Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Giants fans are almost as down on their team right now as Cowboys fans are. Almost. The Dallas Cowboys play a Thursday night game this week against their NFC East rival, the New York Giants. We checked in with SB Nation’s Giants blog, Big Blue View, to get some intel on the enemy. Blogging The Boys: So what was different this week with the win over the Browns? Big Blue View: Mostly, the difference was the defense. Cleveland’s offensive line is in tatters right now, and lost a few players during the game, and DeShaun Watson is a BAD quarterback. Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, a normally conservative DC, went against type by blitzing 57% of the time. The Giants got eight sacks, 17 hits and 36 pressures. It was a jail break. The Giants are also playing — somewhat unbelievably — pretty good offense. The offensive line has been competent. Daniel Jones has been good the past two weeks. Malik Nabers is special. BTB: Where do you stand in regards to the future of Daniel Jones as the Giants QB? BBV: I think Jones is the quarterback this year as long as the Giants remain relevant. Beyond that, I think the Giants will be moving on. Jones, though, has played well the last two weeks. If that continues, and the Giants are better than anticipated, maybe things change. But, more than likely he is a lame duck. BTB: Same question but with Brian Daboll as the Giants head coach? BBV: If the Giants had entered this game 0-3 my answer might be different. In all honesty, though, I think right now that Daboll and GM Joe Schoen are both safe. Ownership likes the fact that these two are tied together and really doesn’t have an appetite for blowing things up and starting over — again. As long as this season is competitive I think both are OK. If it goes off the rails, like 3-14, that might be a different story. BTB: After the win, is there a sense that maybe the Giants could do something this year, or are the problems too deep? BBV: Again, had they entered Thursday 0-3 I think the atmosphere at MetLife Stadium on Thursday night could have been ugly. Fans booed the Giants offense after three plays in the opener — which will happen when you go three-and-out and lose 9 yards. Now? I think there is a sense of guarded hope that maybe, just maybe, some good things might be happening. The Giants were routed by Minnesota — which looks like a good team. They should have beaten Washington — which looked like a good team on Monday. They were clearly better than the Browns. There are issues. But, maybe not as many as you might think. The offensive line play has been competent. For the past two weeks, the quarterback play has been more than competent. Malik Nabers is a transformative superstar. The defensive front seven can be difference-making. By no means could this be a great team that makes a deep playoff run. They could — and maybe should — be a middle of the pack team. BTB: How do you see Thursday night playing out and what is the final score? BBV: I have to preface this by saying no one on the BBV staff (there are six of us picking Giants games) has picked a game correctly yet. I will — with a hopeful heart — pick the Giants to win a game that is somewhere in the 20s. Maybe 27-24. These are the Cowboys, though. The Cowboys who ALWAYS beat the Giants. The Cowboys who have won six straight and 13 of 14 against the Giants. So, I’m picking the Giants win in a game where it feels like they should have a chance. History, though, says something will go wrong and Dallas fans will be celebrating in the end.
Micah Parsons says ending rare losing streak will take team effort: ‘Got to elevate together’
Micah Parsons says ending rare losing streak will take team effort: ‘Got to elevate together’ Todd Brock Micah Parsons has never experienced losing three football games in a row. Not in the NFL. Not in college. Not in high school. Not ever. And if he counts his total back-to-back losses, it takes just one hand and doesn’t even require all five fingers. (The Cowboys haven’t dropped three consecutive contests since 2020, in the wake of Dak Prescott’s ankle injury and before Parsons was drafted.) So the Cowboys’ current two-game skid had Parsons uncharacteristically subdued when he spoke to reporters this week. But it’s not just about having come up short on the scoreboard- not in a short prep week where other fingers are being pointed. No, what’s at issue here isn’t scheme breakdowns or missed assignments or being outmuscled, but far more fundamental (and troubling) themes like effort and professionalism. Despite he and other team leaders being vocal about it for a second straight week, Parsons had to admit he’s not even sure the message is getting through to those that need to hear it. “It’s very hard to tell, right? ‘Cause everyone’s nodding their head like, ‘Yeah, we all agree.’ At the same time, it’s not equal out there on the field,” Parsons said after Tuesday’s walkthrough. “I feel like, as a competitor, at some point, you’ve got to be prideful enough to say, ‘Hey, I’m not going to allow this to happen to me.’ I feel like some people are just allowing them[selves] to keep getting smacked in the face. When are you going to stand up?” After the Cowboys’ season-opening blowout win over the Browns, new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer praised his unit for “staying on the reservation,” and sticking to their assignments. The team’s embarrassing losses in Weeks 2 and 3, however, were followed by internal complaints about some teammates playing “hero ball,” trying to do more than the job their position requires. DeMarcus Lawrence compared the unit’s effort to “little league football.” Parsons himself said, “We just got people trying to be Superman.” The Dallas defense is having obvious struggles as they transition away from Dan Quinn’s freewheeling style of play to Zimmer’s more disciplined approach. Parsons acknowledged that the unit is filled with a lot of young players, inexperienced rookies, and new faces, likening the process to growing pains. But despite his status as one of the most feared defenders in the sport, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, and one of three players the organization has labeled as critical to their long-term plans, Parsons said he hasn’t started pulling guys aside in the locker room to talk about pulling their weight. “I just feel like I’m not there yet, to go to someone,” he said. “It’s hard to blame one particular person for one thing.” Perhaps Parsons need to do some growing, too, at least in that regard. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] If there’s collective growing to be done, though, these Cowboys need to do it in a hurry. They face a division rival in the New York Giants on Thursday night. Away, on a short week, and at 1-2, the Cowboys are already hearing that it’s a must-win situation. Parsons has a different perspective. “I feel like every game is really must-win,” he said. “In the last two years, we were one game off a No. 1 seed, things like that. So I think every game has equal importance. In particular, I would like to get the ball back rolling again, getting back in the win column, getting to what we know best.” So the 25-year-old will continue to preach the “do your job” sermon. And he says he’s fighting the urge to personally stray from that lesson himself, even as he looks to avoid the first three-game losing streak of his life. “It’s hard, because I’ve got to fit into the system,” he explained. “I’ve got to fit into the framework. That’s the whole point of everyone doing their one-eleventh. Elevate yourself. What do you need others to do? Elevate, too. We all got to elevate together; it can’t be just one or two. To me, I’ve just got to make my plays when they’re there and do my job for my guys.” …and also hope that his guys pick up on the message that has reverberated around The Star for two weeks, going on three. A frustrated Parsons says he’s still not sure they have. “I mean, everyone says it. But then again, we’ve got to see what happens on Sunday. Or Thursday.” Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys roundtable: Discussions on last week’s loss, Dak’s performance, Week 4 matchup
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the Roundtable. This week we have Jess Haynie, David Howman, RJ Ochoa, Brian Martin, Sean Martin and Tom Ryle. Another loss. What’s the biggest concern with this Cowboys roster at the moment that is failing on so many levels? The Cowboys went down 21-6 by halftime last week against the Baltimore Ravens. The defense couldn’t stop any rush that came at them and the offense’s only points came off Brandon Aubrey’s boot. Derrick Henry went for two touchdowns and rushed for 151 yards while Lamar Jackson rushed for 87 yards and scores one rushing touchdown. On the opposite side, the Cowboys running backs are extremely lackluster and rank fourth-fewest in average rush yards per game (just one yard more than the Chicago Bears). It’s not a desperate situation just yet, but the trend both ways is concerning. Jess: It’s all falling apart in the trenches. I get into the offensive line in our next question, so I’ll focus on the defense here. We didn’t expect greatness from Mazi Smith this year but he and the veteran free agents have been non-existent so far. Even Osa Odighizuwa, after an offseason of high praise as one of our most underrated players, has taken a step back. As long as teams can keep getting so much production on basic runs, our best weapons like Micah Parsons’ pass rush and Trevon Diggs’ ball-hawking are going to be neutered. Tom: While there are also issues with the running backs and the secondary, I have to agree with Jess that the lines are where the biggest concerns rest. We knew that the O line might take some time to come together, but the porous nature of the D line against the run is both disturbing and all too familiar. The bargain-basement shopping in free agency did not yield any real help, and as long as teams know they can get five or more yards repeatedly on the ground, they are going to just beat up on this defense. Brian: It’s painfully obvious what the Dallas Cowboys biggest concern is right now. They’ve given up a total of five touchdowns and 256 total rushing yards to Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry in back-to-back weeks. Dallas’ run defense is atrocious right now and there’s no clear solution currently on the roster and expecting better play seems like a long shot as well. Not upgrading this position in the offseason is now coming back to bite them in a big way. Howman: Honestly, I’m not worried. I think the Cowboys’ problem is a combination of two things: not playing in the preseason and facing a tough schedule to start the year. The Cowboys looked out of sync in the first two weeks and the first three quarters of this game, but once they woke up they looked great. Assuming I’m right, we’re about to see a run of good football out of these guys. It also helps to not face a pair of elite defenses in the Browns and Saints right before squaring off against the reigning MVP. RJ: Picking just one here feels a bit difficult, but if I have to I suppose I will focus on the running game. The Cowboys have the third-lowest level of production on the ground through the first three games that they have ever had through the first three games of a season in franchise history. Not doing anything about this over the offseason and not paying it proper mind now is costing them and will continue to do so. Sean: The biggest concern is a lack of game-breaking ability at the skill positions, and it’s being compounded by a dip in play-calling from Mike McCarthy that is hard to explain. Perhaps the trust in the pass protection is not where it needs to be to open up this offense more, but all that is yet another position Dallas has nobody to blame but themselves for its lack of preparedness. CeeDee Lamb is too easily taken out of games, nobody else creates consistent separation out wide, and none of these running backs scare defenses even a lick. I know offense is down around the league, but it’s down while the eye test still shows quarterbacks like Sam Darnold and Andy Dalton having success by finding open targets. Nothing at all is coming easily for Dak Prescott and this Cowboys offense right now and it has thrown a serious wrench in how they planned on playing winning, complementary football in 2024. Dak is getting a lot of blame at the moment but currently he leads the NFL in passing yards and is fourth in passing touchdowns. Who deserves the most blame for the Cowboys offensive issues? Currently after three weeks of the regular season, Dak leads the NFL in passing yards averaging 270 passing yards per game. Dak is also third in total completions and fourth in passing touchdowns. The offense is not without its warts and that’s clear to see. Without the leg of Brandon Aubrey the scoreline of both losses this season would have looked even worse. The question becomes whether Dak is failing the team and everyone else is stepping up, or is Dak stepping up and the rest of the team is failing him? Jess: The offensive line has been surprisingly poor so far this year. Terence Steele’s playing like he just had ACL surgery last month, not two years ago. Tyler Guyton is doing what rookie left tackles do, which we feared going into the season. And sadly, Zack Martin is showing his age and mileage. The Cowboys are going to have to get more creative in how they scheme around these issues, and the scariest part is having to rely on Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer for that. Tom: It’s hard to follow Jess, because these answers keep nailing
Cowboys news: CeeDee Lamb takes accountability for sideline demeanor
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The latest news around the Dallas Cowboys. CeeDee Lamb addresses behavior during Cowboys’ loss to Ravens, more – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Credit to the Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver for addressing his behavior from Sunday. On Tuesday, just ahead of the departure for the Big Apple, Lamb not only spoke, but his words were drenched in accountability and self-awareness. “I know that’s not the player I am,” Lamb said, apologetic after being apoplectic. “I know that’s not the teammate I am. … It was a bad game on my end. I fully take accountability in that. “I will be better in the future. And it’s gonna be fine.” He went on to explain what fueled the actions, and it wasn’t necessarily that the offense itself was out of sorts, but mostly because he was upset with himself and disappointed he wasn’t contributing in the way he knows he can; and things were made worse by a red zone fumble that added to the list of things that cost the Cowboys the contest. “I expect a lot out of myself — more than anyone could put on me,” he said. “And quite honestly, I failed myself, and obviously I failed the team, just as far as producing and being that game-breaker … I kind of let the game get to my head a little bit. Honestly I got to be truthful to myself and I played a part in that loss, a big part, honestly, and [neither] my body language nor attitude, [helped change] the outcome of the game.” It’s not entirely similar to what occurred in 2023 when Lamb was criticized for being away from the team on the sideline during the back end of the loss, but the fuel was exactly the same: self-demand for greatness and angst when it is happening in the moment. Lamb went on to have a record-setting season thereafter, one that also helped Dak Prescott land an All-Pro nod and runner-up in the NFL MVP race, and both are unscathed from the encounter on Sunday, their personal relationship having a foundation able to withstand earthquakes such as the one experienced against the Ravens. Jerry Jones: ‘Very fair’ to blame me for Cowboys’ 1-2 start – Todd Archer, ESPN Owner Jerry Jones addresses a poll from fans that points the blame on him for their 1-2 start. According to a poll from WFAA-TV in Dallas, the answer is pretty clear among more than 70% of the voters: owner and general manager Jerry Jones. “That’s very fair,” Jones said Tuesday on the “Shan and RJ” show on 105.3 The Fan. “It’s well known that no decision is ultimately made here for what I either have acquiesced [to] or approved it. That’s very fair. How could you think otherwise, whether it be who’s out there coaching, whether it be who’s out there playing, whether it be the stadium you’re walking into? Whatever it is here, that’s the way it is. “Now, let me just say this. Do I have a huge amount of input in making those decisions? When they’ve done their homework, they’re very influential input to me, and we’ve got a lot of people in the Dallas Cowboys that have done their input.” Jones has taken the brunt of the criticism when things have gone poorly for the Cowboys since becoming the owner and general manager in 1989. Since the playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers in January, fan frustration has been high, with the Super Bowl drought now at 28 seasons. In the Cowboys’ first two home games, against the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, the fans of those teams came in large numbers and drowned out Cowboys fans. “I guess I got baptized when I first came to Dallas and bought the Cowboys and we won one football game,” Jones said on The Fan. “We had made changes, changed out the only coach for 29 years [Tom Landry], and we got huge criticism and the kind that would make what you’re seeing now child’s play. … You’re dealing with anything but a lot of emotion about our team. It never ceases to surprise me both from the state of Texas in the case of the Cowboys or all over this country in the case of the Cowboys and it’s either there because they want to see us get our you-know-what kicked or it’s there because they’re following us. The thing that inspires me the most is the emotion about it, but it certainly, I’m aware of it, aware of criticism, but not any more aware than that score at the end of the game. Let’s put it like that. Giants embracing chance to make Cowboys statement in lopsided rivalry: ‘New day’ – Ryan Dunleavy, New York Post From an opponent’s point of view, the New York Giants are trying to shake the history that’s plagued them since 2017 against Dallas. Behind one of these three doors, you will find a victory Thursday against the Cowboys that doubles the momentum gained Sunday by defeating the Browns, evens your record at 2-2, rejuvenates your starving fans, halts talk of a lopsided rivalry and charts a path to a respectable season. Be careful, though. Behind a different door you will find a dose of humiliation similar to that ingested during last season’s 40-0 prime-time home loss against the Cowboys and only validates skeptics’ belief that the complementary combination of four 20-plus-yard gains, eight sacks and smart coaching used to beat the Browns was an aberration. And, of course, behind the final door is the ho-hum possibility of a non-win, non-blowout loss that suggests another long (but potentially not disastrous) season lies ahead. “To play meaningful football in December, you have to win the division games,” left tackle Andrew Thomas said. “You try not to look too far forward or too far behind in the past. We get a win, then things look different.” So, which of these three
Star Points: Cowboys prep for rain in NY, Lamb addresses behavior, Giants eye fight with ‘big brother’ rivals
CeeDee Lamb addresses behavior during Cowboys’ loss to Ravens, more :: The Mothership Link Saying “I fully take accountability,” Lamb said he was upset with himself during Sunday’s loss and admitted that he let his fumble get into his head. He also acknowledged that neither his body language nor his attitude on the sideline helped change the outcome of the game. The wideout added, “I know that’s not the teammate I am. … I will be better in the future. And it’s gonna be fine.” As for his heated exchange with Dak Prescott, Lamb said “there’s no craziness” between the two, calling himself and his quarterback “brothers.” Prescott, Lamb with opportunity to get Cowboys back on track vs depleted Giants CB corps :: Cowboys Wire Link Injuries to Adoree’ Jackson and Dru Phillips could open the door for Prescott, Lamb, and the Cowboys offense to have a big night on Thursday. Neither Giants corner practiced Monday or Tuesday. Their absence would put added pressure on Deonte Banks, the former first-round pick who got “torched” by Cleveland’s Amari Cooper on Sunday. Updates: Carson, Bell gametime decision vs. NYG :: The Mothership Link Caelen Carson’s shoulder and Markquese Bell’s ankle will keep them out of walkthroughs this week and make both players gametime decisions. Mike McCarthy said they’re getting better and revealed that Carson “is closer” to being ready to suit up. If he cannot play, however, Israel Mukuamu and/or Andrew Booth will see extra action. Jerry Jones says Dalvin Cook unlikely to play vs Giants, but would he even help Cowboys run game? :: Cowboys Wire Link Jones told a radio audience that the short week would likely keep the team from elevating Cook to the gameday roster. The current Cowboys RB committee has been woefully ineffective, but there’s actually nothing in Cook’s stats to indicate that he’ll be the immediate upgrade some fans are counting on. And the offensive line that Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle are both struggling behind is the same shaky unit that Cook would be working with. What’s plaguing the Cowboys? Ranking their 5 biggest issues through 3 games :: The Athletic Link Only five? Well, it’s a start. Rough first quarters are killing this team (and not just on defense), and the running game is downright terrible. But there’s actually also very little depth in the passing attack. And Mike Zimmer’s defense is currently no good at stopping either the pass or the run. And with a significant upgrade in personnel unlikely at this point, it falls on this group of players and coaches to get better… and fast. Cowboys 53-man roster, practice squad for Week 4 vs Giants; LB loses eligibility :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys will have to make a move if they want Nick Vigil to see the field again this season, while defensive end Carl Lawson has two gameday elevations remaining. The short week is unlikely to bring any roster changes, but the mini-bye that follows Thursday night’s tilt could bring some shuffling. Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy snaps at reporter’s question on player post-game comments :: Cowboys Wire Link The coach got uncharacteristically nasty on Monday with a local reporter (who had worked for the team until very recently) over a fair and well-considered question about addressing the concerns that some Cowboys players have raised in their own interviews. The exchange, which played out in front of the media pool, hints at the added pressure and short tempers around the facility in the wake of a third straight blowout loss at home. (McCarthy reportedly apologized later to the reporter.) Prescott brushes off media on Tuesday :: Todd Archer NFL’s 12 highest-salaried QBs, from Dak Prescott to Kirk Cousins, off to rough starts in 2024 :: Cowboys Wire Link They say money can’t buy happiness or love; maybe it doesn’t automatically buy wins for NFL quarterbacks, either. Of the 12 highest-salaried passers in the league, none is undefeated through only three games. Two are winless, and six others also have losing records thus far. Eagles player responds after Micah Parsons calls him out for calling the Saints pretenders :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Parsons took C.J. Gardner-Johnson to task for comments made after Philadelphia beat New Orleans by a field goal in Week 3. “I don’t know who C. J. Gardner think he is, bro,” Parsons said on his podcast. “I’m not taking away anything, but Derek Carr has been a Pro Bowl quarterback.” The Eagles safety fired back on X, going so far as to drag the Cowboys’ recent playoff record into the argument. How Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey is preparing for what could be a rainy day at MetLife Stadium :: Dallas Morning News Link The Thursday forecast in New York is calling for rain showers. While the Cowboys practiced with wet footballs on Tuesday, Aubrey said he and the special teams unit went through their normal routine. His first game as a Cowboy was also in the rain at MetLife Stadium; Aubrey missed his first extra point try but connected on everything after that. Stock Up, Stock Down: What’s there in Cowboys Land to invest in besides Aubrey? :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys’ cold-blooded killer of a kicker and emerging wide receiver Jalen Tolbert are about the only positives in the locker room right now. The arrow is pointing down on just about everyone else, but CeeDee Lamb and all the team’s offensive tackles look like especially bad buys at the moment. Jason Pinnock compares Giants-Cowboys to sibling rivalry :: Giants Wire Link The 25-year-old safety says the Giants’ six straight losses to Dallas have no bearing on the team’s readiness to battle on Thursday. “My analogy goes towards my big brother,” Pinnock said. “He probably beat on me for 12 years, but that 13th, I’m going to bust your [expletive]. It is what it is.” NFL Week 4: Cowboys currently have top-10 draft pick; projected 2025 compensatory picks :: Cowboys Wire Link If the season were to
Grades for the Cowboys in narrow Week 3 loss to Ravens
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Last week’s report card was (shocker here) not great for the Cowboys. The Cowboys are reeling after a second-straight loss dropped them to 1-2 on the season. The Ravens were well on their way to a blowout win, but a mad dash for a fourth quarter comeback resulted in a three-point lipstick-on-a-pig type loss for the Cowboys. So who did well in this one? Let’s hand out some grades. Quarterback It took a while for Dak Prescott to get settled in this game – though his offensive line didn’t make things easy on him – but this turned into a vintage Prescott performance. His 52.9% completion rate doesn’t tell the full story in this game – one that saw him pressured a season-high 14 times with three drops, three throwaways, and a pass batted at the line of scrimmage – but Prescott was surgical in this game. He recorded three big time throws, including a perfectly placed touchdown strike to KaVontae Turpin, and ran in a score on top of his two touchdown passes. Prescott piled up 379 passing yards on the day and was the driver of this offense in the fourth quarter. It still wasn’t enough, but if the Cowboys can get that performance consistently going forward, they’ll be in good shape. Grade: A- Running backs Just like last week, the Cowboys got down so big so early that their running backs rarely had a chance to carry the ball. That makes it difficult to truly grade them in this one, but Rico Dowdle once again flashed real potential. Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn competed for snaps behind Dowdle, as the pecking order of this running back room has become a little more clear now. Whether that results in a good rushing game or not remains to be seen, as we’ve gotten very few snaps with these runners in normal game situations. This Sunday, though, was extremely average in overall production. Grade: C Pass catchers The pass catchers had an interesting day. CeeDee Lamb put up one of his worst performances of his career, with three drops and a fumble inside the 10-yard line. He still finished with four catches for 67 yards, but Lamb knows he left meat on the bone. Outside of Lamb, though, things were pretty good. Turpin caught all three of his targets, Jake Ferguson nearly hit 100 yards receiving, and Jalen Tolbert stacked another reliable game on top of last week’s performance. Even Hunter Luepke flashed, in particular with a big 24-yard catch-and-run late in the game. This is rare to say, but the pass catcher group was held back by Lamb this week. Grade: B- Offensive line This was a pretty lousy game for the offensive line. Prescott was under constant duress, getting sacked three times and the offensive line allowing 11 of the 14 pressures on the day. Each starter on the line gave up at least two pressures, and Zack Martin actually led the team with three pressures allowed. The offensive line struggled in run blocking too, rarely opening up holes for any of these running backs. That’s somewhat understandable against this Baltimore defensive front, but it was an otherwise all around bad day for this unit. Grade: D Pass rush The Cowboys’ pass rush had a very quiet day in this one. They tallied just eight pressures on the day and came away with zero sacks. Half of those pressures came by way of Micah Parsons, who was the only defender to get a hit on Lamar Jackson. In fairness, though, the Ravens offered exceedingly few chances to even rush the passer. Jackson had just 17 dropbacks in this game, with six of them being either play-action or a screen pass. Still, this talented pass rush should be able to do more. Grade: C- Run defense The run defense proved once again to be unreliable, as the Ravens built their lead through a heavy dose of read-option plays with Derrick Henry. The powerful runner carried the ball 25 times for 151 yards and two scores, with five carries going for 10 yards or more. Jackson also ran the ball 14 times for 88 yards and a score. The defense did figure things out in the second half, making several stops against the run in the second half of the third quarter and beyond. That helps them earn a non-failing grade here, but it still wasn’t enough to get the job done. Grade: D Pass coverage The grade here is similarly impacted by the lack of passing attempts in this game. Baltimore smartly opted for a run-heavy attack, but their few passing plays were methodical. Jackson threw the ball 15 times, but only one of them went beyond 10 yards past the line of scrimmage; that was the touchdown pass that came on a broken coverage play with Jackson on the move. Other than that, Jackson took a dink-and-dunk approach that perfectly complemented the Ravens’ lethal rushing attack, and there was very little the Cowboys could do to stop it. That doesn’t earn them any brownie points, but it does make it hard to grade them too harshly. Grade: C- Special teams Another week, another high grade for the Cowboys special teams unit. Brandon Aubrey has officially laid claim to being the best kicker in the league, and he did so in a game that included Justin Tucker. Aubrey’s 65-yard field goal broke a franchise record and earned him the distinction of second-longest field goal in history. Aubrey took things up a notch with an expertly executed onside kick that the Cowboys recovered, which allowed Dallas to make a meaningful comeback attempt. Had the defense been able to make a stop on the last drive, Aubrey almost certainly would have had a chance to drill a ridiculous game-tying field goal. Alas, the Ravens succeeded in keeping the Cowboys’ best player (in 2024, at least) off the field in that critical moment. Grade: A+ Coaching
Stock Up, Stock Down: What’s there in Cowboys Land to invest in besides Aubrey?
Stock Up, Stock Down: What’s there in Cowboys Land to invest in besides Aubrey? Cameron Burnett Winning at AT&T Stadium used to be a near certainty for the Dallas Cowboys. Recently it’s looked nearly impossible with three straight opposing assaults at home. Week 3 saw a more competitive finish, but that’s all it was with the hometown club falling, 28-25, to the previously winless Baltimore Ravens. There were a plethora of issues that plagued the Cowboys in their descent to 1-2 on the young season. While finding a complementary option in the receiver room, Dallas’ star wideout had his own forgettable day. The defensive issues mirrored Week 2 and yet again. Here’s the stock report heading into a short week with Thursday Night Football against the New York Giants. Stock Down: WR CeeDee Lamb Sep 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) defend a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images CeeDee Lamb is often the man carrying the load in the wide receiver room, and his chemistry with Prescott has turned the pair into an elite duo. His performance and antics that followed in Week 3 were the complete opposite. On the face, Lamb finished with four catches for 67 yards. The problems came with a fumble in the Cowboys’ lone trip to the red zone in the first half and late drops during the comeback effort. The game could’ve gone far differently without those miscues. As things unraveled for Lamb, his body language mirrored and the star was on the sideline too often during Prescott’s heroic efforts. Emotion can be a good thing in football, but as the star of the Cowboys offense, this just isn’t a good look. Stock Up: K Brandon Aubrey Sep 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) kicks an onside kick during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images There’s one consistent thing about the Cowboys through three games and that’s Brandon Aubrey. The star kicker easily made a 65-yard field goal before making a 51-yarder look like a chip shot. While the offense may struggle at times, reaching midfield is nearly a guarantee for three points. That’s a weapon you can’t put a value on, which makes this McCarthy decision even more infuriating. If that wasn’t enough, his sidewinder onside kick led to some late drama. If Dallas manages to find its rhythm as a team, Aubrey’s value will become even more obvious. Stock Up: WR Jalen Tolbert Sep 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) catches a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images While Lamb was the talk of the day in the wide receiver room, Jalen Tolbert quietly displayed a ton of confidence and chemistry with Prescott. He scored a 15-yard touchdown on one of the better route combos of the day, slamming the brakes before finding himself wide open in the middle of the endzone to make the game competitive. The passing game is heavily dependent on the trio of Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Jake Ferguson. Tolbert proving himself as a legit option can add a different gear to this offense. Stock Down: Offensive Tackles Sep 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Terence Steele (78) lines up during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Letting Tyron Smith walk in free agency continues to look puzzling. RT Terence Steele has struggled mightily and Tyler Guyton is dealing with growing pains on the left side. Prescott was hit seven times and the run game was nonexistent with 16 carries for 31 yards. Nnamdi Madubuike bullied Steele on many occasions. That’s an issue for the whole unit but the tackles were a major liability in the loss to the Ravens. When the quarterback is uneasy and missing on throws while there’s nothing working on the ground, it’s no wonder the offense couldn’t find its footing. Steele is contracted through 2028 and that investment looks more dicey by the day. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys vs. Giants: New York gets their first win of the season heading into TNF
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The Cowboys and Giants will meet on Thursday in a battle of teams who have already beaten the Browns this season. Giants show ‘resiliency on the road’ for first win – Michael Eisen, Giants.com New York finally put forth a winning effort this season. CLEVELAND – A game that could not have started worse for the Giants could not have ended better. Trailing by seven points just 11 seconds into the game – the fastest they had fallen behind since the 1970 merger – the Giants rallied to take a 14-point halftime lead and survived a scoreless second half because the defense dominated the final 10 minutes of the game. The result was the Giants’ first victory of the season, a 21-15 decision against the Cleveland Browns in Huntington Bank Field. Now 1-2, the Giants have little time to celebrate; they host the Dallas Cowboys Thursday night. “It feels good to get on the board, to get rid of that donut,” said linebacker Brian Burns, who got his first sack with the Giants, forced one fumble and knocked down two passes. “We needed that going into the short week against the division opponent, so it’s good to get that off the board.” “I think it was a big win for us,” said defensive tackle and captain Dexter Lawrence, who had 2.0 sacks and four quarterback hits. “We were making a lot of mistakes in the first two games. And the mindset in this game was just going out there and having fun, enjoying every moment that you have, and having intense focus every single snap that you have. And it showed out there.” “…I think, in terms of being on the road, it’s cranking there, a touchdown right after the fumble, just to stay locked in and committed to the next-play mentality,” coach Brian Daboll said. “(It) doesn’t always turn out your way and today it did. I give our guys a lot of credit.” Breaking Down Giants’ Top 5 Performers vs. Cleveland Browns – Victoria Jonach, Bob Folger, Sports Illustrated New York’s first-round pick had his “Coming Out” party in Week 3. 3. WR Malik Nabers – 83.8 Nabers’ performance was both impressive and record-breaking. He reached the end zone not once but twice, making him the youngest wide receiver in NFL history to score two touchdowns in one game. The rookie contributed eight receptions for 78 yards. With 23 career receptions to his name, Nabers is the first player in the league’s history with 20+ catches and three touchdowns in his first three games. On the offense’s 93-yard scoring drive, Nabers caught passes of 13 and 28 yards. On the 28-yarder, he leaped over a defender along the sideline, out-fighting him for the ball, and kept both feet in bounds. Nabers then finished off that drive with a leaping 3-yard touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone, once again masterfully getting both feet down at the last instant. A short while later, Nabers finished a short drive by shaking free in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard score and a 21-7 halftime lead. Daboll also commended Nabers on breaking up a pass from Jones that could have resulted in an interception. New York Giants won’t commit to PK Greg Joseph vs. Dallas Cowboys – Ed Valentine, BigBlueView.com There were some blemishes on the Giants’ Week 3 win. Could Greg Joseph be one-and-done as the New York Giants’ placekicker? Signed off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad last week to replace the injured Graham Gano, Joseph badly missed a 48-yard field goal on Sunday with 3:00 to go that would have secured the Giants’ eventual victory over the Cleveland Browns. “We’ll sit down and, and talk personnel stuff later today,” said head coach Brian Daboll. “You’d like him obviously to make that kick. He didn’t, but he’s done a good job when he was here in practice. And we’ll talk about what we’re going to do here.” The Giants have a short week facing the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. That might make it difficult to change kickers. Four kickers worked out for the Giants last week before the Giants plucked Joseph from the Lions. One of those was Randy Bullock, who made 5 of 6 field goals over six games for the Giants last season, including a 56-yarder, while subbing for an injured Gano. The 34-year-old Bullock remains unsigned. 40-0 The Cowboys embarrassed the Giants at MetLife Stadium in last season’s season opener, winning 40-0. Daboll said he isn’t using that as motivation this week. “I think each individual person is motivated by different things. My main focus is getting ready to play this team in 2024,” Daboll said. “The team that’s just played these first three games — different players, different schemes, making sure that we’re prepared, doing a good job in our walkthroughs and our meetings and our communication. “Our focus is on the task at hand.”
After further review: Cowboys run defense remains atrocious, offense not helping Dak
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Last week was tough. The Dallas Cowboys went out on Sunday and laid another egg in a 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. While the final score shows a three-point game, this game was a hot mess from the onset and stayed that way through three quarters. The Cowboys offense finally got going late and the defense also made some stops to keep them in it, but eventually, they ran out of time and couldn’t complete the epic comeback. Since we spent most of this game in agony, we’re not going to let them slide and act like they don’t have some big problems. It was a poor display on both sides of the ball and today, we’ll try to figure out what we can learn after further review. DEFENSE Once again, the defense was the main story as they continued to show no ability to stop the opposing offense. The Cowboys allowed 294 rushing yards, which is the most they’ve allowed in four years, and that says a lot as they’ve given up some doozies in recent years. It was bad in every aspect. The Ravens did a great job with the run designs, providing more blockers than the Cowboys had defenders, but there was still so much of this that was self-inflicted. Can’t set the edge The defense lacks the discipline to stick to their responsibilities. Either Mike Zimmer is not saying the right things or his players aren’t smart enough to carry out the plan. Again and again, defenders will be out of position and have very little chance to make a play. So, much of this is mental. Whether they’re leaning too far inside or being picked at the point of attack, the Cowboys’ defense is really bad at setting the edge. Runners continuously pop outside and just race down the sideline. Easy yards. pic.twitter.com/i8UbfnA0Ak — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) September 23, 2024 Taking the bait It’s hard to know what everyone’s job is on every play, so playing the blame game can be difficult, but what’s not hard is seeing that the team is not doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Defenders are crashing inside on players who don’t have the ball while leaving no one else on the outside to go after the actual ball carrier. The Ravens had the Cowboys’ defense guessing wrong all afternoon. They talked about playing too much “hero ball.” Defenders get their eye on the prize rather than sticking to their assignments. Micah Parsons is their best defender, but sometimes he just can’t help himself. pic.twitter.com/Dy858mxGDN — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) September 23, 2024 From Hero to Zero. Donovan Wilson makes a great tackle in the backfield on a potential jet sweep play, except Zay Flowers doesn’t have the ball. You can’t be the hero if you’re tackling the wrong guy. pic.twitter.com/6fFR8FWTVy — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) September 23, 2024 Not bringing the fight The mental element is one thing, and it’s certainly a big one. They can’t make a play if they’re scurrying about in the wrong direction. But the problem doesn’t stop there. This team is lacking the physical presence they once had under Dan Quinn. Now, that’s not to say that Zimmer is breeding softness into this group as some of these same guys we’ve seen lay down the smack are the same ones now tackling as if they’re capturing a greased pig. The effort feels weak and they’re just not bringing guys down. A normally sound tacking team is suddenly having all sorts of issues. In recent years the Cowboys’ defense has been a physical group, but not so much this season. The tackling has been piss-poor and they’re getting manhandled out there. I don’t recognize these guys. pic.twitter.com/Gm4cmwc42u — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) September 23, 2024 OFFENSE The defense was bad, but they don’t deserve all the blame. The offense was nowhere to be found through most of this one. They had some drives, but like they did in the first half of last year, they struggled to close the deal. Fumbles and penalties turned potential touchdowns into three points or no points as the team couldn’t answer and keep the game manageable. The only thing fans could get excited about in the first half was whether or not their star kicker was going to set a new NFL record for the longest field goal (he came close, it’s just a matter of time). It’s hard to understand why a normally potent offense is having so much trouble. We talked about the running game last week, and it’s still a big problem, but the team struggled quite a bit in the passing game as well. There weren’t many easy plays for Dak Prescott and it left us wondering if he’s not seeing the field well or if the offensive playcalling is setting him up for failure. You decide. Too many tight window throws The broadcast team spoke about this quite a bit and it was a real issue. When you look at the All-22 tape, there weren’t a lot of open windows for Dak to work with. Bad playcalling or bad quarterbacking? Let’s play the 2.3-second game and see what Dak had available. Did he make good decisions with the football? pic.twitter.com/ADD2H6gell — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) September 23, 2024 Check out the average separation of the pass-catchers in the game. Every Ravens’ pass catcher had greater separation than every Cowboys’ pass catcher. Data courtesy of NFL Pro Dak had some zingers When you evaluate all of Prescott’s throws, there were some misfires. Some throws were high, some were behind, and some deflected off a defensive lineman. It happens. But there were also some right-on-the-money throws from Dak and many of them came when he was given just a smidge of separation in the secondary. Of course, if you give Dak a little bit of space, he can hurt you. This is what a good passing attack looks like. pic.twitter.com/FaCKfORyCk — Dan
Prescott, Lamb with opportunity to get Cowboys back on track vs depleted Giants CB corps
Prescott, Lamb with opportunity to get Cowboys back on track vs depleted Giants CB corps Todd Brock After getting taken to the woodshed in back-to-back weeks, the Cowboys are looking for something- anything- to feel encouraged about heading into a suddenly-very-important Week 4 game. They may have found it in the Giants secondary. Third-round rookie Dru Phillips and veteran Adoree’ Jackson, two of New York’s top cornerbacks, sat out the team’s Tuesday walkthrough- the second straight DNP for both- with calf injuries per the Giants website, and head coach Brian Daboll didn’t sound overly optimistic that either would be ready to suit up Thursday night. “We’ll see. Go all the way to the end like we normally do,” Daboll told New York media on Tuesday. “We’ve got a couple more days; we’ll see where everybody’s at tomorrow night, Thursday morning.” Jackson played just 17 defensive snaps in Week 3, while Phillips logged seven. Daboll said he doesn’t believe either player will have to go on injured reserve, but that will be of little solace as Dak Prescott comes to town. The Cowboys quarterback enters the game as the NFL’s passing yards leader through three games. Granted, a significant chunk of his 851 yards have come as the offense played from way behind against both the Saints and the Ravens, but Prescott won’t complain about facing a depleted secondary as Dallas looks to get back on track in their first divisional tilt of the season. The Giants’ CB shuffle could put extra pressure on Deonte Banks, their 2023 first-round pick out of Maryland. This past Sunday, the 23-year-old was tasked with covering a five-time Pro Bowler. It did not go well. Banks got “torched by Amari Cooper and looked lost on the field” versus the Browns, according to Giants Wire. Cooper caught seven balls and scored twice in a game the Giants ended up winning. It’s the kind of game film, though, that could have Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb salivating in anticipation after a very frustrating day last week. Lamb sits one spot outside the league’s top 10 in receiving yards but was mostly stymied last Sunday after a costly red-zone fumble early in the game. Him returning to form (and quickly) will be absolutely critical if the Cowboys are to have any long-term success this season. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Daboll admitted that finding a scheme to shut down Lamb has already been a focus for his staff during this short week. “Tough opponent, really good player, CeeDee,” the coach said. “They’ve got a lot of really good players. So we’re burning it pretty good here.” Giants cornerback Nick McCloud may also provide some relief for after missing Weeks 2 and 3 with a knee injury. He was listed as limited both Monday and Tuesday, but Daboll expressed “hope” that McCloud would be able to go Thursday. Cor’Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins, and Art Green could also figure into the mix for the New York defensive backfield. They have one career interception among them. Given the early struggles from the Cowboys’ run game, Mike McCarthy may be asking his running backs to help the offensive line with pass protection, letting Prescott and Lamb go to work on turning things around against a Giants CB corps already on the short end of the injury stick. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
