NFL Predictions: 10 Scenarios in Which Cowboys Fail to Make the Postseason

The Dallas Cowboys are by no means a certainty for the NFL playoffs.  Although in a good position in the NFC East, nothing is certain.  Here are just some of the scenarios that would lead to the Cowboys not making the NFL playoffs.

The NFC East was always going to be one of the tightest divisions in the NFL, but so far it is Dallas who are looking good, hitting form at the right time to give their season a boost.

Things might be looking good for now, but here's what could be round the corner.

10. The Giants Do the Double

The Dallas Cowboys have two very big tests before the end of the NFL regular season. In fact, you could say they have two Giant tests.

The Giants have a very tough end to the season, and will be targeting the two games against the Cowboys as games they must win.  

If the Cowboys lose out on both occasions, then the chances of playing in the NFL postseason will be very small indeed. 

9. Philadelphia Clinch It

The Philadelphia Eagles? In the playoffs? You must be mad! 

Well, maybe not.  If they can get to the final two weeks still in contention, then they could just steal the NFC East.

Coming up against the Cowboys and Redskins in the final two weeks, the Eagles could steal that top spot if other results go their way.  One of those other results could well be the Cowboys winning.

The final day of the NFL regular season in the NFC East is likely to be very interesting.  Take the Redskins out of the equation, and the other three could all be in with a chance of winning the division.  

The Eagles certainly have the best final day fixture of the division and could just sneak it. 

8. DeMarco Murray Fails to Perform

DeMarco Murray has been in great form for Dallas.  He made a slow start, but it is no coincidence that when he does well, Dallas do well.

Having pretty much double the carries and three times the yards of Felix Jones, Murray really is a key man for the Cowboys.

If Murray fails to deliver during the run in, then there is a good chance Dallas won't make the NFL playoffs. 

7. NFC North Keep Winning

The race for the wild-card spot in the NFC looks like it is going to be very close.  Unfortunately for the Dallas Cowboys, it looks like second place in the NFC North are going to clinch it.

Both the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears have a 7-3 record, but with Jay Cutler likely to miss the rest of regular season, you would expect Detroit to finish with the better record.

Should the Lions (or the Bears) keep winning, then they will finish with a better record than Dallas and clinch the wild-card spot should the Cowboys fail to win the division.

6. Miami Dolphins Keep Swimming

Earlier in the season, the Miami Dolphins were the team everyone wanted to play.  Right now though, the Dallas Cowboys won't be looking forward to Week 12.

Coming off three straight wins—three big wins—the Dolphins are the in-form team this minute.

After their horrendous start, they now look capable of beating Dallas, and doing it in style.  Before playing Miami, the Washington Redskins didn't look too bad, but now, two weeks later, they seem to be out of the race.

A loss to Miami could knock Dallas out of their stride and cause them to miss the NFL playoffs.

5. Miles Austin Doesn't Return

Miles Austin is a key receiver for Tony Romo, and when he returns, the Cowboys offense will look a lot stronger.

Should he struggle upon his return, or worse still, should he fail to recover at all, then the Cowboys will really struggle to keep this winning streak going.  

He won't be able to do it alone, but the Cowboys could really do with him in there.

4. DeMarcus Ware Stops Sacking

DeMarcus Ware once again leads the way for Dallas when it comes to sacks.  Already with 14 this season, there's a good chance he'll beat his season best of 20 if he keeps up the great work.

Should Ware pick up an injury, or should he lose his touch in the final few weeks, then the Cowboys defense might struggle.

Taking away the added pressure of Ware, opponents will have one less thing to worry about when facing the Cowboys.

The loss of Ware will have a big effect on Dallas, and could cause them to miss the NFL playoffs.

3. Tony Romo Chokes

Tony Romo showed at the start of the season that he sometimes falters at crunch time.

Some pretty desperate final quarter performances looked like becoming the norm for Romo, but things don't look too bad right now.

Should Romo have a bit of a lapse later in the season, when it really is crunch time, then Dallas won't reach the NFL postseason.

2. Jason Witten Falls Away

Tight end Jason Witten is a real key man for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

Especially with Miles Austin missing a lot of football this year, Witten has once again become the man Romo turns to.  Without him, the Cowboys would struggle to make make much progress passing, and their reliance on DeMarco Murray when rushing means that the Cowboys need Witten.

Without Jason Witten, the Cowboys won't be making the playoffs.

1. The Cowboys Just Blow It

It's nice looking at all the little, individual scenarios that would lead, or at least contribute, to the Dallas Cowboys not making the NFL playoffs.  But what if they just don't win enough games?

Everyone is looking for reasons why Dallas won't make the playoffs, well here's one:

They just aren't good enough!