What happened: Upcoming crossover games against the NFC West are positioned to decide the NFC East race heading into late December. Both the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys face multiple matchups against NFC West opponents before their Week 17 meeting.
Why it matters: New York leads the division at 5-3-1 after a 24-21 loss to Washington, currently holding the third seed in the conference. Dallas sits at 4-5 as the tenth seed following a 27-23 victory over Indianapolis. How each team handles the out-of-division slate will determine the margin before their late-season showdown.
By the numbers: New York Giants: 5-3-1, No. 3 seed in NFC Dallas Cowboys: 4-5, No. 10 seed in NFC
What to watch: Both clubs continue their regular-season schedules before meeting in their Week 17 divisional rematch.