{"id":393580,"date":"2025-11-21T02:07:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T02:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/393580\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T02:07:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T02:07:11","slug":"dallas-cowboys-week-12-rooting-guide-for-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/393580\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas Cowboys Week 12 rooting guide for fans"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are seven weeks left in the 2025 regular season. Whether you\u2019re rooting for Dallas to extend its year into the playoffs or for a higher 2026 draft pick, we\u2019ve got you covered in the Cowboys fans\u2019 Week 12 rooting guide.<\/p>\n

While we wish that Dallas had more games left to turn their season around, the shortening road to Week 18 does help us make better analysis of the eventual standings. As variables diminish, projections get more accurate. So the closer we get to the regular-season finales, we\u2019ll be able to dig even deeper into the potential impact of each game.<\/p>\n

Before we get to the Week 12 schedule, let\u2019s spend a few minutes on where Dallas currently sits in both the playoff and draft races. We\u2019ll start with the more immediate goal of making the tournament.<\/p>\n

Current 2025 NFC Playoff Standings<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Philadelphia Eagles 8-2 (7-1 vs NFC)
2. Los Angeles Rams 8-2 (3-2)
3. Chicago Bears 7-2 (5-2)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-4 (4-2)
5. Seattle Seahawks 7-3 (4-3)
6. Green Bay Packers 6-3-1 (4-2-1)
7. San Francisco 49ers 7-4 (7-2)
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8. Detroit Lions 6-4 (3-3)
9. Carolina Panthers 6-5 (4-2)
10. Dallas Cowboys 4-5-1 (2-4-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anyone who feels this is too tall an order for the Cowboys is not being unfair. They\u2019re three wins behind the seventh-seeded 49ers and have two teams in front of them. One of those, Carolina, does have a head-to-head tiebreaker. However, that likely won\u2019t matter, as the tie in Dallas\u2019 overall record would render it irrelevant. If the Cowboys can at least have the same number of wins as the Panthers at the end of the year, they\u2019d have a slightly higher winning percentage (thanks to the tie) and thus move above them in the standings.<\/p>\n

One reason for optimism is that the NFC North and NFC West are about to get into the thick of division play, which means several potential losses for teams ahead of Dallas on this list. As long as one team in each of those divisions, like the Packers or 49ers, takes the majority of those losses, that could pave the way for the Cowboys to move up. The Bucs and Panthers also still have two games to play against one another, so a lot could happen.<\/p>\n

Of course, this is all predicated on Dallas turning its own play around and winning the majority of its remaining games. If they can at least get to nine wins, meaning winning five of the next seven, that could be enough. A nine-win team has made the NFC playoffs in three of the last four seasons. And remember, 9-7-1 is a better overall record than 9-8. It still remains to be seen if Dallas\u2019 tie with Green Bay helps or hurts them in the end.<\/p>\n

For those of you who\u2019ve given up on the current season, let\u2019s look ahead to April.<\/p>\n

Current 2026 NFL Draft Order <\/strong>(as projected by Tankathon<\/a>)<\/p>\n

1. Tennessee Titans 1-9
2. New York Giants 2-9
3. Cleveland Browns 2-8
4. New Orleans Saints 2-8
5. New York Jets 2-8
6. Las Vegas Raiders 2-8
7. Washington Commanders 3-8
8. Los Angeles Rams (from 3-7 Falcons)
9. Cincinnati Bengals 3-7
10. Arizona Cardinals 3-7
11. Miami Dolphins 4-7
12. Minnesota Vikings 4-6
13. Dallas Cowboys 4-5-1<\/strong>
14. Baltimore Ravens 5-5
15. Kansas City Chiefs 5-5
16. Houston Texans 5-5
17. Carolina Panthers 6-5
18. Detroit Lions 6-4
19. Cleveland Browns (from 6-4 Jaguars)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-4
21. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-4
22. Los Angeles Chargers 7-4
23. San Francisco 49ers 7-4
24. Dallas Cowboys (from 6-3-1 Packers)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right now, that tie is certainly helping as it keeps Dallas\u2019 pick above a pack of 5-5 teams. Naturally, we\u2019re also monitoring the Packers\u2019 fortunes as their 2026 first-rounder belongs to the Cowboys. After a hot start to the year, they\u2019ve slid up from the very bottom of the round into the mid-20s. We\u2019d love that trend to continue.<\/p>\n

The stage is set. So now, let\u2019s get to the players in Week 12.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> Dallas
DRAFT:<\/strong> Philadelphia<\/p>\n

A no-brainer for rooting interests. If Dallas has any real hope of winning the division, they have to have this one. If they can afford a couple of losses and still get a wild card spot, this could be one of them. But ideally, the Cowboys make a big statement this Sunday.<\/p>\n

Draft-wise, a Philly win obviously helps improve Dallas\u2019 pick. It also keeps the Eagles in the upper crust of the standings and helps ensure that the Packers\u2019 pick will be one slot lower.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> New York
DRAFT:<\/strong> Detroit<\/p>\n

The Giants could really help Dallas by upsetting the Lions and making it easier to move past them in the NFC. As for the draft, Detroit is currently neck-and-neck with the Packers. If we want that Green Bay pick to get higher, a Lions win helps.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> Minnesota
DRAFT:<\/strong> Minnesota<\/p>\n

Wear some purple underwear beneath your Cowboys gear this week. While Minnesota is just below Dallas in the NFC at 4-6, a Green Bay loss is far more helpful to us in both the playoff hunt and the draft order. And if the Vikings do get hot and end up with a better record than Dallas, that helps us draft-wise as well.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> Carolina
DRAFT:<\/strong> San Francisco<\/p>\n

While the Panthers are another team Dallas needs to pass in the playoff race, the 49ers are actually in the tournament right now. It\u2019s more critical that they take this loss, with the hope that Carolina stumbles elsewhere along the way.<\/p>\n

Draft focus: You\u2019d like to see the 49ers below the Packers in the eventual draft order.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> Los Angeles
DRAFT:<\/strong> Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

The Bucs are currently leading the NFC South, but the Panthers are right behind them. There\u2019s a much better shot of one of those teams being catchable in the wild card race than the 8-2 Rams, so we\u2019ll take a Tampa loss this week. The draft perspective here doesn\u2019t really matter as both teams are probably making the tournament. Draft order among playoff teams is based on postseason results. But at the very least, Tampa having a higher record could be the tiebreaker if they\u2019re mixed up with Dallas or Green Bay in the end.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> Atlanta
DRAFT:<\/strong> Atlanta<\/p>\n

The NFC South showdown has very little relevance to Dallas. But the Falcons do have some other important NFC games coming against the Seahawks, Bucs, and Rams. If Kirk Cousins\u2019 insertion at QB can spark something, maybe they stay competitive enough to hang a few losses on teams Dallas is tangling with in the playoff race.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> Pittsburgh
DRAFT:<\/strong> Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

It will be rare that we\u2019d root against the AFC team in an interconference matchup. A Chicago loss makes them more susceptible if they end up as a wild-card team. The draft impact here is minimal, but at least a seventh win for the Steelers could help move the Packers\u2019 pick up.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> Tennessee
DRAFT:<\/strong> Seattle<\/p>\n

Another easy one. A Seahawks loss hurts in the playoffs, and a win hurts them in the draft. Currently sitting at 1-9, Tennessee is a non-factor to Dallas in either conversation.<\/p>\n

PLAYOFFS:<\/strong> Jacksonville
DRAFT:<\/strong> Jacksonville<\/p>\n

With the Jaguars at 6-4, their pick (which actually belongs to Cleveland) could be right in the mix with Dallas\u2019 and Green Bay\u2019s, especially if they wind up among the non-playoff teams.<\/p>\n