As the Dallas Cowboys head into their Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders, the big question is who will start at quarterback: Trey Lance or Cooper Rush? For many Cowboys fans, if it were up to them, Lance would be the one taking the snaps as the starter, especially given the context of the team’s regular season finale. However, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has made it clear with both words and actions that he believes Cooper Rush is the better option between the two quarterbacks. This decision has become even more intriguing, as McCarthy has yet to officially announce who will lead the team on Sunday.

Despite McCarthy’s consistent backing of Rush, the upcoming game has stakes beyond just performance on the field. There are substantial financial implications at play—particularly for Cooper Rush, whose contract includes playtime incentives that could impact his overall earnings. These incentives are tied to the percentage of offensive snaps he plays, and they could make a significant difference in his paycheck if he reaches certain thresholds.

Per Spotrac, Rush’s contract includes a set of incentives tied to his playing time. If he takes part in 45% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps for the season, he will earn an additional $250,000. Rush has already surpassed this threshold, as he has played 52.3% of the offensive snaps. However, there’s more to the story: if he reaches a 55% snap count by the end of the season, he will earn another $250,000, bringing his total incentive earnings to half a million dollars for the year.

While that may not seem like a huge jump, a simple look at the numbers shows that it’s not as easy as it sounds. For Rush to reach that 55% mark, he would need to play a significant number of snaps in the final game of the season. Specifically, assuming Rush plays all offensive snaps in Week 18, he needs a total of 65 snaps to reach the 55% threshold. The challenge here is that, in 2023, only four NFL teams have averaged 65 offensive plays per game. This means that even if Rush plays every snap, there is a limited window of opportunity for him to reach his target, especially given the limited number of plays that most teams run in a game.

If the Cowboys choose to play both quarterbacks during the game, Rush’s chances of hitting the 55% snap count are slim. For him to secure that extra $250,000, the Cowboys would need to stick with Rush for the full game, playing him for all offensive snaps and leaving little room for experimentation with Lance. It becomes clear that the best way for Rush to ensure he hits his target is for the coaches to start him and let him lead the offense for the entire game, taking the decision out of their hands and giving him the opportunity to reach the incentive.

Interestingly, the last time the Cowboys faced the Commanders, they utilized Trey Lance in specific offensive packages. While this may have been part of the Cowboys’ strategy at the time, it would severely impact Rush’s ability to reach his incentive targets. If Lance is used again in similar packages this Sunday, it could be a significant setback for Rush’s financial goal.

In the end, the decision may come down to the wire for the Cowboys’ backup quarterback. The outcome of Sunday’s game could determine whether Rush reaches the 55% snap count and secures an extra $250,000—or if he falls short, leaving the incentive unattainable. With financial stakes in play, it’s clear that Rush has a lot riding on this game, and the Cowboys’ coaching staff may have to make a difficult decision on how to approach the gameplan. Whether it’s playing it safe with Rush or giving Lance more time on the field, the Cowboys’ Week 18 finale could have major financial consequences for the backup quarterback—one that might even come down to the final snap.