Dallas takes control of its NFC East destiny

The Dallas Cowboys were the only NFC East team to record a win over the past weekend.

Now it all comes down to one game. Dallas travels to Washington for Sunday’s season-finale against the Commanders.

They win, they take the NFC East title and the NFC’s No. 2 seed. An Eagles’ loss in New York to the Giants would also hand Dallas the division crown.

CeeDee Lamb was gifted with a drug test by the NFL the day after his record-setting effort against the Lions on Saturday.

But the Cowboys need to go out and take the title instead of hoping it gets handed to them.

The chance to play two playoff games at home – with a third coming if the 49ers get upset – is on the line.

A win on Sunday could be the difference between yet another divisional round exit and a return trip to the Super Bowl.

Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

What a wild weekend as 2023 went out with a bang. The Cowboys held on for dear life to beat the Lions by a point.

For those begging Roger Goodell to invoke “Rule 17” and change the penalty that wiped out two points it is a moot point.

The only player tripping was Detroit’s Aiden Hutchinson, not Dallas’ Peyton Hendershot. (ABC/ESPN screenshot)

Because if he did do that he’d have to go back and correct the tripping call on Peyton Hendershot. No one was actually tripped on the play.

Instead of first-and-25 at the Lions’ 44, it should have been second-and-two at the 21.

Instead of a field goal, Dallas likely scores a touchdown – if not just running out the clock — and we aren’t having this conversation.

The Cowboys have the Commanders on Sunday. They need to buck their past performances and come out strong to start the game.

No excuses. The crown is right there.

Go grab it.

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…..

I’m sorry Eagles fans.

Nah, who am I kidding, I’m not sorry at all. You all have no one to blame but yourselves.

And your coach. And your running back playing at quarterback.

A minimum of five of your wins this year should have been losses.

Your near two-year run has come to an end and your franchise has finally been exposed as frauds.

The Arizona Cardinals celebrate a huge win over the Eagles on Sunday.

The Cardinals did everything they could to hand you the game on Sunday. Topping the list was a 99-yard Pick Six thrown by Kyler Murray.

And you still lost.

The Giants very nearly beat the Eagles two weeks ago in Philadelphia. The rematch is this Sunday in New York.

Enjoy that No. 5 seed and a one-and-done postseason.

New York Giants (5-11)

The Giants did everything they could to knock off the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Then their coach went and blew it.

After a 94-yard punt return by Gunner Olszewski pulled Big Blue to 26-25, Mason Crosby tied the game at 26 with the extra point.

But the Rams were called for offsides and Brian Daboll elected to take the tying point off the board and go for two and the lead.

Tyrod Taylor’s pass was behind Saquon Barkley and the Rams led by one. After a punt, the Giants still had one more shot.

Tyrod Taylor’s (2) pass to Saquon Barkley was off target on a potential game-winning two-point attempt.

But a Crosby 52-yard attempt slipped to the left and the Giants fell to 5-11.

They will host the Eagles in their season-finale on Sunday.

Washington Commanders (4-12)

The Commanders made the 49ers sweat for the first half, trailing only 13-10 at the break.

But the 49ers put up 14 unanswered points in the second half and put the game away.

Christian McCaffrey gashed the Commanders’ defense on Sunday. (USA Today)

Sam Howell threw two more interceptions. The Commanders running game never really got on track.

Still, this is not a team Dallas should take likely when the two teams meet on Sunday.

The Commanders will want to send Ron Rivera out a winner. It is likely Rivera’s final game as head coach in D.C.

Add that to this being a Dallas-Washington rivalry that dates all the way back to even before Dallas’ inaugural 1960 season, and this is going to be a hard game.