Playoff positioning gives Cowboys-Giants rematch a different feel

It’s not over.

It’s not over.

The Dallas Cowboys (11-1) clinched a playoff berth on Sunday.

It was a notable feat for sure.

Outside of the obvious goal of keeping the winning streak alive, which is at a franchise-tying record 11, the Cowboys will be playing for postseason position in their final four games beginning with a key NFC East game at the New York Giants (8-4) Sunday.

A win over the Giants clinches the division title for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys can clinch a first-round bye in two scenarios:

▪  A win plus a Detroit loss or tie.

▪  A win plus a Seattle loss.

Detroit (8-4) hosts Chicago (3-9) and Seattle (8-3-1) plays at Green Bay (6-6).

The Cowboys can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a combination of all three: A win plus a Detroit loss or tie plus a Seattle loss.

As for the game, the Giants are the only team to beat the Cowboys, taking a 20-19 victory in Week 1 at AT&T Stadium.

And the Giants have some playoff thoughts of their own. They currently hold one of the NFC’s two wild-card berths.

Since their first meeting on Sept 11 at AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys have tied the longest winning streak in franchise history. The Cowboys previously won 11 consecutive games spanning the 1968 and 1969 regular seasons.

The Giants were on a six-game winning streak before being dumped by Pittsburgh last week.

Statistical comparisons

This story was originally published December 8, 2016 at 9:07 AM with the headline "Playoff positioning gives Cowboys-Giants rematch a different feel."