Cowboys' Playoff Chances Get Big Update After Eagles Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Dec 9, 2025 6:06 AM ET

The Dallas Cowboys were not in action on Monday night, but the result of the primetime game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Chargers impacted Dak Prescott and Co.’s dwindling playoff chances.

The “Monday Night Football” showdown required an extra period to determine a winner, which ultimately saw the Chargers secure a hard-fought 22-19 win in overtime. Justin Herbert played through a fractured left hand that underwent surgery just six days prior to Monday’s game. The Pro Bowl quarterback did not have the best of outings (12-of-26 completed passes for 139 yards, one touchdown, one interception and seven sacks, along with 66 rushing yards on 10 carries), but it was enough to carry L.A. through.

A loss for the Eagles boosted Dallas’ playoff hopes, but the Cowboys still have a lot of work to do if they want to keep their postseason dream alive.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) on the field during warm ups.Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The defending champions have now lost three in a row. Their current losing skid began in Week 12, when the Cowboys escaped with a 24-21 win at AT&T Stadium. The Eagles lost to the Chicago Bears the following week, and Monday night’s defeat to the Chargers saw them drop to 8-5 on the season.

According to a prediction model presented on NFL.com, the Cowboys’ playoff chances fell to just 6% after Thursday’s 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. Those odds are undeniably grim, to say the least, but the fact of the matter is that all hope is not lost for Dallas — especially after the developments from Monday night.

After Philly’s loss to L.A., the Cowboys' playoff hopes increased to 54%, according to Nick Harris of Fort Worth Star-Telegram. However, the major caveat here is that the Cowboys need to win all four of their remaining games. A single loss would drop their odds to just 9%.

The Cowboys will be back in action on Sunday in a home game against the 5-8 Minnesota Vikings. They host the 9-4 Chargers at AT&T Stadium in Week 16 before closing out their campaign with back-to-back games on the road: Week 17 against the 3-10 Washington Commanders and Week 18 against the 2-11 New York Giants.

It’s a relatively manageable schedule for the Cowboys ahead, with their biggest challenge coming in Week 16 against the Chargers. All three of their remaining opponents are below .500.

Moreover, Dallas still has a shot at winning its division. As pointed out by ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys can still claim the top spot in the NFC East if the Eagles lose two of their four remaining games, or if Philly loses one and ties another. Again, this assumes Dallas wins all its games from here on out.

It’s still going to be an uphill battle for the Cowboys, but the biggest takeaway from Monday’s result is that the Eagles have done them a favor by losing to the Chargers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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