AROUND THE NFC

COWBOYS OR RODEO CLOWNS>> Dallas spent five weeks riding high, scoring 33- plus in five straight wins. Then Mike Mccarthy’s team got thrown off the bull hard in a 31- 10 beatdown at Buffalo on Sunday night. They’re going to get tested the next two weeks, too, against Miami and Detroit, before closing the season at Washington. They’ll be talked about plenty in the coming weeks, but the only thing this group will be judged by ultimately is whether it can get the franchise past the divisional round of the playoffs for the first time since the 1995 season. No, really.

AVIAN FLU >> Are the Birds in trouble? Philadelphia went from 10- 1 to currently occupying a Wild Card spot thanks to a three- game skid started by San Francisco in the City of Brotherly Love and most recently extended by…. Drew Lock and his 92- yard touchdown drive! That’s a coast- to- coast skid, with Dallas right in the middle. Here’s the good news: There might not be a true cure for what ails the Eagles — defensive coordinator changes in December for teams with Super Bowl aspirations is not it, man — but there’s time for healing on the horizon. Philly closes with two against the Giants around a home game against Arizona. 13- 4 here they come.

WE’RE NO. 1 >> Tough spot for Green Bay to be in this weekend. They’re clinging to slim playoff hopes after back- to- back dreadful defensive performances. Not only that, but beating Carolina this week only bolster’s archrival Chicago’s draft position, since the Bears have the Panthers’ firstround pick. Great work, Pack! You’ve just helped ensure you’ll be facing Caleb Williams twice a year. Funny enough, Chicago can help its own cause, too, by… losing to 3- 11 Arizona.