The Dallas Cowboys will be facing their second consecutive NFC South opponent of the season in Week 16, but this time they’ll be playing the leader in the division. It’ll be a home game for the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, and there are reasons to hate matching up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a four-game losing streak, the Buccaneers have turned things around and are now riding a four-game winning streak. Much like the Cowboys, the turnaround has consisted of beating mostly bad teams, but Todd Bowles’ group is in position to win their division and make it to the playoffs for a third consecutive year. The Cowboys will have their hands full trying to stop an offense averaging nearly 29 points per game and coming off a 40-burger performance. Here are three reasons to hate the Week 16 opponent, the Buccaneers. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] QB Baker Mayfield Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports Since arriving in Tampa Bay, there’s been a resurgence from quarterback Baker Mayfield. This has been the best season for the former first overall pick, who has already thrown for a career-high 32 touchdowns and is on pace to surpass his personal best in passing yards in a year. Mayfield is coming into this game off perhaps his best outing of the season, throwing for 288 yards and four scores against a good Los Angeles Chargers defense. The veteran QB had a career-best 81.5 completion percentage in the win, which has been consistent with his 2024 campaign, where he ranks third in the league at 70.8%. Mayfield’s also third in the NFL in passing yards, and third in touchdown passes. Everything Mayfield is doing right now is what was expected of him when he was selected as the top player in the 2018 draft. The Cowboys’ defense won’t like seeing a hot QB coming for them in Week 16. RB Bucky Irving Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Last April, the Cowboys had a chance to draft a running back for the future but failed to do so. This week they’ll be playing against a RB who was the pet cat for many draft gurus who wanted the Cowboys to select him on Day 3. Without a fourth-round pick, the organization never got a chance to draft Bucky Irving, who has been the best rookie RB on the season. Irving hasn’t been the full-time starter at RB all year, but he does have 852 yards rushing on just 152 carries. The rookie is just 27th in carries but 16th in rushing yards, sitting just behind Dallas’ RB Rico Dowdle. Irving also has six touchdowns on the ground and is third in the league for RBs in yards per carry, averaging 5.6 a tote. Irving’s number are impressive considering he’s only gotten double-digit carries in six games, all of which have included a score or at least 100 yards rushing. In four of his last five games where he’s played the majority of the snaps (he barely played two weeks ago), Irving has run for at least 73 yards, including two 100-yard outings, and he’s scored three touchdowns. In those four games, he’s also averaging 6.7 yards per carry, a full yard over his season’s average. Irving is getting better as the year goes on with more touches, and could surpass 1,000 yards rushing, a first for the Buccaneers since 2015. That’s not a common occurrence for a rookie, but Irving is already proving to be one of the better RBs in the league. WR Mike Evans Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images There’s a lot to hate about playing the Buccaneers that revolves around their offense, and the veteran wide receiver is another reason. Evans has been one of the best WRs in the league since he entered it in 2014, and he’s on pace to surpass 1,000 yards for his 11th straight season to start a career, extending his own record. If Evans can keep his pace and go over 1,000 yards again, he’ll break the tie with Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss and take sole possession of second place in 1,000-yard seasons. His numbers look like he’s having a down year, but he has missed extended time with a hamstring injury. Despite being hurt, Evans still leads the Buccaneers with 749 yards receiving and has nine scores, good for fourth in the league. Since his return from injury, Evans has settled back into being a top WR. In his last outing against the Chargers, Evans had his second 100-yard receiving game since coming back, setting season-highs in receptions (nine) and yards (158), to go along with two scores. Evans also had 118 yards and a score in a Week 13 win against the Carolina Panthers. There is no slowing down for Evans, who continues to excel, despite being 31 years old. He hit the ground running in his return from injury, and the Cowboys will have a tough time controlling the future Hall of Fame WR.
DeMarvion Overshown has surgery, improved timetable for return
Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images This is great to see. A little over a week since his major knee injury, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown has had surgery and will begin rehabilitation. After reports that Overshown could miss the entire 2025 season given the severity and long recovery period, the Dallas Cowboys have received a very positive update which could mean their rising defensive star returns sooner than expected. In Week 14, against the Bengals on Monday Night Football, Overshown tore multiple knee ligaments when his right leg was trapped underneath a falling Cincinnati offensive lineman. It ended a breakout season for the second-year stud, who was emerging as Dallas’ second-best defensive player behind Micah Parsons. The loss was especially crushing after Overshown missed his entire rookie season with an ACL injury to his left knee. With this latest injury happening in December and demanding a long rehab period, it was projected that Overshown may not return until 2026. But following this week’s surgery and closer examination, the prognosis has been improved to perhaps a mid-season return in 2025. Sources: #Cowboys standout LB DeMarvion Overshown underwent successful knee surgery with Dr. ElAttrache, and there’s hope he could return by mid-to-late next season — a far more optimistic timeline than initially expected after the diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/5WOe3d39OH — Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 18, 2024 With two years left on his rookie contract, Overshown will still be with the Cowboys whether he returns next season or after. But given their self-proclaimed salary cap concerns and having to re-sign Parsons soon, Dallas needs all of the cheap starters it can get. They especially need guys like Overshown; a former third-round pick who performs like he should’ve been drafted on a Thursday night. Whenever he returns, DeMarvion Overshown can hopefully resume his trajectory to being one of the NFL’s elite linebackers. Thankfully, given this latest update, it sounds like his recovery may go faster and smoother than originally thought.
CeeDee Lamb is performing at elite level despite down Cowboys season
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images CeeDee Lamb continues to produce at a high level, even in spite of challenging circumstances for the Cowboys this season. It is not a secret that this season has been a challenge for the Dallas Cowboys. The front office spent quite literally the entire offseason dragging their feet on important extensions for CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, both deals that they ultimately wound up doing and theoretically paid more for because of their delays. Cowboys fans are well aware of how frugal the team was in free agency in how they did not sign many external players, in fact they did not sign many at all as they let a lot of their own talent walk. When it comes to the actual football, surely you have seen that the early part of the season was a disaster for the team and that injuries have exacerbated it. It reached the point that much of what they have done since mid-November (if not earlier) has felt meaningless relative to the overall actual goal. In spite of all of this, the Cowboys have seen some tremendous performances from two of their most important cornerstones in Micah Parsons and the aforementioned CeeDee Lamb. Parsons is on his way to his own extension conversations, the Cowboys are already all over the place with how they are speaking about him as an overall brain trust, but the latter is turning in one of his finest campaigns even amid all of the chaos. CeeDee Lamb is having one of his best individual seasons to date Part of the reason you pay players like CeeDee Lamb is because you expect them to elevate things around them. Be the rising tide that lifts the other boats. In the game of football an individual player can only do so much, but there is no question that Lamb is trying his best to achieve the challenge at hand. We are at a point now where Lamb has had to operate in six full games without his franchise quarterback throwing him passes, something that clearly impacts his abilities as a wide receiver, and if you looked at his statistics you would have no idea that this was the case. Here are the first 14 games of each season of Lamb’s career: Stathead It goes without saying that last season – the greatest statistical season that any Cowboys wide receiver has ever had – was always going to be difficult to match for Lamb, so that he isn’t there is not exactly shocking. But consider that Lamb’s yardage output these days is higher to date than any season before save for 2023. He has matched the touchdown total from the non-2023 years as well to this point on the season. He has significantly more receptions than his previous high if we exclude 2023 once more. You pay players like Lamb for them to not skip a beat when the chaos is encircling them the way that it has engulfed him. He is delivering in every sense that he can and should be in consideration for individual honors like a Pro Bowl nod or All-Pro recognition. Obviously, Cooper Rush deserves some credit here for being able to help put Lamb in positions to succeed over the last six games. Mike McCarthy is also due some props, but it seems like nobody on earth is willing to say that Mike McCarthy deserves even a high five for his efforts with this team. Kudos to Lamb for continuing to not only succeed, but to do so at as high of a level as he ever has. Seeing that level of fight through what this season has been is a sign of hope for the future.
Micah Parsons noise likely to dominate Cowboys offseason coverage
Micah Parsons noise likely to dominate Cowboys offseason coverage reidhanson Raise your hand if you loved the constant media coverage last offseason about Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb’s unresolved contract extensions. Anyone? Anyone? Not even a little? Aside from the national media, who live off ratings, and Cowboys front office, who lives off attention, it’s safe to say hardly anyone in the general public enjoyed the absurd and unrelenting conversation surrounding Prescott and Lamb’s unresolved contract situations last offseason. Re-signing Prescott and Lamb basically went without saying. Both players were cornerstone pieces executing at peak levels. The players themselves had interest in staying in Dallas, the Cowboys had sincere desire to bring them back, the team had cap room, and the market had been clearly set. Re-signing was a forgone conclusion, yet the media couldn’t stop speculating about their possible departure because big names pull big attention. With so many alterative storylines available to discuss, it was maddening for Cowboys fans and non-Cowboys fans alike to be inundated with constant talk about a possible divorce between these players and their team. This year it seems the greater NFL media is at it again, but this time they have their sights set on Micah Parsons. Parsons, the Cowboys superstar pass rusher, is entering the last year of his rookie deal in 2025. He’s eligible to sign an extension and when he does, he’s likely to reset the market as the top defensive player in the NFL. At age 25 and playing at the peak of his profession, every team in the NFL would love to have someone like Parsons. And with constant talk of “pie” and free agent penny pinching, Stephen Jones has made the Cowboys an easy target for a national media thirsty for tantalizing Cowboys headlines. Now after recent comments regarding another frugal offseason in 2025, the media has already spun dozens of Parsons trade stories. While Jones’ statements at the time and subsequent statements thereafter have specifically shot down such a blockbuster transaction, the damage has been done, and the clickbait playbook has been released. It seems the only thing that will get this genie back in the bottle is a new contract, and based on the Cowboys history of negotiations, that won’t happen until the 11th hour. That means Cowboys fans can expect at least eight months of trade speculation, eight months of public bickering between Parsons’ camp and the Cowboys front office, eight months of coverage that could be going to something interesting. Not that a Parsons trade wouldn’t be interesting, just that trading arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL isn’t a realistic possibility right now. While he can be re-signed at any point, he’s under contract for another full season. After that the Cowboys have the ability to keep him for one year, if not two years, under the franchise tag. That would take him all the way to 2028. “We love Micah,” Stephen Jones said to address the developing media storm. “I can’t imagine a scenario where he’s not wearing the star on his helmet.” As if the team needed a reminder of what Parsons brings to the table, they just got it this season. After missing four weeks earlier in the year, Parsons returned in Week 10 and has been a force ever since. Since his return the Cowboys have been first in sacks, first in pressures, and second in pass rush win rate. Over the last four weeks with Parsons, the Cowboys have posted the fifth best defense in the NFL and with that an affirming 3-1 record. His impact is profound, and the Cowboys know it. He also brings star power and all the marketability that comes with that. That’s something everyone can agree the Cowboys have a keen eye for and value greatly. Because they just can’t get enough of the Cowboys, the national media is almost guaranteed to latch onto the Parsons trade conversation and not let go until it’s finally put to bed with a new contract. Buckle up. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2024 NFL Week 16
Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2024 NFL Week 16 Keep track of everything related to Cowboys vs. Buccaneers in NFL Week 16 as Dallas hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday night. Contributors: RJ Ochoa and David Halprin The Dallas Cowboys will be back in action at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night. and as the Sunday Night Football contest they will serve as the final act of a weekend full of football. The weekend will get started with a Thursday night game per usual, but Friday night will feature the College Football Playoff kicking off. This will ripple into Saturday, a day that’ll also feature two NFL games, and obviously the Sunday slate will take place before the Cowboys host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Needless to say, the Cowboys will have a lot to live up to! Such is sort of the case for the football part of things as well what with the Cowboys having won three of their last four games. That is not a perfect record obviously, something the Buccaneers do have in their own last four contests played. If Dallas is going to be successful they are going to have to continue to see elite performances from the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons and Rico Dowdle. Cooper Rush has done a fantastic job of keeping the ship steady as the other players shine and as of late players like Marist Liufau are also stepping up to help shoulder the load. The Buccaneers have talented players of their own though and are led by Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans from a passing standpoint. Rachaad White and Bucky Irving are keeping the ground game respectable as well. Needless to say, the Cowboys are going to have their hands full. Here’s our stream for everything you need to know about it all. We will update it throughout the week to include all relevant news regarding the game, injuries and everything else.
Cowboys news: Jerry Jones says Micah Parsons is at the center of the team’s future
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports The latest news around your Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones: Cowboys trading Micah Parsons ‘never been uttered’ – Todd Archer, ESPN The owner of the Dallas Cowboys was swift to shut down any conversation around Micah Parsons leaving via trade. Trading Parsons has been more media speculation than reality, according to Jones. “That’s never been uttered in this organization that we don’t have a future with Micah Parsons,” Jones told the team’s flagship network. In an NFL.com story Sunday, executive vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys would have to examine the wisdom of having such a top-heavy roster when it comes to the high-priced salaries after paying Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb this year. “Obviously we’re totally all-in on Dak and CeeDee,” Stephen Jones told NFL.com, “but after that, then you still shape things, including Micah. But Micah’s a great player. You don’t do well in this league letting guys like Micah, usually, leave the house.” After Sunday’s win against the Carolina Panthers, Parsons was asked about the Cowboys’ willingness to potentially trading him, which was not an accurate portrayal of the NFL.com story. “I understand how that business side goes. Listen, no hard feeling in this business,” Parsons said. “I’m here and I ain’t anywhere else. Obviously, I’ve stated how I wanted to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side. And I put in a lot of work. I play too hard so obviously if the sides can’t agree to those type of things, it happens like that. But I’m just happy to be here and I’m just going to keep fighting hard while I’m here. And if I’m here for the next five or six years, I’m going to keep playing hard then too. Ain’t really nothing going to make a difference, Micah’s going to play hard.” McCarthy on Cowboys’ complementary football: ‘That’s the way we want to play’ – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Head coach Mike McCarthy is starting to see his team play with balance in all three phases of the game: offense, defense, and special teams. McCarthy went on to identify the other reasons the team is 3-1 in their last four outings, having turned things around from the five-game slide and despite a Mount Kilimanjaro of adversity. “Turp is magnificent, and special teams [with] the field position battle,” he explained. “… And a plus-three turnover ratio. Those are the basics that we want to play to. I think we had 20 more total plays than [the Panthers] did. I don’t know what the time of possession came out to be, but that’s the way we want to play. “We want to play balanced on offense, get our trips to the plate in the run game, and be smart in the passing game.” That was indeed the formula for success in Carolina, and could be going forward, seeing as Dowdle has proven himself one of the better backs in the NFL, Lamb setting records even in a down season and with a backup quarterback, and Mike Zimmer’s defense continually finding new guys to step up in the face of devastating injuries to impact starters. They’ve now gone from 3-7 to 6-8 on the season and, with three games left, the door isn’t mathematically closed on a possible playoff berth — though the odds are far, far from being in their favor. You won’t catch McCarthy looking that far ahead, though. He remains where his feet are. “I’m a realist, so I take a lot of pride in the commitment that we have to one another,” he said when asked about the playoffs, navigating the topic over to the never-say-die attitude within the locker room and coaching staff in Dallas. “It shows up from Monday through Saturday, and that is the hardest part. On Sundays, I mean, this is what we live for — to get out here and compete against other other NFL teams. NFL Week 15 grades: Cowboys get an ‘A’ for road win in Carolina – John Breech, CBSSports Easy to forget that the Cowboys were underdogs heading into the game. This was an all-around dominant performance by the Cowboys. Offensively, Rico Dowdle sliced and diced his way to his third-straight 100-yard performance. Dowdle carried the ball 25 times for 149 yards, and he’s suddenly looking like a player who could be a key piece of Dallas’ offense next season. CeeDee Lamb was also a huge weapon for the Cowboys with nine catches for 116 yards and a TD. As good as Lamb and Dowdle were, the defense might have been better. Micah Parsons recorded two of the Cowboys’ six sacks in a game where Dallas almost completely shut down Carolina’s offense. The Cowboys keep playing hard for head coach Mike McCarthy, which starts to make you wonder whether Jerry Jones will eventually decide to hang on to him. Ranking Top 5 candidates to potentially replace Cowboys’ HC Mike McCarthy – Brian Martin, Blogging the Boys If McCarthy were not to return to Dallas in 2025, here are a few coaches not named Ben Johnson to look out for. #4 – Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury Kingsbury’s time as the Arizona Cardinals head coach didn’t go as planned, but he’s now redeemed himself as the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator helping rookie QB Jayden Daniels find early success in the NFL. He is another young, innovative playcaller who could help the Cowboys offense become more productive. There are some rumors circulating already he could be a top candidate to replace McCarthy in Dallas. #3 – Former Tennessee Titans HC Mike Vrabel If Dallas was truly interested in Bill Belichick as their next head coach, Mike Varbel should be atop their list as well. He’s one of the most proven candidates out there for teams looking for their next head coach and his no-nonsense, disciplinarian type of coaching style could do wonders for the Cowboys undisciplined and penalty riddled ways the past few years.
Cowboys Headlines: Jerry nixes Parsons trade talk, backup QB dilemma coming, mock adds Micah 2.0
Jerry Jones: Cowboys trading Micah Parsons ‘never been uttered’ :: ESPN Link Jones stepped in Tuesday to try to tamp down rumblings that the Cowboys might consider trading Parsons to ease things financially. “That’s never been uttered in this organization, that we don’t have a future with Micah Parsons,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan, suggesting that media speculation twisted comments made by his son Stephen. Parsons is signed through 2025. The Cowboys exercised a fifth-year option on his rookie deal worth a little more than $21 million for next season but could look to sign him to a long-term extension this offseason. Is Mike McCarthy saving his job with recent Cowboys wins? Jerry Jones continues to hint that :: Yahoo Sports Link A 6-8 record isn’t great, but considering the Cowboys were sitting at 3-7 just last month, the injury-decimated team may be doing enough down the home stretch to earn McCarthy a new contract. “I don’t know how you cannot say that his team has shown that they’ll handle adversity,” Jones said. They’ll have an uphill climb over the final three contests, but both McCarthy and Mike Zimmer are currently earning “high grades” from their boss. Cowboys’ defense suddenly becoming a top five NFL unit :: Cowboys Wire Link Despite a rough start to the season, Zimmer’s unit has rebounded nicely over the past four weeks and now ranks fifth in EPA/play. In particular has been a sharp improvement in run defense, climbing from 28th in success rate against all the way to ninth. Even more encouraging is that they’re doing it with several of their biggest stars missing. Cowboys will have major dilemma regarding soon-to-be free agent QB :: SI.com Link Cooper Rush has been solid in relief of Dak Prescott, but the veteran backup is set to become a free agent at season’s end. His last deal with Dallas was a two-year agreement worth $5 million. Rush’s stats over the latter half of this season suggest he could command a good deal more money- but likely from another team- in 2025. ‘Something we’ve got to work on’: Cowboys QB Cooper Rush near top of league in this one dubious stat :: Cowboys Wire Link Racking up two more on Sunday, Rush has now fumbled nine times since taking over at quarterback. That puts him in the same neighborhood as some of the league’s top passers- Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts. Except they all have twice as many snaps under their belts. Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer says he and Rush need to work on some fundamentals to get the loose-ball issue under control. McCarthy on Cowboys’ complementary football: ‘That’s the way we want to play’ :: The Mothership Link It’s mid-December, and the Cowboys may finally be hitting their stride. Mike McCarthy pointed to their plus-three turnover ratio against Carolina, winning the field position battle, 20 more offensive plays, and a solid edge in time of possession as indicators that the team is playing balanced. He acknowledged the team’s issues with penalties and ball security, but he knows that Dallas is, incredibly, not out of the postseason chase quite yet. Did the Cowboys O-line improve or are they just facing poorer defenses? :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys’ last four opponents rank 25th, 24th, 30th, and 31st respectively in EPA/rush. That may help explain the run game’s recent uptick, but remember that Dallas has also had to do some serious shuffling along the offensive line in that span. Overall, there have been 11 different combinations of linemen this season. Of the five that started on Sunday, only two were starters in Week 1 and there’s a good chance only one, Tyler Smith at LG, will be at his same starting position in 2025. Give them some credit for jelling as of late, but slap an asterisk on any talk of a permanent turnaround. Make no mistake, Dallas Cowboys’ culture hasn’t been the issue in otherwise lost season :: Dallas Morning News Link Just because the Cowboys are below .500 doesn’t mean the culture in the locker room is bad. And neither the uncertainty surrounding their coaches nor the 1% chance of making the playoffs has any bearing on the men still playing for pride. “We’re never going to quit,” said Tyler Smith. “We’re never going to lay down for anybody. That speaks to who we are, not only as individuals, but as men and as players.” Rico’s winning week continues with Christmastime giveaway :: Dallas Cowboys Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley leads Pro Bowl Games voting by fans :: NFL.com Link Barkley leads all fan voting with one week remaining; Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, and Jahmyr Gibbs round out the top five. The Cowboys currently have no offensive or defensive players leading the vote at their position. Brandon Aubrey is the NFC’s top-vote-getting kicker, though, and KaVontae Turpin leads the conference in return specialist votes. 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Latest first-round predictions entering Week 16 :: The 33rd Team Link Things worked out when the Cowboys used a first-round draft choice on a versatile linebacker named Micah Parsons who could also rush the passer. This mock exercise has them hoping lightning strikes twice as they select Georgia’s Jalon Walker with the 14th overall pick. Walker is a terrific linebacker with the strength and speed to be a third-down pass-rush threat. Given the Cowboys’ recent injuries at both linebacker and D-end, another play-anywhere pick might make a lot of sense. Cowboys’ Jerry Jones admits to eating raccoons and squirrels: ‘It’s not uncommon at all’ :: CBS Sports Link Riffing on the recent news that Panthers WR Xavier Legette dined on racoon for Thanksgiving, radio hosts from 105.3 The Fan asked the Cowboys owner about unusual menu items. “I’ve eaten a lot of raccoon,” Jones said. “Yes, the answer is yes. I’ve eaten it hunting, and I’ve actually had it served by my mom at the table away from hunting.” Jones also
Ranking Top 5 candidates to potentially replace Cowboys’ HC Mike McCarthy
Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images If the Cowboys move on from Mike McCarthy… who do you want to see be the team’s head coach? From the outside looking in it looks as if the final three games of the 2024 NFL regular-season could be Mike McCarthy’s last as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. At least, that’s what a lot of the fans around Cowboys Nation are hoping. That may or may not be the case though. Behind closed doors it doesn’t look as if a decision has been made about Mike McCarthy’s future in Dallas as of yet. Jerry Jones hasn’t outright confirmed McCarthy has a future with the Cowboys beyond this season, but they haven’t completely closed the door on the possibility either. With the door left ajar, there’s no way of really knowing right now what the Cowboys are thinking in regards to the head coach position beyond this season. That hasn’t stopped all the speculation as to what might happen. In just a few weeks time we should learn McCarthy’s fate and that may or may not lead to a new head coach search. Today, we thought we would share our top candidates we believe make the most sense to replace McCarthy as the Cowboys next head coach. This is a list of what we would like to see them do, not what we believe will happen. As such, opinions will likely vary as to how we have these coaches ranked, and rightfully so. Honorable Mention Colorado Buffaloes HC Deion Sanders Former New Orleans Saints HC Dennis Allen Houston Texans OC Bobby Slowik Miami Dolphins OC Frank Smith Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken Former New York Jets HC Robert Saleh Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore Denver Broncos DC Vance Joseph USC HC Lincoln Riley #5 – Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images Aaron Glenn already has ties to the Cowboys, playing two of his 15 seasons with the organization, and could be someone Jerry Jones targets to replace McCarthy. In a short time as the Lions DC he’s turned them from the 32nd ranked in defensive DVOA in 2020 to one of the best teams in DVOA in 2024. He is well-regarded as a leader of men and has proven he knows how to get the best out of his players. #4 – Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury Nine Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Kingsbury’s time as the Arizona Cardinals head coach didn’t go as planned, but he’s now redeemed himself as the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator helping rookie QB Jayden Daniels find early success in the NFL. He is another young, innovative playcaller who could help the Cowboys offense become more productive. There are some rumors circulating already he could be a top candidate to replace McCarthy in Dallas. #3 – Former Tennessee Titans HC Mike Vrabel Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images If Dallas was truly interested in Bill Belichick as their next head coach, Mike Varbel should be atop their list as well. He’s one of the most proven candidates out there for teams looking for their next head coach and his no-nonsense, disciplinarian type of coaching style could do wonders for the Cowboys undisciplined and penalty riddled ways the past few years. As a defensive-minded head coach, he could potentially help take Micah Parsons game to another level. #2 – Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images If Plan A (below) falls through, Joe Brady would be a nice consolation prize for the Cowboys. Under his tutelage, QB Joe Burrow excelled during their time together at LSU and now in the pros Brady continues to find success as an OC with the Buffalo Bills. They have been a Top 5 team in offensive DVOA in his three seasons as the play-caller for QB Josh Allen and could have similar success with Dak Prescott in Dallas. #1 – Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Johnson is expected to be the most highly sought after candidate for teams looking for their next head coach. His ingenuity and creative play-calling has not only turned the Detroit Lions offense into one of the better units in league, but also resurrected QB Jared Goff’s career. If the Cowboys want to get the best out of their highest-paid players, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, Johnson’s innovative offensive scheme would be a perfect fit for them.
Studs and Duds: Osa Odighizuwa’s in a groove, penalties setting the wrong mood
Since Dowdle’s illness caused him to miss the game against the San Francisco 49ers, he has been second in the league in rushing yards to MVP candidate Saquon Barkley. Dowdle has 392 yards over the last three games, the most since Ezekiel Elliott in 2018. Dowdle has been one of the most productive runners in the league since being used as the lead back. On Sunda he had a career-high in attempts (25) and yards (149), and continued to increase his per-attempt average, getting to six yards an attempt against the Panthers. He is only 120 yards from his first 1,000-yard season. He wasn’t just a good rusher versus Carolina. His blitz pick-up set up the game’s first score, Rush hitting Lamb for the 14-yard TD. Three more games of 100 yards and a few more touchdowns, and Dowdle could be looking at his first significant payday. The fans can only wonder what would have been if he got 15 or more attempts every game in 2024. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast.
Dallas Cowboys Draft: Cowboys currently hold 14th overall pick in NFL Draft
Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Cowboys are close to the middle of the pack when it comes to NFL Draft capital. We can all understand that the Dallas Cowboys are not going to tank their season. Players, coaches, staffers… nobody affiliated with the team is going to actively try to lose. Understanding that, the winning that they are doing is really impacting their future draft capital. As we have discussed as of late, the Cowboys have won three of their last four games. With that being the case they currently hold the 14th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Tankathon The Cowboys are the only team of the bottom 18 (aka the non-playoff groups) who can claim that they have won three of their last four. The teams near the top of the draft order are either fully committed to their own tank or are even worse than we think the Cowboys are this season. On the subject of playoffs, all three games remaining for Dallas are against teams currently projected to reach the postseason tournament. This means that Dallas can’t lose to a team and pick up double the ground on them in this particular race like they could have if they’d lost to the Carolina Panthers for example. For what it’s worth, the Cowboys are underdogs this week and likely will be for their final two games as well. If we assume that they finish the season with six wins then it is possible (pretty low odds, though) that they could squeak into the top 10, but just barely. We are looking at something around picks 13-16 in all likelihood as far as the first round is concerned.
