Heading into today’s game, both teams are in playoff mode with five weeks to go and are trying to avoid elimination with a loss.

Of the two teams, the Dallas Cowboys could still be alive after a loss tonight. That would put the team under pressure that they probably won’t be able to withstand in the last four games.

How exactly does this Dallas team leave AT&T Stadium with a win tonight while still keeping their playoff hopes alive?

Their best defense will be the Cowboys offense.

If Cooper Rush can lead the Cowboys on extended, time-consuming drives that end in points, this is a winnable game.

If they can’t control the ball, that means they can’t keep Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase on the sideline. This will almost certainly result in a loss.

Even though Cincinnati is a game worse than Dallas at 4-8, that’s not because of Burrow and the offense.

The Bengals put up 38 points last week in a loss to the same Steelers team that Dallas scored just 20 points against earlier this year.

While the Cowboys’ defense has improved with the return of Micah Parsons, they will have a difficult time containing Burrow. So far this season, Burrow has thrown for over 3,300 yards, 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

Dallas will need Cooper Rush to continue playing mistake-free football. He hasn’t thrown an interception in 11 quarters.

They will also need Rico Dowdle to continue his recent success in football.

A smart, ball-controlled game plan is the Cowboys’ best chance to win tonight and stay alive as the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs.

Do that, keep the score low and close, with supportive play from defense and special teams, and Dallas will walk away victorious tonight.

Against the Bengals

Today’s game between the Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals will be the 15th meeting between the two franchises.

The Bengals joined the old AFL in 1968 and were absorbed into the AFC in 1970 when the two leagues merged.

This means that all 15 games in the regular season have fallen. Dallas will enter tonight’s game with a record of 10-4, 7-1 when games are played in Texas.

The Cowboys have won the last five meetings overall. The Bengals’ last win came in 2004, a 26-3 victory over Cincinnati.

The Cowboys won their first ever meeting 28-10 in 1973 at Texas Stadium.

Monday night football

For the second time this year and in less than a month, the Cowboys play on Monday night.

Dallas would like to forget this game against another AFC team as it was a 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans. It is also the last time the Cowboys lost a game.

It will be the first time that the two teams meet on Monday evening.

It probably wouldn’t have happened this year, but an animated simulcast featuring The Simpsons kept the NFL from moving today’s game to Sunday.

Dallas enters tonight’s game with a record of 51-36 on Monday night, 22-18 at home on Monday night. The Cowboys are 7-7 against AFC teams and just 3-4 at home.

Week 14 all time

Dallas has a 34-28 all-time record in Week 14 games and a 15-9 record when those games are played at home.

The Cowboys have won their last four games this week. The last two come home.

This is the fourth time Dallas will face the Bengals on the 14th^Th week of the schedule.

The Cowboys are 2-1 overall in previous meetings.

However, the previous three games were all played in Cincinnati, with Dallas winning the last two (2012, 2020) after losing in 1985.

The prediction

Earlier in the season, after picking Dallas to finish the season at 8-9, I had the Bengals win that game and let the Cowboys fall to 5-8.

Joe Burrow is not the problem in Cincinnati. As Shane Taylor mentions In a previous post he will tear this defense apart.

It’s up to the Cowboys offense to keep Burrow on the sideline to keep this game close.

Cincinnati 35, Dallas 20

All-time week 14 vs. opponent

NFC EAST

• GIANTS (5-4)
• EAGLES (6-3)
• COMMANDERS (3-4)

NFC WEST

• CARDINAL (3-0)
• RAMS (0-1)
• 49ERS (0-2)
• SEAHAWKS (1-1)

NFC SOUTH

• FALCONS (0-0)
• PANTHERS (0-0)
• SAINTS (0-3)
• Buccaneers (0-1)

NFC NORTH

• BEARS (1-2)
• Lions (1-0)
• PACKERS (0-1)
• VIKINGS (0-0)

AFC EAST

• INVOICES (0-0)
• DOLPHINS (0-0)
• PATRIOTS (0-0)
• JETS (2-0)

AFC SOUTH

• TEXAN (1-0)
• COLTS (1-0)
• JAGUARS (0-0)
• TITANS (2-1)

AFC NORTH

• RAVENS (0-0)
• BENGALS (2-1)
• BROWN (0-1)
• STEEL (2-1)

AFC WEST

• BRONCOS (2-0)
• CHIEFS (1-0)
• RAIDERS (1-1)
• CHARGERS (0-1)