Illustration by The Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys found themselves in the playoffs late Sunday afternoon without lifting a finger.
That's because the heavy lifting came before the bulk of games kicked off in Week 13.
The inevitable became official when Washington lost. With four weeks left in the regular season, the Cowboys become the first NFL team to nail down a spot in the postseason.
An 11-game winning streak has its privileges.
The Cowboys own the league's best record at 11-1. Gaining entry into the playoffs is only the first step.