Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The Cowboys run game is holding the offense back. It’s hard to come away from Dallas’ Week 2 loss to New Orleans with many positives. The Cowboys were beaten on both sides of the ball, so adjusting the power rankings this week isn’t easy. But there were varying degrees of failure, so a little movement might be justified. All in all, no position did enough to earn resounding praise. And remember, these rankings are based on the entire season, not just the last game. So with the Saints loss burned into our memories, here’s the updated list going into Week 3. Guard (Last Week: 1st) – While the offensive line struggled on the whole, things were much worse on the edges than in the interior. Seeing Zack Martin go down was scary but he returned to the game, so hopefully he’ll be okay for another tough test coming up against Baltimore. Quarterback (LW: 3rd) – Dak Prescott did throw two picks, but one was because his receiver slipped and the other came when the game was already out of hand in the fourth quarter. Overall, Prescott was the least of Dallas’ worries as he managed missing TE Jake Ferguson and still put up 293 on 27-of-39 passing. Defensive End (LW: 2nd) – While QB1 could’ve done more, Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence did nothing. Saints OC Klint Kubiak schemed Parsons right out of the game and forced the rest of the Cowboys’ defense to try to stop his offense. Obviously, they didn’t. Wide Receiver (LW: 7th) – CeeDee Lamb got the sole touchdown against double coverage and Jalen Tolbert made an impressive catch against what should’ve been called interference. We already know Lamb’s good so Tolbert’s 6 catches for 82 yards receiving line was a rare silver lining to this game. He needs to keep stepping up as this Cowboys offense is desperate for firepower. Linebacker (LW: 4th) – After a great debut in Cleveland, this group looked like 2023 all over again. It isn’t all their fault as they got no help up front and DeMarvion Overshown received oddly few snaps. But if their play is going to be dependent on what the defensive line is doing, that’s going to be easily exploited by quality offenses. Cornerback (LW: 6th) – The damage was mostly done away from them, but the Saints’ top receivers still produced 177 yards on just 10 targets. New Orleans’ dominance on the ground helped set up the pass, so we won’t slam the CBs too badly here. Tight End (LW: 8th) – Luke Schoonmaker had six catches for 43 yards, including an impressive one-handed catch. While he looks more like Dalton Schultz than Ferguson in terms of explosive ability, he at least provided a safe target for Prescott. It was a good sign for the second-year prospect. Center (LW: 10th) – Cooper Beebe is holding his own as a starter. We’re still waiting on more impact in the run game, but Dallas’ backs may make it harder to notice when the blocking is sufficient. Safety (LW: 5th) – When was the last time these guys made a play? Donovan Wilson’s interception was a gift off a deflected pass. Overall, there’s been surprisingly little impact from this position so far this year. And on Sunday they gave up a long touchdown bomb. Offensive Tackle (LW: 9th) – Guyton looked more like a rookie this week and Terence Steele was struggling. The Saints’ defense is probably better than we realized but it’s hard to fathom how they gave Dallas more trouble than Cleveland’s. Defensive Tackle (LW: 11th) – Right now we can barely even say nice things about Osa Odighizuwa, let alone the rest of the group. New Orleans controlled the game up front and it starts right here. Running Back (LW: 12th) – If things hadn’t gone sideways on the other side of the ball, Dallas’ run game might’ve had a chance to look better. Rico Dowdle did get 30 yards on just seven carries. But there wasn’t enough opportunity here to change perceptions.
Dallas Cowboys 2024 opponent preview: 2 Ravens to keep an eye on
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images There are a couple of Ravens players who present greater challenges than others. 2023 Overview For much of the 2023 season, the Baltimore Ravens looked to be one of the best teams in the NFL. A team filled with offensive playmakers, tough defensive talent, and a veteran coach, they looked like a juggernaut at times. They finished 13-4 in the regular season, quarterback Lamar Jackson won his second MVP award, followed by playing in the AFC Championship Game, It was a bit of a surprise that Jackson and Co. weren’t able to get over the hump and make the Super Bowl. Ravens File 2023 Record: 13-4 (AFC Championship Game appearance) Last Meeting: 12/8/2020 – 34-17 Ravens win. (Baltimore leads all-time series 5-1) Head Coach: John Harbaugh (172-111 as head coach) Key Additions: RB Derrick Henry, WR Deonte Harty, OT Josh Jones Key Departures: LB Patrick Queen, S Geno Stone, RB Gus Edwards Player to watch… Roquan Smith Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Over the last few years, we have seen high-level linebacker play disrupt the Cowboys’ offense and completely throw them off track in a game. San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner comes to mind most frequently, but Ravens’ LB Roquan Smith also has that ability. Smith is smart, athletic, and plays the game fearlessly. He plays the run physically and can make plays in the passing game. In a lot of ways, he is this NFL’s version of a textbook linebacker. Dallas will need to be aware of his presence throughout the afternoon. As they try to get back on track after a tough Week 2, finding a way to neutralize Smith on Sunday could be a massive key to the outcome of this game. Don’t forget about… Isaiah Likely Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images As far as budding stars go, Isaiah Likely is almost in full bloom early in 2024. The young tight end from Coastal Carolina has done nothing but make plays when given the chance and looks to be a true highlight for this Ravens offense that already features Mark Andrews at the position. He’s outstandingly athletic, but plays physically and with a mean streak in the run game. When he has the football in his hand, he is always looking to score and can do so from anywhere. Dallas will have their hands full with Jackson and Derrick Henry, but they cannot afford to lose sight of Likely on Sunday, or it could get ugly for this Cowboys defense once again.
Cowboys DT Jordan Phillips claims ignorance about wrist injury, move to IR
Cowboys DT Jordan Phillips claims ignorance about wrist injury, move to IR Todd Brock The NFL mandates that teams release practice reports that chart which players are limited by injury and to what extent. To those outside the building, an appearance on the report by a player can cause some confusion, especially if that player seemed fine during the most recent game and there were no reports of an injury suffered during practice. But it seems one Cowboys defender’s inclusion on first injury report of Week 3 is coming as a surprise, even to him. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who was just acquired by the team a month ago, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with what the Cowboys have identified as a sprained wrist. Phillips says that’s news to him. “I don’t know,” he answered when asked how the injury came about, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “That’s above my pay grade. You have to ask the people making the decisions.” The former second-round draft pick did have surgery last season while with the Bills to repair a dislocated wrist suffered in a win against Dallas, but when asked by reporters midweek if his wrist was “good,” Phillips responded “yes.” “It is what it is, I guess,” he continued. One official said the team is being cautious with Phillips. Phillips played 19 defensive snaps Sunday versus New Orleans but did not record any official statistics. He assisted on a lone tackle and logged one quarterback hit in the season opener at Cleveland. His PFF grade stands at 29.6, among the lowest grades in the league among defensive linemen. One play from the Week 2 loss showed the 330-pound Phillips being pushed around badly and ultimately getting flung into the feet of both safety Malik Hooker and cornerback Trevon Diggs nearly ten yards downfield. Another replay showed Phillips getting away from his blocker on a pass play, but instead of going after Saints quarterback Derek Carr, he inexplicably turned around and re-engaged with New Orleans offensive tackle Trevor Penning, who was still on the ground. Clarence Hill Jr. and Joseph Hoyt of DLLS Sports point out that Phillips was acquired in a trade that also netted the Cowboys a 2026 seventh-round draft pick, but only if Phillips played two games for Dallas. His appearance on the field Sunday officially checked that box. And now Phillips will miss at least four games with a wrist injury that he claims not to know anything about. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Carlos Watkins, who played defensive tackle with the Cowboys in 2021 and 2022, was signed off the Commanders’ practice squad as a likely replacement. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys injury report: Trevon Diggs, CeeDee Lamb miss practice with injury
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Here is the Dallas Cowboys injury report for Wednesday. As the Dallas Cowboys pick themselves up from the rubble after a demolition by the New Orleans Saints, the team looks introspectively for answers to some of their biggest questions: How did the defense, led by Micah Parsons, allow five consecutive scoring drives by halftime? How did Dallas surrender a QBR of 99.4 to Derek Carr? Or how did the Cowboys allow 22.1 yards per reception? The Cowboys will now face a Baltimore Ravens team this Sunday. Before we dive into the injury report, Dallas made one injury transaction this morning. #Cowboys roster transactions: Jordan Phillips to IR (wrist) and will miss a minimum of four games. Carlos Watkins signed to the active roster as a replacement, returning to Dallas, poached from the Commanders practice squad. — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 18, 2024 Carlos Watkins should step in and provide the team with support in stopping the run better than what happened against New Orleans. Here is the Wednesday practice report for the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens: – It’s a back injury for Cowboys DT Mazi Smith who was seen walking off the practice field – CB Trevon Diggs (foot) and WR CeeDee Lamb (ankle) DNP – Multiple key Ravens defenders listed as DNP pic.twitter.com/jABvrjZqab — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) September 18, 2024 Defensive tackle Mazi Smith left practice today with an injury that was characterized as a back injury. Trevon Diggs (foot) and CeeDee Lamb (ankle) did not practice today. The severity of injury for Diggs and Lamb has not been released, but at this point there doesn’t seem to be a lot of worry. Jake Ferguson worked into team activities still nursing a knee injury suffered in the home opener against the Cleveland Browns and earned the limited designation; a great sign for Ferguson. As for John Stephens Jr., he’s was limited with a hamstring injury. Hopefully, one of them can be healthy enough to return this week against Baltimore. The Ravens have allowed the second-most yards to tight ends (90). For the Ravens, offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (personal) were absent from Baltimore’s practice. Their secondary was also without a few notable names. Safety Kyle Hamilton (back) did not practice nor did cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (personal). Coach Jon Harbaugh says that he expects Stanley to play although he did not practice Wednesday. Finally, versatile linebacker Kyle Van Noy was also not at Ravens practice.
Cowboys analytics roundup: Reality sets in after tough day against the Saints
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The advanced statistics are not too kind to last week’s Cowboys game. Cowboys fans have seemingly lived out a full season’s worth of narratives in the span of just a week. The season opening win over the Browns had everyone thinking the defense was finally fixed under Mike Zimmer and that this might be the year things are different, only to get picked apart defensively by Derek Carr in Dallas a week later in a performance eerily reminiscent of the Cowboys’ playoff collapse from last season. It can be difficult to not fall prey to the mood swings that come from watching your team blow someone out and then get blown out, but advanced data can help somewhat. That’s where the weekly analytics roundup comes into play, although all DVOA-related grades do not currently adjust for quality of opponent; that will begin to kick in after a few more games have been played. Nevertheless, let’s see where the Cowboys stand two weeks in. Woof. How the mighty have fallen, indeed. The offense got a little bit worse this week, though much of that is due to the nature of playing from behind. The defense, however, had a massive dropoff in efficiency. A week ago, we were talking about how unprecedented their -53.6% grade was, and just one week later they’re sitting at 0.4%. As a team, the Cowboys sit at 14th in total efficiency, just barely in the top half of the league. It should be noted that the Saints sit at the top of the DVOA rankings with a whopping 91.2% grade, while the Seahawks are holding a distant second at 49.9%. Maybe the Saints really are that good? 2024 NFL Team Tiers, Weeks 1-2, courtesy of rbsdm.com Speaking of the Saints, they’re in a league of their own according to the EPA-based team tiers as well. The Cowboys, on the other hand, are not in their own league, but they are in some poor company. Namely, a Dolphins team that just lost their quarterback for at least four games. Dallas is also near the Titans, Raiders, and Browns in these team tiers, which is not where you want to be. If there’s any solace to be had in looking at this chart, it’s that the rest of the NFC East is off to a terrible start as well. Offense There’s no way to sugarcoat it: this offense is not very good right now. There’s also no getting around the fact that they’ve faced two of the best defenses in the NFL in the Browns and Saints. That’s a murderer’s row of a start to the season, and very few offenses would look good against that schedule. The odd thing is that the Cowboys actually scored a lot in the first half, relative to what the Saints defense usually gives up. They were hurt in efficiency metrics for too many drives ending in field goals and, in the second half, too many drives stalling out because they were forced to become one-dimensional with such a large deficit. None of this is to say that there isn’t reason for concern, but these numbers are likely to improve in the coming weeks. Speaking of numbers that are likely to improve – Dak Prescott threw two picks in this game, but he actually played well. One of those interceptions came as a result of his receiver falling down, while the second one came so late in an already-decided game that it made no discernible impact on the outcome of the game. Having said all that, Prescott cannot be putting up these numbers in the efficiency categories when he’s making $60 million a year. He was noticeably better against New Orleans than he was in Cleveland, but the quarterback needs to make a much bigger jump starting now. It was not the best day for the Cowboys offensive line. Their pair of tackles gave up 10 pressures between the two of them, with both Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele allowing a sack. Cooper Beebe also gave up a sack on his lone pressure. All five starting linemen allowed at least one pressure. All in all, it was a really tough day. The run blocking wasn’t much better. There weren’t many holes being opened up for the running backs in this game, though Dallas went away from the run early on anyway. On paper, this line should be a top 10 run blocking unit, but they haven’t shown it yet. Defense How bad was this game for the Dallas defense? If you had a game like this on the College Football 25 video game, you’d smash your controller and proclaim the AI was far too unrealistic. That’s how terrible this week was for Mike Zimmer’s unit. A week ago, the Cowboys were 10th in run defense DVOA, 18th in EPA/rush, and third in run stop win rate. Now they’re 31st, 32nd, and 19th, respectively. Those are all dramatic drops down the leaderboards. The secondary remains in a solid spot, relatively speaking, but this was a historically awful performance against the run. As mentioned, the secondary wasn’t terrible in this game. They gave up two big passing plays to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed that were the result of poor discipline in coverage, as well as a screen pass that perfectly baited Eric Kendricks. Other than those three plays, all of which were big gains, the secondary played relatively well. Of course, it helps that Carr only dropped back 18 times in the game, and that was because the ground attack never once faced any resistance. Jourdan Lewis led all defensive backs in targets with just three, and he only allowed one reception. The truth is this game didn’t produce much meaningful analysis for the pass coverage because it was so wonky on the run/pass splits. The run defense remains the number one concern in Dallas right now.
Micah Parsons plans attack on Lamar Jackson while serving lunch at Post Malone’s Cowboys spot
Micah Parsons plans attack on Lamar Jackson while serving lunch at Post Malone’s Cowboys spot Todd Brock After a rough performance from his team over the weekend, Cowboys linebacker/edge rusher Micah Parsons took out some of his frustrations on some unsuspecting fast-food patrons on his off day. And based on how he attacked the lunchtime rush at a Dallas restaurant, Lamar Jackson might want to take notice. Parsons spent a chunk of Tuesday afternoon at Raising Cane’s Post Malone x Dallas Cowboys Restaurant, a co-branded location of the chicken finger chain that swaps the company’s usual red-and-yellow color scheme for Cowboys blue and silver and also gets patrons up close and personal with memorabilia from the popular singer/songwriter and die-hard Cowboys fan. But even while gearing up for his first shift at the drive-thru window, Parsons was already looking ahead to the Baltimore Ravens and his first-ever meeting with the two-way threat leading their offense, quarterback Lamar Jackson. “In terms of what he’s accomplished in this league, he’s probably the best dual-threat quarterback in league history. Two-time MVP, Heisman winner, multiple playoff runs,” he told Cowboys Wire, one of the media outlets on hand for the event. “What he’s accomplished so far is truly admirable.” DALLAS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 17: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons works “Shift” at Raising Cane’s in Dallas, serves up ONE LOVE to Cowboys Nation at Raising Cane’s Dallas on September 17, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images for Raising Cane’s) In just his seventh pro season, Jackson has already amassed enough passing yards to put him in the NFL’s all-time top 150. But what makes him lethal is his equally-prolific rushing ability; he’s got two 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé and owns a career per-carry average of over six yards. And with the Ravens coming in to AT&T Stadium surprisingly winless over two games, Jackson will be even more of a danger for Parsons and a Cowboys defense that had absolutely no answers for the Saints last Sunday. “With Lamar, you’ve got to find a way to keep him in the pocket, don’t let him get those extra runs, keep extending play,” Parsons explained. “It’s easy to say, but it’s hard to do. You’re going to need all 11 guys on the same page.” The uber-competitive Parsons brought that same mindset with him to Raising Cane’s, where he jumped behind the counter and did his usual bouncing from position to position. He went from the fryer to the drive-thru to handing out box combos with his trademark speed and hustle, urging his coworkers to keep up and even barking orders of his own at more than a few shocked customers in an effort to keep the line moving. Parsons says he’s actually no stranger to the food service industry, having worked at the Hersheypark theme park while growing up in Pennsylvania. But he did admit he would have liked to recruit at least one of his Cowboys teammates to help sling chicken and fill to-go receipts. “I would definitely bring Trevon Diggs,” Parsons laughed. “He’s very handsy. He’s going to be able to help me control the huddle.” Parsons called his midday fast-food shift a chance to “restart, reset, and refocus” after Week 2’s demoralizing 44-19 home loss to the Saints. After going on his podcast and attributing the team’s no-show to a lack of effort from some, the 25-year-old said he was “determined to get this thing right,” and said he would follow through on his offseason promise to step up and be more of a leader in the locker room. He said the self-scout starts with him. He had just three tackles on the afternoon. “For me personally, I look at my mistakes, look at how I could have done better, look at how I can lead better. Hold myself accountable, as I would anybody else,” he said. “Push my guys throughout the week- wherever I felt like their preparation was off, the detail was off. Because we’ve got to fix that, get back to the basic fundamentals.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer have said they don’t believe effort was the problem with the unit on Sunday. McCarthy explained that the Saints “finished better than we did,” and Zimmer- blaming quicker starts off the snap from the New Orleans offense- said, “Really, most of the guys I didn’t coach up good enough.” Parsons, however, isn’t ready to pin Sunday’s shortcomings on the coaching staff. “At this point in our careers, if you’ve got to motivate someone to go onto that football field, they’re probably in the wrong sport.” Motivation to excel has clearly never been an issue for Parsons, whether it’s on the gridiron or manning the drive-thru. And after whipping his Raising Cane’s team into shape on Tuesday, he’ll set his sights on doing the same for his Cowboys squad in time for Sunday. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys vs. Ravens: Week 3 matchups to watch for the Dallas Cowboys
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images Which Ravens players concern you the most? The Dallas Cowboys (1-1) will host the Baltimore Ravens (0-2) at AT&T Stadium on Sunday afternoon in what is shaping up to be a very important game for both organizations. The Cowboys are coming off an embarrassing loss and the Ravens are still looking for their first win of the season. To the victor go the spoils. The Cowboys may have a slight edge this week with home-field advantage, however, even that didn’t help them last week against the New Orleans Saints. They will need to be at their best to beat a very good Ravens team, who is surprisingly winless this year. To walk away with the “W” Dallas will need to win it some key matchups, which we discuss below. LB DeMarvion Overshown vs. QB Lamar Jackson Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images After seeing his snap count cut significantly in Week 2 against the Saints, don’t be surprised if DeMarvion Overshown doesn’t see a huge uptick in playing time in the Week 3 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Overshown’s sideline-to-sideline speed and agility could make him the perfect weapon to deploy as a spy on Lamar Jackson, arguably the best dual-threat QB in the league. Dallas can’t afford to allow the Ravens QB to run wild on them if they want a chance of winning and Overshown is their best chance to contain him this week. DE Micah Parsons vs. Ravens’ OL Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images Micah Parsons and the rest the Cowboys pass rush need a huge bounce back game after the no-show performance they had against the Saints last week. Fortunately, the Ravens offensive line has been wildly inconsistent through the first two weeks of the season and was victimized in their Week 2 loss to Las Vegas Raiders. Maxx Crosby absolutely terrorized them the entire game and helped sway the outcome in the Raiders favor. Micah Parsons needs to do the same for Dallas this week. .@Raiders went into @Ravens and @CrosbyMaxx got real busy disrupting the Raven offense. The following is some of the destruction #RaiderNation #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/NnY09h2WuD — Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 16, 2024 WR CeeDee Lamb vs. CB Marlon Humphrey Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images The entire Cowboys offense runs through CeeDee Lamb. As he goes, so does the offense. The Ravens surely know this as well and will do their best to contain him in this Week 3 matchup. They could choose to bracket him in coverage with multiple players or deploy their best coverage man CB Marlon Humphrey. Using Humphrey to shadow him makes sense as it would free up other of their defensive players to be utilized elsewhere. This could be a matchup that helps decide the outcome.
Cowboys news: Jerry Jones gives an opinion on playing Dalvin Cook
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images Your Wednesday morning news around the Dallas Cowboys. Time to play Dalvin Cook? Jerry Jones addresses Cowboys’ running back situation – Joey Hayden, Dallas Morning News The Dallas Cowboys are struggling to run the ball. Is it time they turn the reigns over to Dalvin Cook? However, even with the veteran presence of Dalvin Cook in the wings on the Cowboys’ practice squad, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones doesn’t appear to be in a rush to shake up the Dallas rushing attack. “I don’t necessarily see a change that would involve Cook this week,” Jones said Tuesday morning during his weekly radio interview with 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM). “I like what we are with our running backs. We’ve got got good depth. We just didn’t get to run them enough Sunday.” Up next for the Cowboys will be the Baltimore Ravens, a team heading into AT&T Stadium desperate for a victory after a surprising 0-2 start. While the offense is led by reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, joining him in the backfield is running back Derrick Henry, a name that many floated as a possible option for the Cowboys over the offseason in free agency. Ahead of the looming matchup against Henry, Jones was also asked about the team’s decision to not pursue the two-time league leader in rushing after the departure of Tony Pollard. “If you’ve got a good player out there and you don’t sign him, guess what, you’re probably going to be playing him,” Jones said. “When you do sign them, you take one out of your competition and you put him over on your side. Big Picture: 10 Storylines for Cowboys & Ravens – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com Here are a few storylines that could pop up during this weekend’s matchup. Ravens – The Ravens are surprisingly 0-2 to start the season and have only been 0-3 once (2015) in franchise history. So to say they would enter Sunday’s game at AT&T Stadium in desperation would be an understatement, especially considering this is a franchise that has been to the playoffs five of the last six years, including a trip to the AFC Championship Game last season with the league’s MVP. – Speaking of Lamar Jackson, he leads a Ravens offense ranked No. 1 in total yards after two weeks with 417.5 yards per game. He’s arguably the most dynamic running quarterback in NFL history, rushing for 83.5 yards per game in the first two weeks. But that’s also around his QB rating of 86.5. Jackson has thrown an interception in each of his first two losses. Cowboys – What a wake-up call it was for the Cowboys, who were humbled with a 25-point blowout home loss to the Saints in Week 2. It was the first regular-season home loss at AT&T Stadium in 16 games and the biggest blowout at home since the 2020 season (38-10 loss to Arizona). More alarming for the Cowboys, was how similar the game felt to the playoff loss at home to Green Bay back in January, when the Packers steamrolled to a 21-point halftime lead and cruised to the Divisional round. – What a defense a week makes. After Mike Zimmer’s defense received a ton of praise for a dominating win over Cleveland, the unit was gutted by the Saints, who scored touchdowns on their first six drives. The defense had no answer for Alvin Kamara, who did the majority of damage on the perimeter, torching the Cowboys on the edge. After getting a sack and 11 pressures in Week 1 in Cleveland, All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons was held in check by the Saints, totaling just three pressures and no sacks. Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy Could Be Replaced by ‘Rising, Bright Football Mind’ – Anne Erickson, Heavy on Cowboys Hey, if you can’t beat them, hire them. Klint Kubiak Could Be One of Jerry Jones’ ‘First Calls This Offseason’ Joe Summers of Sport DFW has a September 15 feature where he says the “perfect” McCarthy replacement was “made clear” during the Cowboys vs. Saints game. “New Orleans offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is quickly becoming a popular head coaching candidate,” the NFL writer and expert stated. “Derek Carr led the Saints to scores on every drive in Week 1 then continued that streak into the 4th quarter against the Cowboys, giving Jerry Jones a perfect look at someone who could replace McCarthy once he’s let go.” He added that, “Just like in 2023, Dallas was overmatched against superior schemes. Kubiak is a rising, bright football mind and could be one of Jones’ first calls this offseason. Aside from the clear strategic mistake of employing a lame-duck coach, it’s time for Jones to consider alternatives. McCarthy will remain the coach for the rest of the 2024-25 season, though someone else will almost certainly be manning the ship following the year.” Cowboys’ defense still can’t slow Shanahan coaching disciples – Todd Archer, ESPN Hopefully, Mike Zimmer can course correct when facing coaches from the “Shanahan Tree.” Not only have Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers beaten the Cowboys three straight times — ending two of Dallas’ past three playoff runs — his coaching-tree offspring have done a number on them as well. In January, Matt LaFleur led the Green Bay Packers to a wild-card win against the Cowboys (their other recent playoff loss). In December, Mike McDaniel put together a plan that led to the Miami Dolphins beating the Cowboys. On Sunday, Klint Kubiak, in his second game as the New Orleans Saints’ offensive coordinator, overwhelmed the Cowboys’ defense on the way to a 44-19 victory. Later this season, the Cowboys (1-1) will face the Houston Texans (OC Bobby Slowik), Atlanta Falcons (OC Zac Robinson) and Cincinnati Bengals (HC Zac Taylor). Those coaches have direct ties to Shanahan or Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, who coached with Shanahan under Shanahan’s father, Mike, when they were with Washington. The Detroit Lions visit AT&T Stadium next month
Star Points: Cowboys RBs still searching for identity, Jerry reluctant to elevate Dalvin Cook
Updates: Jerry Jones on Dalvin Cook’s status :: The Mothership Link With the Cowboys ranked 25th in the league in rushing so far this season, some are calling for Cook to be activated for the Ravens game, but Jones made it sound unlikely. “I don’t necessarily see a change that would involve Cook this week,” he said during a Tuesday radio call-in. Cook last played with Baltimore at the end of last season. Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle’s postgame message is indicative of a major problem :: A to Z Sports Link When asked about the identity of the Cowboys’ running back group, Dowdle said he didn’t have an answer since “we haven’t had a lot of at bats at the plate.” For Dowdle, arguably the starting running back on the team, to not have even a typical we want to be physical-type answer to describe the identity of the team’s position group, it’s disappointing at best. Cowboys should be ready for ‘different challenge’ from Ravens, former NFL head coach says :: Dallas Morning News Link Former Ravens coach Brian Billick believes the Cowboys will see a lot of Derrick Henry up the middle on Sunday, with every run increasing the likelihood that they’ll get suckered when Lamar Jackson eventually takes off around the edge. “You better put eight people in the box,” he said. “You better make sure you keep Lamar in the pocket because that’s the thing that’s gonna get you beat.” Cowboys clearly regret passing on cheap RB who now leads the NFL in rushing :: The Landry Hat Link J.K. Dobbins was a popular name for Cowboys fans hoping the team would make a splash in free agency this past offseason. Instead, he signed with the Chargers and currently leads the league with 266 yards on just 27 attempts, a whopping 9.9 yards-per-carry average. He is also tied for first in explosive runs, second in yards after contact per attempt, and tied for fifth with 11 first downs. Oh, and he’s playing for a fraction of what the Cowboys are paying Ezekiel Elliott. Cowboys’ defense still can’t slow Shanahan coaching disciples :: ESPN Link Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was just the latest branch of the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree to come crashing down on the Cowboys. Of the past nine games against a “Shanahan offense,” the Cowboys have lost seven. One common denominator? Rushing attacks that the Cowboys have proven incapable of stopping. Doomed to Repeat? Cowboys’ offseason inaction resulted in spectacularly similar results :: Cowboys Wire Link Every misstep the Cowboys make this season will be followed by the frustrations of the fanbase over a wasted offseason of not doing enough to improve the roster through outside means. The strategy in Dallas seems to be “just play better,” despite not actually getting markedly better at either defensive tackle or running back. Sunday showed how that philosophy will pay off. Analyzing Cowboys snap counts: Where was DeMarvion Overshown? :: The Athletic Link Mike Zimmer explained that Overshown’s underuse on Sunday was calculated: “He’s coming off an ACL, missed all of spring, didn’t really get out there until we got to OTAs. He’s working his way back in and that will continue to go forward as we go. He’s going to get plenty of reps.” Zimmer also wondered aloud if he perhaps asked Micah Parsons to do “too may different things” versus the Saints, negatively impacting some of his defensive teammates. Good, Bad, Ugly: Defensive meltdown, WR3 candidates figured prominently in Cowboys’ Week 2 :: Cowboys Wire Link The defense obviously bears the brunt of this week’s bad and ugly labels, but there were problems offensively, too. One receiver who had impressed during the summer took a serious step back, and while quarterback Dak Prescott valiantly tried to spark a comeback, his play in Week 2 cannot be completely beyond reproach. On the bright side, Brandon Aubrey unlocked a dangerous new weapon within his one-man arsenal. NFL power rankings roundup: Where do Dallas Cowboys place after week 2 of the season? :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link The Saints loss cost the Cowboys all those spots they had gained after their impressive season-opening win. A sampling of power rankings from various outlets has Dallas typically slotted between 11th and 18th leaguewide, although Yahoo Sports plays outlier by ranking them a surprising sixth. Apparently Jerry Jones has amnesia of recent times Cowboys endured regular-season whoopings :: Cowboys Wire Link Jones chose to brush off Week 2’s beatdown by intimating that it very rarely happens to the Cowboys. Actually, Jerry, they’ve been embarrassed by New Orleans, Buffalo, and San Francisco in just their last 14 regular-season contests. And that doesn’t even count January’s total playoff collapse at home versus Green Bay. Cowboys preseason trade compensation finalized after first two weeks of season :: Blogging the Boys Link Jordan Phillips being on the gameday roster for the Cowboys’ first two games means Dallas will give up a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Giants and then get New York’s seventh-round selection. It had already been determined that the Cowboys will not get a seventh in 2026 from Kansas City once the Chiefs released Peyton Hendershot earlier in the week. Giants sign former Vikings’ kicker who hit 61-yard game-winner against them in 2022 :: CBS Sports Link With Graham Gano suffering a hamstring injury delivering Week 2’s opening kick, the Giants missed a PAT and then failed a pair of two-point conversions. The team has signed veteran Greg Joseph off the Lions’ practice squad as Gano goes to injured reserve. The Giants host the Cowboys in Week 4’s Thursday night game on Sept. 26.
Doomed to Repeat? Cowboys’ offseason inaction resulted in spectacularly similar results
Doomed to Repeat? Cowboys’ offseason inaction resulted in spectacularly similar results reidhanson The Cowboys’ heavily scrutinized inactivity over the offseason will not be soon forgotten. Not after the defense offered up a near identical performance to the game that ended their season last January. Not after the Cowboys fell to 1-1 following a 44-19 loss to a New Orleans team they were expected to handily beat. Not after the Cowboys just showed the world they’re destined for the same outcome in 2024 as they suffered the year before. And year before. And year before. Amidst redefining the phrase “all in,” Jerry Jones declared from the start of the offseason, the 2024 season would be about rolling the same group back and demanding better results. Internal improvement rather than team upgrades would then be theme of the offseason. Some level of churn would be expected through free agency and the draft, but generally speaking the plan was to just play better. Critics pointed to the wide-open NFC and the window of opportunity currently facing the Cowboys. They pointed to clear and obvious deficiencies on the roster and how those weak links threaten to give the Cowboys the same results again, regardless of improved play elsewhere. Jones stood fast, refusing to open the checkbook for anything new other than a bargain. Even coaching vacancies were filled with the smallest commitment possible for Jones. Signed to a rare one-year deal, Jones added Mike Zimmer to take over for the recently departed Dan Quinn (Washington, not heaven). The defense suffered an epic collapse in Quinn’s last game and the hope was a disciplinarian like Zimmer may be able to spark improvement, even if the personnel changes were minor. The defense got their first big test in Week 2 against the high-flying Saints. Under Klint Kubiak, New Orleans ran an offense similar to that of the 49ers and Packers. Hailing from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, New Orleans manhandled the Dallas defense in a way that seemed all too familiar to Cowboys fans. The Cowboys’ whole “just play better this time” strategy didn’t appear to pay off. Just like San Francisco and Green Bay before them, New Orleans easily put up over 40 points on the vaunted Dallas defense. The Cowboys’ minor personnel changes, coaching changes and scheme changes didn’t seem to make the slightest difference. Perhaps the critics were right after all and the Cowboys really did need to upgrade at a couple positions of obvious weakness. Defensive tackle has been, and continues to be, a point of contention on the Cowboys. Dallas is extremely thin on their defensive interior and their various Band-Aids and retreads have done little to help their cause. The Shanahan wide zone scheme stretched and sealed the Dallas defensive line with ease, resulting in huge gains and utter dominance all afternoon. Without a single disrupter on the interior, the Cowboys were again easy fodder for a Shanahan offense. The Cowboys needed to add a high-level disrupter to their interior over the offseason. There were plenty available. But Jones didn’t want to add new investments, so the Cowboys opted to make other, more affordable, adjustments. Predictably it offered the same results. The offensive side of the ball suffered a similarly predictable outcome on Sunday. The lack of investment at the running back position and pass-catcher was felt significantly. With Jake Ferguson out in Week 2, the Cowboys were without reliable downfield options not named “CeeDee Lamb.” And with the RB group unable to pull their own weight in the ground game, Dallas became one-dimensional in the worst way. It shouldn’t be surprising the areas the Cowboys refused to improve in free agency produced similar results. While RBs and run-stopping DTs aren’t considered premium positions requiring top investment, they aren’t positions that can be neglected to the degree the Cowboys have neglected them. Nothing that happened on Sunday is surprising. It’s just the product of poor strategy and inadequate personnel. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
