Will 2023 Be A Special Year For The Dallas Cowboys?

I get asked all the time from people if this season has a chance to be magical for the Dallas Cowboys. With just one week left before the start of the playoffs, America's Team is 12-4 and just one game behind the Philadelphia Eagles for first place in the NFC East. While the Birds have lost their last two games without quarterback Jalen Hurts (no Minshew magic this season), the Boys have won their last two contests to close the gap on the division title. What looked like a sure home field advantage for Philly is suddenly up in the air as we prepare for week 18 of the NFL season.

What is even more interesting about the final week of regular season games is that Philadelphia will host the rival Giants in a late game on Sunday. New York is already in the postseason and their head coach Brian Daboll has not revealed his strategy since the Giants are a six-seed no matter the outcome of Sunday's game. Will Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones rest to prepare for their Wild Card playoff game? Will Hurts, who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury start for the Eagles to help them lock up the top overall seed in the NFC?

While Philadelphia tries to wrap up the division crown, Dallas finds themselves in an interesting situation. A road win in Washington combined with an Eagles loss would give the Cowboys the NFC East title. If the Eagles, 49ers, and Cowboys end the season in a three-way tie at 13-4, the top NFL playoff seed would go to the team with the best conference record, which would be San Francisco. If the Eagles and 49ers both lose, the Cowboys would win the NFC if they defeat the Commanders.

Regardless of whether or not they win their division, the Dallas Cowboys can absolutely advance through the postseason all the way to Glendale and Super Bowl LVII. The biggest key for this team's success in the playoffs is to limit their mistakes on offense. The Cowboys have the defense, the running game, and so many weapons for Dak Prescott, it should be easy. However, it never seems to be that way for #4. Prescott has a tendency to turn the ball over and then try and rescue his team from early mistakes to win games. Although this has worked during the regular season, the Cowboys veteran quarterback will have to protect the ball better in the playoffs. If he can do that, Dallas will have a terrific chance to exercise all of their past postseason demons and get back to the Super Bowl for the first time in more than 25 years.