NFL Playoff Prediction: Dallas Cowboys Sitting Comfortably at Top NFC Spot

Dec 14, 2016 12:52 PM EST

Despite losing to the New York Giants on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys are still enjoying a huge lead within the NFC division. Even with their current situation, there's still a big chance that the Cowboys will secure the NFC East title and secure a first-round playoff bye.

At Week 14, the Cowboys' winning streak came to a crumbling halt after succumbing to the defense of the Giants, that team that has manage to deal the only two losses in Dallas' near-perfect record.

The game on Sunday had several implications for various teams, including the Giants, which was able to maintain a spot in the budding playoff picture thanks to their recent win. As for the Cowboys, although they have managed to create a bit of leeway for themselves due to their incredible season, they will have to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday and hope that the Giants lose to the Detroit Lions in order to the division or a bye, according to Dallas Cowboys.com.

If, however, the Cowboys lose in their upcoming game, they would still lead the NFC division as long as the Giants also lose. But, this scenario would then put the Lions right behind Dallas.

In other words, in order to create a simpler scenario, the Cowboys would just have to continue winning games.

As for the team, it was recently rumored that Tony Romo might get appointed to the starting quarterback post after the squad lost under Dak Prescott's leadership. These rumors may have been started by what team owner Jerry Jones said a couple of weeks ago. According to Jones, he would only consider re-appointing Romo if the team starts to lose.

But, after the match on Sunday, Jones reaffirmed Cowboys fans that Prescott will still be the team's starting quarterback.

"It's pretty simple for us: Dak's going to play quarterback as we go forward," Jones said according to CBS Sports.

Terrell Owens, the retired wide receiver for the Cowboys, also defended Prescott and referred to the rumors as disrespectful because of what the young quarterback has achieved for the Dallas organization.

"I knew we were going to have to address this, and this is the Big D," he said according to All 22. "This is the big disrespect that Dak is getting considering, again, he's taken this team to heights that not even Tony Romo has taken them."

"They've lost by a total of 4 points in the games that he's played this year," he added. "The only 2 losses they have - the blemishes they have on their schedule this year - are the Giants, so they just have to find a way to beat the Giants."