Updated Dec. 20, 2025, 7:00 p.m. CT
The odds were long, but up until around 7 pm central time on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys still had a shot at making the playoffs. Sitting with a 6-7-1 record with three games to play, it’s been weeks since the club controlled their own destiny. When they lost that seventh game in Week 15 against Minnesota, the path to a wild-card spot was completely closed off.
The only hope remaining was that the Philadelphia Eagles would lose their final three games, allowing Dallas to sneak into an NFC East championship with three straight wins of their own. With the Eagles playing Saturday, on the road in Washington, the Cowboys would know their fate before they got their pre-game sleep. And that answer came in the form of a 29-18 Philadelphia win, coming back from a three-point halftime deficit after the Commanders lost their second-string QB Marcus Mariota.
Mariota had his hand stepped on by Nolan Smith, with Josh Johnson entering the game and ending what rhythm the Washington offense had.
With their 10th win of the season, the Eagles secured the first back-to-back division championship in over 20 seasons. No team had repeated since Philadelphia did in 2003 and 2004. And with the elimination, the Cowboys coaching staff will now have to decide how they will approach the next several games.
WIth this still up in the air, the team didn’t activate any of the season-long IR names they’ve held in the holster. Rookie RB Phil Mafah, and veteran defenders DE Payton Turner and CB Josh Butler, had their 21-day practice windows opened this week, but none were activated earlier on Saturday.
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Instead, the Cowboys activated Trevon Diggs and elevated CB Corey Ballentine for their game against the Los Angeles Chargers (10-4).
Fans may get a chance to see more depth players than starters as the staff looks to evaluate guys in game situations before the offseason arrives.