AP Photo/Amy Sancetta FRISCO, Texas – That the Cowboys are on the precipice of qualifying for the NFC playoffs heading into the final game of the season with potentially a 7-9 record reminds me of Dec. 31, 1990, nearly 30 years ago to the date. When spending New Year's Eve with the 7-9 Dallas Cowboys. Well, OK, maybe a dozen or so at Cowboys Sports Café in Valley Ranch, mere blocks away from the team's headquarters. For a very important watching party. And my, how times have changed since there are some these days not so excited about the Cowboys potentially winning the NFC East with a 7-9 record to become just the third team with a losing record in a non-strike season to qualify for the NFL playoffs – knowing the Cowboys must first defeat the New York Giants in a noon game Sunday to reach 7-9 and then needing the Philadelphia Eagles to defeat 6-9 Washington in the nationally-televised 7:20 p.m. start to prevent the Cowboys from finishing in a potential 7-9 tie for first in the NFC East that they would lose because of WFT owning the head-to-head tiebreaker.