The Dallas Cowboys entered training camp for the 2025 season with Brian Schottenheimer replacing Mike McCarthy as the head coach, and Micah Parsons’ extension drama overshadowing the 2024 contract talks that surrounded Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
Parsons was traded before the start of the season to the Green Bay Packers and signed a four-year, $188 million contract extension. Dallas received 2026 and 2027 first-round picks along with three-time Pro Bowl DT Kenny Clark.
Can the Dallas Cowboys Make the NFL Playoffs?
The Cowboys will miss the playoffs for a second straight season after failing to recover from a 3-5-1 start. They remained in contention for the NFC East title until Week 16.
Dallas used one of the picks they originally acquired from the Packers, which they later sent to the New York Jets, to trade for Pro Bowl DT Quinnen Williams. Following this move, the Cowboys won their next three games, including victories over the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite Williams’ arrival and a brief winning streak, his presence couldn’t prevent the Cowboys from posting one of the lowest PFSN Defense Impact (DEFi) scores since 2000.
The team remained competitive because of quarterback Dak Prescott, who quickly developed chemistry with wide receiver George Pickens. After finishing 34th in an injury-shortened 2024 season, Prescott now ranks sixth in the PFSN’s Quarterback Impact (QBi) season score.
Pickens, eligible for the franchise tag this offseason, made his first Pro Bowl after recording the NFL’s third-best PFSN Wide Receiver Impact (WRi) this season.
NFC Playoff Seeding Scenarios and Potential Matchups
Entering Week 18, the 13-3 Seattle Seahawks own the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff bracket. Seattle will face the 12-4 San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West crown and the No. 1 seed in the conference.
According to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Seahawks currently have a 53.5% chance of securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed, while the 49ers have a 46.5% chance.
NFC Playoff Seeding Possibilities
1) Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers
2) Chicago Bears or Philadelphia Eagles
3) Philadelphia Eagles or Chicago Bears
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Carolina Panthers
5) Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, or Los Angeles Rams
6) San Francisco 49ers or Los Angeles Rams
7) Green Bay Packers
The Seahawks will secure the one seed with a win or tie against the 49ers, while a loss would drop Seattle to the fifth seed. The 49ers will be the one seeded if they defeat the Seahawks.
The Panthers clinch the NFC South and secure the fourth seed with a win over the Buccaneers or an Atlanta Falcons victory against the New Orleans Saints. Tampa Bay needs to beat Carolina and have New Orleans defeat Atlanta to take the division.
The Bears will earn the second seed with a win or an Eagles loss. They will drop to third if they lose and the Eagles win.
Potential NFC Playoff Matchups
These are the most likely NFC Wild Card playoff matchups, according to our analytics:
- Packers at Bears: 67.0%
- Rams at Eagles: 38.7%
- Seahawks at Panthers: 35.6%
- Packers at Eagles: 33.0%
- Rams at Panthers: 33.0%
- 49ers at Eagles: 28.3%
- Rams at Bears: 19.1%
- 49ers at Bears: 14.0%
- Seahawks at Buccaneers: 10.0%
- 49ers at Panthers: 9.5%
- Rams at Buccaneers: 9.2%
- 49ers at Buccaneers: 2.7%
