The Dallas Cowboys are still alive in the NFL playoff race, but the team faces steep odds despite a clear open door in the NFC East.

Again, according to NFL.com, the Eagles currently have a 21% chance of getting the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Only the Rams (9-2) have a better chance, at 54%. It should be noted that the Eagles beat the Rams 33-26 on Sept. 21, so the Eagles would have the first tiebreaker should both teams finish with the best record in the NFC.

The Eagles are one of six teams in the NFC with eight or nine wins, and only two teams in the NFL have an easier schedule the rest of the way than the Birds.

The NFC East hasn't had a repeat division winner since 2003-04, making it an outlier in a league where division titles infrequently change hands. Last season's champions of the AFC East, West, South and North and the NFC South and North all were repeat winners. And the only exception, the NFC West, last saw a repeat winner in 2022-23.

The NFC East continues to run through the Philadelphia Eagles (8-3), but things got a little tighter this week as the Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1) pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback against the Eagles. The Washington Commanders (3-8) got the week off,

Again, according to NFL.com, the Eagles currently have a 41% chance of getting the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Only the Rams (8-2) have a better chance, at 42%. It should be noted that the Eagles beat the Rams 33-26 on Sept. 21, so the Eagles would have the first tiebreaker should both teams finish with the best record in the NFC.

1. Chicago Bears (9-3): Up next — At Green Bay Packers in Week 14 Notable odds: The Bears jumped into first in the NFC standings Sunday afternoon as a result of the Panthers' upset of the Rams. Friday's Bears win over the Eagles bumped Chicago's odds to win the NFC North to 30% in The Athletic's playoff simulator.