The Dallas Cowboys’ playoff hopes had been trending upward thanks to a three-game winning streak from Weeks 11 to 13. But Thursday night’s 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions delivered a major setback.Now 6-6-1, the Week 14 setback stings even more when you consider the Cowboys had just beaten both of last season’s Super Bowl finalists.The Cowboys got a bit of relief on Monday when the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 22-19 in overtime. That result softens the blow of Dallas’ Week 14 loss.With that Monday Night Football outcome, the most realistic route to the playoffs for Dallas, which is to win the NFC East title, suddenly feels a lot more reachable.Dallas Cowboys playoff chances after Week 14Just a few weeks ago, the idea of Dak Prescott and his teammates winning the NFC East seemed far-fetched. Now, thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles losing three straight games since their Week 12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the door is open again.Philadelphia’s latest setback on Monday only improves Dallas’ postseason outlook, but the Cowboys still have a mountain to climb if they hope to turn that opportunity into reality.For the Cowboys to win the NFC East at this stage, they must win all four of their remaining regular-season games and hope the Eagles suffer at least two more losses. One more Dallas loss would most likely sink their chances.The odds are not enticing, but the Cowboys’ chances haven’t faded completely just yet.According to Sportskeeda’s playoff predictor, the Cowboys are projected to finish the season at 8-8-1, falling short of the playoffs and finishing No. 2 in the NFC East behind Philadelphia.While their postseason hopes remain slim, it’s remarkable that a team that started 3-5-1 has managed to keep itself in the hunt with four weeks to go. That alone highlights how much improvement this Dallas squad has seen in the past few weeks.Dallas Cowboys' schedule for the rest of the seasonThe Dallas Cowboys’ final push begins with a home game against the Minnesota Vikings (5-8), followed by a tougher Week 16 showdown with the 9-4 Los Angeles Chargers. From there, Dallas hits the road to close out the regular season, facing the struggling Washington Commanders (3-10) in Week 17 and the two-win New York Giants (2-11) in the season finale.It’s a relatively easy stretch for the Cowboys on paper, with only the Chargers owning a winning record among the team's final four opponents.As for the Eagles, their schedule will see them face the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) at home on Sunday before consecutive road games against the Commanders and the Buffalo Bills (9-4). They will close the regular season with a home game against Washington.