Brett's Cowboys Corner

“The Sideline” is an opinion series that reflects my personal observations and analysis. These views are my own and are not affiliated with, nor do they represent, the Dallas Cowboys organization.

The Cowboys sit at 6-7-1 and will need to win two more to avoid a losing season to open the Brian Schottenheimer era. The Cowboys will play one last home game this Sunday against the LA Chargers, then will go on a short week to play in Washington on Christmas Day. 10 days later they will wrap it up in New York against the Giants.

With a 1% chance to make the playoffs, it seems that fans are ready to call this season. Dallas would need Philadelphia to lose all three of their remaining games (@WAS, @BUF, vsWAS) to win the division.

Interestingly, the Eagles play Washington on Saturday, so by the time the Cowboys kick off, they will already know if they are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

If the Cowboys are in fact eliminated from all consideration, I think the best thing to do is move away from your starters. Dak Prescott told the media he “absolutely” wants to continue to play, regardless of the standings.

“Being a professional, this is my job. This is what I love to do. Sitting out last year and the times before, you don’t take this game for granted. You play every game to win. You play every game with a chance to go to the playoffs and play in the Super Bowl.”

A natural competitor, he wants to play, but after seeing the offensive line try to block, I am scared for Prescott to stand back there.

The Cowboys activated Phil Mafah’s 21-day window. I would like to see him and many of the young guys try to get some work in these last few games. See what you have.

This team has been awful defensively and it hasn’t gotten any better. The drama continues with Trevon Diggs. Why can’t he play? The Cowboys will be forced to make a decision on Diggs by tomorrow; if they don’t add him back to the 53, he will go to season-ending IR.

We may have seen the last time Diggs ever puts on that Cowboy uniform.

The blame has gone towards the man who’s carrying everyone’s punches, Diggs is having ‘trouble’ adapting to Matt Eberflus’ scheme. Who isn’t? Jerry Jones said that these last three games are important for Eberflus.

I am not sure what decisions can be made in these last three…but I remember something similar being said when Mike McCarthy was digging his own grave just a year ago.

I think the writing is on the wall and soon enough, I will be writing about the hunt for a new defensive coordinator.