Cowboys 2025 head coach search should focus on future rather than the past reidhanson Ever since the Cowboys’ postseason implosion to Green Bay last January the head coach position in Dallas has been a topic for debate. Mike McCarthy, entering the last year on his deal, had been a disappointing presence since taking the helm in 2020. Hired to push a highly talented roster over the top, the Cowboys managed just one playoff win under McCarthy. While the Cowboys did manage three consecutive 12-win seasons under McCarthy’s leadership, each campaign ended in embarrassing playoff upsets where Dallas barely looked competitive. All this made McCarthy’s return in 2024 surprising and his departure in 2025 almost imminent. Yet amidst the current 5-8 season where the Cowboys have all but been eliminated from playoff contention, there’s been talk of McCarthy possibly returning. Players have voiced their support, media analysts have discussed the validity, and even Cowboys legend Troy Aikman has said he expects “Mike McCarthy to be back in 2025.” “Short of Bill Belichick, I don’t know who you’re going to bring in that has a better resume, “Aikman said via The Athletic. “I just feel that for a team that I really do not think is that far away…I sense that it’s a team that really believes in Mike McCarthy. I feel the locker room wants him back. I think he’s a really good football coach. I believe Jerry Jones thinks he’s a really good coach too.” If Aikman wanted to light a spark in the Dallas fanbase, then mission accomplished, because that statement hit the fanbase like a tanker truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant. Aikman’s take on McCarthy’s likeability is, by all indications, indisputable. McCarthy is a players’ coach rather than a disciplinarian. He’s familiar and he’s friendly. It explains the on-field mistakes and it explains the love from the players. He also stays in his own lane, which the front office certainly appreciates. Aikman’s take on his resume is also indisputable. McCarthy ranks 14th in all-time wins (although John Harbaugh and Sean Payton may pass him this season) and he has a Super Bowl to his name. Looking at the list of expected coaching candidates this winter, no one but Belichick can touch McCarthy’s resume. Most of the upcoming head coach pool consists of up-and-comers and schematic innovators, not old guys with illustrious resumes. The problem is Aikman’s looking at the young up-and-coming candidates as a negative and the various veteran retreads as a positive. It’s an odd take in a day and age where innovation is treated like gold and strategy is often all that separates the winners from the losers. Work experience and past success has value but only when that success also projects to the future. A major criticism of the Cowboys under McCarthy has been the simplicity of their offense. As one of the more transparent attacks, McCarthy’s offense has been resistant to the many tricks of the trade that newer coordinators have embraced. To conclude McCarthy is good today just because he was good in the past (which is what the resume reference implies) is a dangerous step to take. An up-and-comer replacement may carry more risk, he may be not as well liked by players, and he may step on the toes of the front office more often, but that might be what the Cowboys need to take that next step. McCarthy coming back might be a possibility, but not under the logic that he’s the best man for the job. Best resume? Yes. But best forecast for the future? No way. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Mike McCarthy’s biggest flaw on full display in Cowboys’ loss to Bengals
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images If you were still on the fence about whether or not the Cowboys should bring Mike McCarthy back, Monday night should have made it clear. Given how the Dallas Cowboys lost their most recent game against the Bengals, it may seem unfair to blame head coach Mike McCarthy. But while it’s easy to point at a specific moment in the contest, and one player’s very personal blunder, which cost Dallas victory, the Cowboys could have been ahead if McCarthy hadn’t made his own big mistake. Facts are facts; if CB Amani Oruwariye had secured that blocked punt or just not even touched it, Dallas would have been in a strong position to win. The ball likely gets downed somewhere between the Bengals’ 45 and the 50, meaning the Cowboys were already close, if not in, kicker Brandon Aubrey’s range. With the way Rico Dowdle was running, it’s more than reasonable that they would’ve picked up yards, maybe even a first down, to wind the clock down and walk off with the victory. But should the game have even been tied at that point? Let’s talk about the night that Dowdle was having. It was his best yet as a pro; 131 rushing yards on just 18 carries, plus one 10-yard catch. Averaging 8.4 yards per touch, Dowdle was the best thing Dallas had going offensively. Cooper Rush was struggling, and had it not been for CeeDee Lamb’s great individual effort on a 43-yard catch it would’ve been a very poor night for QB2. Naturally then, McCarthy went away from him in the crucial final drives. After Cincy made it 20-20 on a field goal, Dowdle did get the first carry and was stopped for a one-yard loss. But instead of giving him another shot, McCarthy leaned on Rush for two straight incompletions that led to a punt. The next time Dallas got the ball, Dowdle took the first carry for 14 yards. He didn’t get another one as Rush threw three more blanks and the Cowboys had to punt again. The Bengals’ next drive led to the special teams disaster. McCarthy’s personality as a coach is well known. He’s a West Coast guy who’s never made the run game a feature of his offense. That made sense when his quarterbacks were Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, and even at times when Dak Prescott is humming, but it looks pretty stupid when you’ve got Cooper Rush overthrowing open guys and not even seeing others. It’s even dumber when you consider the opponent. Keeping the Bengals’ offense off the field was crucial to success and Dowdle was providing a great way to do it. While the couple of carries they gave Ezekiel Elliott was ineffective, why weren’t Hunter Luepke or Deuce Vaughn worked into the mix? If Dowdle couldn’t take a heavier workload, there were other ways to run the offense that would’ve exploited Cincinnati’s clear weakness. But that’s where McCarthy has so consistently failed in Dallas, especially in these two years as the play-caller. He runs a stubborn scheme, both in its archaic design and predictable in-game decisions. Even with his starting QB out and the run game dominating, he can’t help himself. McCarthy is going to live or die his way, either because he’s too proud to adapt or lacks the talent and creativity to do so. Whatever the reason, it’s more evidence of why the Cowboys have to move on from McCarthy this offseason. Sure, he deserves credit for the way the players have kept fighting in a realistically lost season. But you can’t let that distract you from the fact that he’s one of the culprits. A better coach doesn’t lose this last game. So while some players certainly deserve blame for Dallas’ fall on Monday night, don’t let Mike McCarthy off the hook. Bad moments and even off nights happen for players, but McCarthy’s poor judgment has been on display for far longer and more consistently. Even if the front office has a brilliant offseason, trusting McCarthy to take that talent somewhere special is no longer reasonable.
Cowboys Reacts Survey: The future of Mike McCarthy in Dallas
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Cowboys have a lot of important decisions to make in the next month. The Dallas Cowboys came so close to making things kind of interesting over the last month of the NFL season. They still would have been longshots to make the playoffs, but securing that win over the Cincinnati Bengals would have kept the dream alive. A 6-7 record would have them still present on the in the hunt graphics we see each week this time of year referencing the playoffs. Now, we slog through a month of games with no real meaning except for 2025 NFL Draft positioning. If the Cowboys lose, we win, or something like that. Anyway, peeking ahead to the offseason, the Cowboys have a decision to make on coach Mike McCarthy. We know he’s on an expiring contract so that Jerry Jones only has to do nothing and the problem of McCarthy’s employment in Dallas is solved. But recently, Jerry and Stephen Jones, Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons and others have made comments that reference McCarthy returning in 2025 under a new contract. Of course, this may all represent typical speech with a season still going on, players and owners may not want to diss the coach with games still on the schedule. There is the counter-theory that the way McCarthy has kept the team fighting might have swayed some opinions to give him another opportunity. So what say you BTB? Should Mike McCarthy be given another chance? Vote on the two questions in our survey then hit the comments with your thoughts. Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Dallas Cowboys fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Please take our survey
Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs surprises local high school QB with national award
Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs surprises local high school QB with national award Todd Brock A talented high school quarterback from the Dallas-Fort Worth area is in the midst of what could be a third straight championship run with an eye toward joining the Alabama Crimson Tide next fall. So when he was chosen this week to receive one of the country’s top honors, it was only fitting to have Trevon Diggs deliver the news. The Cowboys cornerback and Alabama alum showed up in Duncanville on Tuesday to surprise Keelon Russell with the trophy naming him the 2024-25 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. Leading the Duncanville Panthers to a 13-0 mark so far this year, Russell has put up 3,874 passing yards and a staggering 54 touchdowns, but the National Honor Society member also carries a 3.4 GPA and is a regular volunteer in the community with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Now the 40th Gatorade Player of the Year, Russell’s name will be alongside legends like Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Emmitt Smith, who were also once honored with the prize. In all, six winners of the award have gone on to become first-round draft picks in the NFL. Photo credit: Joe Greer/Gatorade “The Gatorade Player of the Year Program has a 40-year history of recognizing young athletes on their journey to greatness,” said Gatorade’s Anuj Bhasin. “Russell’s accomplishments have earned him a spot on the trophy alongside so many iconic athletes, and we can’t wait to see the legacy he will leave behind.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] He may be the No. 2-ranked recruit in the nation, but Russell and Duncanville still have unfinished business to attend to. The undefeated Panthers are set to play in the 6A Division I state semifinals on Saturday. Listed by MaxPreps as the No. 3 high school team in the country and the top-ranked team in Texas, they’ll square off against 14-0 North Crowley (ranked 9th in the nation) in a legitimate clash of titans. “This is a great opportunity,” Diggs told the Panthers team after their practice on Tuesday. “You worked hard, for sure. Putting your head down, working hard, you see where it got you. I just want you to keep that same mindset, especially going into college.” Diggs had words of encouragement for Russell, too, hinting that one Sunday in the not-too-distant future, he may be trying to intercept some of the youngster’s passes on an NFL field. “You’re a great player, that’s a great award,” Diggs told him. “You’re going to go far. I’m going to see you soon.” Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
John Fassel’s special teams unit has shown mental lapses throughout the season
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images The Cowboys special teams unit made a critical mistake against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night… something that has become all too common. The Dallas Cowboys were unable to continue their winning streak on Monday night, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 27-20. While the Cowboys were considered underdogs by Vegas heading into the game, Dallas found themselves in a real position to win the game. With two minutes remaining in the game, they were set to receive the ball back, forcing a punt on 4th and 27. With it being a tie game, all the Cowboys would need is a field goal to win. It appeared the Cowboys would be in great position for their field goal as linebacker Nick Vigil broke through the middle of the offensive line and blocked Cincy’s punt. All the team had to do was not touch the ball and they would start their offensive possession in great position. Then Amani Oruwariye attempted to pick it up and fumbled it, giving the Bengals the ball back. WILD PLAY: The #Bengals recover the ball on a blocked punt allowing Joe Burrow to lead them on a game-winning drive. The Cowboys always find a way to choke. pic.twitter.com/YTw0nTnzgR — No Warmup The Pod (@nwthepod) December 10, 2024 When considering the Cowboys weaknesses, special teams is typically something fans would think of last. Brandon Aubrey has proven himself as arguably the best kicker in the league, proving himself a real weapon from 50+ yards. KaVontae Turpin is an All-Pro caliber kick and punt returner, with the ability to change field position at any given moment for the Cowboys. Even their punter Bryan Anger has proven himself consistent throughout his time in Dallas. However, this is now the second week in a row the Cowboys had a mental lapse on special teams. In their victory against the Washington Commanders, safety Juanyeh Thomas just had to go down after recovering the onside kick and the game would have been over. Instead, he ran it into the endzone for the touchdown and kept it a one-possession game and giving the ball to the Washington offense. Fortunately for the Cowboys, that mistake didn’t cost them the game the way that their special teams mistake cost them the game on Monday night. The Cowboys special teams has made several questionable fake-punt calls this season. On their own 38-yard line they went for it against the Atlanta Falcons, and it almost led to an interception. The Cowboys fake punt is almost intercepted! : #DALvsATL on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/QU2en5vgpe — NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024 Just two short weeks later, the Cowboys tried yet another fake punt. This time on their own 34-yard line against the Houston Texans. This attempt was also an utter failure. Texans snuff out the fake punt! : #HOUvsDAL on ESPN/ABC : Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/gSgeNXYCfP — NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2024 While special teams coach John Fassel deserves credit for the development of Aubrey and Turpin as key special teams contributors, his unit has also been responsible for several mishaps this season. Something that directly reflects on coaching.
Cowboys news: John Fassel explains Monday’s biggest turning point
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images The up to date news around the Dallas Cowboys John Fassel breaks down “unfortunate” sequence after blocked punt – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com On Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys special teams coach spoke about what went wrong on the blocked punt. Special teams coordinator John “Bones” Fassel explained to the media on Tuesday that the play call was a seven blocks punt return, not a designed attempt to block the punt, but that the Bengals didn’t end up blocking the backside B-gap, allowing Nick Vigil to shoot that gap and get in position to block the punt as he was taught. “They play call is a very basic, elementary call…” Fassel explained. “We blocked it, the deflection didn’t go in our favor, I don’t know what else to say, Nick Vigil’s technique was perfection.” It wasn’t the blocked punt that was the issue, it’s what occurred in the ensuing two seconds that would end up giving the ball back to the Bengals. “[Oruwariye] said that he heard the crowd, which was significant, so he turned back to see what happened and the ball was bouncing at him, he didn’t know that it got blocked,” Fassel said. “He didn’t know if it was a fumble, he didn’t know that the ball was where it was. And so he just reacted like I would, see ball get ball.” Obviously, it was a game changing play that allowed Cincinnati to march 57 yards downfield in 3 plays and 52 seconds, with Ja’Marr Chase landing the knockout punch on a 40-yard touchdown. Fassel didn’t believe that the punt block was a failure, but just an unlucky break for the Cowboys. “I don’t think this was a failed play, it was an unfortunate bounce off a blocked punt…” Fassel said. “I think this how the special teams volatility kind of goes over the course of the season, and it’s an uncomfortable phase of the game for a lot of people because you never know what can happen.” Micah Parsons Explains Emotional Reaction Following Loss to Bengals – Ryan Phillips, Sports Illustrated Micah Parsons was criticized for walking off the field before the game officially ended Monday night. The All-Pro pass rusher explained why. After the Cowboys blew their chance to beat the Bengals due to a brutal special teams gaffe, Parsons was visibly upset on the bench. Then, he left the field as time ticked off the clock rather than shake hands and visit with Cincinnati players after the contest. On Tuesday, he took to his podcast to explain his actions. “I don’t think there’s anyone more competitive than me, man,” Parsons said. “And it’s heartbreaking for me because I promised y’all Cowboys Nation that we would make a run. I was doing everything in my possible manner to make sure we did that. And I wanted to put my teammates in that situation. “The fact that we lost and I felt like we could have won that game, that killed me, man… It just kind of sucked the life out of me,” he continued He then discussed leaving the field before congratulating the Bengals. “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t,” Parson said. “If I went over there and was all laughing with the competition after we lost like that, a lot of people would be mad.” Micah Parsons explains his postgame emotions after loss vs. Bengals: ‘Damned if I do, damned if I don’t… If I went over there and was all laughing with the competition after we lost like that, a lot of people would be mad.’ (via The Edge with Micah Parsons) pic.twitter.com/6E3Fa0Tvmy — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 10, 2024 Rico Dowdle first Cowboys RB with back-to-back 100-yard games since 2022 in loss to Bengals – Matt Lenix, Blogging the Boys There’s no question Rico Dowdle was one of the bright spots on Monday night. Dowdle is now up to 731 yards on the season on 152 carries, which is 4.8 yards per rush. He has played in 12 games this season and has averaged over four yards per rush in 10 of them with four games over five yards per rush. Dowdle is averaging about 61 yards a game. With four games left, he’ll finish just shy of 1,000 yards for the season if he keeps up that pace, but if he continues the tear that he’s on, or close to it, that milestone can be achieved. One talking point during this season, and it’ll continue when the offseason comes, is Dowdle’s future in Dallas. He’s clearly shown that he’s a quality back. However, the price the Cowboys will be willing to pay is the question. Dowdle doesn’t deserve a huge payday or anything, but he’s certainly earned somewhere in that $3-4 million a year range from what he’s done in 2024 (making $1.2 million this season). All of that will be worked out after the season is over. A lot of props have to be given to Dowdle, though. This is the first year he’s escaped the injury bug, and he’s showing that while he’s not elite, he’s a guy that if you pair him with a “dude” as they say in the NFL, that can create quite the formidable rushing attack. If Dallas does bring him back, that’s exactly what they should do. Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown could miss all of 2025 season after suffering knee injury vs. Bengals – Garrett Podell & others, CBS Sports DeMarvion Overshown might not see the field again until 2026. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who has been one of the team’s few bright spots this season, suffered a knee injury early in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys’ “Monday Night Football” loss against the Bengals. That injury will require surgery and put an end to his season, owner Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday. And according to coach Mike McCarthy, there’s a chance Overshown misses the entire 2025 season, too. “DeMarvion is getting ready to have
Cowboys Headlines: Overshown’s timetable, Jerry confronts coordinator over punt block, Prescott’s big news
Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown could miss all of 2025 season after suffering knee injury vs. Bengals :: CBS Sports Link Tests show that Overshown tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL. He’s obviously out for the remainder of 2024, but with how late in the season the injury occurred and the severity of the damage, it’s possible that he’ll spend the entirety of the 2025 season in recovery as well. “I think that’s fair,” McCarthy said. “The time of year: obviously, we’re in December. I think like anything, you have the surgery and the rehab is a long process. I think that’s very realistic.” ‘More severe than an ACL’: Promising young Cowboys LB suffers devastating knee injury :: Cowboys Wire Link The brightest spot in the Cowboys’ gloomy year was snuffed out Monday night when Overshown was rolled up on by a Bengals offensive lineman. Everyone knew it was serious, and McCarthy said as much after the game. An emotional Micah Parsons talked about his “little bro” while fighting back tears, saying, “He’s so talented. The year he was having, I mean, I really just don’t think that’s fair.” Overshown himself took to social media to say, “Wouldn’t want this for anyone else! One of God’s Toughest Soldiers (prayer hands emoji) Keep me in your prayers…” Sources: Upset Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones questioned coach in locker room after botched blocked punt :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link The visibly upset owner reportedly confronted John Fassel in the locker room over both an apparent called punt block and why Amani Oruwariye seemingly hadn’t been coached to not touch the loose ball. Jones voiced his frustrations to reporters moments later. “We all would say, ‘Well, why block the [punt]? Just take the [punt] and get within field goal [range] and kick it,’” Jones argued. By Tuesday morning, he had apparently cooled down and backtracked on his assumptions, saying he had “revisited the look on the way the ball hit, and it really kind of bounced up in a way that was almost unavoidable. The players are coached up, they talk it up.” ‘Trying to make a play’: Cowboys come to teammate’s defense after costly blocked punt mistake :: Cowboys Wire Link McCarthy explained that the punt block was a lucky break and that Amani Oruwariye simply grabbed at the loose ball on instinct. C.J. Goodwin was there in 2021 when the same thing happened to Nahshon Wright and shielded him from reporters after Dallas lost that game. He did the same for a heartbroken Oruwariye on Monday. “We don’t want that moment to define him,” Jourdan Lewis added. “We have to stay behind him. That’s just football.” John Fassel breaks down “unfortunate” sequence after blocked punt :: The Mothership Link The special teams coordinator confirmed that there was no designed attempt to block the Bengals’ late punt, but Nick Vigil showed “perfect” technique when he broke through the line. He also defended Oruwariye’s reaction, which would be the correct one in almost any other instance. “I don’t think this was a failed play, it was an unfortunate bounce,” he explained. Had Vigil gotten just a little more of the ball, Marist Liufau would have likely been able to return it for a Cowboys touchdown, and the whole story changes. Fassel said he reached out to Oruwariye late Monday night and again Tuesday morning to further reassure him. Cowboys-Bengals postgame analysis :: Cowboys Wire Updates: Cooper Rush to start vs. Panthers :: The Mothership Link Despite an underwhelming outing versus Cincinnati, Rush will stay under center when the Cowboys travel to Charlotte to face the Panthers in Week 15. “I thought for the most part we did some good things out there,” Jerry Jones said Tuesday. “I still believe [Cooper Rush] gives us our best chance.” Joe Burrow’s home broken into during Monday night’s game :: ESPN Link The quarterback’s Anderson Township home was broken into Monday night, according to a woman employed by Burrow who called the incident in to police. A bedroom window was found shattered and the home ransacked. Some have theorized that the crime is related to a string of break-ins at other pro athletes’ homes. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had similar robberies occur while they were playing in games. Bengals Kicker Cade York kisses his Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader girlfriend Zoe Dale after winning MNF game :: People Link The “Monday Night Football” crew got plenty of mileage out of the story of the Cowboys cheerleader who was dating the Bengals’ newly-signed kicker. Dale got a closeup after York knocked through his first extra point of the night, and the pair shared a moment on the field after the game went final. Later, Dale posted a TikTok of her gameday, featuring two clips with York. ‘A conversation starter’: Dallas Cowboys cheerleader on performing without a wig :: Dallas Morning News Link Armani Latimer, a five-year DCC veteran, was diagnosed with alopecia as a young girl. She performed Monday night without a wig for the first time to raise awareness for the condition. A video clip from her in the pregame routine has already amassed over three million views on Instagram. “There’s moms who are showing their daughters who have alopecia, their little boys who have alopecia. They’re so excited that they have someone to look up to,” Latimer said. “As scared as I was to step out on that field last night, today I’m grateful that I did.” Dak Prescott, fiancee Sarah Jane Ramos expecting second child, a girl :: NBC DFW Link Prescott and fiancee Sarah Jane Ramos announced that they’ll welcome their second daughter in May. The couple has not revealed a first name, but they have stated that her middle name will be Rayne, the same as her dad’s actual first name. Their first daughter, Margaret Jane (or “MJ”), was born Feb. 22. Cowboys’ number savant invited to NFL accelerator program for front offices :: Cowboys Wire Link John Park was hired last year to
Cowboys vs Bengals: 5 reasons the home team ended up losing
Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images What would you say were the main reasons the Cowboys lost on Monday? The Dallas Cowboys couldn’t finish. Despite managing to keep up with a high-powered Cincinnati Bengals offense, the Cowboys couldn’t generate enough scoring to stay ahead and seal the win. The loss is deflating because it likely erased all chances the team would have had at making an improbable postseason berth. However, how they lost Monday feels so excruciating this time. Within a split second, jubilation abruptly turned into dread and despair with the Cowboys. It’s a shame because Rico Dowdle played a terrific game and looked like a feature runner for the rest of the season and possibly next year. Losses like this usually come down to a handful of plays. Yet, several factors cost the team the win tonight. Here’s where they went wrong. Special teams blunder This has to be at the top of the list. Amani Oruwariye’s special teams error instantly placed the Bengals in position to win the game. It’s unfortunate because Nick Vigil’s block on the punt was textbook; block the kick off the punter’s foot as coaches teach, and in the moment, you assumed Dallas would steal the victory. From Oruwariye’s perspective, he was trying to recover the blocked punt so that Dallas could take possession well within field goal range for Brandon Aubrey and not allow the ball to bounce further upfield after Vigil’s block. To an extent, you can understand why he took that approach. Yet, it burned the team in the end. Oruwariye left the game and went into the locker room with a towel covering his face; the disappointment and feeling of letting his teammates down was tangible. It hurts all the more when you consider that, for the most part, Dallas played with discipline and didn’t make too many mistakes to beat themselves, such as penalties. Ultimately, Oruwariye’s mistake gave an explosive Bengals offense the break they’ve been looking for and it was the beginning of the end for the Cowboys and likely their playoff aspirations. No answer for Ja’Marr Chase Ja’Marr Chase is the best receiver in football right now. He’s an exceptional talent. Dallas finally got all of their best cornerbacks healthy and playing together for the first time this season, and for Chase, it didn’t matter. He ran away from all of them. He tore into the Cowboys’ secondary and made several defenders grasp for air. Chase posted another incredible Monday night performance with 14 catches, 177 yards, and two touchdowns. Zac Talyor and the Bengals coaching staff unleashed Chase on the Cowboys in various ways, and the diversity of his routes made it hard for Dallas to corral him to minimize the damage. Here’s what the Next Gen Stats looked like regarding his route ran against the Cowboys. Ja’Marr Chase hauled in 9 of 11 targets on out-breaking routes for 122 yards and 2 TDs, the most receiving yards on out-breakers over the last seven seasons. Chase finished with 75 yards after the catch, giving him 626 YAC on the season, most in the NFL. Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/AndL5LhzBo — Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 10, 2024 Chase ran for 75 yards after the catch, most of which were gained during his 40-yard game-winning touchdown near the end of the game. Chase’s unique connection with Burrow is nearly impossible to stop, and for Dallas, whenever Burrow needed someone to make a play, it was Chase who he turned to, and there was nothing Dallas could do about it. Not getting CeeDee Lamb involved enough In juxtaposition to how Cincinnati uses Ja’Marr Chase, Dallas inexplicably stopped utilizing CeeDee Lamb. It’s puzzling since Lamb started off the evening red hot with three receptions, 29 yards, and a touchdown on the opening drive. He also had a terrific play on a screen that was well-defended by the Bengals, and Lamb turned it into a 44-yard gain, shaking tackles from Germaine Pratt and Trey Hendrickson. Then suddenly, Lamb stopped being part of the equation. Yes, Lamb is managing a shoulder injury, but his toughness is never in question with how much he’ll tolerate to be on the field. The frustration he sometimes demonstrates seems warranted, and it appears that his vanishing act during games is out of his hands. After being targeted five times in the first quarter, Lamb was targeted zero times in the second, once in the third, and then just once in the fourth. He had six receptions for 93 yards, which feels very underwhelming given the circumstances. Whoever is responsible for this, Mike McCarthy, Rush, or Brian Schottenheimer, it doesn’t matter. As former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert put it: Idk why the Cowboys are having such a difficult time scheming CeeDee Lamb to get the rock. Dudes all around the league are getting 10+ targets a game — Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) December 10, 2024 The Cowboys staff needs to do better than this, and the Bengals involving Chase as much as they did only illuminates how much work the Cowboys have to do so as not to abandon their most useful offensive commodity. Pass rush didn’t get home enough While the Cowboys sacked Joe Burrow twice, it wasn’t enough. The pass rush for Dallas was often a step slow to get to Burrow, and as a result, he was able to extend plays to find his premier playmaker Chase. Micah Parsons’ footsteps were thundering behind Burrow all night, but he couldn’t reach him. In retrospect, Parsons was the only defender who consistently put pressure on Burrow. Parsons had 15 pressures against the Bengals and drew two penalties. However, the defensive line needed more. Osa Odighizuwa managed three quarterback hits, but outside of that, the defensive line didn’t do enough to disrupt Burrow. By the end of the game, Parsons looked exhausted. He was gassed, and rightfully so. Allowing Burrow to break the pocket as many times as he did ultimately was
Cowboys draft Update: Dallas currently outside of top 10 in NFL Draft order
Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Cowboys are creeping up closer to a top 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys lost this past week which means that focus has now shifted for many back to the 2025 NFL Draft. Perhaps that has remained your priority all along, but it goes without saying the little winning streak had a few people mildly distracted. If you assign yourself to Team Tank then you are likely particularly pleased with Monday night’s loss as it came to the Cincinnati Bengals who began the game with a worse record than Dallas. Despite beating the Cowboys, the Bengals still currently sit ahead of them in projected NFL Draft order. At the moment the Cowboys hold the 12th overall pick. Tankathon If you are curious, the Cowboys sit behind the Bengals and New Orleans Saints due to the strength of schedule tiebreaker. Obviously it is ironic given that Dallas lost to both of them. There are currently four games remaining for the Cowboys and only one against a team in front of them in the projected draft order. That game happens to be this coming Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, but even if Dallas loses (the Cowboys are the underdog for what it is worth) they will still have one more win than the Panthers due at week’s end. Getting inside of the top 10 would require some luck in addition to losing more games for the Cowboys at this point. This has been the point of people wanting to tank for some time, but it is worth mentioning that Dallas would be at eighth overall if they hadn’t won their games against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
Good, Bad, Ugly: Micah Parsons can’t buy a call, among Cowboys’ frustrations in Week 14
No need to re-hash Amani Oruwariye’s muffed attempt at recovering a live-ball blocked punt. And DeMarvion Overshown’s catastrophic knee injury was painful enough to watch the first time. Those moments were both bad and ugly for Cowboys fans watching the 27-20 loss to Cincinnati in Week 14, but they’re a little too obvious and have already been detailed to death. This installment of Good, Bad, and Ugly will dive a little deeper into some of the game’s subplots that may have been overshadowed by the headline-worthy stories but contributed all the same to the disappointing outcome. Like Mike McCarthy’s insistence on force-feeding the least successful part of his offense when the play calls mattered most. Or watching Micah Parsons get put in a high-definition chokehold in the middle of a pass rush while the officials were… um… blinded by the sun, maybe? Or the secondary quietly giving up more passing yards than they have in over three years. But even though Dallas got the L, there were plusses to be taken away. Think back to September and how ridiculous it would have sounded to suggest that Rico Dowdle, Brock Hoffman, and T.J. Bass would be the bright spots in a December primetime matchup. But it’s just par for the course in this wacky season. Here’s the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Monday night’s nail-biter. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Good: Run game under Rico It’s hard to watch Rico Dowdle over the past few weeks and not wonder what might have been if the organization hadn’t been so hellbent on forcing Ezekiel Elliott early in the season. Dowdle has averaged 19.6 carries and 109.7 yards per game over the past three outings, and he notched a career-high 131 on the ground Monday night. Over the past six weeks, he ranks second in the league in rushing yards and- at his current clip- is on pace to log his first 1,000-yard season. His rise likely won’t be enough to keep the team from bolstering the RB room in the draft (as they should), but Dowdle has proven he can be a lead back and could make up half of a very potent one-two punch at the position in 2025. Bad: Calling for Rush to rip it late The Dallas ground game was working against Cincinnati, to the tune of 6.2 yards per rushing play on the night. The passing attack was far less effective. Yes, Cooper Rush threw a pair of touchdown passes, but coming into the fourth quarter, he had completed just 60.8% of his attempts. Yet with the score tied and six minutes to play- and after a gashing first-down run by Dowdle– Mike McCarthy went to the Rush well three straight times. All three passes- all targeting receivers not named CeeDee Lamb- fell horribly incomplete; the entire drive used one minute of clock and covered just the 14 yards that Dowdle had gained to start it. (Rush ended the night with a completion percentage just barely over 50%.) With loads of time still to play, the Cowboys gave the ball back to the Bengals for the fateful possession that led to the deciding special-teams blunder, but it was this utterly wasted drive and McCarthy stubbornly going away from the highest-probability playmakers on the team that set the table. Ugly: Giving more gifts in the red zone There’s shooting yourself in the foot, and then there’s pointing a cannon at your size 12s Yosemite Sam-style and taking everything below the knee clean off. The Cowboys lead the league in the latter. They scored a touchdown on their opening offensive possession for the first time all season, and then had the chance to follow it up on the next drive. Instead of taking a 14-7 lead on the first play of the second quarter, though, Rush’s pass- in the vicinity of two Cowboys and five Bengals defenders– ended up turning into the quarterback’s third interception of the season. Dallas already has the 31st-ranked red-zone offense, having converted less than 44% of their drives inside the 20 into touchdowns, but their seven red-zone turnovers in 2024 are the most in the NFL. Good: Offensive line depth coming up huge Chuma Edoga started over Tyler Guyton. Brock Hoffman was in at right guard for Zack Martin but had to slide over to center after Cooper Beebe couldn’t continue. Suddenly, Terence Steele was the most experienced O-lineman for Dallas, and it was Hoffman and T.J. Bass anchoring the front five. Not exactly a who’s who, but the kids were alright, allowing just three sacks on the evening and helping plow the road for Dowdle in the run game. Hoffman’s midgame shift to center was seamless. Perhaps even more impressive, the group accounted for only one penalty flag all night, a holding call on Bass that was declined anyway. Hearing that Matt Waletzko was the only lineman left in reserve was scary, but the Cowboys’ motley crew up front more than held their own. Bad: Letting Burrow carve up the secondary The Bengals quarterback is leading the league in attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns, and he’s second in QB rating. If were playing for a team in playoff contention, he’d be in the MVP conversation. Yes, the Cowboys knew he’d be a problem, but even with four extra days to scheme for him- and the combined trio of Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Jourdan Lewis making their first collective start ever- the secondary had zero answers for containing him. Burrow tallied 369 passing yards, his most in any game this season except for Cincinnati’s two shootouts with the Ravens and the most the Dallas defense has allowed in over three calendar years. Ugly: Everybody loves holding Micah Death, taxes, and offensive linemen holding Micah Parsons. It happens every week, and it seems to rarely get called as opponents struggle to contain the Cowboys’ brilliant pass rusher. Two of Cincinnati’s 10 called penalties on the night came as a result of linemen holding Parsons; many more
