IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys' list of goals for the season is filled with scratchouts. The latest black line goes through the plan to win their final four games for a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.

	Emmitt Smith says the Cowboys need to quit make excuses and just start performing.

A 22-21 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday forced the Cowboys (7-7) to come up with a new objective once again.

Dallas' latest war cry is to win its final two games and hope Washington loses at least once. That scenario would enable the Cowboys to emerge from a crazy season with a second consecutive NFC East title.

"All that other stuff we were shooting for is gone now," coach Chan Gailey said Monday. "We didn't win our last four. But we can still win our last three of four and get in the playoffs -- and we may win the division. Who knows? Just go fight."

Should Dallas win in New Orleans on Friday and beat the New York Giants at Texas Stadium on Jan. 2, the Cowboys would be 9-7.

If Washington (8-6) also finishes 9-7, Dallas wins the division because it won both head-to-head meetings.

If the Redskins win, the Cowboys would have to try getting one of the NFC's three wild-card spots.

"It is very frustrating," running back Emmitt Smith said. "Here we are again after seven losses saying what we could do and how good we could be. Eventually, that has to stop. Who are we kidding? In order to be better, you've got to do better."

Getting to 9-7 won't be easy for Dallas.

The Cowboys haven't won two in a row since starting 3-0. To start a streak, they would have to win in New Orleans, and they've lost their last six road games.

While the Saints might be feeble at defending their home turf, they did slam the Cowboys 22-3 at the Superdome last season. That loss is one of Dallas' 10 straight on the road against non-divisional foes.

Gailey, who dismisses the road woes as simply a coincidence, notes that if the Cowboys make the playoffs, they still can reach their ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.

"You have to have that mindset," he said. "You cannot doubt what you are capable of doing. I think our guys are strong enough not to let that doubt overtake them.

"Is there a certain little bit probably creeping around? Sure there is. But that's on every team that's out there. A little doubt helps you, keeps you on edge."

The latest loss followed the same plot lines of previous defeats. The biggest difference was that it happened at Texas Stadium, where Dallas had been 6-0.

The Cowboys blew an eight-point lead in the second half, were set back 92 yards on seven penalties and converted just three of 12 third downs -- but still kept it close. This was the their fifth loss by seven points or fewer.

"We don't ever get blown out," Gailey said. "It's always a tough loss, a close loss, and those hurt because you think about one or two plays here or there."

This one was especially painful because the Cowboys went into the game knowing the Redskins and Giants had lost, meaning a victory would have greatly improved their postseason status.

"Everyone knew what was at stake," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "This was a playoff-type reward if we could have gotten it done. That makes this one of the toughest losses that we've had in the time I've been here."