Here's How the Cowboys Benefit From the Approved NFL Playoff Expansion

The NFL's latest CBA included the potential for a two-team expansion of the league's postseason format, and that's now officially in the books starting next season. All 32 owners around the league participated in a teleconference Tuesday and approved a new 14-team playoff field.

This is great for regular season football because more teams are encouraged to stay competitive and only the No. 1 seeds get a first-round bye, but this will ultimately have the biggest impact on fringe-playoff teams fighting for a spot come Week 17. In a crowded NFC, this new regulation gives the Dallas Cowboys a much better chance of playing postseason football.

Dallas owner and GM Jerry Jones has often been an advocate for the league to expand from its 12-team playoff format, and now, he finally has his wish. Since 2011, the Cowboys have finished .500 or better but missed the playoffs on five occasions. They're in a legitimate position to take full advantage of a bigger field.

In Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliot and Amari Cooper to go along with a potent defense, Dallas has more than enough firepower to contend, but the team has just three playoff appearances to its name the last decade. No, the Cowboys wouldn't have made the cut last season if it were a 14-team field, but this is still huge for a team whose last Wild Card berth came in 2006.

The Cowboys are routinely in the hunt for a playoff spot at the end of each regular season. Now, they don't have to bank on winning the NFC East title to get there.