The Dallas Cowboys just became the 2016 NFC East Champions from the comfort of their own homes.
With the New York Giants losing to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football, Dallas has clinched the division title. It also makes official that the Cowboys will be the number-one seed in the NFC playoffs, giving them a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout.
This will be head coach Jason Garrett’s second division championship. He has led the Cowboys to two of the last three NFC East titles.
Despite already being uncatchable for the rest of the NFC, the Cowboys could not clinch anything else until the division title was decided. They already have 12 wins this year; the most any other NFC team can get now is 11 wins.
With their postseason status now fully realized, the Cowboys can take whatever approach they want with their remaining games. They host the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football this week and then visit the Eagles in the regular season finale.
Dallas has several veterans with nagging injuries who could benefit from extra time off. Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith, and Orlando Scandrick are three key players that come to mind.
Perhaps the biggest question now is if these two meaningless games will give Tony Romo a chance to play. Dallas may want to give Romo some playing time to work off whatever rust he may have, in case he ends up being needed in the playoffs. Then again, if any offensive linemen are resting, they may not want to risk playing Romo.
Whatever the future holds, right now your Cowboys are back on top of the NFC East! It is just their fourth division title since 1998.
