The Dallas Cowboys are dealing with a mini-COVID outbreak throughout the organization. Adam Schefter reported today that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has tested posted for COVID-19. According to additional sources, they now have eight positive cases and “more details are rolling in.”

Damn. That’s a shame. Of course, I don’t want anyone to catch COVID or get sick regardless of what virus they get. That’s just horrible. However, there’s good reason why we are discussing this on The Liberty Line. 

The Cowboys have lost three of four games and play the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. The Saints have lost four straight games. I know everyone is hardly over the pitiful excuse for a football game that we all witnessed yesterday. It’s tough to be optimistic at the moment. New Orleans will be undergoing a QB change, giving Taysom Hill the QB1 reps now.

The Eagles will play the Jets this weekend, then will have two games against the Washington Football Team, another one against the Giants, and a final game at Lincoln Financial Field against the Cowboys to close out the regular season. 

For the Cowboys, they will have to face the Saints, Washington Football Team, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and then on the road against the Eagles. 

According to FiveThirtyEight, with a Cowboys loss and an Eagles win, the Eagles playoff chances go up to 30% from 23%, with every game mattering in the final weeks of the regular season.

Alongside COVID, the Cowboys have been without Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb with Ezekiel Elliott likely joining them for several weeks.

In the end the Saints still suck. Even with COVID and injuries, Dallas should be able to beat the Saints and then move onto three straight against NFC East rivals in the Giants and Washington Football Team. Things could get interesting in Week 17 and 18 between the Eagles and Cowboys, assuming you are a believer that the birds can bounce back after yesterday’s embarrassment. 

Time will tell but somehow, some way, the Eagles are still in the hunt for the playoffs. 

Mandatory Credit: Getty Images