NFL playoff picture: Where does Cowboys’ latest loss leave them?

Every week for the duration of the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable).

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Here’s where things stand with Week 14 of the 2024 season complete:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Detroit Lions (12-1), NFC North leaders: For the first time in their 95-season history, they’ve won 12 games in successive seasons – and snatching Thursday night’s nail biter over the Packers officially qualifies the Lions for the 2024 postseason. Big game with Buffalo in Week 15, but – given its interconference nature – one that shouldn’t necessarily be crucial in the tiebreaker department if Detroit and its depleted defense stumble. Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings

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x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2), NFC East leaders: It took a surprising effort to overcome the lowly Panthers on Sunday, but the Eagles prevailed for their ninth straight win – remaining right behind the Lions before officially locking up a playoff spot later in the day when Arizona lost. Philly can sew up the division title in Week 15 with a win plus a Washington loss. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5), NFC West leaders: They completed a season sweep of the Cardinals on Sunday, effectively giving them a three-game lead over Arizona in the division. However the Rams are very much lurking just a game back – and with a win over Seattle already in hand. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6), NFC South leaders: Their weak schedule down the stretch plus Atlanta’s ongoing collapse has finally done what many saw coming – the Bucs vaulting into first place Sunday by beating the Raiders as the Falcons crumbled in Minneapolis. Atlanta’s season sweep of Tampa Bay does mean the Buccaneers, who last finished out of first place in 2020, need to remain plus one in the win column moving forward. Remaining schedule: at Chargers, at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2), wild card No. 1: Beating old friend Kirk Cousins and the Falcons keeps the Vikes, winners of six straight, hot on the Lions’ heels in the NFC North and conference at large. Minnesota can clinch a spot next week with a win. Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions

6. Green Bay Packers (9-4), wild card No. 2: Valiant effort at Ford Field on Thursday night, but getting swept by the Lions pretty much relegates the Pack to wild-card status. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (8-5), wild card No. 3: A week off, good as it should be for the roster’s health, didn’t help Washington’s prospects elsewhere – Philadelphia pulling away in the division while the Rams drew closer in the wild-card race. Remaining schedule: at Saints, vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Los Angeles Rams (7-6), in the hunt: They got into a shootout with the Bills … and prevailed? LA is now one game behind Seattle, a team they’ve already beaten once. Win out, and the Rams are NFC West champs. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7), in the hunt: Their margin for error is gone and so is first place in the NFC South after their losing streak extended to four Sunday in Minnesota. The Falcons fell five spots in the conference standings. Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers

10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7), in the hunt: They could have moved back atop the NFC West on Sunday by defeating Seattle. Instead, the Cards lost their third straight and have just about played themselves out of contention for anything. They also fell behind the Falcons, who have three more conference victories than Arizona. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-7), in the hunt: Resounding rebound Sunday as they steamrolled Chicago – but it hasn’t helped Niners climb in conference standings … yet. Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals

12. New Orleans Saints (5-8), in the hunt: Their best shot is to somehow win the NFC South … tough as that’s probably going to be without injured QB Derek Carr. Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders, at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers

13. Dallas Cowboys (5-8), in the hunt: Another devastating home loss Monday night to Cincinnati just about extinguishes their flickering postseason hopes – now less than a 1% chance, per NFL.com – especially given the teams Dallas will see down the stretch. The Cowboys even dropped below the Saints, who beat them in Week 2, after their latest defeat. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders

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AFC playoff picture

y – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1), AFC West champions: The Chiefs swept away the Chargers on Sunday night to win this division for the ninth consecutive season. Buffalo’s loss earlier in the day was a huge bonus, giving the reigning champs breathing room as they try to steer the road to Super Bowl 59 through Arrowhead yet again. Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (10-3), AFC East champions: That potentially pivotal tiebreaker against the Chiefs isn’t worth a whole heckuva lot if the Bills can’t keep up with the reigning champs. Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3), AFC North leaders: They remain relevant in the discussion for home-field advantage while taking a two-game lead over the idle Ravens, whom the Steelers have already beaten once, in the division. The strength-of-victory tiebreaker currently keeps them looking up at Buffalo. Remaining schedule: at Eagles, at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals

4. Houston Texans (8-5), AFC South leaders: Despite their struggles, they effectively own a three-game lead over Indy in the division due to Houston’s season sweep of the Colts. A win next week coupled with another Indianapolis loss would sew up the lackluster division for the Texans. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-5), wild card No. 1: Good to get a week off … though it cost them further position in the AFC North, further diminishing any shot they have at hosting a postseason game this season. Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5), wild card No. 2: Despite getting dunked (and doinked) by the Chiefs again, they’ll have to do a lot of ‘Charger-ing’ to cough up a golden opportunity in Year 1 under HC Jim Harbaugh … though they will face additional playoff-caliber squads the next two weeks. A win over Denver keeps them above the Broncos, though the Bolts fall behind the Ravens due to their loss to Baltimore. Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (8-5), wild card No. 3: They’ve got a great shot – 77%, per NFL.com – at their first postseason trip since winning Super Bowl 50 nine years ago. But messing around with Indianapolis in Week 15 would get them into trouble. Losses to the Ravens and Chargers currently keep them suppressed as the seventh seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7), in the hunt: Win in Denver in Week 15, and they’d be one game out of a postseason slot. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Miami Dolphins (6-7), in the hunt: They barely survived the Jets to barely remain relevant on the periphery of the playoff discussion. A Week 7 loss at Indianapolis keeps Fins behind the Colts. Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets