After their victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys are now tied at 10-3 in the NFC East. However, despite being in first place based on tiebreakers, the Cowboys have +225 odds to win the division, compared to -275 for the Eagles. This is due to the fact that the Eagles have a much easier remaining schedule than the Cowboys, putting them in a better position to own the tiebreaker at the end of the season.
Although this is not a guarantee, the direction these teams are trending shows that Dallas’ odds may be worth considering. Looking at each team’s remaining opponents, it’s clear that the Cowboys have three games left against teams with records over .500, while the Eagles have none. The number of games remaining against NFC opponents is also worth noting, as it is likely to play a factor in tiebreakers.
The first tiebreaker is division record, and both teams are likely to finish 5-1. The next tiebreaker is conference record, where the Eagles currently hold a one-game advantage. However, Dallas only has two games remaining in the conference, while the Eagles have four. If the Eagles lose just one of their remaining games, Dallas would only need to beat the Lions and Commanders, and split between the Bills and Dolphins to force the next tiebreaker, which is strength of victory. With a plus-188 win differential, the Cowboys currently hold a significant advantage in that category over the Eagles at plus-21.
| Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | |
| Cowboys | @ BUF (7-6) | @ MIA (9-3) | vs. DET (9-4) | @ WSH (4-9) |
| Eagles | @ SEA (6-7) | vs. NYG (4-8) | vs. ARI (3-10) | @ NYG (4-8) |
As for Dallas’ remaining opponents, the Bills, Dolphins, and Lions may pose a tougher challenge, but the Cowboys are likely to be favored in each remaining game based on their recent performance.
Despite the Eagles’ path of least resistance, the Cowboys still hold some value for anyone looking to bet on the NFC East, as the season continues.
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