Mailbag: Is this Week 4 game a must win?

I'm not too surprised the Cowboys have a 1-2 record at this point, given their opponents, but the way they've lost is definitely concerning. It's only Week 4, yet I now feel like this is a must-win game against the Giants, especially considering the teams they have to face in the upcoming weeks. What do you think? – Mario Rodriguez/Phoenix, AZ

Patrik: I have to disagree in that I'm definitely surprised they're 1-2 right now, and especially considering the splits. I could've seen a loss to the Browns in Cleveland (before anyone knew the Browns would start Browning this season), but then following that up with a win over the Saints and probably edging out the Ravens because home field advantage, so to drop two in a row at home (three, now) is stunning to me. That said, this is now absolutely a must-win for the Cowboys. Losing won't mathematically eliminate them from the playoffs, yeah OK that's true, but it would wildly drop their odds of making the playoffs down the road and, let's be frank here, they need the win for a mental and confidence booster before heading to even more hostile territory in Pittsburgh and then hosting the Lions before visiting the 49ers. Lose this game and it could lead to a cascade of unpleasant events over the next several weeks, so just buck up and go deliver an open-handed smack to the Giants, right in the mouth, to get to 2-2 on the season.

Nick: Yes and no. I'll say no because at 1-3, obviously you're not mathematically out of anything because there will still 13 games on the schedule. Of course, teams have turned things around like that in the past and made the playoffs, maybe even won their division. But to me, for the time you hope to have, you can't lose to the Giants. It's not just being 1-3 but it would be a loss to a team you've beaten 12 of the last 13 times. And if that one loss - in 2020 with Andy Dalton as the starter - the Cowboys probably should've won that game. My point is a loss to the Giants would probably signal way bigger issues with this team that might be very difficult to bounce back from. I'd rather not find that out. So it might not be a 'must-win' but it's a 'you better win' type of game.