'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Dallas Cowboys have officially clinched a spot in the NFC Playoffs in Week 16 of the 2021 NFL season. They are one of just two teams in the entire NFL, along with the Green Bay Packers, who have clinched a playoff spot.
Dak Prescott leads the way as the Cowboys have emerged this year as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
If the season ended today, the Cowboys would be the second seeded team in the NFC. Their seeding can change, up or down, depending on what happens during the last three weeks of the season.
Here are five potential matchups for the Dallas Cowboys' first playoff game this year.
Dallas Cowboys' potential playoff matchups
#5 - Minnesota Vikings
If the 2021 NFL season ended prior to Week 16, the Dallas Cowboys would host the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the NFC Playoffs. Both of these teams feature explosive offenses and opportunistic defenses.
They both rank in the top eight in the NFL in total offense, while the Dallas Cowboys lead the league in interceptions and the Vikings have the most sacks.
Quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins are both ranked in the top ten in the NFL in passing yards, passing touchdowns and passer rating. They lead balanced attacks on offense.
The Cowboys and Vikings are the only two teams in the NFL ranked in the top ten in both passing and rushing yards.
#4 - Philadelphia Eagles
A heated division rivalry game against the Philadelphia Eagles is a possibility for the Cowboys in the first round of the NFC playoffs. The Eagles are currently tied in the standings for the final Wild-Card spot.
Rivalry games are always exciting, but even more so when they happen in the playoffs. Both teams feature rushing attacks that rank in the top six in the NFL.
While Dak Prescott attacks defenses with an efficient and balanced offense that spreads the ball around, the Eagles have done the majority of their damage with their ground game.
This includes Jalen Hurts, who ranks second among quarterbacks in rushing yards this season.
Potential playoff matchups for the Dallas Cowboys
Five teams that the Dallas Cowboys could potentially face off with in their first 2021 NFL playoff games.
#3 - San Francisco 49ers
If the Dallas Cowboys were to meet the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the playoffs, it would be a throw back to the 1990's when both teams would make annual appearances in the NFC playoffs. Like the teams from that decade, both of these offenses are loaded with talent.
The Cowboys feature a deep offense with multiple contributors at each position, including CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliot. The 49ers feature a stable of running backs to go with a top-five producer at wide receiver and tight end, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle.
The biggest difference between these two offenses has been quarterback play. While Dak Prescott has been consistently efficient, Jimmy Garoppolo has been up and down all year.
The 49ers success this season is often tied to what version of Garoppolo appears for a particular game.
#2 - Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are in a tight race for the NFC West division title with the Los Angeles Rams. Whichever team does not win the division will likely end up as the fifth-seeded team in the first Wild-Card spot.
That means if the Dallas Cowboys finish as the fourth-seeded NFC team, they could play either one of them in the first round of the playoffs.
In Week 17, the Cowboys and Cardinals will face off in a regular season matchup with huge playoff seeding implications at stake. It could also be a preview of a potential rematch if they were to meet at any point in the NFC Playoffs.
Both teams are well balanced on offense and defense while featuring efficient quarterbacks.
The Cowboys and Cardinals are the only two NFC teams ranked in the top eight in the NFL in scoring offense and scoring defense. Dak Prescott and Kyler Murray have each been efficient quarterbacks this season.
They both rank in the top ten in the NFL in completion percentage, passer rating, yards per game and touchdowns per game.
#1 - Los Angeles Rams
The path for the Los Angeles Rams is almost exactly the same as the Arizona Cardinals when it comes to seeding in the NFC Playoffs. If the Rams don't win the NFC West division, they will more than likely end up as the fifth seed.
This means they would also play the team that earns the fourth seed, which could possibly be the Dallas Cowboys.
A matchup between the Cowboys and Rams in the playoffs would feature a battle between two heavyweights in the NFC.
Matthew Stafford ranks in the top three in almost every quarterback statistic this season, while Cooper Kupp is having one of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history.
Kupp will match up with the cornerback who leads the NFL in interceptions this year, Trevon Diggs.
Dak Prescott and the loaded Cowboys offense will have their hands full with a Rams defense that features top-level superstars including Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey. Both teams have a ton of talented players that would be exciting to watch on a big stage like the NFL Playoffs.
