Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer made it clear he wants to win these final two games.
The Dallas Cowboys are in a position that sees them having to make a big decision.
With just two games left in the season, and nothing to be gained in terms of the standings, head coach Brian Schottenheimer and his staff have to decide if they will play their starters.
If they do, there is a risk that an injury could happen that might impact 2026.
But if the starters sit, and Dallas goes 0-2 to finish the year, there won't be anything positive to cling to in the offseason.
Well, an improved draft hand. But that's it.
Schottenheimer was asked how much he thinks about sitting his starters considering that injury risk.
And he again made it clear why he wants to play the starters against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
“We're in Year 1, we've done some things that we're proud of this year,” Schottenheimer said. There's certainly not the success in the win-loss column. That's very evident. We're disappointed about that. I'm fueled by the fact that we get to play an NFC East opponent this week and then next week (at New York)."
Ok. Playing division rivals is motivation.
But where does the injury-risk factor into all of this?
It is clear that winning and creating the culture Schottenheimer wants, trumps that.
There are differing views on it. But the only view that matters is the Cowboys'.
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"We want to win and to sustain some success," Schottenheimer added. "We have a chance to potentially go 5-1 in the division. This is the NFC East, that's something that motivates us. We're playing to win. Our players are all about that. That's what the culture we're trying to build.”
So once again, it is crystal-clear, at least in their words. ... there is a new goal: 5-1.
Dallas wants to win football games. Will going 5-1 in the division really matter that much heading into the offseason and next year? We'll get back to you on that ... a year from now.