcons and is poised to win the NFC South with a losing record.
WILD CARDS
5. Eagles (10-3): This top Wild Card spot could end up being where Dallas lands, in which case it would be a road favorite over the NFC South winner in Round 1.
6. Vikings (7-6): They are doing it with mirrors, but they are doing it.
7. Packers (6-7): Are the Packers a better team than those down below, "outside looking in''? Maybe not, but they have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rams and the conference record tiebreaker over the Falcons.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Rams (6-7): What buoys them? They swept the Seahawks..
9. Seahawks (6-7): A good team heading in the wrong direction - though they host the Eagles this weekend, which could alter the fates of many - including the Cowboys.
10. Falcons (6-7): They own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints.
11. Saints (6-7): Because of the above note, they probably need to win the NFC South to get in - which they very well might.
12. Giants (5-8): Tommy DeVito, living at home and living the life as he's keyed a shocking three-game winning streak ... that in the end, might just cost the Giants a top-five pick in next year's NFL Draft.
13. Bears (5-8): Mathematically alive.
14. Commanders (4-9): Mathematically alive (we think!), but so dead in so many other ways.
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