Dallas Cowboys: Can Jason Garrett Get The 'Boys Into Playoff Contention?

The Dallas Cowboys looked like a brand new team on Sunday with Jason Garrett calling the shots. Gone was the sloppy play and lackluster effort.

With the energizing win against the New York Giants, the Cowboys record now stands at 2-7.

So, can Garrett navigate the hostile waters of the NFC East and take the Cowboys to a playoff berth?

Mathematically, it's still possible at this point, so let's break down one possible scenario that could put the Cowboys in the postseason.

November 21: Vs. Detroit Lions

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 17: Shaun Hill #14 of the Detroit Lions rushes against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 17, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Lions are a much-improved team this year, but Matthew Stafford's year most likely is over, and the Lions lost to the Buffalo Bills yesterday.

If the Cowboys stay as disciplined and focused as they did against the Giants, the Lions won't stand a chance. The Cowboys will be 3-7.

Final Score: Cowboys 35  Lions 17

Thanksgiving Day: Vs. New Orleans Saints

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CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 07: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints waits with his team during player introductions against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Gett

This is going to be a tough game, no matter what. The Saints definitely were suffering from a Super Bowl hangover earlier in the season, but they have looked better the last few weeks.

The upset by the Cleveland Browns seemed to jolt the Saints back to life. But that game shows the potential for a re-energized Cowboys to find some cracks in New Orleans' armor to drive wedges through.

The Saints running game still isn't back up to full speed, but the Saints passing defense is tops in the league.

This game presents a real problem for Dallas, but the Cowboys upset the Giants and we'll go with the upset factor here. The Cowboys will move to 4-7.

Final Score: Cowboys 28  Saints 20

December 5: At Indianapolis Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 14: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 23-17. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty

Fresh off a three-game win streak, the Cowboys then would travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to face the Colts, a team that has managed to win games despite losing half the offense to injury.

By this point, the Cowboys will have enough tape of the Colts to break down. Jim Caldwell is no Tony Dungy and the Cowboys flummox the Colts. Dallas now is 5-7.

Final Score: Dallas 21  Colts 20

December 12: Vs. Philadelphia Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 07: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the Indianapolis Colts on November 7, 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Colts 26-24. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/

The Eagles present another tough test for the Cowboys, but after several weeks of practice under the new regime, this is a completely different Cowboys team.

Andy Reid plays this one well, though, and the game comes down to the closing seconds with the Cowboys winning on a last-second field goal.

The Cowboys now are 6-7, and the league is taking notice.

Final Score: Dallas 30  Eagles 27

December 19: Vs. Washington Redskins

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 31: Kyle Vanden Bosch #93 of the Detroit Lions hits Donovan McNabb #5 of the Washington Redskins during the first quarter of the game at Ford Field on October 31, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

The Redskins could've been pencilled in as a win even before the Giants game, because Mike Shanahan has decided to blow it all up at midseason.

Donovan McNabb isn't the quarterback he used to be, and that's assuming he's even in the game and that Shanahan isn't starting JaMarcus Russell or someone he finds on the streets of D.C.

Cowboys now are .500 and things are getting very interesting.

Final Score: Cowboys 42  Redskins 17

Christmas Day: At Arizona Cardinals

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GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Derek Anderson #3 of the Arizona Cardinals walks off the field after the game with the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. Seattle won 36-18. (Photo by Step

The best-case scenario for the Dallas Cowboys is if Derek Anderson is still the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. No one destroys their own teams' hopes for a win like Anderson.

His ability to fool coaches into thinking he gives them the best chance to win is unmatched in the NFL despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Four interceptions later, the Cowboys now are 8-7.

Final Score: Cowboys 45  Cardinals 21

January 2: At Philadelphia Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Andy Reid of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Indianapolis Colts on November 7, 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Riding a huge wave of momentun, the Cowboys ride into Philadelphia for the final game of the season with the playoffs on the line.

This game will be a huge clash with an Eagles team that by this point has lost some games it shouldn't have. It now finds itself in a fight for the division and, possibly, the Wild Card.

But by now Tony Romo is back, the defense is clicking and the Cowboys stun the Eagles and the nation by running the table and getting into the playoffs.

Cowboys finish the season 9-7.

Final Score: Cowboys 17  Eagles 7

What Else Would Need To Happen?

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 14: Chris Snee #76, Eli Manning #10, and Rich Seubert #69 of the New York Giants walk off the field after losing the ball on a fumble in the fourth quarter against of the Dallas Cowboys on November 14, 2010 at the New Meado

While winning the rest of the games through the end of the season is a nice thought, a 9-7 record may not be enough to get a Wild Card out of the NFC East. A lot of other things would have to happen to make that possible.

Obviously the Giants, Eagles, or both, would have to fall on hard times and go on their own little losing streak to even the playing field a little bit. The Saints or Bucs need to completely fall apart down the stretch.

Mathematically, it still is possible for the Cowboys to make the playoffs at this point. But a lot of things would have to go their way to make even a winning streak like the one predicted here mean anything.

What Does the 2010 Season Hold?

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 31: Injured quarterback Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cowboys Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Cowboys probably won't win out the rest of the season, which pretty much means they'll miss the playoffs, but all is not lost. Tony Romo will be back before the end of the year, and there will be a lot of opportunities to evaluate a lot of talent on the Cowboys and see how they react to the adverse situations.

Even with the way this season has turned out, it gives the Cowboys plenty of opportunity for next year.

Knowing what you have by playing it in a regular season game is 10 times as useful as watching what happens in a preseason exhibition game.

How About 2011?

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SAN DIEGO - AUGUST 21: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on August 21, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

With seven more games of evaluation, Jerry Jones will have a good read on what he needs to get out of next year's draft as well as what he has to do with the coaching situation.

If the Cowboys play well and win a few more games they're not supposed to win, Garrett will be the natural choice to continue into next season. That is provided one of the Super Bowl-winning coaches Jones mentioned doesn't make Jones an offer he can't refuse.

The truth is the Cowboys had a lot of issues that got masked last year by some good wins. That kind of luck can't last forever, and the holes eventually get bigger. Eventually, you have a season like the Cowboys are having this year.

Don't expect 2011 to be a rebuilding year, though. That's what's going on this year, and it wouldn't surprise a lot of people to see the Cowboys in the playoffs next year.