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Machota: If Cowboys can sneak into playoffs, I believe a Super Bowl run would be a real possibility

Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer for SportsDayDFW.com and The Dallas Morning News, answered questions about the team Friday. Here are some highlights.

With Zeke right around the corner is Oakland a trap game for the Cowboys?

There are no trap games left for the Cowboys. Since losing to the Chargers on Thanksgiving, they've known that they basically have to win out to have any shot at the playoffs. Lose Sunday and they're pretty much eliminated. They can't afford to look past anyone. ... I don't think the Cowboys will win out. They'll likely lose at least one of the last three. But I'll say this, if they were to win the next three and find a way to sneak into the postseason, I believe a Super Bowl run would be a real possibility. Factor in the return of Ezekiel Elliott and the fact that they'd be entering the postseason on a five-game winning streak, I'd like their chances about as much as anyone in the NFC. (I'd also be assuming that their overall health is similar to what it is now.) Of course, all of their playoff games would be on the road. But if they win out, you're talking about a team that would have gone 12-4 on the road over the last two seasons.

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What kind of workload do you expect Zeke to see when he returns?

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The same one he would've had if he was never suspended. I expect 20-plus carries and a few passes thrown his way. Depending on how the game goes, he could get more touches than that. I obviously haven't seen him in over a month, but I expect him to be playing at a high level next week.

Why don’t the Cowboys utilize Ryan Switzer more on offense?

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The simple answer is Jason Witten and Cole Beasley. Switzer wouldn't be much of a threat at this stage of his career as an outside receiver. He just doesn't have the size. With Witten and Beasley healthy, there's just not much opportunity for him on underneath routes right now.

Click here for a replay of the full chat.