Welcome to the final installment of my Dallas Cowboys season predictions series. Three quarters of the way through the season, the Cowboys will have the NFC East title and a top seed in the NFC in their sights.

Big wins over the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals put the league on notice after many predicted the Cowboys wouldn’t even make the playoffs. A strong finish to the season will set them up for success in the playoffs.

To read the first three installments of this series, utilize the following links:

• Weeks 1-4
• Weeks 5-10
• Weeks 11-14

Week 15: at Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young gets his second opportunity for his first victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Last season didn’t go very well for Young. In a 33-10 home loss, he threw for just 123 yards on 55% completions and lost two turnovers.

New HC Dave Canales is a former offensive coordinator, and his influence on Young’s development will be apparent in this game. Canales will rely on several young players to contribute, including rookie LT Ikem Ekwonu, who will attempt to protect Young’s blindside.

Prediction: Win

The Cowboys will go into Carolina and take care of business before a bigger matchup against another NFC South opponent the following week.

Mike Zimmer’s defense will harass Bryce Young all day, forcing him into three turnovers. Dak Prescott and the offense will turn each of those turnovers into touchdowns, and Dallas will roll to double-digit wins for the fourth consecutive season.

Dallas Cowboys 35
Carolina Panthers 9

Week 16: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday Night Football)

Another primetime game at AT&T Stadium will pin the Cowboys against last year’s NFC South winner, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is still led by QB Baker Mayfield and a talented wide receiver corps led by WR Mike Evans.

This game is sure to have huge implications on the NFC playoff picture. Not only for the Cowboys, but for the Buccaneers as well.

Prediction: Win

The Tampa Bay offense will come in and put up a fight, but they won’t win a shootout in primetime on the road at AT&T Stadium. My prediction for this game is that it will be similar to the Cowboys vs Seahawks primetime game last season.

Dallas will come out on top in an offensive display of strength from both teams, setting the tone for a huge divisional matchup the following week.

Dallas Cowboys 38
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33

Week 17: at Philadelphia Eagles

One week before the final regular season game, the Cowboys have one of their toughest tests of the season in their second matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

This game could determine who wins the NFC East, and could also determine whether or not either team begins the postseason on the road or at home. Jalen Hurts and the weapons that surround him on offense cannot be overlooked.

Wide receivers AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, RB Saquon Barkley, and TE Dallas Goedert are potent weapons that the Cowboys’ defense will need to account for on every play if they hope to slow them down.

I have faith in the Cowboys’ offense to move the ball, but I fear redzone woes may lead to a close loss.

Prediction: Loss

I hate to predict a loss to the Eagles, but Philadelphia has too much talent on their roster to get swept in the regular season series. Dallas won the first matchup in Arlington in a 35-31 offensive display.

This time around in late December, the defenses will shine, keeping the scores down.

Philadelphia Eagles 20
Dallas Cowboys 17

Week 18: vs Washington Commanders

The Dallas Cowboys hoped to wrap up the NFC East and a higher seed in the conference with a win at Philadelphia the week before. Unfortunately, resting starters in week 18 at home will be out of the question with the division title on the line.

Dallas disposed of the Commanders earlier in the season by the score of 26-13, and they won’t let the fanbase down when it matters most. The Cowboys will again take the Commanders to the wood shed, this time winning the division in the process.

Prediction: Win

Mike McCarthy will use the final game of the regular season as a dress rehearsal for the postseason. Dak Prescott will sit out the 4th quarter with the Cowboys holding a big lead.

Dallas Cowboys 30
Washington Commanders 10

Final Record: 12-5

The Dallas Cowboys will finish 12-5 for the fourth consecutive season, and will also be the first NFC East team to win back-to-back division titles since the Eagles won four in a row from 2001-2004.

San Francisco will likely own the top seed in the conference. The Cowboys will be the second seed after holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Detroit Lions, and will host the 7th seed in the Wildcard round for the second year in a row.

I will hold off on postseason predictions for now, but the comments are open for all of your criticism. Let’s talk about it.