Five ways the Dak Prescott-fueled Cowboys can make a late playoff push

The Dallas Cowboys may be hitting their stride at the right time. 

Dallas (5-5-1) has won two straight games, including a 24-21 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12. Following the win over Philadelphia, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott indicated it could mark a turning point in their season.

With that in mind, Dallas may use its newfound momentum to spur an improbable playoff push. Here are five ways the Cowboys can do that:

1. QB Dak Prescott keeps flourishing

Prescott — who is the highest-paid player ($60M annually)  in the league — is earning every cent this season. Through 11 starts, the 32-year-old veteran ranks third in the NFL in passing yards (2,941) and first in QBR (74) and is tied for second in touchdown passes (23). 

Against the Eagles, Prescott helped erase an early 21-0 deficit. He threw for two TDs and 354 passing yards, his second most this season, and ran for a TD. 

"From the get-go this year, he's been our stalwart relative to our chance to win," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told KRLD-FM in Dallas on Nov. 18.

The Cowboys need Prescott to stay sharp for the remainder of the season to remain in the NFC playoff hunt. It appears there's plenty of reason to believe he will. 

2. WR George Pickens continues to show why he should be significant part of Cowboys' future

When the Cowboys acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May, it was considered a risk. The 2022 second-round pick flashed talent in three seasons with Pittsburgh but struggled to get his act together. 

Now, he's staying out of trouble and having a career year. Through 11 games, Pickens is averaging a career-high 95.8 receiving yards per game (1,054 yards, second in the league), and he ranks eighth in the NFL in receptions (67) and third in TD catches (eight). 

"[Pickens] is not from here," Prescott said after the WR had 146 yards receiving against Philadelphia in Week 12. "He's not from this planet. We lucked out getting a guy like that. We have to make sure we keep him." 

Jones has indicated the team plans to keep Pickens, who's in the final year of his rookie contract. The owner, however, didn't clarify whether they will franchise-tag him or offer a multiyear deal this offseason. Regardless, the financial carrot should help the WR stay focused, which will benefit the Cowboys down the stretch. 

3. DT Quinnen Williams helps the defense keep making substantial improvements

After trading defensive end Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys had trouble plugging their defensive holes at the beginning of the season. However, acquiring Williams from the New York Jets before the trade deadline passed may be the answer. 

Dallas has allowed 18.5 points per game over its past two games after surrendering 30.8 in its first nine (via StatMuse). During this stretch, Williams has 1.5 sacks after logging one in his first eight games with the Jets. 

Pairing him with DTs Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa — who have combined for six sacks this season — suddenly has the Cowboys defensive line looking much more stingy. 

"Frankly, all three of them, if they're singled up, any one of those three can give us what we need in the interior, and that is the trick," Jones told Ed Werder of WFAA-TV in Dallas in a story published Tuesday. "The other thing is you have the rotation aspect of them at their premium —- you don't take 60 snaps a game from those guys." 

4. The Cowboys keep buying into HC Brian Schottenheimer's messaging 

During Dallas' comeback against Philadelphia, Schottenheimer kept telling his team to do one thing. 

"I told them to believe," the first-year HC told the media Sunday. "Believe in each other, believe in the fact that we'll find a way to do it. And I think today really epitomized a lot of things that those guys have been believing and doing, and it's great to get that win against a [darn] good football team." 

Players responding to a simple message is the mark of any successful head coach. If Schottenheimer can continue to find ways to connect with his players, it should help them remain motivated, which will be key to winning more games. 

5. The Cowboys take advantage of an easy remaining schedule

Per Tankathon, the Cowboys have the fourth-easiest remaining schedule in the league. This stretch starts with their annual Thanksgiving game, when they play the Kansas City Chiefs (6-5), who don't look as formidable this season. Kansas City has lost two of its past three games. 

After that, the only other teams the Cowboys face with winning records are the Detroit Lions (7-4) and Los Angeles Chargers (7-4). The other teams Dallas plays are the New York Giants (2-10), Washington Commanders (3-8) and Minnesota Vikings (4-7). 

Other NFC teams vying for a playoff spot have a more challenging draw than the Cowboys. The Lions have the fourth-toughest remaining schedule, while the San Francisco 49ers (8-4) have the 13th toughest and the Carolina Panthers (6-6) have the seventh toughest.