Cowboys’ record-setting win highlighted NFC East action in Week 17

When the schedule makers in the NFL set the Christmas Day games, they clearly thought the NFC East title would be on the line.

The same thought probably ran through their heads with the other two games involving NFC North and AFC West rivals.

While the games all lacked the divisional drama they’d sought, the Cowboys-Commanders showdown delivered some fireworks. Especially in the record books.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s game between the Giants and Raiders had plenty of drama.

Unfortunately, most of it came long before Sunday.

Both teams started scratching starters that seemed otherwise healthy enough to play. Maxx Crosby clearly had enough and stormed out of the Las Vegas team facilities.

It seems Crosby wanted nothing to do with what was becoming the “Tank Bowl” as the teams with the two worst records met for the No. 1 draft pick in April.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are looking at either the second or third seed in the NFC playoffs depending on how next week’s games play out.

Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

The Cowboys are locked into finishing second in the NFC East. The best they can hope for is to finish eighth overall in the NFC.

They would need losses by Detroit and Minnesota this weekend for that.

The lowest Dallas can possibly draft in April is 18th.

A loss to the Giants, an unlikely scenario given how New York is clearly tanking, in addition to help elsewhere, and Dallas could draft as high as 13th.

As far as the Christmas Day showdown, aside from Netflix’s hideous production, the Cowboys had a good day. Dak Prescott and KaVontae Turpin set an NFL record.

Their 86-yard touchdown was the longest touchdown pass on Christmas Day in NFL history.

Prescott also passed Troy Aikman for most passing attempts in team history with 4,748.

Prescott has 4,482 passing yards this year. He needs 35 yards against the Giants o set his second-highest season in that category.

He would need to throw for 421 yards to set his career-high.

Prescott threw for 4,902 yards in 2019.

Next Game: at N.Y. Giants, Sunday, Noon.

New York Giants (3-13)

The Giants remain locked in a heated race for rock-bottom with the Raiders team that they got out-tanked by on Sunday. That is literally all this team has to play for.

New York will finish last in the NFC East yet again.

Last year they finished 3-14. In 2023, they were 6-11.

This team is going in the wrong direction and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.

The last time the Giants were above .500 was in 2022.

A 9-7-1 record earned them a third-place finish in the division and a wildcard spot. They shocked Minnesota in the first round before getting rocked by the Eagles in the divisional round.

Next Game: vs. Dallas, Sunday, Noon.

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

I remain convinced someone in the Eagles organization sold their soul to the Devil. They keep winning games they have no business winning.

In the end, the Seahawks win earlier in the day set the Eagles fate at either the #2 or #3 seed.

They’ll be playing at home in the wildcard round, against either the Seahawks, 49ers, or Rams.

Neither team will be an easy out. Unless they have someone else in the organization left who hasn’t inked a deal with Lucifer.

Next Game: vs. Washington, Sunday, 3:25 p.m.

Washington Commanders (4-12)

After looking like they were going to get their doors blown off, the Commanders rallied in the second half on Thursday and made a game of it.

In the end, this team, like the Giants, has suffered too many injuries in 2025.

They should be back in 2026 though. However, keeping Jayden Daniels healthy is clearly the determining factor in the Commanders’ long-term success.

Next Game: at Philadelphia, Sunday, Noon.