Cowboys Playoff Chances Will Take Major Hit With Loss On Sunday
It's not a must-win situation on Sunday for the Dallas Cowboys, but a loss would not do the Mike McCarthy-led squad any favors.
The Cowboys have had a hot and cold first half of the 2024 NFL season. They started the year with a blowout win over the Cleveland Browns, then dropped the next two to the Saints and Ravens.
Dallas beat the New York Giants in week four and followed that up with a win over the Steelers in week five. Since then, it's been two disappointing losses (47-9 to Detroit and 30-24 to San Francisco).
Here's how a win or a loss this weekend against the Atlanta Falcons could affect the Cowboys' chances of making the postseason.
Cowboys Need A Win
Dallas is third in the NFC East with a 3-4 record. They're 13th overall in the NFC behind the Eagles, Bears, Buccaneers, 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams for the final wild-card spot. With three losses to NFC opponents already, the Cowboys can't afford to drop another in Atlanta.
According to Next Gen Stats, Dallas currently has a 22% chance of making the playoffs. With a win on Sunday, those odds would improve to 32%. If the Falcons win, the Cowboys would only have a 15% chance of playing late into January.
The Falcons are 5-3 and at the top of the NFC South. Atlanta is third in the NFC playoff picture. Next Gen Stats gives the Falcons an 81% chance of making the playoffs ahead of week nine; that number would go up to 88% with a victory. A loss wouldn't do much damage to Atlanta, who still have a 70% opportunity to secure a playoff spot with a Dallas win.
Falcons Are The Betting Favorites
With the Cowboys' defense still dealing with injuries, Atlanta is a three-point favorite in the matchup. Dallas has won the last three meetings between the teams, dating back to the 2018 season.
Vegas believes Bijan Robinson and CeeDee Lamb will play an impactful role in the game, as they're the two favorites to score an anytime touchdown (-175 for Bijan and -125 for Lamb). The sportsbooks are also expecting lots of points with the game total set at 51.5, which is the highest on the week nine slate.
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