The NFC playoff chase tightened dramatically after a chaotic Monday night performance by Jalen Hurts that stunned the conference and breathed unexpected life into the Dallas Cowboys’ faint postseason hopes.
Hurts turned the ball over five times in a 22-19 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a setback that marked Philadelphia’s third straight defeat and shifted the outlook on the division in ways few could have predicted.
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Hurts‘ struggles began with a sequence destined to be replayed for years: an interception and a lost fumble on the same snap, an NFL first.
What looked like a simple pass attempt bounced off a Chargers lineman and into harm’s way, triggering a chain reaction that ended with Hurts losing the ball again as he was dragged to the turf. From there things got further out of hand, with three more interceptions undermining every attempt by Philadelphia to reclaim momentum.
Before this skid, the Eagles appeared poised to cruise toward another division title. Now, at 8-5, their grip on the NFC East has weakened, and the Cowboys, despite their own issues, remain within striking distance.
Cowboys’ path into the playoffs
Dallas’ 2025 campaign has been a roller coaster of emotions. Early-season defeats to Chicago, Carolina, and a dismal Arizona squad put them in what was a deep hole. But a midseason push featuring three straight wins revived optimism before a double-digit Week 14 loss to Detroit halted their progress again.
At 6-6-1, the Cowboys still need help to extend their season, but they received two major assists over the weekend. First, the Packers delivered a divisional blow by knocking off Chicago. Then on Monday, Hurts’ turnover-filled performance kept the Cowboys within two games of the Eagles, a gap that doesn’t appear to be impossible.
Should both teams finish with the same number of wins, Dallas would hold the edge in winning percentage because of the tie on their record.
Still, Dallas has to deliver. The Cowboys have two straight home matchups, a Sunday night meeting with the 5-8 Vikings followed by a showdown with the Chargers, but closing out strong has been a challenge in Dallas. After the homestand, they finish on the road against Washington and New York, two rivalry games that will be anything but straightforward.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, have to find their bearings, and soon. Up next is a home date with the struggling Raiders before a road trip to Buffalo and a pair of matchups against Washington. Given their recent skid, even those games are no guarantees.
As a result the NFC picture has tightened once again, especially the NFC East, which once looked settled. Now, with Hurts battling turnovers and Dallas clinging to hope, the race feels anything but decided.
