Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown says he’s stronger, faster, more explosive since knee injury – Jon Machota, The Athletic Overshown’s recovery has been amazing, and he feels better than ever. There’s been a noticeable difference at Dallas Cowboys practice the last two days. There’s a defensive player wearing the No. 0 jersey with pink tape on […] Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown says he’s stronger, faster, more explosive since knee injury – Jon Machota, The Athletic Overshown’s recovery has been amazing, and he feels better than ever. There’s been a noticeable difference at Dallas Cowboys practice the last two days. There’s a defensive player wearing the No. 0 jersey with pink tape on his wrists and ankles. For the first time since his season-ending knee injury last December, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown has returned to practice. He has been limited Wednesday and Thursday, focusing on individual drills as the Cowboys opened his 21-day practice window with a targeted return date of Week 11. “It’s a blessing just to be out there,” he said this week. “Been watching for 300-plus days now. So when you’re a guy like me that football is more than just a game to you, it’s a way of life, you play with a passion and that energy, when you’re able to do it again, you never take it for granted. Each period, play I had out there, I was dancing, having fun with it because I know it can be taken away from you at any point and time.” After missing his entire rookie season because of a torn left ACL he suffered in Dallas’ second preseason game in 2023, Overshown played in 13 games last season before suffering a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee. Before the most recent injury, Overshown showed signs of being a dynamic playmaker. He had 90 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and four passes defended. But will that same athleticism return after such a significant injury? “Stronger, faster, can jump higher, more explosive,” Overshown said of where his testing numbers currently stand. “You name it, I’m all of it. My game is not going to slow down. I know how to play one way and that’s full speed. That’s what you’re gonna see.” Tyler Smith, Cowboys expecting physical, gritty battle against Broncos – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com There’s likely to be a plethora of bumps and bruises after the Cowboys and Broncos lock horns on Sunday. FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys have invested heavily in their offensive line in recent years, looking to carry on the tradition of strong play at the position dating all the way back to The Great Wall of Dallas, The Wall 2.0, and so on and so forth. One of their biggest returns on investment has been Tyler Smith, a first round pick out of Tulsa in 2022. He’s been coined the next in line to lead the Cowboys’ next chapter of offensive line greatness, and the next opportunity to do so comes Sunday against a stout Denver Broncos defense that Smith is impressed by. “I think they’ve got dynamic guys on the line,” Smith said. “I think they know their strengths, they know their weaknesses. One thing that they really harp on is ball get off, I think that’s something that their defensive line coach and other people around their organization kind of harp on is getting off the ball and affecting the passer.” “So I think it’s just on us to be on our keys and fundamentals and make sure that we’re doing the stuff that we’re trained to do.” Earlier in the week, QB Dak Prescott discussed how this was a game that the Cowboys would need to “win dirty,” speaking in terms of grit going against an equally gritty, grimy Denver team that’s always hard-nosed. Smith views the matchup the same way, and trusts he and his teammates are prepared for any situation that arises on Sunday. “There’s definitely games where you know it’s going to be more physical,” Smith said. “I think physicality is always gonna be the name of the game. I think we’re an extremely physical offense, I think they’re an extremely physical defense, so I think ultimately it’ll come down to who fights longer.” “And I know the people we got in our corner, the guys I got on my left and my right, we’re gonna fight all game. Even if it goes after four quarters, we can do that too.” Where would the Dallas Cowboys be without running back Javonte Williams – Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News Williams has been arguably to the top addition to the Cowboys roster in 2025. The Cowboys, in Schottenheimer’s first season, elected to almost completely remodel their backfield. They let Dowdle, a 1,000-yard rusher for them, hit free agency. They ultimately signed veteran Miles Sanders later in free agency and drafted two running backs in Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah to round out a backfield that included fullback Hunter Luepke. But the backfield needed a centerpiece. On the first day of free agency, the Cowboys — often inactive in the initial wave of free agency — targeted Williams. Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones said recently that Williams was someone they liked in the draft when he was a second-round pick out of North Carolina in 2021. Multiple people around the Cowboys mentioned recently that they remember when he and the Broncos came to AT&T Stadium during his rookie season in 2021. Williams, young and healthy, had his first 100-yard rushing game that day in a win over the Cowboys. The gamble, however, was not based on what Williams was back then, but what he was recently. Williams suffered a torn ACL during his second season in the NFL. Prior to the injury, he was averaging 4.4 yards per carry. In his two healthy seasons after in Denver, Williams averaged 3.6 yards per carry. Broncos head coach Sean Payton, according to Williams, told him after

Anyone following the current saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (aka MCU) knows they have introduced the idea of “anchor beings,” individuals whose existence is crucial to the stability of their home universe. In the Dallas Cowboys universe, George Pickens may be Dallas’ “anchor being,” whose potential future with the team could determine how the […] Anyone following the current saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (aka MCU) knows they have introduced the idea of “anchor beings,” individuals whose existence is crucial to the stability of their home universe. In the Dallas Cowboys universe, George Pickens may be Dallas’ “anchor being,” whose potential future with the team could determine how the team approaches the trade deadline. How so? Charles Robinson, senior reporter for Yahoo! Sports, was a guest on Shan & RJ Wednesday to talk about the Cowboys’ potential in trading for Maxx Crosby or any other star defensive player, for that matter. His answer was very forward-thinking. Robinson said one person he spoke with mentioned a potential Pickens deal being the “driving” force behind Dallas’s actions at the deadline. Pickens has exceeded all expectations and proved in the absence of CeeDee Lamb that he could be a dominant No. 1 wide receiver. If Dallas wants to maximize their window now, in fear that his price has gotten astronomical, then maybe the Cowboys trade for a star defensive player looking for a new deal, and they allocate funding next year for them, knowing Pickens will most likely walk. If the front office wants to retain the 24-year-old receiver as a key part of their revamped offense, they may decide not to pursue a top-tier defender. Trading for Trey Hendrickson, Maxx Crosby or Jeffrey Simmons might require reworking a new contract to get the deal across the finish line, similarly to Micah Parsons, who wouldn’t be traded unless the new team agreed to a historic contract extension. The bottom line seems to be all about numbers. It’s not impossible to imagine a world where Dallas keeps a star defender acquired in a trade and Pickens for 2026, but the cap fit may be a little tight, as Robinson points out. Dallas might not even want to consider what that would do to their 2026 salary cap, so instead, they might focus on acquiring a player with an expiring contract who can contribute in the short term without compromising the budget reserved for re-signing Pickens. Still, Jeremy Fowler’s reporting on the Cowboys’ internal discussions about their future with Pickens suggests neither party is in the mood for a contract extension now. The Cowboys have had internal discussions about a possible extension for receiver George Pickens, to the point where they’ve been examining the rosters and cap situations of teams like Cincinnati, Miami and Philadelphia, who are all paying multiple high-end receivers. (The Cowboys already pay CeeDee Lamb $34 million per year.) I don’t think anything gets done on this until after the season, but Dallas has been happy with Pickens since acquiring him in an offseason trade with Pittsburgh, and it is at least considering what it would look like to keep Dak Prescott’s wide receiver tandem together. Diana Russini, speaking on her Scoop City Podcast about her conversation with Jerry Jones at the Owner’s Meeting, seemed to insinuate that the Cowboys will certainly do their due diligence seeking a potential defense trade, but won’t feel pressed to make a deal if they feel good enough about the current state of the roster. Dallas has been in rare form, more willing than ever to make trades. This started in the offseason when they acquired Pickens, Joe Milton, Kaiir Elam, Kenneth Murray, and Kenny Clark. Four of the five are key contributors on their respective sides of the ball. Making another one wouldn’t be out of left field, but it depends on who it’s for. Whatever the Cowboys decide to do in the coming weeks may be influenced by a pre-determined decision about the team’s commitment to their budding star receiver for the long haul. See More: Dallas Cowboys Rumors

Despite showing some improvement last week against the Washington Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys defense is still dead last in the league in total defense, yielding 401.6 yards per game. They also currently rank last in the league in passing yards per game (260.3) and are also currently 30th in the league in both rushing yards […] Despite showing some improvement last week against the Washington Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys defense is still dead last in the league in total defense, yielding 401.6 yards per game. They also currently rank last in the league in passing yards per game (260.3) and are also currently 30th in the league in both rushing yards allowed per game (141.3) and points allowed per game (29.4). It’s encouraging we saw Matt Eberflus’ defensive unit show signs of improvement last week against the Commanders though. They played much more man-to-man coverage last week and it seemed to pay off. Not only did they have plenty more stops to get the ball back in the hands of the offense, but the also had four QB sacks and two turnovers, including DaRon Bland’s sixth pick-six of his career. Dallas’ defense took a step in the right direction last week, but now will face a Denver Broncos offense who are coming off a game in which they dropped 33 points in the fourth quarter last week to beat the New York Giants. The Broncos offense is one of the better well-rounded units this year, and will be more of a true measuring stick as to just how much improvement the Cowboys defense has made. Under Sean Payton’s tutelage this year, the Broncos offense is a Top 15 unit nearly every category. They currently rank 11th in the league in yards per game (347), sixth in rushing yards per game (131.9), 15th in passing yards per game (215.1), and 17th in points per game (17.3). This is a good, not great, offense who could help better determine exactly where Dallas’ defense stands right now, for better or worse. Unlike last week when Washington was out their top two receivers (Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel), the Broncos will have all of their offensive weapons at their disposal and this isn’t a group to scoff at. RB J.K. Dobbins is currently seventh in the league with 523 rushing yards and could be a problem for Dallas’ run defense, and WR Courtland Sutton could very much give their secondary all they can handle. The Cowboys defense versus the Broncos offense could very well be the matchup that helps determine the outcome of the game this week. Hopefully for the Cowboys sake, Matt Eberflus and his defensive unit continues to take a step in the right direction and builds upon what they were able to accomplish last week in their victory over their division rival. See More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

After last week’s cakewalk of a win against the Washington Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves back in the race for the NFC East crown. Injuries have certainly hampered the Cowboys, but the injury bug isn’t biting as badly as it once was. Many players are getting healthier and are on the cusp of returning. […] After last week’s cakewalk of a win against the Washington Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves back in the race for the NFC East crown. Injuries have certainly hampered the Cowboys, but the injury bug isn’t biting as badly as it once was. Many players are getting healthier and are on the cusp of returning. Here’s where the Cowboys stand after the final injury report of the week heading into the game against the Denver Broncos. The Cowboys’ offensive line is looking healthier. Tyler Smith (knee) was upgraded to a full participant and will play against the Broncos. Tyler Guyton was limited by a glute injury yesterday, and was limited on Friday so he is questionable. Cooper Beebe has been on injured reserve since suffering an ankle injury in week 2. He was limited today and is questionable. DeMarvion Overshown (knee) was also limited but has been working hard in practice to return to full speed. He has been ruled out along with Shavon Revel. Donovan Wilson (elbow/knee) and Trevon Diggs (concussion) have not practiced this week. They have both been ruled out. Juanyeh Thomas is questionable but did not practice on Friday. Marshawn Kneeland is also questionable. See More: Dallas Cowboys Injuries

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to get over. 500 for the first time this season when they face the Denver Broncos. However, it appears one of their top defensive players may not be on the field. Brian Schottenheimer had this to say about Trevon Diggs practicing and playing. Per Jon Machota of The Athletic, team […] The Dallas Cowboys are looking to get over. 500 for the first time this season when they face the Denver Broncos. However, it appears one of their top defensive players may not be on the field. Brian Schottenheimer had this to say about Trevon Diggs practicing and playing. Per Jon Machota of The Athletic, team owner Jerry Jones said that Diggs is questionable to play on Sunday. Real questionable. Diggs missed last week’s game against the Washington Commanders due to suffering a concussion at his home. The former second-round pick hasn’t has the best luck staying on the field over the last couple of seasons. He missed 15 games in 2023 after tearing his ACL, and another six last season because of an issue in the same knee that required surgery. The play of Diggs when he’s been on the field in 2025 has left quite a bit to be desired as well, which has made some question if he’s truly recovered from his knee issue or if he’s simply not the same player anymore. See More: Dallas Cowboys Injuries

Cowboys’ perfect target just asked out ahead of NFL trade deadline – Randy Gurzi, SI.com The Cowboys could use a linebacker… Multiple names have been mentioned as a target, with one potential fit officially requesting a trade on Thursday. Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson has asked the team to send him elsewhere after seeing his role reduced in favor […] The Cowboys could use a linebacker… Multiple names have been mentioned as a target, with one potential fit officially requesting a trade on Thursday. Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson has asked the team to send him elsewhere after seeing his role reduced in favor of rookies Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. “Wilson, a third-round pick in the 2020 draft, has been a pivotal member of Cincinnati’s defense in the turnaround. In 2021, two years after the Bengals had the worst record in the NFL, Wilson was a starter on a Cincinnati squad that reached the Super Bowl. In six seasons with the team, he has made 75 starts and totaled six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 11 interceptions.” – Baby, ESPN Despite his reduced role, Wilson has been a stellar teammate, helping the younger players get up to speed. Still, he would like more playing time, which would be available in Dallas. It sure sounds like the Cowboys could trade one of their biggest stars (again) – Lion Lampert, The Landry Hat Will Jerry allow his money to get mad twice in one season? Jerry Jones might be back at it again, albeit with another one of the Dallas Cowboys’ household names, not white Vans sneakers (deep cut reference). The club’s much-maligned owner/general manager has already shown us he’s not afraid to trade away stars, and cornerback Trevon Diggs could be the next casualty. Diggs’ standing with the Cowboys has paradoxically been in question since he signed a five-year, $97 million contract extension in July 2023. Between his on-field regression and nagging health concerns, fans have been prepared to move on from him for what feels like an eternity. Well, at long last, Cowboys Nation may have its wish granted in the coming days. CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin identified Diggs as one of 30 “potential trade chips” leading up to the NFL’s Nov. 4 deadline, which certainly feels plausible. Dak Prescott seeking redemption in Denver, knows Cowboys must have grit to win – Tommy Yarish, DallasCowboys.com The Cowboys need to beat the adversity against the Denver Broncos. FRISCO, Texas – On Sunday, September 17, 2017, second-year quarterback Dak Prescott led the Dallas Cowboys onto the field at Mile High in Denver looking to move to 2-0 on the year after beating the Giants in Week 1. Prescott, who was on the heels of a magical rookie season that won him offensive rookie of the year in 2016, finished the game completing 30 of his 50 passing attempts for 238 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in what ended up being a 42-17 Broncos win. “That was one was probably one of the uglier games of my career for sure,” Prescott said. “I remember the big rain delay or lightning delay early in the game, I remember Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, they had some guys. Definitely remember that one. Fresh, obviously, going back there.” It certainly was difficult to forget the two interceptions, including one to Aqib Talib that he returned for a 103-yard pick-six with :53 seconds left in the game, and was at the time the largest margin Prescott had lost by in his NFL career. A lot has changed since then, but going back to that game, why were things not the same for Prescott in his second year with Dallas? Had the Cowboys not found the future of their franchise? ”I came in as a rookie and played so well that I was just telling the coaches, no knock to any of my coaches, but I almost didn’t get coached in the details of the position because I started off so hot. ‘Hey, don’t mess with him. Don’t ruin it…” Javonte Williams revenge week is here. DALLAS — Javonte Williams could only laugh when he was asked if the Denver Broncos should “buckle up” for this week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Despite the homage to ex-Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle, the Cowboys’ current RB1 took the reserved approach. “Go out there and play my game. Do what I got to do,” Williams said after practice on Thursday. Williams spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Broncos before they let him walk in the 2025 offseason due to injuries and an unstable role. “They wanted to go a different route,” Williams explained. “But the Cowboys wanted me, so that’s where I wanted to be at.” Cowboys injuries: Diggs DNP, Beebe & Overshown still limited – LP Cruz, Blogging the Boys Reinforcements are coming for the Cowboys, but when is the question. Yesterday, we got some exciting news about players who have been on injured reserve but returned to practice on Wednesday. We don’t yet know if they will be activated before Sunday, but its noteworthy how they followed up their return to action yesterday, and their status today. Here’s what we know so far after this week’s second day of practice. Center Cooper Beebe (ankle) was once again limited on Thursday, as were Shavon Revel and DeMarvion Overshown. Although Overshown was seen with a bulky knee brace in pictures circulating on social media, he reminded fans on X that the brace is an accessory, not a necessity, perhaps indicating that he is further along in his recovery than once perceived. As for the players on the active roster, no sign of Trevon Diggs after missing last week’s game with a concussion, he logs another DNP this week. Donovan Wilson (elbow/shoulder) was also a DNP today. See More: Dallas Cowboys News

After a big win over the Commanders and with an offense many are declaring the best in the NFL, the Cowboys are riding into Week 8 with some momentum. If they can sustain it against a very good Broncos team, Dallas will be hard to ignore as a potential playoff team. But the hole they’ve […] After a big win over the Commanders and with an offense many are declaring the best in the NFL, the Cowboys are riding into Week 8 with some momentum. If they can sustain it against a very good Broncos team, Dallas will be hard to ignore as a potential playoff team. But the hole they’ve dug for themselves isn’t small, and they will likely need some help along the way to make the tournament. Granted, the most optimistic path to the playoffs is that Dallas finishes the season 13-3-1 and writes their own ticket. But we’re not quite that homerish. Still, it’s prudent to look at the Cowboys as a team with upward potential and possible playoff contenders. Here’s where the Cowboys sit in the NFC playoff standings going into Week 8: Packers (4-1-1 overall, 3-0-1 vs NFC) 49ers (5-2, 5-1) Eagles (5-2, 4-1) Buccaneers (5-2, 3-2) Lions (5-2, 2-1) Seahawks (5-2, 2-2) Rams (5-2. 0-2) Bears (4-2. 3-2) Panthers (4-2. 2-1) Cowboys (3-3-1, 2-3-1) Dallas is at least two wins behind most of those teams, and has the head-to-head disadvantage over Chicago and Carolina. But interestingly, even if they finish the season with the same number of wins as the Bears or Panthers, they’d still have a better overall record because of that tie with Green Bay. That would nullify the head-to-head tiebreaker. So, you see, the tie may not have been all bad. As we dig into the Week 8 schedule and what helps the Cowboys, we’ll continue to assess how results would impact both the 2025 playoffs and the 2026 draft. The Cardinals, Lions, Rams, and Seahawks are all on by this week, along with two AFC teams, so it will be a shorter list. NFC East Giants d. Eagles Easy one here; a New York win helps Dallas in the division race and in the draft. The Giants sweeping the Eagles would be quite the shocker, but we’ve seen crazier things in the NFC East through the years. Chiefs d. Commanders Washington has the QB and pieces to mount a second-half comeback this season, so another loss here is better for any potential division or wild card situation. While we don’t love the Commanders having a better draft pick than Dallas next April, it’s the lesser of evils. NFC vs. NFC Saints d. Buccaneers There will probably be times that we want division leaders like Tampa Bay to win games against other NFC teams who could bother Dallas in the wild card race. But the 1-6 Saints don’t appear to be such a team, making this another upset to comfortably root for. While it further cements New Orleans as a top-five draft team, Dallas probably isn’t getting into that mix anyway. NFC vs. AFC Chargers d. Vikings Minnesota is right on Dallas’ heels with a 3-3 record, and they should be getting QB J.J. McCarthy back very soon. Like Washington, this is a team we don’t need clawing their way back into playoff contention. The Cowboys can help put them away with a Week 15 meeting up north. Dolphins d. Falcons Similar logic; Atlanta is also 3-3 and could be a problem if they find some consistency with their young quarterback. Draft-focused fans should root the other way, given that Miami is probably too bad to catch and Atlanta’s a team Dallas needs to stay below in the standings. But from the playoff perspective, we’re rooting for the Dolphins. Bills d. Panthers AFC teams beating NFC teams is typically good for us, and that’s certainly true with the Panthers given their current playoff positioning. Thankfully, Buffalo is about as well-equipped to hang a loss on Carolina as anyone. Ravens d. Bears Will Lamar Jackson’s return change Baltimore’s fortunes? We certainly hope so, because losses by the Bears and Panthers this week would help get Dallas to the edge of a playoff spot. Texans d. 49ers If Dallas can win the NFC East, matching wins with the Niners would be nice for seeding purposes. Houston winning also helps Dallas in potential draft order, so it’s good either way. Steelers d. Packers Potential playoff implications? Check. Owning the Packers’ 2026 draft pick? Check. Pittsburgh staying ahead of Dallas in the draft order? Check. AFC vs. AFC Bengals d. Jets Browns d. Patriots Titans d. Colts This is all draft-focused. Wins by Cleveland and Tennesee make them easier to pass in the order, and don’t hurt on the other end against winning clubs like the Colts and Pats. But with the Jets at 0-7, better they just keep losing and give a win to a more catchable team like the 2-4 Bengals. See More: Dallas Cowboys General

After a big win over the Commanders and with an offense many are declaring the best in the NFL, the Cowboys are riding into Week 8 with some momentum. If they can sustain it against a very good Broncos team, Dallas will be hard to ignore as a potential playoff team. But the hole they’ve […] After a big win over the Commanders and with an offense many are declaring the best in the NFL, the Cowboys are riding into Week 8 with some momentum. If they can sustain it against a very good Broncos team, Dallas will be hard to ignore as a potential playoff team. But the hole they’ve dug for themselves isn’t small, and they will likely need some help along the way to make the tournament. Granted, the most optimistic path to the playoffs is that Dallas finishes the season 13-3-1 and writes their own ticket. But we’re not quite that homerish. Still, it’s prudent to look at the Cowboys as a team with upward potential and possible playoff contenders. Here’s where the Cowboys sit in the NFC playoff standings going into Week 8: Packers (4-1-1 overall, 3-0-1 vs NFC) 49ers (5-2, 5-1) Eagles (5-2, 4-1) Buccaneers (5-2, 3-2) Lions (5-2, 2-1) Seahawks (5-2, 2-2) Rams (5-2. 0-2) Bears (4-2. 3-2) Panthers (4-2. 2-1) Cowboys (3-3-1, 2-3-1) Dallas is at least two wins behind most of those teams, and has the head-to-head disadvantage over Chicago and Carolina. But interestingly, even if they finish the season with the same number of wins as the Bears or Panthers, they’d still have a better overall record because of that tie with Green Bay. That would nullify the head-to-head tiebreaker. So, you see, the tie may not have been all bad. As we dig into the Week 8 schedule and what helps the Cowboys, we’ll continue to assess how results would impact both the 2025 playoffs and the 2026 draft. The Cardinals, Lions, Rams, and Seahawks are all on by this week, along with two AFC teams, so it will be a shorter list. NFC East Giants d. Eagles Easy one here; a New York win helps Dallas in the division race and in the draft. The Giants sweeping the Eagles would be quite the shocker, but we’ve seen crazier things in the NFC East through the years. Chiefs d. Commanders Washington has the QB and pieces to mount a second-half comeback this season, so another loss here is better for any potential division or wild card situation. While we don’t love the Commanders having a better draft pick than Dallas next April, it’s the lesser of evils. NFC vs. NFC Saints d. Buccaneers There will probably be times that we want division leaders like Tampa Bay to win games against other NFC teams who could bother Dallas in the wild card race. But the 1-6 Saints don’t appear to be such a team, making this another upset to comfortably root for. While it further cements New Orleans as a top-five draft team, Dallas probably isn’t getting into that mix anyway. NFC vs. AFC Chargers d. Vikings Minnesota is right on Dallas’ heels with a 3-3 record, and they should be getting QB J.J. McCarthy back very soon. Like Washington, this is a team we don’t need clawing their way back into playoff contention. The Cowboys can help put them away with a Week 15 meeting up north. Dolphins d. Falcons Similar logic; Atlanta is also 3-3 and could be a problem if they find some consistency with their young quarterback. Draft-focused fans should root the other way, given that Miami is probably too bad to catch and Atlanta’s a team Dallas needs to stay below in the standings. But from the playoff perspective, we’re rooting for the Dolphins. Bills d. Panthers AFC teams beating NFC teams is typically good for us, and that’s certainly true with the Panthers given their current playoff positioning. Thankfully, Buffalo is about as well-equipped to hang a loss on Carolina as anyone. Ravens d. Bears Will Lamar Jackson’s return change Baltimore’s fortunes? We certainly hope so, because losses by the Bears and Panthers this week would help get Dallas to the edge of a playoff spot. Texans d. 49ers If Dallas can win the NFC East, matching wins with the Niners would be nice for seeding purposes. Houston winning also helps Dallas in potential draft order, so it’s good either way. Steelers d. Packers Potential playoff implications? Check. Owning the Packers’ 2026 draft pick? Check. Pittsburgh staying ahead of Dallas in the draft order? Check. AFC vs. AFC Bengals d. Jets Browns d. Patriots Titans d. Colts This is all draft-focused. Wins by Cleveland and Tennesee make them easier to pass in the order, and don’t hurt on the other end against winning clubs like the Colts and Pats. But with the Jets at 0-7, better they just keep losing and give a win to a more catchable team like the 2-4 Bengals. See More: Dallas Cowboys General