Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. This is the Cowboys offense’s best chance without Dak Prescott- Reid Hanson, Cowboys Wire The Cowboys must lean on Rush’s strengths over the back stretch of the season. In situations such as this it will be tempting for the Cowboys to take shots down the field. That’s not only unnecessary, but it asks Rush to succeed in an area of personal weakness. Based on FTN Data shown by Doug Analytics, Rush has thrown catchable deep balls on less than 30 percent of his attempts this season. He’s also bottom three in attempts and catchability percentage. PFF tracking shows Rush has attempted 16 passes of 20 or more yards and completed just four of them for a 25 percent completion rate. One of those passes qualified as a big-time throw and one pass qualified as a turnover worthy throw. It’s arguably the biggest inefficiency in his game, making the case for McCarthy to avoid deep passes with Rush at the helm. Even in the 10–19-yard range Rush has struggled in 2024. His completion percentage sits at just 40 percent and this intermediate range grades as his poorest on the field with him throwing three times as many turnover worthy throws than big time throws. For as much as the Cowboys running game and defense have struggled in 2024, they are areas Dallas simply has to lean on in order to win games. Combined with a dink and dunk passing attack that plays inside the numbers, the Cowboys are best positioned to win games behind Rush at QB. Week 14 Injury Report: Cowboys hope to have All-Pro return tomorrow – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star Dallas might finally get to see the Diggs-Bland combo in 2024. Questionable: CB Trevon Diggs (Knee) T Tyler Guyton (Ankle/Knee) Let’s be honest here, Trevon Diggs needs to play in this football game if they want any chance at winning. DaRon Bland is not enough against Joe Burrow, Chase and that group. Cinicy defense is awful, but that side of the ball is scoring 35 plus a game. It has been a tough season for the Cowboys secondary with Diggs and top cornerbacks DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, and Caelen Carson all dealing with injuries this season. Mike McCarthy hinted Diggs could suit up on Monday night after the progress he has made throughout the week. “He’s making progress. He had a good day today,” McCarthy said, adding, “I thought it was clearly one of our best practices of the year.” Diggs is going to be needed in this matchup, and he has not step foot on the field since Bland has returned, so it would be nice to see both All-Pros on the field at the same time, and this would be the perfect time for it to happen. Gut Feeling: Predictions for Cowboys-Bengals- Staff, DallasCowboys.com What will happen on Monday night? Patrik: This is a tough one to call. On one hand, the Bengals’ defense is abhorrent and that is not an exaggeration. That unit is statistically one of the worst not only this season, but in the history of the league and most certainly over the past five NFL seasons. On the other hand, Joe Burrow and his band of unmerry men are torching scoreboards, and you have to defend every blade of grass against them. Even if Trevon Diggs returns to finally form the trio with DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis, the task is tall. If he doesn’t, it becomes that much more daunting. That means the name of this game, for the Cowboys, will to control time of possession with an offensive rushing attack (hi, Rico) and to play off of that to neutralize the only weapon the Bengals have defensively (Trey Hendrickson) and Burrow’s onslaught by keeping him on the sideline. Do that, and you eek out a third consecutive win. Don’t do it and you’ll get 50 points dropped on your head, and this Cowboys’ offense isn’t one that’s shown it can win that kind of a shootout. My prediction will be based on one thing and one thing only: the Cowboys’ hammering at them with Dowdle and sacking Burrow at least three times. If they don’t, it’s gonna get ugly. 24-21, Cowboys Micah Parsons is latest Cowboys star to publicly endorse Mike McCarthy- Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated Players continue to back McCarthy. Parsons says McCarthy deserves a “fair chance” to coach a season that isn’t marred by injuries. “I think I would like a fair shot with everyone back — players, coaches — because the injuries kind of struck of what this season could really be,” Parsons said, per Todd Archer of ESPN. “The injuries have been terrible. And, you know, it really sucks. Seeing Zack [Martin], D-Law [DeMarcus Lawrence] not having the year I know he planned to have. He had such a great start. It really sucks.” While Parsons shared his thoughts on McCarthy, he made it clear that the decision is ultimately up to Jerry Jones. “In terms of coaching, man, Coach Mike, me and his relationship has always been really good,” Parsons added. “He always took real good care of me. I just don’t know how the how the business side of it’s going to go, you know? [Owner and general manager Jerry Jones] has his own mindset about who he wants to coach. This is his team. I’m kind of just, like, a pawn in this business.”
Cowboys Headlines: Micah throws support behind McCarthy, Witten’s team wins title, cheerleader’s torn allegiance
Cowboys’ Parsons wants McCarthy, others back in 2025 :: ESPN Link Parsons echoed Dak Prescott in voicing support for his head coach to return next season. “I would like a fair shot with everyone back- players, coaches- because the injuries kind of struck of what this season could really be,” Parsons said. “I just don’t know how the business side of it’s going to go, you know? [Owner and general manager Jerry Jones] has his own mindset about who he wants to coach. This is his team. I’m kind of just, like, a pawn in this business.” Parsons reiterated that he wants to be a Cowboy for life, even if it takes “hard conversations and reality checks.” Why Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, Jake Ferguson, Rico Dowdle should have field days vs Bengals :: Cowboys Wire Link Cincinnati will be without starting left tackle Orlando Brown on Monday, leaving a backup to contend with Parsons. Ferguson makes his comeback against a Bengals defense that has been torched by tight ends all season long, and Dowdle should find opportunities against the zone-heavy scheme. It all makes for a seemingly winnable Week 14 game for Dallas. Bengals get expected bad injury news before Week 14 vs. Cowboys :: Bengals Wire Link In addition to Brown being declared out at left tackle, Cincinnati will also be without defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins, who has been dealing with a viral illness. Rookies Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson will take on bigger roles in a D-tackle rotation with BJ Hill. Jourdan Lewis talks defensive improvements, Bengals ‘aggressive’ offense :: The Mothership Link The Bengals’ 4-8 record does not give an accurate picture of how dangerous their offense can be. They stand fifth in the NFL in points per game (27.9), first in passing yards per game (264.3), and ninth in total yards per game (356). Seven of their eight losses this season have come in one-possession games, and the Bengals average 27.75 points per game in losses, which is more than the Cowboys average per game this season (20.7). “We got to be prepared to stop that,” Lewis explained, “because they got a lot of playmakers that make plays and can burn us.” Mike McCarthy praises Chuma Edoga, says veteran would’ve been Cowboys’ Week 1 starting LT :: Dallas Morning News Link If Tyler Guyton can’t go Monday night with an ankle sprain, Edoga making his first start of the season won’t exactly be a downgrade… at least in the eyes of his head coach. “I think going back to training camp, that was a big injury in the Rams game, the preseason game,” McCarthy said of the veteran’s summer foot injury. “But if he wasn’t injured, he would have been our starting left tackle. So, yes, it’s great to have him back.” This is the Cowboys offense’s best chance without Dak Prescott :: Cowboys Wire Link A zone-happy defense could tempt the Cowboys into taking deep shots early and often. But that’s not been Cooper Rush’s strong suit this season, as he ranks near the very bottom in long (and even) intermediate throws. Running the ball and complementing that with a dink-and-dunk attack of short passes will be- by far- the better strategy for a Week 14 win. ‘Monday Night Football,’ ‘Simpsons’-style: What to expect in ESPN’s unique alt-cast :: The Athletic Link Along with The Simpsons version of the game mirroring the on-the-field action in real time, expect plenty of jokes and gags to be inserted to give the alt-cast more of the flavor of the long-running animated series. (Like, perhaps, Mr. Burns lurking in the owner’s box with Jerry Jones.) The whole thing will be presented as a dream where Homer eats too many hot dogs and imagines himself coaching the Cowboys on Monday Night Football against Bart’s Bengals. Dallas Cowboys cheerleader will be cheering for a Bengal on Monday night :: Fox 4 KDFW Link One member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader may be somewhat torn Monday night. Zoe Dale, a second-year veteran of the squad, is currently dating Bengals kicker Cade York, the McKinney native who was signed by Cincinnati this week. “She’s already told me second quarter and fourth quarter is when she’s on the visitor side. I’ll have to sneak her a couple of smiles,” York said. Argyle Liberty Christian bests Dallas Parish Episcopal, claims TAPPS D1 state title :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Jason Witten’s team- winners of the state’s Division II crown last year- claimed the Division I title with a 45-24 win over the five-time reigning champs. The former Cowboys tight end is now 38-11 in his four years at Liberty Christian, including 36-3 over the last three seasons. One of his standout senior contributors was his son CJ, who will go on to play collegiately at Rice. “Can’t say enough about the whole senior class,” said Witten. “I am so unbelievably proud of what they have accomplished and what they have meant to the program.” Division rival flies plane banner Dallas Cowboys fans dream of :: SI.com Link Plenty of Cowboys fans have grown vocal about their displeasure with Jerry Jones’s ownership these days. A group of Giants fans, however, put their money where their mouths are. Prior to Big Blue’s home game versus the Saints on Sunday, a plane few over MetLife Stadium with a banner that read, “MR. MARA ENOUGH – PLZ FIX THIS DUMPSTER FIRE.” 4-Round Cowboys 2025 Mock Draft: Replacing Zack Martin, new WR, DTs on deck :: Cowboys Wire Link This mock assumes that Martin, Brandin Cooks, and Osa Odighizuwa will be gone in 2025. With the 13th overall pick, the Cowboys look to replace their award-winning right guard with monstrous Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons, who they’ll shift inside. A trade with New England ships off the second- and fifth-round picks for three selections in Rounds 3 and 4. Dallas then rounds out their haul with Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals, defensive tackles from Oregon and Kentucky, and
Sunday Night Football odds, pick and live discussion: Chargers at Chiefs
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Who wins tonight… Los Angeles or Kansas City? The Los Angeles Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. FanDuel has the Chiefs as 3.5-point favorites over the Chargers. Final score prediction: Chiefs 23 – Chargers 20. Check out FanDuel for all of your NFL betting needs. This is an open thread for game chat.
CeeDee Lamb player props odds, tips and betting trends for Week 14 | Cowboys vs. Bengals
Check out these betting trends and insights before you place player prop wagers on CeeDee Lamb for Monday’s game, which starts at 8:15 PM ET on ESPN. Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys (5-7) meet the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) in Week 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Watch CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys vs. Bengals on Fubo! CeeDee Lamb week 14 player props Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bengals Time: 8:15 PM ET Date: December 9, 2024 Rushing yards prop: Over 1.5 (-111) Receiving yards prop: Over 67.5 (-115) National Football League odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds updated Sunday at 10:35 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Lamb receiving stats and trends Lamb’s 73.3 receiving yards average is 5.8 more than his over/under for Monday’s game. He has gained over 67.5 receiving yards in five of 12 games this year. Lamb’s average of 73.3 receiving yards is lower than his average prop total of 76.3. In five of 12 games, Lamb has gone over on his receiving yards prop bet. He has caught a touchdown pass in three of 12 games this season, including more than one TD pass on one occasion. Cowboys vs. Bengals stats and trends The 241.0 yards per game the Bengals are conceding through the air makes them the NFL’s 27th-ranked pass defense. The Cowboys are totaling 236.8 passing yards per game offensively this season (10th in NFL), and they are surrendering 212.1 passing yards per game (10th) on defense. The Cowboys rank second-worst in rushing offense (85.8 rushing yards per game) and second-worst in rushing defense (147.6 rushing yards per game allowed) this season. In addition to 6.1 yards per play allowed on defense, which ranks fifth-worst in the NFL, the Cowboys have put up the 25th-ranked yards-per-play average on offense (5.2). Watch the NFL on Fubo! Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Cowboys Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Cowboys playoff picture: Dallas picks up some, but not much, help in Week 14
Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys did not pick up a ton of playoff help throughout Week 14. The Dallas Cowboys remain mathematically alive for a playoff spot this NFL season. As this is the case we are continuing to have conversations about their standing within the NFC, where they are, what they need, so on and so forth. Obviously this season has been trying so it is possible that you prefer a different outcome. Please recognize that the following conversation pertains to the potential of this team reaching the postseason. With our full and proper disclaimer now out of the way, Week 14 sort of stunk for the Dallas Cowboys. There were eight total things we were rooting for relative to the NFC side of things and only three of them went our way. The bulk of the reason why we were rooting against the teams that we were was to eliminate would-be threats to NFC Wild Card positions so as to open up more opportunity for the Cowboys. It is certainly helpful that both the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals lost, but Green Bay’s defeat hardly helps in the same way. The Packers seem assured to take home at least one of the top Wild Card spots, if the Cowboys are going to squeeze themselves into this thing it is likely going to be as the final one. Even though Arizona and Atlanta lost in Week 14 other Wild Card contenders in the Rams, 49ers and (to a lesser degree) the Saints all won. The Cowboys have a chance to pull even with Atlanta, Arizona and San Francisco on Monday night before heading to Carolina next Sunday. ESPN Thankfully next week offers a game between the Rams and 49ers (the first of the week on Thursday night) which means one of them will have to lose. Obviously (as noted) the Cowboys have dug themselves quite the hole to pull themselves out of this season, but if they can continue to stack wins then it is possible that enough chaos will unfold around them to make this a legitimate conversation. The Cowboys will visit the Panthers next Sunday. It is possible that a week from today we are talking about a .500 football team. There is a bit to go between now and that hypothetical, but again things can happen quickly. The next step for Dallas is on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cowboys scouting report: Breaking down the Bengals offensive scheme
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images Stopping Joe Burrow is seemingly impossible The Dallas Cowboys are on a winning streak right now, and their defense is a big part of it. Since Micah Parsons returned to action, they’re 10th in EPA/play allowed after ranking 30th prior to his return. But they’ll face their toughest challenge of the year on Monday night when they host the Cincinnati Bengals. When the Bengals decided to move on from longtime head coach Marvin Lewis, they sought a fresh and innovative approach, particularly on offense. That led them to be one of the very first teams to try and pick from the Sean McVay coaching tree. Cincinnati hired Zac Taylor, who had been the Rams’ quarterbacks coach during a Super Bowl run in 2018 after assisting with wide receivers in McVay’s first year leading the team. Prior to that, Taylor had worked with quarterbacks for the Dolphins under Joe Philbin, and he was promoted to interim offensive coordinator not long after Dan Campbell became the interim head coach in 2015. That was pretty much all people knew about Taylor when he was tabbed to lead the Bengals. Fans wouldn’t learn a whole lot more about him until later, as the Bengals went 2-14 in Taylor’s first year on the job. But the terrible season landed them the top draft pick, which they used on Joe Burrow. The Heisman-winning quarterback showed promise as a rookie, but a torn ACL ended his season early and sentenced the Bengals to a 4-11-1 finish. Burrow returned in 2021, and Cincinnati added his college receiver Ja’Marr Chase in the draft, and suddenly things started clicking for Taylor. They finished 10-7 and won the AFC North for the first time in seven years before going on a run to the Super Bowl. They ultimately lost to Taylor’s mentor, McVay and his Rams, but the strong season cemented the notion that Taylor and Burrow were a winning combination. Taylor, who calls the plays on offense, has built much of his offensive identity around the Shanahan style offense that McVay popularized in Los Angeles. Of all the coaches across the league who hail from McVay’s tree, Taylor is probably the one who hews most closely to his former boss, even as McVay has tinkered with his own scheme. Early on, that meant a ton of outside zone and play-action for the Bengals with Taylor calling the shots. But when Burrow came onto the scene, things started to shift. Play-action dropped drastically in Burrow’s second year, and they’re now near the bottom of the league in play-action rate. Taylor has also evolved the run game to feature more gap schemes as a result of the changes in offensive line personnel. Taylor’s willingness to – ahem – tailor his scheme to Burrow has proven largely successful. The chemistry between Burrow and Chase is special, too. In the four seasons they’ve been playing together in Cincinnati, Burrow has a 116.3 passer rating when throwing to Chase. His career passer rating is 99.7, to give you an idea of how good the two are. The Bengals are one of the most pass happy offenses in the league, throwing the ball 64.3% of the time. They’re also one of the most explosive units, currently ranking inside the top 10 in scoring, yards, and EPA/play. Burrow has also thrown the second-most 20+ yard touchdowns this year. As good as the Bengals have been through the air, their ground game hasn’t held up its end of the bargain. Cincinnati is 27th in rushing yards per game and 22nd in EPA/rush, and only seven teams have fewer runs of 10+ yards. The decision to trade Joe Mixon in the offseason has not panned out, as Chase Brown ranks in the middle of the league in rushing success rate and the team as a whole is 26th in yards before contact. That makes for an ideal matchup for Dallas, or at least on paper it does. The Cowboys run defense has remained dismal even as they’ve played better in recent weeks, but their pass defense is hitting its stride. Since Parsons came back, Dallas is third in the league in EPA/pass. They’re also sixth in pressure rate, rarely giving the quarterback time to throw. For what it’s worth, Burrow has been one of the very best throwing under pressure this year, and very few defenses have been able to contain his connection with Chase or even Tee Higgins. The Cowboys likely aren’t going to be able to shut this passing game down, but they should be able to win enough drives to keep things close, especially if they don’t have to worry as much about the run game.
4-Round Cowboys 2025 Mock Draft: Replacing Zack Martin, new WR, DTs on deck
The Dallas Cowboys cannot afford to waste any draft picks, despite their recent misuse of their fourth round picks. Some internal data must have told the front office that it’s better to use those selections on currently disappointing young veterans than rookies out of school. The team used their 2024 fourth rounder to acquire QB Trey Lance who hasn’t seen any significant action in two seasons and is going to be a free agent in 2025 after originally being selected third overall by the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier this season, the club sent away their 2025 fourth rounder to bring in WR Jonathan Mingo, who has yet to show any serious ceiling in his handful of games. We can’t fix that in real life, but in the mock draft world, we can work to correct such errors by trading back. The Cowboys are going to have plenty of holes to fill this coming offseason, and the biggest might be the replacement of Zack Martin, who has hinted at retirement and is now out for the year with an ankle injury. His decision will likely include consideration of the new coaching staff and blocking scheme, as he’s had two down years under Mike Solari. In this mock, we assume he’s calling it a Hall-of-Fame career. Other considerations are the departure of WR Brandin Cooks, DT Osa Odighizuwa and other needs. Here’s a look at a four-round mock draft conducted on Pro Football Focus. Cowboys pick at No. 13 The current draft order projection for Week 14 is that the Cowboys’ 5-7 record places them 13th in the first-round draft order. Cowboys Team Needs Sep 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones on the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat New Orleans 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Dallas has needs all over the place, and as always will have to balance their free agent moves… ahaha just kidding. They’ll need to balance their availability projections. If they need to fill two positions pretty equally, and one is top heavy and the other is deep, it’s probably a better decision to grab the prospect from the top-heavy position. Dallas is in need of a running back, wideout, defensive end, and defensive tackle. They could also potentially need safety help, depending on if they give the youngsters a chance to show their worth, along with linebacker depth. And as explained above, QB shouldn’t be ruled out if one who they think is special is staring them in the face. Top 12 picks ahead of Dallas BOULDER, COLORADO – APRIL 27: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes warms-up prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 27, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) Jacksonville Jaguars : WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado Las Vegas Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State New York Giants: DT Mason Graham, Michigan New England Patriots: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Carolina Panthers: DE Abdul Carter, Penn State New York Jets: Safety Malaki Starks, Georgia Tennessee Titans: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama Cleveland Browns: T Wil Campbell, LSU New Orleans Saints: Edge Nic Scourton, Texas A&M Cincinnati Bengals: CB Will Johnson, Michigan Chicago Bears: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri Miami Dolphins: OT Kelvin Banks, Jr., Texas 1.13: Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) blocks Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Darius Robinson (6) during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports With the departure of Martin, the Cowboys look to immediately replace him with a midwest tackle they’ll shift inside. Hopefully similar results as their 2014 choice ensue. Simmons stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 310 pounds, and is a monster whose minimal deficits will be mitigated on the interior and wealth of talents put to greater use. Simmons has missed time this season after knee surgery, but the power and athleticism he showed will make him an easy first-round selection if his medicals are cleared. Trade Down: New England Patriots Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports The Patriots wanted to package their two third-round picks to move up into the second round and Dallas jumped at the chance to demand an early fourth rounder as well, in exchange for including their own fifth rounder. Cowboys receive 3.68, 3.83, 4.105 Patriots receive 2.45, 5.149 Cowboys Mock Draft 5.0 Complete Haul Sep 30, 2023; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Utah State Aggies wide receiver Jalen Royals (1) runs the ball for a touchdown against the UConn Huskies in the second half at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports 1.13 OG Josh Simmons, Ohio State 3.68 WR Jalen Royals, Utah State 3.77 DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon 3.83 DT Deone Walker, Kentucky 4.105 RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
NFL Week 14 (2024) late games live discussion
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images AFTERNOON GAMES LET’S GO. More NFL action in the late afternoon slot. This is an open thread for game chat.
NFL Week 14 (2024) early games live discussion
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Let’s have a good Sunday. The Cowboys play on Monday night, so enjoy some other NFL games. This is an open thread for game chat.
This is currently the Cowboys offense’s best chance without Dak Prescott
This is currently the Cowboys offense’s best chance without Dak Prescott reidhanson Cooper Rush has played in eight games in 2024, starting four while logging a total of 320 snaps. In that time, he’s passed the ball 185 times, completing 112, for a total of 1,008 passing yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. His 48.0 grade at Pro Football Focus ranks him last in the NFL by a rather significant margin and his -0.027 EPA+CPOE composite score backs up such a claim (also last in the NFL). It’s safe to say at this point the Cowboys know what they have in Rush. Despite banging out two consecutive wins, he’s not a quarterback that elevates a team. And despite calls to open up the offense and take more shots downfield, Mike McCarthy appears to be doing the smart thing with his replacement QB by taking a conservative approach. The Cowboys opponent in Week 14 begs such a conservative attack. The zone-happy Bengals defense ranks 28th in EPA/dropback, 29th in rush EPA allowed and 30th in total EPA allowed. They are vulnerable to both the run and the pass and as long as Dallas plays within themselves, they should be able to find success against the Cincinnati defense. In situations such as this it will be tempting for the Cowboys to take shots down the field. That’s not only unnecessary, but it asks Rush to succeed in an area of personal weakness. Based on FTN Data shown by Doug Analytics, Rush has thrown catchable deep balls on less than 30 percent of his attempts this season. He’s also bottom three in attempts and catchability percentage. PFF tracking shows Rush has attempted 16 passes of 20 or more yards and completed just four of them for a 25 percent completion rate. One of those passes qualified as a big-time throw and one pass qualified as a turnover worthy throw. It’s arguably the biggest inefficiency in his game, making the case for McCarthy to avoid deep passes with Rush at the helm. Even in the 10–19-yard range Rush has struggled in 2024. His completion percentage sits at just 40 percent and this intermediate range grades as his poorest on the field with him throwing three times as many turnover worthy throws than big time throws. For as much as the Cowboys running game and defense have struggled in 2024, they are areas Dallas simply has to lean on in order to win games. Combined with a dink and dunk passing attack that plays inside the numbers, the Cowboys are best positioned to win games behind Rush at QB. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
