You can divide the Cowboys' schedule up roughly into thirds: the pre-bye slate, after which they stand 3-2; the current, six-game middle portion that features four home games but only two divisional contests; and the final five games, a crucial stretch that finds the Cowboys on the road three times and playing all three NFC East foes and the fearsome Saints in New Orleans. But in order to get to that final stanza with a chance to make a run at the playoffs, the Cowboys have to take care of business now, starting with Atlanta this week. The Falcons are a good test, but so far the Cowboys have done their best work against lesser foes. The team's three wins have come against the 0-6 Buccaneers, the 1-5 Chiefs and the 2-3 Panthers — all of whom were winless when they played the Cowboys. If Dallas does not go into its brutal December portion of the schedule with a record of at least 6-5 (and more likely 7-4), the playoffs are all but out of reach.

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