Dallas Cowboys Clinch Playoff Berth: Latest Comments and Reaction

The Dallas Cowboys have become the first team to clinch a spot in the 2016 NFL playoffs. 

A Thursday night victory over the Minnesota Vikings put them in position to clinch this week, and the Washington Redskins' loss to the Arizona Cardinals sealed the deal for the 11-1 squad. This is quite a turnaround for a team that finished 4-12 just one season ago.

The team's Twitter account celebrated the accomplishment:

Star running back Ezekiel Elliott was also happy about the news:

Skip Bayless of Fox Sports 1 enjoyed seeing his favorite team clinch on his birthday:

Becoming the first team in the playoffs is an impressive feat considering projected starting quarterback and four-time Pro Bowler Tony Romo went down with a back injury in the preseason. It left the team in the hands of rookie fourth-round draft pick Dak Prescott to take over at the game's most important position.

Not only did Prescott fill in capably, the quarterback has been a star, going five games before even throwing his first interception. He has been efficient throughout the season and has always seemed to come through in big moments when his team has needed him, perhaps most notably in the come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8.

He played so well, even Romo admitted Prescott deserved to keep the starting job when the veteran was cleared to play.

"He's earned the right to be our quarterback," Romo said in November, per Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today.

Prescott will likely earn another first for the organization in January, as ESPN Stats and Info noted:

Of course, Prescott isn't the only rookie making a major impact. Elliott justified his draft pick at No. 4 overall by immediately becoming one of the best players in the NFL at his position. The former Ohio State standout has been a consistent threat on the ground every week while becoming a legitimate MVP candidate.

Adding in a dominant offensive line, a bend-don't-break defense and playmakers all over the field, the Cowboys' success this season should not be a surprise.

The question is what will come next for Dallas. The squad will try to secure a division title and eventually a bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, all of which will make the team an even bigger threat to win the Super Bowl.

Considering the franchise hasn't advanced to even a conference title game since winning the Super Bowl in 1996, there is still a lot left to accomplish.