The Cowboys hope one of several cross-conference matchups on Sunday goes in their favor.
If the Cowboys can win at Minnesota on Thursday (8:25 p.m. ET, NBC, NFL Network, Twitter), they can be the first team this season to clinch a playoff berth. But they need some help.
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The Buccaneers would have to either lose or tie in San Diego. The Cowboys, who have won 10 straight for the first time in franchise history, could also secure a postseason spot if the Redskins lose at Arizona.
“It would be great, but I think the goals for this team are bigger than that,” Cowboys guard Zack Martin said. “We’ve got five weeks left, and we know that this season really starts after Thanksgiving here, so we’re ready to make a push here and finish strong.”
Regardless of what happens Sunday in San Diego or Glendale, the Cowboys must first take care of the Vikings, who have gone just 1-5 since their 5-0 start.
The offense has struggled with multiple injuries. Sam Bradford, signed prior to the regular-season opener, had zero turnovers in his first four games with the Vikings. But he has thrown two interceptions and lost a fumble over the past three games. Bradford is still having a very good season with 2,415 passing yards and 12 touchdowns to just three interceptions, but if the Vikings are going to upset the Cowboys, they must find a way to run the ball. The Vikings have the NFL’s worst rushing offense at just 71 yards per game.
The Cowboys, behind rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, have the NFC’s best rushing unit, as Elliott leads the NFL with 1,199 yards.
“The momentum is real for us right now,” Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. “Our football team is a lot of fun. It’s neat to be a part of this and lead a great group of guys. Ten wins is good, but they don’t hang any banners after 11 games. We have to continue to build here going into a critical stretch.”
In the final week of byes, the Browns (0-12) and Titans (6-6) are off.
Chiefs (8-3) at Falcons (7-4), Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
The Bucs-Bolts matchup is one of six inter-conference games with playoff implications. Another NFC South-AFC West matchup is important for both the first-place Falcons and second-place Chiefs, who want to remain in the playoff hunt.
A pair of dynamic rookie receivers helped each team win last week. Tyreek Hill had a kick return for a touchdown, receiving touchdown and rushing touchdown in last Sunday’s 30-27 win over the Broncos. He is the first person since Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers in 1965 to accomplish that feat.
“As a team, we’re not satisfied with this,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “You come in and expect to win games.”
Texans (6-5) at Packers (5-6), Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
The Texans still lead the weak AFC South despite an offense that ranks 29th in scoring. But Houston’s fifth-ranked defense has been stout and should give Green Bay’s one-dimensional offense trouble.
“We’re still at the top of our division,” Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus said. “The thing is, we control our own destiny. We just have to play better ball as we move forward in December … get that ticket to the big dance at the end.”
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has been superb in the absence of the injured J.J. Watt. Clowney could present problems for Packers tackle David Bakhtiari, but the Packers kept Aaron Rodgers clean in Monday’s 27-13 win at Philadelphia.
After snapping a four-game losing streak Monday, the Packers pretty much need to win out to make the playoffs. Packers receiver Davante Adams, who had five catches for 113 yards against the Eagles, said his two touchdowns on Monday were “gotta-have-it moments.” The Packers will need more of that Sunday.
The Texans have to find some way to generate offense against an injury-depleted Packers defense that has been vulnerable, especially over the past month. But Green Bay did hold the Eagles to just one touchdown while sacking Carson Wentz four times and picking him off.
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Bills (6-5) at Raiders (9-2), Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
The Bills probably need this one more than the Raiders, who lead the AFC West. Both of the Raiders’ losses this season have come at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. The Raiders are one of only three teams undefeated on the road, joining the Cowboys and Patriots (9-2), who will play host to the Rams (4-7) on Sunday.
“We know our backs are to the wall regardless of who we play,” Bills coach Rex Ryan said. “So they are going to get our best shot one way or another, but I don’t know if it is extra motivation that this team has this record or whatever. They got that record because they earned it. We are just going out there because we need to win, whatever that takes, we are going to give them everything. We will see if it is good enough.”
History is not on the side of the Bills, who have not won a game in Oakland since 1966.
Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor has played well this season, but the Bills cannot afford to get into a shootout. The Raiders have one of the NFL’s more explosive offenses, led by MVP candidate Derek Carr. He led the Raiders to a 35-32 win over the Panthers last weekend after jamming his pinkie finger.
“To come back like that, put the glove on and lead us down and get a big win like that, that's good stuff,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. "You were wondering how it was going to go when he first got back out there. And he settled in and started firing away.”
Giants (8-3) at Steelers (6-5), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
The Giants might be winning with smoke and mirrors, but no one can deny that they’ve won six straight. Those wins have not come against the NFL’s best, but the Giants have not lost since a 23-16 defeat in Green Bay on Oct. 9. The Giants are 21st in both total offense and scoring and next to last in rushing.
The Giants are minus-5 in turnover ratio and rank 16th in total defense. But that defense has improved vastly since last year and has stiffened in the red zone. The Giants are sixth in scoring defense and have seen a resurgence from defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who has 5 1/2 sacks over the past two weeks in wins over the Browns and Bears.
There may not be many sacks Sunday, however, as the Steelers and Giants are tied with Washington for the second-fewest sacks allowed at 14. The Raiders have given up just 13 sacks this season.
If the Giants can’t get to Ben Roethlisberger, it could mean big things for Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown, who leads the NFL with 82 receptions this season and is tied for the league lead with 10 touchdown catches. The same goes for the Steelers defense against Giants quarterback Eli Manning and wideout Odell Beckham Jr., who has 65 receptions for 915 yards and eight scores.
“We have to do what we need to do schematically and technically to minimize one of the most dynamic players in football,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “That is a tall task.”