If you’re taking the weekend off from the NFL after Thursday night’s debacle in Dallas, we don’t blame you. But for those who still want football in their lives this Sunday, and still care about the Cowboys’ prospects for 2026, this rooting guide’s for you.
With the Cowboys now 2-3, we’re getting perilously close to the point where we’ll need other games to go our way to make the playoffs. Maybe Dallas gets healthy and rested and goes on a run, but that’s hard to wrap your head around after they messed
the bed against the winless Bucs.
Controlling our own destiny is little more than a pipe dream at this point, so let’s start digging into the Sunday slate for Week 5 and what’s best for the Cowboys.
NFC East teams
- Jaguars d. Eagles
- Commanders d. Giants
You can start your football Sunday early this week with the Eagles-Jaguars game in London. Philly’s dropped two in a row and the 3-1 Jaguars, who are much more accustomed to transatlantic travel, could easily make it three. Trevor Lawrence is playing better QB so far this season than Jalen Hurts, which may be the deciding factor.
We would gladly move into a tie with the Commanders if it means they put a loss on the 3-1 Giants. Jayden Daniels is expected back for this division rivalry game, which is a huge factor in Washington’s (and the Cowboys’) favor.
Coming out of this week with Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington all at 2-3, and New York at just 3-2, would make the Cowboys’ prospects in the NFC East look so much brighter.
NFC vs. NFC
- Packers d. Bears
- Saints d. Vikings
- Cardinals d. Lions
- 49ers d. Seahawks
It’s only Week 5, so we’re not going with a draft-focused mentality just yet. You still want to see NFC contenders taking hits, especially if they’re a potential Wild Card team. That’s why we’re taking the 2-2 Packers over the 3-1 Bears, even if we’re invested in Green Bay’s 2027 first-round pick.
The Vikings are 4-0 but there’s still plenty of time for them to slip out of that NFC North lead. New Orleans doesn’t feel like much of a threat, so it’s better they put a loss on Minnesota. The same goes for Arizona-Detroit, where a Lions’ loss is likely to be far more helpful to Dallas down the road.
With the Niners at 4-0 and the Seahawks at 3-1, you could make a case either way. But right now, San Francisco feels like the team that’s going to finish first in the NFC. If they do end up at least taking the NFC West, if not the whole conference, you’d rather have Seattle be easier to catch in the Wild Card race.
NFC vs. AFC
- Ravens d. Falcons
- Bills d. Rams
There are only two interconference matchups this week. Both Atlanta and Los Angeles are 2-2 right now, and we have no skin in the results for these AFC teams. So these are easy picks against our NFC rivals.
Also, the 2-2 Carolina Panthers are on an early bye this week.
AFC vs. AFC
- Colts d. Steelers
- Raiders d. Patriots
Cowboys fans can take interest in these AFC games, as we own picks from the Steelers and Patriots in 2027. Pittsburgh’s fourth-rounder is coming to us from the Broderick Jones trade, and New England’s seventh comes to by way of Houston and the trade for OT Nate Thomas.
