Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The offseason is quickly approaching for the Dallas Cowboys. After the most recent loss to the Cincinnati Bengals there is really no reason to continue pretending the Dallas Cowboys have any kind of chance to reach the postseason this year. It’s time to start focusing more on the future of this organization and where they are headed. They will have a lot of work to do in the offseason and they might as well start now. Today, we thought we’d get a jumpstart on things and take a look at some of the more important unanswered questions for the Cowboys prior to heading into the offseason. With just four games remaining on the 2024 NFL regular-season schedule, these offseason decisions may start happening sooner rather than later. Will the Cowboys retain Mike McCarthy as their HC? The first thing the Cowboys have to do is figure out their head-coaching situation before they can do anything else in the offseason. Many believe it’s time to move on from Mike McCarthy, but Jerry Jones and Company as of yet haven’t been forthcoming as to what his future holds in Dallas. They don’t seem to have closed the door completely about giving him a contract extension, but at the same time haven’t fully endorsed he is the right man for the job either. With four games remaining on the 2024 regular-season schedule, a decision will have to be made sooner rather than later. Should the Cowboys consider trading Micah Parsons? After taking care of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb financially, Micah Parsons is next in line to receive a contract extension from the Cowboys. There’s little doubt a big payday is coming his way considering he’s arguably one of the best, if not the best, defensive players in the league, but is it in the best interest of the Cowboys to be the team to pay him? Injuries and poor play this year has exposed their roster depth, and as such, could really use the draft capital they could get in return by trading No. 11 away to the highest bidder. This is one of those chicken and egg debates with no clear answer right now. Will the Cowboys be more aggressive in free agency? A year ago the Cowboys did little in free agency to help upgrade the roster and as a result we have seen their depth exposed due to the plethora of injuries they sustained this season. Jerry Jones and Company will be sure to point out getting players back healthy will help improve things, but there are still several holes they will need to fill via free agency and the draft. With the investment they’ve made in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and possibly Micah Parsons, money could be tight for them once again. That probably means we’ll see much of the same from them this offseason as we did last year.
Report: ‘Feeling around NFL’ is Mike McCarthy will return to Dallas Cowboys in 2025
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images It is starting to seem more likely than not that Mike McCarthy could return to the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. Jerry Jones has been dropping breadcrumbs left and right for a few weeks now. At just about every turn or radio appearance, Jerry has expressed confidence/optimism/support/call-it-what-you-want in favor of Mike McCarthy as the head coach of his football team. It should be noted that Jerry did not exactly do this back in January when it would have made sense (in a literal sense, not a contextual one) to extend the skipper. As we are all aware, he chose to let McCarthy (and a majority of his staff, including new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer) run at the season in contract years which has existed as a cloud hanging over them throughout the entire campaign. As noted though, Jerry has offered that McCarthy is a fine coach, a Super Bowl-winning one at that, and said things like that it isn’t impossible for McCarthy to return to the team in 2025. Conventional wisdom suggests that this seems more likely than not given that the hottest would-be name on the market (Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson) likely won’t be a match for the Cowboys based on the fact that they are, um, the Cowboys. In terms of names, the actual biggest on the market figured to be the legendary Bill Belichick, but this week he joined the University of North Carolina which takes him off of the board. For what it’s worth, reports are that Belichick and his group were not only unsure if Dallas would have an opening but if Jerry would cede control/power to him. Obviously that is the thing when it comes to the Cowboys. Connecting dots it stands to reason that there may not be a worthwhile option for the Cowboys if they do indeed reach a point where they are looking for a new head coach in a month’s time. National reporting is starting to corroborate this. On Friday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini note that “word around the league” is that Mike McCarthy is going to return to the Cowboys for 2025. From our friends at Bleacher Report: On track to have their first losing season since 2020, the Dallas Cowboys may not be looking to move on from Mike McCarthy as their head coach. Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic on the Scoop City podcast (starts at 9:35 mark), there is a “feeling around the league” that McCarthy will be back with the Cowboys in 2025. The feeling in question could just be the logical leap that anyone is able to make right now. If it’s dark and cloudy outside then it is more probable than not that it is going to rain. That type of thing. But if you want to put on a tinfoil hat you could convince yourself that Jerry and the Cowboys assessed this overall situation over the last who-knows-how-long and that is why they began to advocate more for McCarthy. Maybe they were getting ahead of things so as to sell that this is what they wanted. Or heck, maybe this really is what they do actually want. If we are measuring the wants and wishes of important people involved, quarterback Dak Prescott has also issued a public endorsement. Last week he offered a rare public comment (since his injury and surgery) and noted that he wants McCarthy back. He even went as far as saying Mike deserves a shot “on his terms.” “Your coach seems like he’s playing on his last contract and [I’m] almost feeling helpless like I can’t help him in this situation, especially a guy you believe in so much and you believe in being your head coach,” Prescott told Yahoo Sports during a Tuesday afternoon Zoom call. “Control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can.” … “I believe in him wholeheartedly,” Prescott said, speaking in partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods. “I don’t want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously, but I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it. “But I wholeheartedly believe in him.” There are still four games left in the regular season for the Cowboys so any serious conversation along these lines will be tabled until after the New Year begins; however, it is starting to seem like there is a lot of smoke building which would suggest a fire is somewhere around these parts. Is it the flame of Mike McCarthy? Alive and not at all extinguished?
Cowboys Headlines: O-line depth added, Panthers rare favorites, contract leaves Belichick still in mix?
Updates: Zack Martin has surgery, OL signed :: The Mothership Link Martin’s surgery is set to take place by the weekend. The Cowboys added some OL depth by signing Braeden Daniels to the practice squad. Daniels is a Metroplex native and was a fourth-round draft pick by Washington in 2023. The tackle has also spent time with the Texans, Chargers, and Eagles. Cowboys vs Panthers Week 15 injury report: Beebe’s concussion, Lamb, Diggs hobbled :: Cowboys Wire Link Beebe did not participate in Thursday’s practice, nor did safety Juanyeh Thomas or linebackers Eric Kendricks and Buddy Johnson. (The Cowboys are suddenly a little thin there without DeMarvion Overshown.) Diggs, Lamb, Jourdan Lewis, and C.J. Goodwin were limited. Panthers are favored over Cowboys, Carolina’s first game as a favorite in two years :: ProFootballTalk Link Sports books have the Panthers as either 1-point or 1.5-point favorites when they host the 5-8 Cowboys on Sunday. The last time they were favored to win a game was Dec. 18, 2022. Science Lab: DeMarvion Overshown is far from done with NFL, Cowboys :: The Mothership Link Rumors of Overshown’s latest injury being a career-ender may be more than a bit premature. There is reportedly no nerve damage, as was the case with Jaylon Smith. Closer comparisons might be Navarro Bowman (who returned in 20 months to earn a first-team All- Pro nod), Nick Chubb (who suffered a catastrophic knee injury in college and has gone on to four Pro Bowls), and teammate Terence Steele (who returned after nine months to play 100% of snaps). Major injury to former 3rd-round pick will shake up Cowboys 2025 draft plans :: Cowboys Wire Link With Overshown’s 2025 season in jeopardy, Dallas now has little choice but to look to the draft for a young linebacker replacement who can also rush the passer, blitz from anywhere, and show sideline-to-sideline range. Marist Liufau could ascend, but Eric Kendricks is a possibility to leave in free agency. That might leave the Cowboys shopping for second linebacker this offseason. Cowboys predict another ‘tight’ budget looms in offseason, says Stephen Jones :: Dallas Morning News Link Get ready for another offseason of pinching pennies. “It’s going to be really, really tight,” Stephen Jones told the media, “because we still have some money left over from some guys who aren’t here today. And you’re going to have some other guys that won’t be here in the future that you still have their cap count.” The Cowboys currently rank 24th in the NFL when it comes to salary cap space in 2025, with just north of $20 million. House of Cowboys DT Linval Joseph targeted in series of robberies around the league, NFL says :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Add Joseph to the list of pro athletes who’ve experienced home break-ins while they were playing. The defensive tackle’s Minnesota home was targeted on Nov. 18 while the Cowboys played the Texans in Arlington. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Joe Burrow have also been victims of what is being called an international organized crime ring, possibly tied to a South American group. Cowboys Today: Did Cowboys ever seriously consider hiring Bill Belichick? :: The Athletic Link Stephen Jones deflected on Thursday when he was asked if there had been internal conversations about looking at Belichick as a possible Cowboys coach. “We’re worried about the next game,” he responded. Remember, they could have hired him in February. And if there had been serious midseason interest, they easily could have relayed that message before Belichick took the North Carolina job. Bill Belichick’s UNC buyout is a perfect escape hatch to the NFL :: Yahoo Sports Link Don’t expect the Belichick-to-Dallas rumblings to go away entirely, though. The coach’s UNC contract reportedly has a buyout clause that drops to a paltry $1 million on June 1, 2025. That means an interested team (the Cowboys or otherwise) could still swoop in and hire him away ahead of next summer’s training camp and three full months before his first game with the Tar Heels. That’s well after the coaching cycle typically ends, but the loophole is a wrinkle that will tantalize NFL observers all offseason long, at the very least. Week 15 Mike McCarthy Replacement Rankings: Belichick to UNC opens spot for Wes Phillips :: Cowboys Wire Link The Vikings offensive coordinator should get some serious looks this hiring cycle, while Mike Vrabel continues to be a popular name. This week’s look at potential candidates includes many of the usual suspects: Brian Flores, Bobby Slowik, Aaron Glenn, Kliff Kingsbury, and Todd Monken among them. Belichick may be off the board, but long shots like Deion Sanders, Kyle Shanahan, and Ben Johnson are still pie-in-the-sky possibilities that have to be considered. Cowboys become first sports franchise ever to reach $10 billion valuation :: Cowboys WIre Link The team that Jerry Jones once bought for $140 million is now the first to be valued at a number that takes 11 digits to write out. The Cowboys are the most valuable team in the NFL for the ninth year running. The Los Angeles Rams have the league’s second-highest valuation but are a staggering $2.5 billion behind Dallas. Creating legacy: Southlake Carroll utility man, son of late Cowboys star embraces new role :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Christian Glenn began the season as a backup receiver and special teams contributor for Southlake Carroll. Injuries, however, have pressed the son of former Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn into service as the Rams’ starting running back, and he’s delivered. Leading the team into the Class 6A Division Two state semifinals this weekend, the senior says although he never got to see his dad play live, he tries to represent him when he puts on his own uniform, all the way down to the same No. 83 jersey. “I kept working every day in hopes a chance would eventually come up for me to show out.” Now, he adds, “I get to be the player. I get
Cowboys Point/Counterpoint: How the Cowboys may be tied to Mike McCarthy
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The next month is going to be important for the Cowboys. The loss to the Cincinnati Bengals all but ended any possibility of the Dallas Cowboys making the postseason. Any remaining scenarios for them entail things so improbable it would be one of the greatest miracles in NFL history to be in the playoffs this season, and there isn’t going to be a Christmas miracle like that for Dallas. Now they face the challenge of what to do to try and turn things around in 2025. It is widely anticipated that Jerry Jones will be looking for a new head coach. However, the name so frequently linked to the job, Bill Belichick, is now set to join the college ranks at the University of North Carolina. And Jones himself has left the door open, more or less, for Mike McCarthy to return. That may be a bit disturbing for many or even most fans. But as Tom Ryle and David Howman discuss, there are some reasons why it may come about. And they center around quarterback Dak Prescott. Tom: It is a given that the Cowboys are tied to Dak Prescott with his massive contract. That is a Jerry decision, and he is not about to admit that the team may be stuck in limbo with Prescott. But that may be exactly where they are. After two major injuries to his legs, Prescott is no longer the mobile quarterback who can evade sacks, extend plays, or tuck and run for a big gain. His confidence in running is gone. He has never been the best pocket passer, but that is what he may be reduced to. This is the scenario facing any new head coach. The size of Prescott’s cap hit, and that of CeeDee Lamb, means they would see the team relying again on the draft to rebuild a badly depleted roster. It is not something that is going to turn around quickly. That means the best the team may be able to do is keep McCarthy, or take a real gamble on a hungry assistant coach. And that is a bet Jerry is not likely to make. David: We’ll have to just disagree on the assessment of Prescott. He’s never been much of a running threat in the NFL – his career high was 357 rushing yards in 2017 – but his pocket passing is what makes him great. Since 2019, the year where he really fixed his footwork and started to ascend the leaderboard, Prescott is sixth among all quarterbacks in EPA/play and ninth in completion percentage over expected (CPOE). We also saw the best version of Prescott just a year ago, which just so happened to be the first year with McCarthy calling plays. Things looked off this year, but there were a lot of external factors. Lamb’s holdout, Prescott’s own contract situation, major changes on the offensive line, and the general pressure to perform for McCarthy as a lame duck coach. But we know Prescott can thrive in this offense, which is one reason to keep McCarthy. Another is that you don’t want to put your quarterback – the longest tenured quarterback in the league, mind you – through a total scheme change at the same time that he’s recovering from a pretty gruesome injury. The rehab process will be grueling enough. The Cowboys shouldn’t rock the boat any more than they have to if they want to support their franchise quarterback. Tom: I will demur on how important his mobility is. We’ve seen him escape almost certain sacks and make plays in past seasons, but that was not nearly as evident this year. Further, it isn’t the volume of rushing yards, it is the effectiveness. Prescott used to turn almost certain losses into positive plays. Again, that did not seem to be working for him nearly as well in 2024. Now we have to see how his rehab goes, and just what he still has. I fear there will be a bit more degrading in his physical ability. And, as you said, as the longest tenured QB in the league, the miles are adding up. Sure, some other quarterbacks that have moved around are still playing at a high level, but there is also Aaron Rodgers, for example, who just doesn’t seem to have the magic he once did. I will concede, however, that he would have needed a lot of sorcery to lead that Jets roster to success. But we do have some common ground. The team is sticking with Prescott, because they have no choice, and McCarthy may be the best option to maximize his potential. He has five seasons working with his QB. Changes with a new head man and offensive coordinator, the latter a de facto role for McCarthy, would set things back. Possibly a lot. And this team was still fighting hard for McCarthy last Monday. Had it not been for the bone-headed special teams error by Amani Oruwariye, they would very likely have won that game. For all his faults, McCarthy still seems to have the faith of his players. 2025 is looking like something of a rebuild for the Cowboys. Given that, I’m not sure that giving McCarthy two or three more years would be a bad thing. After all, Belichick seems to have taken the UNC job so he could hand it to his son, and that may not take too long. In any case, there will be other candidates in other years if they are needed. David: I’m happy to see people coming around on this, as it’s what I’ve been saying all along. Not to toot my own horn, of course, I would never do that. McCarthy is liked and respected by his players. That much is clear. Prescott, in particular, likes him an awful lot. Quarterbacks aren’t always the best judge of coaching hires – Baker Mayfield once endorsed Freddie Kitchens – but Prescott has been around
Cowboys news: Another ‘tight’ budget looms in offseason, says Stephen Jones
Cowboys predict another ‘tight’ budget looms in offseason, says Stephen Jones – SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News Stephen Jones has already started setting expectations for 2025, and it may be a repeat of 2024 in terms of player acquisition. “I think we knew we were going to have a challenge this year and next year,” Jones said of the team’s ability to spend on players. “It’s going to be really, really tight because we still have some money left over from some guys who aren’t here today. And you’re going to have some other guys that won’t be here in the future that you still have their cap count.” Fans lamenting Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley running wild in Baltimore and Philadelphia, respectfully, rather than heading to Dallas in free agency last offseason may need to expect more of the same. Dallas’ big spending before the start of the 2024 season instead came in the form of long-term extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys currently rank 24th in the NFL when it comes to salary cap space in 2025 with just north of $20 million, per spotrac. Offseason moves to fix the Cowboys – Bill Barnwell, ESPN Regardless of Stephen Jones’ fairy tales about the cap, spending on coaches is not limited by the cap, and part of Barnwell’s plan to fix the Cowboys revolves around exactly that. Move on from Mike McCarthy. The former Packers coach won 12 games in each of the three seasons he had a healthy Prescott, but his teams struggled in 2020 and 2024 even before Prescott went down with season-ending injuries. McCarthy modernized his offense when he was hired, but some of his changes were fleeting; the Cowboys are back down to 29th in motion rate at the snap this season, as an example. He sold himself to the Cowboys as an analytics-reformed thinker, but that didn’t happen in practice based on the comments he made to announcers about wanting to hit carry totals in the second half and his late-game management. He was better than he was at his worst in Green Bay, but the bar is a lot higher in Dallas. He isn’t a bad coach, but he’s not making the team drastically better in 2025. There is someone out there who can do that. Offer Ben Johnson five years and $125 million to take over as coach. I wanted to argue that the Cowboys should hire Bill Belichick, who would have taken over in the hopes of immediately fixing the defense and left the offense to someone else. With Belichick taking the job at the University of North Carolina, though, Dallas might instead need to take a bigger swing to fix its offense. Johnson’s work as the offensive coordinator in Detroit has been impeccable. While he won’t be able to bring that dominant O-line and some of the playmakers with him, consider how many of the people who touch the ball there were regarded before they got to Johnson. Amon-Ra St. Brown was a fourth-round pick. David Montgomery was a running back who had averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in his four seasons with Chicago. Wideouts Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond were cut by Tennessee. And Jared Goff, now an MVP candidate, had essentially been benched for John Wolford in a playoff game and was salary ballast in the Matthew Stafford trade. They’ve all gotten better under Johnson. The Cowboys can’t subvert the salary cap, and they can’t buy first-round picks, but spending on coaches is uncapped. Paying Johnson this much would represent a significant investment and probably make every other team in the league angry, but coaches as a whole are underpaid. This franchise is valued as being worth more than $10 billion by Forbes. If this move succeeds, Johnson would be a bargain. If it fails, the Cowboys won’t miss the money. With Bill Belichick off the board, Mike McCarthy still has work left to stay Cowboys coach – Tom Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News These last few games will be crucial in evaluating Mike McCarthy and his job status for the 2025 season with the Dallas Cowboys. Belichick in the ACC will be interesting at the very least. The idea that he left the NFL because he got sick of the owners and the politics, well, good luck in the modern college game where the rules for procuring players — if there are any — are basically governed by no one. But with the Belichick option off the table, then the list of reasons for making a coaching change in Dallas has merely been reduced by one. It’s not gone entirely. With the team already on the brink of mathematical elimination at one end and yet no real hope of securing, say, a top five draft pick at the other, the last four weeks of the season are all about Mike McCarthy and his future… …I think a team fighting that furiously to the finish line (that would mean winning six of the last seven games) would signal that McCarthy still has everyone engaged even against considerable odds. I also think there’s about a 2% chance of that happening. More likely this team is headed for 6-11 or 7-10 at best. And if that proves to be the case, as much as Jerry really doesn’t relish making coaching changes (he isn’t exactly good at it), I don’t think there’s any chance McCarthy gets an extension. Even if we think this year’s failures are largely the result of roster misjudgment and key injuries, you would need to point to signs that McCarthy’s play-calling has been an upgrade over Kellen Moore’s in order to justify an extension. That doesn’t exist in the numbers and it really doesn’t pass the eye test, either. Science Lab: DeMarvion Overshown is far from done with NFL, Cowboys – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Despite his season ending injury, we have not seen the last of DeMarvion Overshown. With the advancements in modern
Mike McCarthy Replacement Rankings: Bill Belichick to UNC opens spot for Wade Phillips’ kid
Many members of Cowboys Nation breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday when former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick decided to return to coaching. After less than a year out of the profession, the current TV analyst who just so happens to sport two hands worth of Super Bowl rings (six as HC of the Patriots, two more as a Giants assistant) is back in the coaching ranks. So why would such news make Cowboys fans happy when Mike McCarthy hasn’t been let go? Many were concerned that his resume and the affinity of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to favor pedigree would mean that the now 72-year old would have the inside track on a vacancy with Dallas should it arrive as many expect it to come January. Jones has reiterated recently that it’s not set in stone McCarthy will be shown the door when his contract expires, and that may prove to be the case. That would be disappointing for many fans who want to see the team move in a new direction. Many had concerns over Belichick’s age and how long he’d be a viable coach, along with the fact that the Patriots offense struggled after Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. So with no Belichick on the table, here’s an updated look at the top candidates to replace McCarthy when the call comes in a few weeks. This week’s rankings includes a new face, Minnesota OC Wes Phillips. Honorable Mentions: Liam Coen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Last Week: Honorable Mention Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks OC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Lincoln Riley, USC, HC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Adam Stenovich, Green Bay Packers OC | Last Week: Honorable Mention University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart | Last Week: Honorable Mention 13 Vikings OC Wes Phillips | Last Week: Unranked Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips walks on the field before a game between the Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports OK wak with us for a second. Phillips has been instrumental in the improvement of Sam Darnold this season, and while Kevin O’Connell calls the plays, the biggest impediment to Phillips becoming a head coach is that he’s in the booth on gamedays and not down on the sideline. At 45, Wade Phillips son who was an assistant in Dallas for seven years to start his NFL coaching career (staying on with Jason Garrett after his dad was fired) has spent three years in Minnesota. If he were to make the jump, he’d need a defensive coordinator with head coaching experience by his side, but the idea shouldn’t be outright dismissed. 12 Former NFL head coach Mike Vrabel | Last Week: 11 Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel reacts to a Titans penalty against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Vrabel was fired by owner Amy Adams Strunk Monday after having two losing seasons back-to-back. Vrabel is a defensive-minded head coach who was able to achieve strong levels of success in Tennessee with a veteran QB who wasn’t well regarded (Ryan Tannehill) prior to their time together. Known as a disciplinarian, pairing him with Dak Prescott would require finding the next big thing as offensive coordinator. Brian Daboll (NY Giants) and Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals) would make ridiculously good fits as OCs for Vrabel. 11 Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore | Last Week: 13 Sep 26, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (right) laughs with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports One name that is rarely discussed but probably should be is the former heir apparent Kellen Moore. Moore was Jason Garrett 2.0; brought in to the coaching staff as a wunderkind who the Jones family thought a lot of. He carried over as offensive coordinator from Garrett to McCarthy. Being shown the door in 2023 after a playoff failure as McCarthy vowed taking back over play calling would take the offense to a new level. It did, for a year, before bottoming out in 2024, even before all of the injuries hit. Meanwhile Moore attached himself to Brandon Staley’s sinking ship in L.A. for a year, but has revitalized his reputation thanks to Saquon Barkley’s arrival in Phiadelphia. The Eagles are sitting at 11-2 with an offense that is focusing on running to set up the pass. 10 Minnesota VIkings DC Brian Flores | Last Week: 12 Jan 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sideline during the second quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Will Flores get another shot at a head coach gig? He was dumped by the Dolphins in their owner’s “I’m rich I can do what I want” attempt to lure Sean Payton and Tom Brady to South Beach. The revelation about trying to have a coach to tank games may have pulled the curtain back on the innerworkings of the league, but it likely didn’t do Flores much favor. What has though, is the job he’s done righting the ship in Minnesota with their defense. 9 Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik | Last Week: 8 Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik on the sideline during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Slowik is immensely intriguing for several reasons. He just auditioned in front of Jones on Monday night and carved up a 77-yard opening play touchdown to announce his arrival. Slowik’s
Position battleground (offense): Cowboys vs. Panthers head-to-head breakdown
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Is the Cowboys offense better than the Panthers? It was a close defeat last week for the Dallas Cowboys but now it’s onto the Carolina Panthers to try and get back into winning spirits. So how do these two offenses stack up against another? Let’s dive in and find out. QUARTERBACK Cooper Rushvs.Bryce Young Cooper Rush had some big misses last week and a few miscues that had the ball skipping off the ground with no receiver in the area. But he did hit on two very good touchdowns. The first came in the first quarter on the first drive (the first time that’s happened in nine weeks), and it was a beautiful rainbow-throw to CeeDee Lamb for the score. The second came in the third quarter to Brandin Cooks and was the only score in the game in the third quarter. Bryce Young has two issues in Carolina, a lackluster offense and his own underperformance. This year he’s started in ten games and has only seven touchdowns to seven interceptions. In his first four games of the year he failed to score a single passing touchdown and threw three interceptions. Young has yet to have a game this year with a passer rating over 100. Conclusion:Let’s compare both quarterbacks statistics here. Rush has 1,191 passing yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Young has 1,572 passing yards with seven touchdowns to seven interceptions. The difference between these two is Rush has matched Young’s production but in just half the amount of games. Win: Push Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images RUNNING BACK Rico Dowdle/Ezekiel Elliottvs.Chuba Hubbard/Raheem Blackshear The last four weeks has seen Dowdle go from bottom of the pack to leading the league. That statement may sound strange but Dowdle, in the last two weeks, has averaged 121 rush yards per game which leads the league in the that timeframe. He now ranks 21st among running backs which is incredible when you think how bad Dallas has been running the ball this year. Setting consecutive career games should give Dowdle the confidence going forward, and the coaches. Chuba Hubbard leads the way for Carolina and his 1,011 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns ranks sixth-most among running backs this season. Miles Sanders was placed on injured reserve and this week rookie Longhorns tailback, Jonathon Brooks has been shutdown with a knee injury. Conclusion:The Cowboys defense has played much better lately and most definitely against the run. On the opposite side, the Panthers defense ranks last in rush yards allowed. That’s frightening when facing an ascending running back that is having better games each consecutive week.Win: Cowboys Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images WIDE RECEIVERS CeeDee Lamb/Brandin Cooks/KaVontae Turpin vs.Xavier Legette/Adam Theilen/David Moore Brandin Cooks scored his first touchdown last week after returning from injury. He followed that up by proving he’s one of the most reliable WR2s in the NFL and scored another touchdown last week. CeeDee Lamb led the team with a 93-yard game and one touchdown, his first score since Week 8. KaVontae Turpin had a quiet game making only one catch for 16 yards. Jalen Tolbert was targeted three times and failed to make a single catch. For a team struggling on offense it’s easy to say that the wide receiver’s statistics look bad. Xavier Legette leads the team in receiving with a low 432 yards. He’s averaging just 33 yards a game and ranks 83rd among wide receivers this year. Adam Thielen is getting long in the tooth now and that’s showing up this season. He missed a portion of the year with a hamstring injury, and so far this year he’s managed to produce only 367 yards off 28 receptions. Behind Thielen on the roster is David Moore who has 267 yards and one touchdown. Conclusion:Lamb and Cooks are easily a bigger one-two punch than Legette and Thielen. Add in the fact that the Panthers average only 186 passing yards per game, that’s sixth-worst, and they have scored only 14 receiving touchdowns, which is only one a game. Win: Cowboys Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images TIGHT END Jake Ferguson vs.Ja’Tavion Sanders With Jake Ferguson back from concussion, Luke Schoonmaker still had a productive day. Sure, Ferguson was targeted six times and recorded 32 receiving yards, but right behind him was Schoonmaker who had a mini breakout in Ferguson’s absence. Either of these tight ends could pop off this week which is good for fans, but makes it tough on who to take in fantasy. Ja’Tavion Sanders is a player who impresses one week with an 87-yard game, only to follow up with an eight-yard game the week after. And that’s been the tale for Sanders this year. Last week against the Eagles, Sanders was targeted once for zero yards. That’s coming after a week against Kansas City with 49 yards. Sanders has 302 receiving yards and one touchdown this year which puts him 30th among tight ends and way below Ferguson. Conclusion:No other team in the NFL has allowed more touchdowns to the tight end position this year than the Carolina Panthers. We can just leave it there.Win: Cowboys Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images OFFENSIVE LINE Tyler Guyton didn’t play due to his high ankle sprain; that put Chuma Edoga back at left tackle. Edoga allowed one sack and four pressures but stayed out of the penalty column which is a plus. Cooper Beebe is one to watch this week as he enters concussion protocol after leaving the game at halftime. If Beebe fails to pass protocol then Brock Hoffman will take the vacant center spot. Tyler Smith had his troubles last week against Cincinnati and will look to bounce back. The Panthers have recorded the third-fewest sacks this year and their defense is giving up the most rush yards per game, which tells fans they should feel confident about this Dallas offensive line dominating this week. For everything the Panthers fail at on offense, one thing
Of course Stephen Jones is setting the stage for another inactive Cowboys offseason
Of course Stephen Jones is setting the stage for another inactive Cowboys offseason reidhanson 2024 was “The Season of Stale” in Cowboys Land. Not only did Dallas allow the vast majority of their internal free agents to depart unopposed, but the Cowboys turned up their noses at virtually every noteworthy outside option as well. Citing fiscal restraints as the reason, the Cowboys chose to fill their ever-growing list of needs with rookies and supposedly-opportunistic post-draft bargain finds. The results were rather predictable, with the Cowboys entering the season with enormous talent deficiencies at both ends of their once-impressive depth chart. The front office’s offseason inactivity was explained by Stephen Jones as a necessary step in order to afford high-cost re-signings like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Publicly available contract numbers begged to differ, showing multiple avenues to free up spending cash without resulting in crippling damage down the road. Alas, the front office stood strong and fielded a roster worthy of their efforts. With the Cowboys 5-8 and on track for their first losing season since 2020, there was hope the front office had learned their lesson, that fans have weathered the storm, and better days are ahead in the coming offseason. Based on recent statements from Jones, those hopes appear to be misplaced. “I think we knew we were going to have a challenge this year and next year,” Jones said of his ability to spend. “It’s going to be really, really tight because we still have some money left over from some guys who aren’t here today. And you’re going to have some other guys that won’t be here in the future that you still have their cap count.” The dead money Jones alludes to is certainly a concern. According to Over the Cap the Cowboys have $27,323,246 in dead money this season. It’s a noteworthy amount but by no means a number other teams haven’t dealt will. Based on a November report there are 26 teams with more dead money than Dallas. It’s not exactly the albatross Jones is making it out to be. Even if the Cowboys cut players like Terence Steele in 2025 and take on the dead money ramifications as a result, they’ll be in far better shape than the majority of the NFL. Simple adjustments to veteran contracts and a new contract to Micah Parsons could easily free up north of $100 million over the offseason. It would allow the Cowboys to properly build a roster around Dallas’ most talented players and do so without pushing too much money into the future. Of course, the front office would have to want to spend that money for this to be a reasonable option for them and based on past behavior and recent statements, there is no indication they want to spend money. The Cowboys are once again the most valuable franchise in all of professional sports so it’s understandable they Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!
Thursday Night Football odds, pick and live discussion: Rams at 49ers
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Who wins tonight… Los Angeles or San Francisco? The Los Angeles Rams play the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football. FanDuel has the 49ers as 3-point favorites over the Rams. Final score prediction: Rams 27 – 49ers 20. Check out FanDuel for all of your NFL betting needs. This is an open thread for game chat.
Cowboys historical notes from Bengals loss: Rico Dowdle is in rare territory
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images There were some notable historical marks set for the Cowboys as a result of Monday’s loss. The Dallas Cowboys lost on Monday which is obviously very frustrating. Factoring in the exact nature in which the game ended, it is not a stretch to say it was one of the more frustrating losses of the entire season. Ultimately the show goes on and the Cowboys will be back in action on Sunday afternoon against the Carolina Panthers. Before we fully move on to that game though, we have to properly bury what happened on Monday night and in the burial process we can contextualize it all through an important lens. Something we do every week is evaluate the game that Dallas just played and the results from it through the lenses of both franchise and team history. The tools at Stathead and Pro Football Reference make this possible and allow us to do it all with much more ease. This week is big on Rico Dowdle. Rico Dowdle had another rare performance If you thought to yourself that you had not seen a performance like what Rico Dowdle offered much this season, then you would have been absolutely right. Over the course of Monday night Dowdle averaged 7.3 yards per carry which is incredibly impressive, but it is even more noteworthy given that he had 18 total carries on the night. As of Week 14’s conclusion such a performance has only happened five times across the season as a whole. Dowdle obviously has one of them, Derrick Henry has two, Saquon Barkley has another and New York Giants rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. did it. Dowdle and Tracy are the only two to do it in a losing effort. Shucks. This three-game stretch from Dowdle is rather impressive Monday night was just the latest piece of work from Dowdle as he has been on fire for three games in a row now. Over his last three outings, Dowdle has had 329 total rushing yards. This is only the third instance since the 2021 season where a player has had 329 or more rushing yards in a three-game span for the Cowboys. Dowdle, Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott have each done it once in the span in question. Obviously the passing game has been stout for Dallas over the last few years, but this ultimately proves how lackluster the run game has been for quite some time now. This stretch has also seen a workload that we haven’t seen in a while It could be argued that the primary reason for Dowdle’s performances lately has been how much work he has been receiving. Consider that Dowdle has had at least 18 carries in each of the last three games. This marks the first time that a player has had at least 18 carries in three consecutive games since Ezekiel Elliott had them near the end (ish) of the 2020 season. Once again this highlights how there is been a lack of consistency in the run game for Dallas as they have divvied things up a bit for some time now at the position. Note that Dowdle is averaging almost two whole yards more than Elliott did at that particular point in time. What we are seeing from Dowdle right now is very impressive. CeeDee Lamb is all by himself in one particular way Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Forgive me for not having a screenshot here, but that happens when you are talking about the only player to accomplish something as they are on a list all by themselves. CeeDee Lamb passed 935 receiving yards on the season on Monday night which meant that he has now reached 935 receiving yards in each of his first five seasons with the Cowboys. He is the only player in franchise history to do this. The Cowboys defense has an impressive streak going on Flipping to the other side of the ball, did you know that the Cowboys defense has generated a turnover in six straight games? It certainly doesn’t feel like it has been that long. Interestingly, this is tied for the longest streak of games in which the team has generated a turnover since the 2020 season (more on that in a moment). This means that Dallas has now tied the longest streak of games with a turnover that they ever had under Dan Quinn. It should be noted that Quinn’s group did it twice. It should also be noted that the group who they would tie with a turnover on Sunday is the 2020 version of the defense which was horrible in a number of historic ways. Not every record is a good one. A reminder that the defense has been very bad this season Obviously this year’s defense has been bad in their own way and on Monday night the Cincinnati Bengals took full advantage of that. By the end of the night the Bengals had amassed 433 total yards. This marked the fifth instance this season in which Dallas has allowed 430 total yards against them. The 2024 team is now tied with the aforementioned 2020 squad as well as the 2015 group for the second-most times that this has happened to the team in a single season. With four games remaining the 2013 “record” is close to safe.
