Cowboys flop and flouder, get run out the gym by Eagles, 41-7 K.D. Drummond Things started bad and got progressively worse for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Already eliminated from the playoffs and missing several key players, the 7-8 club traveled east to take on the division-leading Eagles in Week 17. The Eagles stood ready to claim the NFC East title with a victory, after being thwarted in a last-second loss to the Washington Commanders last week. And a victory they earned, in dominating fashion. Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson intercepted QB Cooper Rush on the opening drive of the game, returning it for a score. The Cowboys answered to tie things up, but the Eagles’ backup QBs and dominant defensive effort corralled a lackluster showing from the Cowboys, scoring the final 34 points of the 41-7 victory. Dallas turned the ball over four times and didn’t steal any possessions back as Rush once again was flummoxed by the Eagles’ defense. Rush is 9-5 as a career starter, with three of those defeats coming at the hands of Philadelphia, including two times this season. Playing without WR CeeDee Lamb, the passing offense wasn’t able to accomplish much, gaining just 168 yards through the air. RB Rico Dowdle was able to bounce back from a bad Week 16 and crossed the 100-yard threshold for the fourth time in five games, gaining 104 on the ground. The total allowed him to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, becoming the first UDFA in NFL history to accomplish the feat. His accomplishment was drowned out by the blowout and overshadowed by Saquon Barkley becoming just the eighth player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards on the ground in a season. Barkley rushed for 167 yards on the game and has a chance to break the all-time NFL record of 2,105 held by Eric Dickerson. Dickerson accomplished the feat in 16 games. Dallas will return to the field one last time in the 2024 season, in Week 18 when they host the Washington Commanders to close things out. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Dallas Cowboys highlights: Rico Dowdle reaches 1,000 yards rushing on 2024 season
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Rico Dowdle has officially rushed for 1,000 yards on the season. The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 season with an interesting approach to the running back position, one that many would argue did not exactly go well for them. In spite of the unorthodox approach, the Cowboys can still say that someone managed to run for 1,000 yards on the season. Rico Dowdle reached the mark on Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rico Dowdle is now officially the first UDFA for the #DallasCowboys to have 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. — Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) December 29, 2024 That Dowdle has reached 1,000 yards is incredible when you consider that he did not reach double-digit carries on the season until the fourth game of the year. In fact, Dowdle had single-digit carries in four of the first six games of the season and missed a game entirely due to illness. Notably, Dowdle hit 1,000 rushing yards in 16 games (not his 16th played as mentioned) and did not need the 17th that the NFL added a handful of years back. 2024 will be remembered in a lot of poor ways for the Cowboys, but this was a bright spot, especially considering that Dowdle was an undrafted free agent who had to battle through several injuries to stick around and have a shot with the Cowboys.
Cowboys vs Eagles 2024 Week 17 game day live discussion
Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The Cowboys take on the Eagles in Week 17. The Dallas Cowboys take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Enjoy! This is an open thread for game chat.
55-man Cowboys Roster and Inactives for Week 17 vs Eagles: Lamb latest to IR, elevations for OL, CB
The Dallas Cowboys return to the field on Sunday without anything but pride to play for. Eliminated from the playoffs, Mike McCarthy’s troops will continue to try to play for their head coach, and themselves, as future jobs are all on the line. On Saturday, Dallas moved WR CeeDee Lamb to IR, as well as cornerback Amani Oruwariye. Lamb is obviously a huge loss to Cooper Rush’s passing attack, one without many other premiere options, but fans shouldn’t sleep on the loss of Oruwariye. The young veteran was starting in place of Trevon Diggs, who moved to IR last week, and now things are really depleted in the Cowboys’ secondary. The club did activate Asim Richards, so hopefully the second-year OT can get some game experience as the front office evaluates what they have in hand before the offseason begins. The team added LB Darius Harris from the practice squad to the full roster, and elevated CB Troy Pride and OL Dakoda Shepley. Dallas made the following players inactive for the contest: CB Kemon Hall RB Deuce Vaughn OL T.J. Bass OL Matt Waletzko TE Princeton Fant DE Tyrus Wheat DT Justin Rogers Here’s a look at the 55-man roster. Quarterbacks (2) Nov 10, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Cooper Rush Trey Lance Running Backs (4) ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 12: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Rico Dowdle Ezekiel Elliott Hunter Luepke Deuce Vaughn Tight Ends (4) Dec 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) runs with the football against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Jake Ferguson Luke Schoonmaker Brevyn Spann-Ford Princeton Fant Wide Receivers (6) Oct 13, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) reacts during the second half against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Brandin Cooks Jalen Tolbert Kavontae Turpin Jalen Brooks Ryan Flournoy Jonathan Mingo Offensive Tackles (5) OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 30: Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton #60 of the Dallas Cowboys stretches during training camp on July 30, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Tyler Guyton Terence Steele Asim Richards Chuma Edoga Matt Waletzko Offensive Guards (3) October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyler Smith (73) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Tyler Smith Brock Hoffman TJ Bass Centers (2) OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 8: Defensive tackle Kobie Turner #91 of the Los Angeles Rams locks up with center Brock Hoffman #67 of the Dallas Cowboys during a skirmish between the two teams during joint practice at training camp on August 8, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Cooper Beebe Dakoda Shepley (elevation) Defensive Ends (5) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 17: Micah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) Micah Parsons Marshawn Kneeland Chauncey Golston Tyrus Wheat Carl Lawson Defensive Tackles (5) OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 30: Linebacker Micah Parsons #11 and defensive tackle Mazi Smith #58 of the Dallas Cowboys throw punches aa they jokingly spar prior to a training session on July 30, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Osa Odighizuwa Mazi Smith Linval Joseph Carlos Watkins Justin Rogers Linebackers (6) Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (35) wears a Guardian helmet cap during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Eric Kendricks Damone Clark Marist Liufau Buddy Johnson Nick Vigil Darius Harris Cornerbacks (5) Oct 2, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) celebrate after Diggs intercepts a pass against the Washington Commanders during the game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports DaRon Bland Jourdan Lewis Kemon Hall Andrew Booth Troy Pride (elevation) Safeties (4) OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 8: Running back Kyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes against safety Malik Hooker #28 and Donovan Wilson #6 of the Dallas Cowboys during joint practice at training camp on August 8, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Malik Hooker Donovan Wilson Israel Mukuamu Juanyeh Thomas Special Teams (4) INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 11: Brandon Aubrey #17 of the Dallas Cowboys watches his field goal with Bryan Anger #5, to take a 12-6 lead over the Los Angeles Rams, in a 13-12 Rams win during a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on August 11, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Brandon Aubrey Bryan Anger Trent Sieg CJ Goodwin
Cowboys Point/Counterpoint: There is still plenty left to play for in Dallas
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The conversations about tanking have been all over the place as of late. The Cowboys learned that they were officially eliminated from the playoffs just a few hours before kickoff against the Buccaneers this past week, and they came out with an inspiring performance that led to a win. A few days later, the team decided to shut down CeeDee Lamb for the final two games over his shoulder injury. At first blush, the move seems to be the first real admission from the Cowboys that their season is over and there’s no longer a “fight for the slim playoff hopes” mentality that Mike McCarthy and others had been preaching. But there haven’t been any similar moves, such as going to Trey Lance at quarterback. The Lamb injury decision makes sense, but the Cowboys don’t seem to be in full tank mode even now. Is there anything meaningful left to play for? Our own Tom Ryle and David Howman discuss: Tom: Let’s start with the players. There are three groups to consider, each with their own motivation to perform well. First are the ones entering free agency. Obviously they want to put a couple more games of good tape out there for prospective new employers, as well as to make a case for Dallas to bring them back. Mailing in a performance would have a negative impact on their attractiveness. Then there are the depth players who are still going to be under contract. With the new cycle of player acquisition about to start, they want to build a case to make it at least to training camp to continue their careers. Adding a bit to the résumé not only helps that, it could lead to a future job if they don’t make it through the cutdown. Finally, there are the veterans whose positions are secure. Some of them might be shut down going forward just as a precaution, but those that aren’t have an important motivator: Pride. They play the game to win, and hanging losses on a couple of division rivals would take some of the edge off a losing season. Of course, who sees the field and how much is not in their hands. That is on the staff, who has some decisions to make. David: I think it goes deeper than that. I won’t deny that these players are thinking about next year to some degree, but after that win over the Buccaneers I believe this team still feels they have something to prove. Mike McCarthy has probably locked up a contract extension at this point regardless of what happens these next two weeks. But we’ve seen some meaningful culture developments over the course of this trying season. Micah Parsons has blossomed into a leader on defense and CeeDee Lamb has become an iron man and reliable playmaker. The win over the Buccaneers showed how much pride these guys take in winning just for the sake of winning. To turn around and start playing young guys just for the sake of evaluating instead of trying to win would undermine all that positive momentum. The Lamb decision makes sense because of his injury, but I believe (and hope) the team keeps trying to win and play spoiler. Tom: I still think there is value to seeing what some of the down-roster players can bring to the table. Additionally, they need to be very, very cautious with the health of any of their established players. Don’t let pride get in the way of setting themselves up for next year. But I will concede that the coaching staff has their own motivation to win. McCarthy is not the only one who is coaching for his future. I believe that most of the staff are playing out their contracts. Just like the players, they are trying to prove they have value for the organization or for another. Robert Prince has a tall order to try and get as much out of the wide receivers as he can with Lamb’s absence, and with that group they have to find out what the depth players can contribute. Lunda Wells has a similar objective with the tight ends, especially if Jake Ferguson is a bit nicked up. There are similar situations on the defensive side of things with all the players who have been injured. The team has no choice but to find out what some of the backups are capable of, because they are going to have to see the field just to have enough players. We can agree that tanking is just not going to happen, and hopefully they will find out some good things. David: I’m not sure there’s much question left for this coaching staff, at least for the Joneses. McCarthy is almost definitely returning, and Jerry has all but said he and Zimmer are a package deal. There may be a couple coaches down the staff who shift around, but continuity at the top generally means continuity for the majority of the staff. And given what we’ve seen the last month or so, that’s a good thing. One thing that McCarthy has stressed the most since getting to Dallas, though, is the importance of winning divisional games. Curiously, this is one thing that’s remained strong for the Cowboys this year despite everything else falling apart. They’re 3-1 in the NFC East and have a chance to finish out 5-1 in the division, all while potentially dropping their rivals down the playoff seeding ladder. If we know this staff is coming back next year, then winning these next two games would be huge for their confidence heading into 2025. Being able to look back and say “We won 99% of our divisional games” in a lost year would signal just how close they are to reclaiming the NFC East. And since they’ll already be forced to play some younger guys, as you said, they might as well make the most of it with
Cowboys news: Rico Dowdle closing in on 1,000 rush yards
Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. Cowboys’ RB eyes milestone for first time in career – Mario Herrera Jr., Inside the Star Since joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, Rico Dowdle has worked hard. With another stellar performance, he could earn a significant accolade for the first time in his career. RB Rico Dowdle is looking to secure the first 1,000 yard rushing season of his career, and he needs just 97 yards to get there. Will Dowdle Get There? If we take a sample from the previous four games, Dowdle should have no problem reaching the 1,000 yard mark before the clock hits all zeroes in AT&T Stadium in week 18. I wouldn’t rule out it happening this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, but setting our sights on week 18 is more realistic. Dowdle currently averages just 64.5 yards per game, but that number is not indicative of his recent usage. He split carries exclusively with Ezekiel Elliott and sometimes Deuce Vaughn at the beginning of the season. It wasn’t until after QB Dak Prescott went down with injury that HC Mike McCarthy announced Dowdle would be the lead back and take the bulk of the carries. The Buccaneers did a good job of bottling up the Cowboys run game. Dowdle managed just 23 yards rushing on 13 carries with DT Vita Vea clogging up running lanes. Before the Bucs game, Dowdle matched a feat not reached since Emmitt Smith back in the late 1990s. Dowdle eclipsed the century mark in three consecutive games, averaging 131 yards per game to add his name to the Cowboys’ history books. Averaging just 48.5 yards rushing over the final two regular season games will make him the most recent player to accomplish that in a Cowboys uniform. Who Stands In His Way? Defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis might have something to say about Dowdle reaching the milestone against their defense. No team wants other players to break records against them, and it’s surely no different for the Philadelphia Eagles. How Cowboys’ Brock Hoffman has helped turn Rico Dowdle loose – Todd Archer, ESPN From one undrafted player to another, Brock Hoffman has helped unlock the Cowboys running game and Dowdle. Philadelphia Eagles fans are as rambunctious as they come, and while the Cowboys have already been eliminated from playoff contention before Sunday’s meeting (1 p.m. ET, Fox), the atmosphere should still be captivating. Brock Hoffman, the Cowboys’ right guard, will love it. Nobody talks more on the field than Hoffman. In hockey parlance, he is the Cowboys’ enforcer. In football lingo, he plays to the echo of the whistle. Two weeks ago against the Carolina Panthers, Hoffman, who moved to center because of Cooper Beebe’s absence due to a concussion, lost his voice in the fourth quarter. “Because he was making so many calls or talking s—, one of the two,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. The Cowboys’ offense found its identity when Hoffman replaced future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin, who underwent season-ending right ankle surgery, five games ago against the Washington Commanders. Running back Rico Dowdle finds himself 97 yards away from 1,000 on the season, mostly because of three straight 100-yard rushing games since Hoffman has started. Cooper Rushhas been sacked just six times in the past five games. It’s not all because of Hoffman, but teammates and coaches don’t dismiss what he has brought to the huddle. “Super consistent,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “His attitude and energy, what he brings to the workplace has just been on point since he’s been here. Super professional, so well-prepared. He’s got a connective personality, and he definitely deserves a lot of credit for the mindset and play style that he’s really pushed along up front.” Cornerback Jourdan Lewis called him a “force multiplier.” Schottenheimer said Hoffman has “in a lot of ways galvanized the way we play.” “He is not going to back down from anybody. His confidence in himself is extremely high,” Schottenheimer said. “He doesn’t look it himself, as a guy that’s undrafted. He’s been through the journey. Been in Cleveland, been here, been cut, been brought back. He’s now starting.” 3 Dallas Cowboys to start in fantasy football in Week 17 vs. Eagles – Ali Jawad, SI.com if you’re lucky to have made it this far, these Cowboys could carry you to a fantasy football championship Brandon Aubrey, K Kicker Brandon Aubrey has become “Aubrey-matic” when kicking from 50 plus yards out. Against Tampa last Sunday, the All-Pro went a perfect 4-4 including a pair of 58-yarders. Additionally, Aubrey set the NFL record for the most 50-plus yard field goals in a single season with 14, and he may still increase that total with two games remaining. Aubrey has consistently delivered double-digit fantasy scores, achieving this feat in eight games this season. His reliability makes him a must-start option, solidifying his position as one of the league’s most consistent kickers. Rico Dowdle, RB Running back Rico Dowdle’s three-game streak of 100-yard rushing performances came to an abrupt halt last Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran running back was held to just 23 yards on 13 carries, a significant drop-off from his recent outings. Despite this setback, Dowdle remains a key figure in the Cowboys’ offense having received 10 or more carries in eight consecutive games. He enters this week’s matchup against the Eagles needing only 97 yards to reach the 1,000-yard rushing milestone. However, achieving this feat will be challenging against a formidable Eagles run defense that ranks ninth in the NFL, allowing just 102.9 rushing yards per game, but surrendered 113 yards to the Commanders last Sunday. NFC East update: Cowboys to play big role in division outcome-Jess Haynie, Blogging the Boys Despite being out of the playoff picture, the Dallas Cowboys will have a say in how the NFC East is won. The Cowboys are headed to Philadelphia this Sunday and then return home for
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles live stream, TV channel, start time, odds | Week 17 2024
One of the top runners in the NFL will be featured when Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, December 29, 2024. The Cowboys rank 18th in points per game (21.6), but they’ve been worse on the other side of the ball, ranking third-worst in the NFL with 26.9 points allowed per contest. The Eagles rank eighth in points scored this season (26.8 points per game), but they’ve been playing really well on the other side of the ball, ranking fourth-best in the NFL with 18.9 points allowed per game. Watch Eagles vs. Cowboys on Fubo! Cowboys vs Eagles: live streaming info, TV channel & game time Game day: Sunday, December 29, 2024 Game time: 1 p.m. ET Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field TV Channel: FOX Live stream: Watch Redzone & other NFL content all season long on Fubo Cowboys vs Eagles betting lines NFL odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds updated Sunday at 5:39 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Spread Favorite: Eagles (-7.5) Moneyline: Eagles (-356), Cowboys (+282) Total: 38 points Watch Eagles vs. Cowboys on Fubo! Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Cowboys Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Cowboys vs Eagles: 3 reasons to love, and hate, the Week 17 opponent
The Dallas Cowboys will be playing for nothing more than pride as they travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. No matter the records, though, there are reasons to love and hate playing the Eagles. There’s always something on the line when these two rivals line up, pride. Despite the Cowboys’ tough season, beating the Eagles would make the end of the year surge even sweeter and there’s few places where it’s nicer for Jerry Jones’ team to win than in Philadelphia. As the saying goes, you can throw the records out when these two teams get together. Here are three reasons to love, and hate (besides Nick Sirianni’s face), the Cowboys’ matchup with the Eagles in Week 17. Love: Possibly facing a backup QB Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports The Eagles have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season, but they might not look as formidable if starting quarterback Jalen Hurts doesn’t play. The signal caller is still in concussion protocol and has yet to practice after being removed in the first quarter of last week’s loss. That’s not good news for the Eagles, who need to win if they want to clinch the NFC East title. Backup QB Kenny Pickett is a significant downgrade from Hurts and is dealing with an injury of his own with a rib issue. If Pickett were to get reinjured and Hurts can’t play, second-year QB Tanner McKee, who’s never taken an NFL snap would be next in line to play. The Cowboys aren’t celebrating injuries, but they will love facing a second-string QB rather than a Pro Bowl player. Hate: Saquon Barkley Bill Streicher-Imagn Images They might not have their starting QB, but the Eagles’ offense will still have MVP candidate Saquon Barkley running the ball behind one of the league’s best run blocking units. Barkley leads the NFL in rushing and has been on a tear in recent weeks. Barkley has eight 100+ yard games in his last 10 outings, which includes 10 touchdowns. Three of Barkley’s last five scores have also come from over 68 yards out, so if he finds open space, he’s gone. The veteran RB is not only heading towards surpassing 2,000 yards on the ground, he’s also on pace to break the NFL’s single season rushing record. Mike Zimmer’s defense has been better against the run recently, but Barkley represents a different challenge. With Hurts likely out, the Eagles will lean on their running game with Barkley, not a good sign for one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. Love: Pressuring the QB Grant Halverson/Getty Images The Eagles have an explosive offense, but their offensive line doesn’t pass protect as well as they run block. With 43 sacks allowed this year, the Eagles rank ninth in the NFL, and Hurts has been taken down 38 times, which ties a career high. Some of those sacks are on Hurts, but Pickett was sacked three times last week in relief and the offensive line gave up seven sacks in the two previous games. The Cowboys have the most sacks in the league since Micah Parsons’ return and they’ll love being able to attack a vulnerable pass blocking team. Hate: Elite WR tandem Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports No matter who’s throwing them the ball, the Eagles have one of the top wide receiver duos in the game with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Despite missing a few games, Brown has already surpassed 1,000 yards on the season and is a big play waiting to happen. In the last two games Brown has been heating up, he’s gotten his highest target shares on the season, and he’s responded with 207 yards and two scores. Smith has also missed time this year, but he’s still a dangerous weapon in the passing game, ranking second on the team in receptions (62), and yards (713), while also being tied with Brown in touchdowns with six. They won’t be as potent a threat if Hurts doesn’t play, but it’s a top-notch tandem to hate at WR. The Cowboys will have a tough time shutting down the duo. Love: Opportunity to pay spoiler Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys aren’t playing for a playoff spot, but they do have the ability to spoil the Eagles’ shot at clinching the NFC East. If Mike McCarthy’s team can somehow pull off the upset, and the Washington Commanders win on Sunday night, the Eagles will have to play Week 18 to win the division. The Commanders are two games back in the race to capture the division, if they win out, and the Eagles lose out, it would be Philadelphia who gets a wild card berth and must go on the road for the playoffs. The first step in that process is for the Cowboys to beat the Eagles in their own building, spoiling the celebration, and extend the regular season so the Eagles don’t get to rest players heading into the final week. Dallas should relish the chance at playing spoiler and forcing the Eagles to expend more effort, possibly costing them the NFC East title. Hate: Strong defense Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports It won’t be fun for an offense missing their best player to be going up against a strong defense like the Eagles. Without WR CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys don’t have a threat in the passing game and Philadelphia’s run defense is inside the top 10, giving up less than 103 yards a game on the ground. That’s a tough combination for the Cowboys to overcome against a defense that has nine players making contributions who were drafted in the first three rounds. The Eagles rank ninth in the league in sacks and have forced 21 turnovers this season while allowing under 19 points a game. Pass rusher Josh Sweat leads the team with eight sacks, as safeties Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson have four interceptions apiece to top the defense. Meanwhile, defensive tackles Jalen Carter and
Cowboys should give Jalen Tolbert WR1 treatment in final 2 games
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images The last two games should feature plenty of Jalen Tolbert. The Cowboys have made it clear that they’re playing to win for the rest of 2024. But that didn’t stop them from shutting WR CeeDee Lamb down for the season with a shoulder injury. Though Brandin Cooks is the next man up on the depth chart, Dallas would be wise to use its final two games to see how Jalen Tolbert would respond to heavy targets in a featured offensive role. While motivated to get two more victories and finish the season above .500, Dallas’ most important work will come this offseason. Wide receiver is one position that will command attention. Cooks will be a free agent and turns 32 next September, plus hasn’t been a high producer in Mike McCarthy’s offense. Even if change does come on the coaching side, Cooks just isn’t that attractive for re-signing in general. That leaves Tolbert as the leading in-house candidate to join Lamb in the starting lineup. Over three years we’ve seen Tolbert make some amazing catches, including just last week against the Buccaneers, but he’s never had a huge individual game that inspires confidence about an increased workload. His career-best performance came last October against the Steelers; seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Dallas has had some other former third-round receivers like Terrance Williams and Michael Gallup. They could deliver highlight-reel catches, even in clutch moments, but never fully established themselves as clear number-two receivers. Williams had to fight Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and Cole Beasley for targets during his time, while Gallup became the third wheel after Lamb was drafted. That said, he did have a strong 2019 season with 1,107 yards and six touchdowns as Amari Cooper’s wingman. Obviously, Tolbert still has a long way to go to even match those players’ contributions. After 15 games he’s at just 482 receiving yards, albeit with six touchdowns. But with 42 catches on just 69 targets, he’s showing solid efficiency. It’s really a matter of getting more looks now and seeing how he could perform as a key offensive cog, and the Cowboys have an opportunity to put that to the test in these final games of 2024. With so many positions to address in the upcoming offseason, Dallas has to trust some of its returning talent to step up in 2025. That’s not to say they shouldn’t strike at WR if an opportunity arises, but there are only so many draft picks to use and so much of the salary cap that the front office is willing to spend. Tolbert, a Day 2 pick entering the final year of his rookie deal, is the kind of player you’d hope would fill one of those gaps. These last two games give the Cowboys a chance to have Tolbert run primary WR routes and receive a high volume of targets. Granted, Cooper Rush will be the one throwing the ball so you have to factor that into the evaluation. But it’s still a great opportunity to inspire confidence, both for Tolbert himself and for the organization as it strategizes for roster building going forward. Again, this isn’t to say that Jalen Tolbert should be WR2 in 2025. But in the high-minded attempt to win their remaining games, the Cowboys shouldn’t squander all opportunities to evaluate talent. Let’s see what Tolbert can do as a featured part of the offense and get a better sense of what he really offers as a future asset.
Cowboys hot topic: Jourdan Lewis continues being a steady hand in Dallas
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Jourdan Lewis has had such a remarkable season. The Dallas Cowboys didn’t bring back a lot of their in-house free agents before the 2024 season. One that did return on a one-year deal was cornerback Jourdan Lewis. For the second straight year, the Cowboys have been hit with devastating injuries at the cornerback spot with Trevon Diggs tearing his ACL early in 2023 and being shut down with another new injury this season. Plus, DaRon Bland missed 10 games this season with a stress fracture in his foot. The one constant at cornerback for Dallas the last two years has been Lewis. Last season, while playing in 16 games with eight starts, Lewis had 52 tackles, an interception, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles (career high), and two fumble recoveries. He has shown this year that Dallas was smart in bringing him back with 61 tackles (tied career high), an interception, seven pass breakups (most since 2021), a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Lewis hasn’t just been productive. He’s been one of the best defenders for the Cowboys all season, and he’s battled neck and elbow injuries along the way while doing so. This isn’t anything new for Lewis when looking at his career. He came out of the gate with a productive rookie campaign as he amassed 54 tackles, an interception, and 10 pass breakups. However, when the Cowboys brought in Kris Richard to be the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, Lewis was an afterthought because he liked bigger cornerbacks. A year later, Lewis was back to making plays and ended up with 51 tackles, two interceptions, and four sacks in Rod Marinelli’s last year as coordinator. The Cowboys were terrible defensively in 2020 under Mike Nolan. Despite this, Lewis was one of the bright spots with 59 tackles and two sacks. The Dan Quinn era began the next season and Lewis was a consistent presence with what could be his best season to date – 61 tackles, three interceptions (career high), 11 pass breakups (career high), 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. The only time Lewis wasn’t consistently productive during Quinn’s time in Dallas was in 2022 when he missed 11 games due to a Lisfranc injury. In fact, that injury and the aforementioned Richard not feeling like he could be effective have been the only times that Lewis hasn’t been a steady presence during his career. Lewis plays in the slot, which is an extremely difficult position to play because they’re on an island a lot of the time. Lewis has remained a pest for slot receivers over the past eight seasons due to his physical and scrappy nature and his ball-hawking ability. Another aspect that makes Lewis such a valuable piece is that his willing to provide support in the run game. He’s an all-around player, and he’s also shown that he can produce no matter who the coordinator is or what the scheme requires. Dallas will have its streak of three consecutive playoff appearances snapped this year. However, as far as Lewis goes, he isn’t trying to hear anything about giving up or tanking when it comes to the 2024 season, as he recently explained after the Cowboys defeated the Tampa Buccaneers. This is football. This is what I love to do. That’s loser talk. I don’t get into that. I wanna win no matter the circumstances. Whenever I put my cleats on, I’m gonna do my job. I wanna go out there and win. As far as tanking, or whatever they call it, I don’t indulge in that. I just love football. It don’t matter what contract year it is — I’m going out there to dominate. Lewis is up for another deal in 2025. Not only is Lewis still productive, but he’s reliable, having played in at least 15 games in seven of his eight seasons in the NFL. The Cowboys should certainly bring him back to the team and keep the cornerback position stocked with proven players.