Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Go Packers. The 2024 NFL regular season began last night with the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Baltimore Ravens in a thriller. The NFL gives us a rare Friday night game this week, and they are doing it in Brazil, an NFL first. The Philadelphia Eagles will play the Green Bay Packers. Our partners at FanDuel have the Eagles as 2.5-point favorites in the game. This will be an interesting matchup. The Eagles offense is under new management with old friend Kellen Moore. How will that change shake things up for Jalen Hurts? On the other side, the Packers won’t be sneaking up on anybody this season. Jordan Love and company will need to show last year wasn’t a fluke. In this game, take the underdogs. The Eagles need to prove they are past last season’s collapse, and the Packers feel like a team on the rise. Packers 30 – Eagles 24. Check out FanDuel for all of your NFL betting needs. This is an open thread for game chat.
Cowboys offense can’t afford to fall behind in the count against Browns
Cowboys offense can’t afford to fall behind in the count against Browns reidhanson It’s said when a baseball pitcher delivers more balls than strikes, the pitcher “falls behind in the count.” A 3-1 count tilts the advantage strongly in the batter’s favor because in order to avoid a walk the pitcher has to throw a strike. This typically results in a clean ball across the plate and an eager batter hyper focused on seizing the opportunity presented in this rather transparent situation. There are parallels to be found between Mike McCarthy’s play-calling with the Cowboys and a pitching scenario such as this. Falling behind in the count leads to obvious across-the-plate strikes in the same way falling behind on first and second downs lead to obvious passing situations on thirds. Obvious passing downs are golden moments for thirsty pass rushers in the same way 3-1 counts are optimal for good hitters. In both situations the player can pin his ears back and attack. The hitter knows it’s likely to be in the zone across the plate and the pass rusher knows it’s likely to be drop back pass into the pocket. The Cowboys face one of the fiercest pass rushes in the NFL when they travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns in Week 1. Dallas brings with them a pair of unproven rookies on their offensive line who aren’t just playing in their first NFL game but they’re playing that game at their new respective positions. Breaking in a pair of rookies against one of the best pass rushes in the league is less than ideal. It’s critical the Cowboys don’t “fall behind in the count” and tilt the scales any further in the Browns direction. That doesn’t just mean productive early downs but also conceding defeat at times on third downs. As the late great Kenny Rodgers once said, “you gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.” Against the Browns, 3rd-and-10 or more might be a good time to fold ‘em and call a draw play. What this doesn’t mean is conservative play on early downs. Success rate (SR) has taught that just because a play earned positive yardage the offense isn’t automatically in a better situation. A typical three-yard run on first down puts the team in a statistically worse situation than where on first down. In fact, most early down runs do that. In 2023, early down runs from the Cowboys only offered a 37.9 percent SR while early down passes produced a 52.1 percent SR. When McCarthy calls a run, it needs to be a successful run, or he would have been better off with a pass attempt. Dak Prescott’s dropbacks consistently produce more yards and a higher success rate than runs, and yes, that factors in incomplete passes as well. Short dropbacks, quick passes and limited progressions are just what the doctor ordered in Cleveland. McCarthy must avoid obvious passing situations, like 3rd-and-long, at all costs. For the sake of the two rookie offensive linemen and the sake of Prescott himself, McCarthy can’t allow the offense to fall behind in the count. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys injury report: Browns’ Jedrick Wills out vs Cowboys
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images Here is the Dallas Cowboys injury report for Friday The NFL season kicked off in exciting fashion between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, going down to the final seconds that saw the Chiefs narrowly edge out the Ravens. For the first time, we’ll have football on a Friday to open Week 1 with and NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, taking on the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. Obviously, Cowboys Nation hopes for the Eagles to stumble out of the gate as well as the rest of the division so that Dallas may have a chance at the early sole lead in the NFC East after Week 1. Partly for that to happen, the Cowboys must be as healthy as can be. In the final injury report before the season opener at the Cleveland Browns, here’s where the Cowboys stand with injuries. Final #Cowboys #Browns injury report pic.twitter.com/bOBMkm32Jf — Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) September 6, 2024 Cornerback Caelen Carson appeared on a revised version of the injury report on Thursday with a knee injury, though he practiced in a full capacity. He should see significant action on Sunday in the absence of DaRon Bland who is sidelined with an injury. John Stephens didn’t practice all week with a hamstring injury and has been ruled out of this week’s game. Mazi Smith (Achilles), Marshawn Kneeland (knee), and Damone Clark (knee), were at practice and are expected to play Sunday. Regarding the Browns’ injuries, after declaring himself out of the starting lineup Wednesday, Jedrick Wills was officially ruled out for Sunday. His presumed replacement, Jack Conklin, has been limited all week but is listed as questionable
What we might learn: Browns not a common opponent, but plenty of familiarity between season opening opponents
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images It’s hard to believe, but with a win on Sunday the Dallas Cowboys would have their first win streak for season-openers under Mike McCarthy. For a coach that had to speak up himself about the apparent numbness towards rattling off 12 regular season wins three years in a row, last year’s 40-0 beatdown at the Giants was the first time McCarthy’s team started 1-0 in the process of doing so. Opening against an NFC East opponent they’ve dominated for a while now may have been the key in reversing this Week 1 fortune, and though they won’t have the same advantage on Sunday, there are some ties back to recent NFC East matchups that should be telling about how Dallas starts the season. A Cowboys offense with the majority of their projected starters making their debut after sitting out the preseason will go against a Browns defense coordinated by former Eagles DC Jim Schwartz. Dalvin Tomlinson is also a key piece of this Browns defense on the interior, a former Giants draft pick. We covered the matchup of McCarthy’s offense vs. Schwartz’s defense more extensively right here, and now it is time to take a look at other things that might be learned after the first 60 minutes of Cowboys football is in the books by Sunday evening. Will Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe follow familiar footsteps? Ever since the Cowboys schedule was released and this opening matchup was set, the headline of rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton making his pro debut against All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett has gotten the lion’s share of attention. Guyton is not alone as a rookie starter making his debut at a new position, as the Cowboys are also breaking in third-round pick Cooper Beebe at center. Guyton against Garrett will draw plenty of eyes consistently throughout the game, as pressure off the edge from a player of Garrett’s caliber is one of the quickest ways for any game plan McCarthy and OC Brian Schottenheimer have in place to fall apart completely. The time to talk big picture about how McCarthy is coaching for his job while also calling plays will come later, as the Cowboys offense will be looking to break in players with a lot of rust on them all at game speed in a hostile environment in Week 1. Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images If Guyton at least holds his own and doesn’t let Garrett wreck the game himself, the confidence Dallas has in their stars like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, or Brandin Cooks to get comfortable as the game goes on and make enough plays to win is high. Guyton is the ideal type of athletic tackle that moves well in space to deal with the speed of Garrett, and baiting him upfield to allow Prescott to climb the pocket and deliver the ball downfield should be part of Dallas’ plan of attack here. Garrett will counter this freakish bend on the edge with inside moves that are just as strong, and can deliver punishing hits on running backs when left unblocked too. The Cowboys know they have options outside of just Guyton playing one-on-one against the Browns best defender, but for a team that did not look comfortable in heavier formations or playing offense on the road a year ago, there are going to be reps that Guyton needs to win on his own without help. As for the less talked about debut of Cooper Beebe at center, the Cowboys at least have the luxury of breaking him in alongside the trusted Zack Martin at right guard and Tyler Smith on the left side. The season-long expectation is that Beebe will fit in just fine to give Dallas a very strong interior that can help them run the ball between the tackles, but doing so against Cleveland with not only Tomlinson but Shelby Harris, Maurice Hurst, and Quinton Jefferson at DT is no easy task. Jim Schwartz is known for bringing havoc right to the A-gaps for an opposing offense to deal with pre-snap, and the Cowboys should expect nothing less with a rookie center making his first start. The Cowboys will have hopes of this young and retooled offensive line molding into one of the league’s best over time this season, but much can be learned after Sunday about how viable they are as a unit that can help this offense take a complete next step in year two of McCarthy’s scheme. The Cowboys track record of hitting on high draft picks on the offensive line is at or near the top of the entire league, and they’ll be putting it to the test in just a few days time in a big way with Guyton and Beebe as their latest projects. Can any of these running backs be difference makers? Speaking of Beebe as the new starting center for Dallas, the rookie out of Kansas State was able to win the job thanks to his very high upside as a run blocker. The Cowboys know what they have in this department at the two guard spots, so adding Beebe gives instant viability to the team going with a mostly unproven RB by committee approach. Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn will get their first opportunity of the season against a defense that allowed the most runs of 20 or more yards a season ago, but also the fewest total rushing first downs. The Browns defensive front is feared more as a pass rushing unit than it is against the run, and once the Cowboys offensive line does their job of springing these backs to the second and third levels the opportunity for explosive plays, could be there if any of these backs show the ability to make defenders miss for extra yards. Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images The best way the Cowboys can show they are ready to play to their full potential on offense away from AT&T Stadium,
Cowboys offseason countdown: 99 facts until the regular season (Day 2)
We countdown the days to kickoff giving you an interesting fact about each number. Today is number 2 We are at day 2 of our 99 day countdown until the regular season. Here is your daily fact associated with number 2. One of the toughest running plays ever pulled off by an NFL player went for only 2 yards, but it was one of the most memorable plays in Cowboys history. Photo by Tim Umphrey/Getty Images In 2007, the Dallas Cowboys encountered the New England Patriots during Week 6 at the once-celebrated Texas Stadium. This matchup held significant importance for both teams, as they entered the week with unblemished records. The contest evolved into a high-scoring affair, with the lead shifting three times throughout the game. In the end, the Patriots emerged victorious with a score of 48-27, embarking on a remarkable season that culminated in a perfect 16-0 record. Here is Mel Kiper Jr. breaking down the selection of #Cowboys RB Marion Barber in the 2005 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/oCG4Xh5JJI — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) July 3, 2023 Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Wes Welker, Tom Brady, and Tony Romo all delivered outstanding performances; however, none of their highlights could rival the display put forth by Marion Barber. The Cowboys found themselves positioned at their own 10-yard line, facing a challenging first-and-20. Exercising caution, a running play was initiated, with Romo turning to hand the ball to Barber. Almost immediately, Barber encountered Rodney Harrison, and it appeared the play would be halted before it could gain momentum. However, leveraging his strength and balance, Barber managed to remain upright and fend off the initial tackle, only to be confronted by a second defender, whom he also successfully evaded. In an effort to create distance, Barber retreated into his own end zone, where he encountered an opposing defender. Demonstrating agility, Barber successfully evaded the defender and sprinted to his right in search of open space. A second defender attempted to bring him down, but Barber countered with a formidable stiff-arm, forcing the defender away. As he continued to navigate across his end zone, Barber discovered additional space, eluding yet another tackle before setting his sights upfield. After dodging yet another would-be tackler, he advanced further until he was ultimately pushed out of bounds, concluding a remarkable sequence of events. It was only a 2-yard run, but yeah… It wasn’t easy to tackle former @dallascowboys RB Marion Barber III (via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/RSR4Yast56 — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 22, 2019 The play would be recorded as a two-yard gain; however, a total of nine defenders from the Patriots attempted to tackle Barber, missing three chances to secure a safety. This play exemplified the remarkable determination, power, and endurance of the formidable running back that was Marion Barber. Photo by Tim Umphrey/Getty Images
Cowboys news: Dak Prescott talks potential new contract and his motivation
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images The latest Cowboys headlines as the team prepares for the season opener this weekend. Dak wants to be the QB ‘who wins it’ in Dallas – Nick Harris, DallasCowboys.com Dak Prescott spoke to the media again today about his contract negotiations and his motivation for wanting to stay in Dallas. It’s no breaking news or secret that the two sides are working, but is there a sense of urgency behind that work to get it done before the season kicks off? “I’d say they’re working,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s necessarily the timeline. I can’t say I’ll put a timeline to Todd and Stephen if we don’t get this done, this or that, but I know they’re working.” Speaking of work, Prescott said he will “still be working” if the Cowboys and his representation can’t come to an agreement before the start of the season. For him, there is still a big goal in mind that applies to this season and any potential campaign past 2024. “That’s what motivates me on being here, honestly, to be the quarterback who does it,” Prescott said. “Who wins it. I don’t think winning it in any other place would be the same as winning it here. That is A-No. 1 in wanting to be here, to be honest with you.” There’s a sense of camaraderie within the locker room going into this pivotal season towards the franchise’s future direction, as Prescott isn’t the only one heading into a contract year. Whether it be veterans like Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence and Brandin Cooks or role players like Osa Odighizuwa and Jourdan Lewis, a large handful of players can put themselves in Prescott’s shoes from an expiring contract standpoint. If Dak Prescott reaches free agency, that’s a problem for the Cowboys – Ted Nguyen, The Athletic The Cowboys could find themselves in a bind if they are unable to strike a new deal with Dak Prescott. Ideally, the Cowboys would have extended Prescott this offseason but owner and general manager Jerry Jones would have to be willing to reset the market because Prescott has all the leverage. Prescott knows if he doesn’t sign this season, he’ll likely be the highest-paid player in the league after free agency next season. “There’s no way I would sign a deal if I were Prescott unless it’s crazy,” a former general manager told The Athletic. “So I would only ask for crazy to see where it goes.” According to a league source, if a deal gets done soon, it should be somewhere around four years, $240 million, putting him at $60 million per year. Joe Burrow, Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence all got contracts that average $55 million per year. Of course, we can’t know what Prescott is asking for exactly but with how quarterback deals have trended and with what he knows he’ll be able to get when teams bid for his services next season, it’s not unreasonable to ask for $60 million or more. Prescott would likely get $63 million to $65 million per year in the open market, especially since there’s a good chance the salary cap will increase again next offseason, but maybe he’d be happy staying in Dallas for $60 million if the deal gets done soon. It’s also somewhat understandable that Jones is unwilling to reset the market by that much. But what other choice does he have? He doesn’t have another viable starting quarterback on the roster. Maybe he tried to create some leverage by trading a fourth-round pick for Trey Lance last offseason, and although Lance showed some promise this preseason, he also showed he’s still not ready to be a starter in this league, throwing five interceptions against the Chargers in the preseason finale. Cowboys’ theme of the season? Mike McCarthy says Dallas will be ‘rooted’ in 2024 – Chris Amaya, Dallas Morning News Mike McCarthy explains the theme for his fifth season as the head coach in Dallas. The Cowboys head coach told reporters he introduced players to the newest theme Wednesday morning. He described the phrase “rooted” as being based on the foundation he and the team have built over the last five years. The theme also incorporates an analogy of a bamboo tree that doesn’t grow until its fifth year of watering. With Year 5 of the McCarthy era kicking off Sunday in Cleveland, the head coach was reminded of some life advice he received from his father. “My dad gave me some good advice about living your life in five-year increments, and what you can learn in that time of space. Not trying to do too much, too fast, and it was more of a life lesson,” McCarthy said. “So, I think the fifth year of what we’ve done and what we have to build off of is part of the root system that’s in place here.” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy sees ‘opportunity’ in lame-duck season – Todd Archer, ESPN Mike McCarthy is focused only on winning as he enters his final year on his contract as the Cowboys’ head coach. As McCarthy begins his fifth season as the Cowboys’ coach Sunday at the Cleveland Browns (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), this is the noise that surrounds him as he enters the last year of his contract. Each week will be a referendum on his future. “I’m thankful and appreciate the opportunity in front of me,” McCarthy said to start this week. “That’s really how it’s been. I get what goes with contracts and I really don’t want to speak on it, because I haven’t spoke on it, because there’s really nothing to talk about. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is today, and that’s really something we can all just stay in touch with because we do have responsibilities outside of winning games, but the only thing that truly pays the bills is winning games. “That’s where my mind is at. I’m 30-plus years into this.
Star Points: Caelen Carson knee injury, Lamb ready to roll, Micah to go assassin mode
Dallas Cowboys add rookie cornerback to injury report :: LoneStar Live Link Caelen Carson was listed as a full participant Thursday but appeared on the report with a knee designation, signaling that he got hurt during practice. He was walking around the locker room without a noticeable limp after practice, so his level of participation in Friday’s walkthrough could hint at the true severity of the injury. The fifth-round draft pick had been promoted to starter status after DaRon Bland suffered a foot fracture last month. CeeDee Lamb full go for Cowboys versus Browns: ‘Yeah, I’m on’ :: The Mothership Link The ramp-up is complete. After being away from the team for the entire offseason, Lamb signed a megacontract extension and rejoined practice following the preseason. “Shout out to the guys, the coaches, for really guiding me throughout this whole week,” he said at Thursday’s all-important padded session. “Obviously, I knew that mentally I was ready and physically it’s a little different of a story, but today got me ready.” Parsons, Lawrence eyeing ideal situation as Cowboys look to start quick in Cleveland :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys’ bookend pass rushers may be salivating. Cleveland has announced that left tackle Jedrick Wills, a top-10 draft pick in 2020, will not start in Week 1 as he continues to rehab a knee injury. His replacement, Jack Conklin, is an All-Pro… but at right tackle; the 30-year-old hasn’t played on the left side since his college days at Michigan State. Dawand Jones will sub in at right tackle, but he struggled last year, particularly in the run game. Cowboys set to start most rookies ever in Week 1 :: Derek Eagleton NFL Week 1: Three reasons to heart-eyes emoji the Cowboys-Browns matchup :: Cowboys Wire Link The Browns are on the upswing, but they haven’t exactly been the model of consistency lately. Quarterbacks Deshaun Watson hasn’t been the same since joining the team after his sexual harassment scandal. And their bellcow back, Nick Chubb, won’t play at all. If the Cowboys are looking for reasons to be extra optimistic about getting a Week 1 win, there’s three. Micah Parsons ‘ready to be an assassin’ for the Cowboys defense :: Fox 4 KDFW Link Parsons chose an unusual (and violent) analogy to describe the mindset he’s carrying into 2024. “There’s the killer, the hitman, and the assassin. You know, the killer is sloppy. He’s gonna get caught. You know, he’s not very good at what he does, but he’s a killer. You know, he’s roaming the streets. You got the hitman. The hitman might not get caught. But you know who did it. You know he’s probably a little bit more clean. And the assassin, you probably don’t even know he’s there and you know he’s done it. So, each time, you really want to develop him. And you know, at this fourth-year mark for me, I think I’m ready to be an assassin,” he said. Composite power rankings have Cowboys all over map, but ultimately looking good vs Browns :: Cowboys Wire Link Looking across 21 sets of power rankings, the Cowboys can be found as high as 5th and as low as 19th as they head into their Week 1 matchup in Cleveland. They average out, though, with a ranking of 11th. The Browns come in just below, at 13.19, meaning Sunday’s game should be a close contest. What did Cowboys owner Jerry Jones unload in interview on Stephen A. Smith podcast? :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Over the 70-minute chat, Jones dodged a direct question about not pursuing Derrick Henry, he stuck to his guns on how he drags out getting his biggest contracts done, he downplayed any notion of hiring of Deion Sanders to coach the team, and he expressed surprise that Cowboys fans aren’t more optimistic about this season. But he also confirmed that Dak Prescott is very much a part of the franchise’s long-term plans. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy sees ‘opportunity’ in lame-duck season :: ESPN Link If McCarthy is unhappy about having to coach through the final year of his contract- with nothing in place for 2025- he’s not admitting it. “I get what goes with contracts and I really don’t want to speak on it, because I haven’t spoke on it, because there’s really nothing to talk about. It doesn’t matter,” McCarthy said. “I can’t stand up in front of a group of men and consistently on a daily basis demand that they focus their time and energy on winning, and then I’m up here talking about things that have nothing to do with winning.” If Troy Aikman could apply one current-day NFL rule to when he played, what would it be? :: Dallas Morning News Link The Hall of Famer, whose career was cut short by a series of concussions and recurring back problems, says he would have enjoyed the protection that today’s quarterbacks are provided by current NFL rules. “I should put together a highlight real of the worst hits I took,” Aikman joked. “You would think [the] players probably had been banned from the NFL, and there wasn’t even a penalty on the play.” The three-time Super Bowl winner and current broadcaster has, ironically, gotten in trouble for suggesting on-air that today’s QBs are too soft. No substantive changes to kickoff rule for regular season :: Tom Pelissero
Cowboys Roundup: TE lands on Week 1 injury report, Watson predicted to light up Dallas DBs
Updates: John Stephens added to injury report :: The Mothership Link The tight end who missed all of 2023 with an ACL tear may be in doubt for this season’s opener, too. Stephens made the first injury report of the season with hamstring trouble. He was the only Cowboys player on the roster who did not practice on Wednesday. Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks: Amount of criticism cast on Dak Prescott ‘blasphemy’ :: NFL.com Link The veteran receiver called the widespread criticism of his quarterback “unbelievable,” saying, “The guy shows up every year, year in and year out.” Cooks put it on himself and his teammates to do more to help Prescott. “A lot of those great quarterbacks that I’ve been with- Tom [Brady] and Drew [Brees]- don’t get me wrong, they won a lot of games, won a lot of Super Bowls, but they had a lot of help around them as well, right?” he asked. “When we hear that disrespect, I take that personally and as his teammates we should take that personally.” Rapoport: Prescott, Cowboys ‘are not close’ on new deal prior to Week 1 :: Kevin Gray Jr. McCarthy reveals 2024 theme, but what are these Cowboys actually ‘rooted’ in? :: Cowboys Wire Link The coach’s theme for the season seeks to build off the foundation he’s built over his four years in Dallas. But McCarthy will need buy-in from a team who largely has even less history with the club; only 19% of the Cowboys’ presumptive Week 1 roster has been there with him from the start. McCarthy’s hoping for explosive growth in Year Five; it may be the only thing keeping him “rooted” in Dallas past 2024. NFL Hope-O-Meter results: Ranking how optimistic fans are for all 32 teams :: The Athletic Link Thirty-six regular-season wins in three years have not carried over to 2024 optimism for Cowboys Nation. The team ranks 30th out of 32 in this survey, with only a pathetic 19.9% of fans feeling hopeful about the Cowboys’ chances this season. Fans pointed to a poor offseason, contract uncertainty, and a “toxic” atmosphere thanks to the Jones family. (Fans were surveyed before CeeDee Lamb’s contract extension came down, but that news is unlikely to have moved the needle dramatically.) New jersey number, Who’s this? Cowboys 53-man roster, practice squad for Week 1 vs Cleveland Browns :: Cowboys Wire Link Among the notable jersey updates, Caelen Carson will now wear the old No. 21 that terrorized opposing quarterbacks when it was worn by Deion Sanders. Carl Lawson inherits Leighton Vander Esch’s old No. 55, Ryan Flournoy moves to 80, and Brevyn Spann-Ford takes over No. 89. NFL scout provides huge prediction for Browns QB Deshaun Watson vs. Cowboys :: SI.com Link One AFC-based scout is expecting Watson to light things up on Sunday: “I don’t think the Cowboys’ secondary is going to be very good. Losing Stephon Gilmore was a huge setback for them. Trevon Diggs is a playmaker, but he is capable of giving up big plays, too. Watson could throw an interception; I just won’t predict that. I think around 250 to 300 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions. I also think Cleveland will come away with a win. With all the drama that Dallas has gone through this offseason, I expect a slightly slow start as they figure everything out.” Playing for hated college team will help Cowboys rookie LB ‘cut it loose’ as Week 1 starter in Cleveland :: Cowboys WIre Link Marist Liufau says his own experience at some of the nation’s most intimidating college venues has him well prepared for Cleveland’s Dawg Pound. “You either love Notre Dame or you hate them, so everywhere we go on the road, everyone hates us,” he said of his alma mater. “That’s helped me to grow as a player and kind of handle those environments and sort it out.” The rookie linebacker is set to start in Week 1. A heavy task? Dallas Cowboys rookie CB Caelen Carson is ready for his NFL debut against Cleveland :: DLLS Link The fifth-round rookie has been thrust into a Week 1 starting role with the injury to DaRon Bland, but he’s taking it in stride. The same thing happened to him as a true freshman at Wake Forest. “I don’t try and make it a big moment. It’s just going to be like any other game,” Carson said. “I’ve been playing football all my life, so I just feel like nothing changes. It’s just more people and television, but at the end of the day, you’ve been doing this since you were five years old.” Cowboys rookie LT Tyler Guyton faces toughest challenge of year in Week 1 :: Cowboys Wire Link The first-round draft pick has arguably the toughest one-on-one matchup in the NFL right out of the gate in 2024, facing Browns defensive end and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Guyton has done nothing but impress in camp and the preseason, but Garrett is a different kind of game-wrecker. The good news is that everything after Week 1 is likely to be easier for the young left tackle. PFF thinks Micah Parsons is going to tie this all-time Cowboys record :: Cowboys Wire Link The polarizing outlet predicts Dallas to finish third in the division, but they also forecast Parsons to end the season with 20 sacks. Somehow, though, that’s still not good enough to win him the Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Original No. 88 of the Dallas Cowboys explains how the ’88 Club’ started at No. 13 :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link The Cowboys’ “88 Club” has become an entity all its own, spanning several generations of legendary Dallas receivers to wear the famed number. But it almost never got off the ground with Drew Pearson; he was issued No. 13 before his first preseason game with the club back in 1973. No. 88 belonged to Ron Sellers, who was later traded to Miami.
Offensive line injuries could play a role in Cowboys vs Browns outcome
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys pass rush might have a weakness to exploit on the Browns One of the big stories going into the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns game this week concerned the left tackle position. Mainly folks were wondering how Cowboys rookie Tyler Guyton would hold up against Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, or his partner Za’Darius Smith. While Guyton, a first-round draft pick in 2024 has looked fantastic in training camp and the little bit of preseason he played, he is still a rookie and a real NFL game is like nothing else. It was a foregone conclusion that the Browns defense would try to isolate Guyton in the pass rush and take advantage. But as it turns out, the Cowboys may be up to some of that, too. Micah Parsons is every bit the equal of Garrett in the pass rush department, and he may be lining up against a backup on Sunday. The Browns were hoping to have starting left tackle Jedrick Wills back on Sunday, but he missed practice on Thursday due to injury and told reporters that he would not be starting on Sunday. “I’m not starting this week,” Wills said on Wednesday, via Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. “I’m just going out there for individual [drills]. Just seeing how it feels and get back into things.” Wills is coming back from MCL surgery. Head coach Kevin Stefnaski had mentioned the possibility of Wills playing this week. But it sounds like if that were to happen, it would be on some sort of rotational basis. The Browns are also having issues with their starting right tackle, Jack Conklin, as he too shows up on the injury report. No Jedrick Wills Jr. today at practice. Jack Conklin has been limited last 2 days during portion open to reporters which could open the door for James Hudson #Browns — Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) September 5, 2024 It looks like they will not be playing Wills, and another report had Conklin only doing individual drills and being basically a spectator on Wednesday. The Browns offensive line could be down their two best tackles on Sunday. Part of the reason the Cowboys are 2.5-point (FanDuel) underdogs to the Browns is the rookies on the offensive line, especially Guyton who will have to deal with Garrett. But Micah Parsons unleashed against backup tackles, along with DeMarcus Lawrence, would be a huge advantage for the Cowboys defense. Keep an eye on this as Friday’s injury report comes out. Check out our partner FanDuel for all your betting needs.
Thursday Night Football odds, picks and live discussion: Ravens at Chiefs
Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images FOOTBALL IS BACK. The 2024 NFL regular season has finally arrived. Tonight the season begins with a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens. That is a high-powered AFC clash. Our partners at FanDuel have the Chiefs as three-point favorites in the game. This should be a good one with revenge for last year’s playoff loss on the minds of the Ravens. They’ve added Derrick Henry to help carry the load, but they have to travel to KC for the game. It’s hard to bet against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. In this game, the Chiefs will win, but the Ravens will cover in a 24-22 Kansas City victory. Check out FanDuel for all of your NFL betting needs. This is an open thread for game chat.
