It is that time of year in the NFL where games are strategically scheduled on holidays like Christmas Eve and Christmas.
The Dallas Cowboys played on Christmas Day this year, holding on for a road victory over the Washington Commanders to bring their record to 7-8-1.
Washington dropped to 3-12, remaining somewhere in the five to eight range in the top ten picks, while the victory kept the Cowboys in the 13-16 range.
Obviously, fans would like a higher draft pick, but after the Cowboys were officially eliminated after the loss to the Chargers at home, HC Brian Schottenheimer vowed that the objective is still to win.
There will be no tanking in Dallas. As long as Dak Prescott is standing at the line of scrimmage barking orders, the goal is to win the game.
The purpose of this article is to determine which games left in Week 17 can be beneficial to the Cowboys’ draft position race for 2026.
There have already been a few games played this holiday week, so we will discuss those and the upcoming Sunday games.
Results Decided
There were games played on Christmas Day, and also yesterday (Saturday) that have a bearing on the Cowboys’ draft position.
Starting with their own victory over the Commanders, Dallas improved their record to 7-8-1, dangerously close to some 8-8 teams that we will discuss later.
Due to the tie versus Green Bay, the Cowboys cannot finish with more than nine losses on the season, so matching losses with another team still leaves Dallas with a higher winning percentage.
The magic number is nine. Cowboys fans should want as many other teams as possible to stay at or below nine losses before the season is over.
Minnesota Vikings (8-8) defeat Detroit Lions (8-8)
Maybe we shouldn’t feel so bad about the Cowboys’ loss to the Vikings a couple of week ago.
The Vikings are on a five-game win streak, and also just knocked the defending NFC Championship Game participant Detroit Lions out of the playoff race.
Minnesota and Detroit both have a chance next week to add to their win totals and keep the Cowboys draft position higher.
Denver Broncos (13-3) defeat Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
The Broncos’ victory over the Chiefs actually does not do the Cowboys any favors.
Kansas City’s 10th loss of the season makes it mathematically impossible for the Cowboys to leap them in draft order, and locks in the pick for the Chiefs right at the fringe of the top ten.
Add the Chiefs to the list of teams locked in ahead of the Cowboys in draft order.
Baltimore Ravens (8-8) defeat Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
The result of the Ravens beating the Packers is actually beneficial for the Cowboys in two ways.
Baltimore’s victory behind RB Derrick Henry’s four touchdowns ensures the Ravens cannot lose more than 9 games.
It also makes sure they are still in the race for the AFC North title, so motivation for a win in Week 18 will be at a high.
Unfortunately, the Packers qualified for the playoffs with the Lions’ loss, so the draft position for the Cowboys’ first round pick via Green Bay cannot be any higher than pick 19, no matter where their record ends up.
However, the loss does bring the pick closer to that number.
Still in Play
There are a small handful of Sunday games that can still affect the Cowboys’ draft position.
Indianapolis Colts (8-7) over Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
It would be best for the Cowboys if the Colts notched another win to guarantee they cannot hit the nine-loss mark this season.
Does Philip Rivers have one more upset left in him?
The Jaguars will be highly motivated since they still have a shot at the top seed in the conference.
Miami Dolphins (6-9) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
The Miami Dolphins can help the Dallas Cowboys’ draft position by handing the Buccaneers their ninth loss of the season while staying at nine losses themselves.
Tampa Bay is still in the running for the NFC South title and a trip to the playoffs, while the Dolphins have already benched QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Carolina Panthers (8-7) over Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
The Panthers are desperately trying to hold onto the NFC South lead and the final berth in the NFC Playoffs, but they have a tough task ahead.
Seattle is highly motivated to hold on to the top seed in the conference with Los Angeles and Chicago nipping at their heels.
A Panthers victory would ensure they cannot reach nine losses this season, and their draft pick would remain below the Cowboys.
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