Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images The latest and greatest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. Mike McCarthy says sitting CeeDee Lamb is right decision for the Cowboys – David Moore, Dallas Morning News The Cowboys certainly made the right decision here. The Cowboys have made the decision to shut CeeDee Lamb down for the final two games of the season. Mike McCarthy visited with his star receiver on Friday. “He’s crushed that he’s not playing these last two games,” the Cowboys head coach said. “It shows you the kind of competitor he is. “We all know what he means to our team and especially what he means to our offense. But this is the right decision for him, and it’s the right decision for the Dallas Cowboys.” Lamb finishes the season with 101 catches for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns to become the first receiver in franchise history to crack the 1,000-yard barrier in four of his first five seasons. He injured the AC joint in his shoulder in the loss to Atlanta on Nov. 3 and has played with the injury since. Sunday’s game will end a streak of 55 consecutive starts for Lamb. “I can’t say enough about his resiliency and toughness,” McCarthy said. “Just really, look at the Tampa Bay game. It was on full display. “He’s such a dynamic playmaker. He gives you the opportunity to be creative and get him the football. He’s any quarterback’s best friend.” Cowboys injury report: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts ruled out for game – LP Cruz, Blogging The Boys Dallas will be down a few players in Philadelphia. #Cowboys final injury report vs. Eagles. Depth issue at CB in Week 17: pic.twitter.com/8IPweLBm62 — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 27, 2024 The Cowboys have ruled multiple players out. The team announced that CeeDee Lamb is out for the last two games with a shoulder injury. Amani Oruwariye (foot) was downgraded today to a DNP and ruled out of Sunday’s game. Donovan Wilson (knee) was downgraded yesterday but shook off a DNP Thursday for a limited tag today and is listed as questionable. Chuma Edoga (toe) was upgraded to limited and is also listed questionable. Also listed as questionable are receivers Jalen Brooks (knee) and Jalen Tolbert (finger). Eric Kendricks (calf) returned to practice yesterday after missing last week’s game. He was limited today and has been listed as questionable to play. Guard T.J. Bass is doubtful (thigh). Stargazing: Cowboys to watch against the Eagles – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com If the Cowboys want to upset the Eagles, these players will play a key factor. Micah Parsons, LB He had some … colorful … words to describe his level of hate for the Eagles and their fans, speaking on the rivalry a few days ago, and the blowback from Philly is only going to fuel Parsons that much more as he heads back home to Eastern Pennsylvania this weekend. It is no secret he also wants to play spoiler to their hopes of securing the No. 1 seed, all while aiming for his fourth consecutive double-digit sack season, being just one half-sack away from getting it. Parsons will then become only the fifth player in NFL history to have achieved that feat, joining the likes of Reggie White and Dwight Freeney in that conversation, and having notched his 50th career sack to add to that rarefied air, the All-Pro said he’s only halfway to his goal of 100 sacks and wants more more more. Enter an Eagles team he absolutely loathes. Jake Ferguson, TE Jason Witten, ever heard of him? Well, only Ferguson has proven worthy as a successor in the years that have followed the retirement of The Great One. It’s been a down season for the Pro Bowler, agreed, but not due to lack of skill or effort — instead due to a quarterback change due to injury and his own round of injuries that have required him to battle in ways he hasn’t had to prior to 2024 (i.e., MCL and concussion). Still, if Ferguson can take the Eagles’ defense to the woodshed on Sunday, or even to the back porch, and gain at least 36 receiving yards, he’ll join Witten as the only other tight end in Cowboys’ history with 50-plus receptions and 500-plus receiving yards in their first three NFL seasons, and that is kind of a big deal. Mike McCarthy wants Dallas Cowboys to ‘cut it loose’ Sunday vs Eagles – Tyler Reed, Sports Illustrated Dallas has nothing to play for. So, they might as well go all out. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then you know the Dallas Cowboys have just two more games this season. Yes, the team has been eliminated from postseason play. However, that doesn’t mean the team should lay down for the rest of the 2024 campaign. For head coach Mike McCarthy, giving up is not an option. On Friday, when speaking with the media about the Cowboys’ upcoming game with the Philadelphia Eagles, McCarthy shared how he has motivated his team for the NFC East showdown. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s message to the team: “Cut it loose. We’re going in there to win. This is what you live for. This is what you work for. It’s a division game. It’s a hostile environment. I just want these guys to play with a ton of confidence and don’t look back.” — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 27, 2024 In Mike Zimmer’s first year back in Dallas, Cowboys DC has done more with less – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News Zimmer has made the best with what he was given in 2024. FRISCO — It’s a daily conversation between Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and the medical staff. Who’s available to play? The results impact so much of the on-the-field product, and that’s where defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer takes over. Zimmer has had to juggle a defense that’s lost four defensive ends, two linebackers, and four cornerbacks at

Peter Casey-Imagn Images As the season winds down it is clear that the Cowboys are less desired by top broadcast crews than they were a season ago. The Dallas Cowboys have been very bad this season. While the Cowboys have turned things around as of late with four wins in their last five contests, the ultimate reality is that the 2024 season was a terrible one for them. Ending (seemingly) on a high is nice, but the lowest point was among the most treacherous ever experienced in franchise history. Rewinding the clock back to the start of the 2024 campaign runs in lockstep with that as the Cowboys were notoriously chill during free agency and dragged their feet for the most important extensions that they needed to get done relative to their own team. Consider that they didn’t even get one done with Micah Parsons despite him being eligible. This is all relevant for this discussion because as we are in the penultimate week of the regular season, comparing the current moment of the Cowboys to that of last year, it seems a bit obvious that they were a bit less desired by more than just their own fans. Top television broadcasts did not seem to want the Cowboys as much this season Something we kept track of last season was how often the Cowboys were featured on FOX’s America’s Game of the Week broadcast. This is the top FOX broadcast in a given week and the one that is called by their top crew. At the time it was Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi. All told that crew called nine Cowboys games last season, including the playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys were far and away the team who FOX, the network who carries the bulk of big NFC games, had across last season. But FOX is just one network. While they have a number one crew (Tom Brady replaced Greg Olsen on it this year) so do CBS, NBC, ESPN and Amazon Prime. Obviously NBC and Prime only do one game a week and ESPN generally only has one, but nevertheless you get the point. Across all of the 2023 season, a campaign in which the Cowboys experienced a lot of team and individual success, Dallas had a game called by a number one crew 17 of 18 times. 2023 Dallas Cowboys games called by the top broadcast crew of a specific network Week 1: NBC Week 2: CBS Week 3: N/A Week 4: FOX Week 5: NBC Week 6: ESPN Week 7: BYE Week 8: FOX Week 9: FOX Week 10: FOX Week 11: FOX Week 12: CBS Week 13: Amazon Week 14: NBC Week 15: FOX Week 16: FOX Week 17: ESPN Week 18: FOX Wild Card Round: FOX None of this is meant to sound like a flex or a brag. The Dallas Cowboys are the Dallas Cowboys so a lot of their magnitude has to do with being themselves. They are the most valuable professional sports franchise in the world and someone who everyone wants a piece of. We did not include Netflix in the list of broadcast options, but they obviously just had two Christmas Day games and while the Cowboys were not a part of either they do have a brand new series coming out on the service in 2025. As we look at this season, while the Cowboys have been incredibly popular they have not been as in-demand by top broadcast crews as they were last season. We noted how we are in the penultimate game of the season and Dallas has already had a non-number one crew four times, including this week against the Philadelphia Eagles. 2024 Dallas Cowboys games called by the top broadcast crew of a specific network Week 1: FOX Week 2: FOX Week 3: FOX Week 4: Amazon Prime Week 5: NBC Week 6: FOX Week 7: BYE Week 8: NBC Week 9: N/A Week 10: CBS Week 11: ESPN Week 12: N/A Week 13: FOX Week 14: ESPN Week 15: N/A Week 16: NBC Week 17: N/A It feels very safe to assume that Dallas will not draw a top network’s crew in Week 18 which will mean that 5 of their 17 games this season are called by at best a secondary crews. That is five compared to just a single instance last year. Perhaps the best way to really prove the point here is to circle back to our discussion about FOX. You see, FOX and CBS are the only networks that have multiple crews although as noted we sometimes get a second ESPN crew for Monday night doubleheaders. During last year’s run through the holidays Greg Olsen (then the color analyst for FOX’s top crew) even joked about how their crew at large was the unofficial broadcast of the Dallas Cowboys. This was true because it made continual sense for FOX to choose to send that crew to work Cowboys games because the Cowboys were playing so well. The last time this season in which Dallas had FOX’s top crew (which again this year has Tom Brady in for Olsen) was on Thanksgiving Day against the New York Giants. While this counts in a technical sense, FOX and CBS each have one Thanksgiving game every year and alternate between Dallas and Detroit. There is no choosing to send a crew. It’s just a matter of what year it is and whether they are working the Cowboys or Lions game. This means that the last time FOX chose to send their number one crew to work a Cowboys game was back in Week 6 when Dallas hosted the Detroit Lions. You will recall that debacle as the one that unfolded in front of Jerry Jones on his birthday. Look at the schedule in the image we have presented here. You can see the broadcast partners of each game and while there are several FOX logos,

Madden believes the Dallas Cowboys will fall to the Philadelphia Eagles this week. The Dallas Cowboys have surprised a number of people thanks to their recent form. When they were 3-7, the number of people who anticipated them winning four of their next five games was quite small. Sometimes that is just the way that these things tend to go. Football can be unpredictable and author incredible moments like the DaRon Bland one that sealed the latest Cowboys victory against Tampa Bay. Most people, oddsmakers included, thought that Tampa Bay would outlast Dallas, but the unpredictable happened and here we are. A win this week would only boost the Cowboys’ morale as they were eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before the Buccaneers game even kicked off. This week’s opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, has a little to play for as they certainly still need to clinch the NFC East, but it feels like an inevitability that they will. What’s more is that the Eagles are all but out of contention for the top seed in the conference. While we can understand the context and emotion involved. artificial intelligence cannot which is why we turn to it for a simulation on what the game could ultimately yield. As we always do we asked Madden 25 how this game will go and it believes the Cowboys will ultimately lose to their division rivals. You can watch the entire simulation below. Please consider that at the time that we ran this simulation it was unknown who would be the Eagles quarterback for the matchup. We went with Jalen Hurts, but it obviously goes without saying that Kenny Pickett or someone else would significantly change the calculus. Also the simulation was run before news of CeeDee Lamb being shut down for the season. For what it’s worth, this was the fourth week in a row that Madden predicted the Cowboys to lose. Obviously it was wrong ahead of the Tampa and Carolina Panthers games. Week 1 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to Cleveland Browns, 18-17 Week 1 In Actuality: Dallas Cowboys beat Cleveland Browns, 33-17 Week 2 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to New Orleans Saints, 36-29 Week 2 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys lose to New Orleans Saints, 44-10 Week 3 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to Baltimore Ravens, 21-14 Week 3 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys lose to Baltimore Ravens, 28-25 Week 4 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to New York Giants, 28-21 Week 4 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys beat New York Giants, 20-15 Week 5 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys beat Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-14 Week 5 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys beat Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-17 Week 6 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to Detroit Lions, 38-31” Week 6 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys lose to Detroit Lions, 47-9 Week 8 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys beat San Francisco 49ers, 22-7 Week 8 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys lose to San Francisco 49ers, 30-24 Week 9 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys beat Atlanta Falcons, 13-10 Week 9 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys lose to Atlanta Falcons, 27-21 Week 10 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to Philadelphia Eagles, 21-17 Week 10 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys lose to Philadelphia Eagles, 34-6 Week 11 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys beat Houston Texans, 24-17 Week 11 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys lose to Houston Texans, 34-10 Week 12 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys beat Washington Commanders, 24-21 Week 12 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys beat Washington Commanders, 34-26 Week 13 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys beat New York Giants, 48-14 Week 13 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys beat New York Giants, 27-20 Week 14 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to Cincinnati Bengals, 36-33 Week 14 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys lose to Cincinnati Bengals, 27-20 Week 15 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to Carolina Panthers, 31-17 Week 15 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys beat Carolina Panthers, 30-14 Week 16 Madden Prediction: Dallas Cowboys lose to Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 21-19 Week 16 in Actuality: Dallas Cowboys beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26-24 Sunday is the penultimate game of the season for the Dallas Cowboys which means that soon enough our only NFL action will be watching other teams duke it out in the postseason. Hopefully the Cowboys can give us enough good times between now and then to make the offseason not last so long.

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Taking one last look at the Eagles’ side of things. Eagles Rule Out Jalen Hurts, But The Bigger Surprise Is On Defense – Ed Kracz, Sports Illustrated Another star besides the quarterback may be missing for the Eagles on Sunday. PHILADELPHIA – It was trending this way all week, that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts would not play in Sunday’s Week 17 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, and it was made official on Friday when the team released its injury report – Hurts is out with a concussion. As far as surprises go, this wasn’t exactly Christmas morning. The surprise wasn’t that Kenny Pickett will get his first start as an Eagle, but that linebacker Nakobe Dean is listed as doubtful for Sunday. Perhaps Dean’s health was overlooked a bit in the swirl of attention around Hurts, but the linebacker who was having a Pro Bowl-worthy season is looking like a no-go with an abdomen injury. Also ruled out for the Eagles were receiver/punt returner Britain Covey (neck) and rookie running back Will Shipley (concussion). Defensive end Bryce Huff is listed as questionable after having his 21-day window to return from injured reserve to active duty opened nearly two weeks ago. Huff was seen in the locker room on Friday with a big cast over his left wrist. Oren Burks is likely next-man-up at linebacker in place of Dean, and as far as drop-offs go, this is Thelma and Louise driving off a cliff at the end of the 1991 movie. It’s a long way down. Burks is a veteran, to be sure. He has played in 106 games but has logged just 43 defensive snaps with the Eagles since signing as a free agent from the 49ers on March 17. Dean has been a force this season. Paired with Zack Baun, the duo has become one of the most productive linebacker corps in the NFL. Dean is second on the team with 128 tackles behind Baun’s total of 144. Dean has three sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. Where did this come from? Zack Baun’s Eagles breakout has the NFL looking for the next him – Jori Epstein, Yahoo! Sports Other teams are looking to replicate Philadelphia’s success with Zack Baun. PHILADELPHIA — As the Los Angeles Rams lined up on third-and-3, Zack Baun crept up to the right edge. The Philadelphia Eagles linebacker looked ready to blitz. But when Matthew Stafford fielded the snap, Baun instead backpedaled. He shuffled out toward receiver Puka Nacua, who would catch nine passes for 117 yards on this late November night. Nacua would not catch this pass. Because Baun — yes, the same Baun who was just threatening to rush Stafford — broke up the pass. Where was this guy during his first four pro years, when he played just 15 percent of defensive snaps? Team and league voices offer different explanations for how the inside linebacker leading the league in tackles and several other metrics played so sparingly throughout his rookie contract with the New Orleans Saints, then exploded onto the scene in his first year in Philadelphia. Rarely do players cement themselves as starters after four years unable to crack the lineup. Questioning the Saints is fair — and some do, one NFC executive going so far as to call it “negligent” to play Baun so sparingly when “he had All-Pro in his body.” But Baun’s resurgence isn’t just about the Saints’ depth chart or the Eagles’ success mining for traits independent of production. This isn’t just about Baun finally getting the opportunity to play 95% of defensive snaps. Baun’s progress toward realizing his potential stems from his work ethic and ability as well as landing in the right scheme with the right coaching staff. It stems from the block-destruction guidance from a linebackers coach whose eye he caught during their pandemic-shortened pre-draft meeting in March 2020, and from a front office sharp enough to pursue an unproven linebacker as early in free agency as it pursued star running back Saquon Barkley. Zach Ertz downplays postgame exchange with Eagles’ Nick Sirianni: It was ‘blown way out of proportion’ – Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports Their appears to be no bad blood between the Eagles’ coach and his former tight end. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz needed to be separated after an altercation following their Week 16 matchup last Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Ertz has since downplayed the exchange, saying reports of the interaction have been “way overblown” and suggesting he has a good relationship with his former coach. “Nick and I had a great relationship when I was there,” Ertz told reporters Thursday, “and we still have a great relationship. It’s definitely been blown way out of proportion. We spoke. We’re good. There’s no ill feelings on my part, and I don’t think there are any ill feelings on his part. It’s just something in the heat of the moment that probably got blown out of proportion and maybe [was] a misunderstanding. But him and I are fine. Everyone knows how I feel about that place and that building.” After Washington pulled out a 36-33 victory over the Eagles on Sunday, Sirianni and Ertz reportedly got into a spat during postgame handshakes. Ertz went to initially shake Sirianni’s hand but, upon realizing the coach was still irked by his team losing, opted for a high-five. Sirianni apparently took exception to Ertz’s gesture, which led the head coach to chastise him for having just a single catch in the game. That’s when Ertz reportedly got in Sirianni’s face, which prompted action from chief security officer Dom DiSandro (better known as “Big Dom”). The Inquirer reported also that Sirianni later called Ertz via Zoom to apologize. However, after the game, he was asked about the exchange and said, “We just say congrats … [Both] of us say congrats to each other.” As for Ertz, he told

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Which team has the better defense? Previously we broke down the offense for this week’s upcoming game for the Dallas Cowboys. Now we dive back into the position battleground, this time looking at how the defensive positions and special teams stack up against each other DEFENSIVE LINE The Cowboys defensive line have been the most impressive in terms of how far they’ve risen this season. At the start of the year the defensive line struggled with injuries, couldn’t generate pressure and was getting beaten easily in the run game. The last three games has Dallas be the number one team in sacks per game and have allowed the sixth-fewest rush yards per game. Osa Odighizuwa continues to be the anchor that finds ways to disrupt any play coming his way. Micah Parson is the straw that stirs this drink for the defense, it’s no surprise since his return from injury some several weeks back this defense has improved. Chauncey Golston is an unsung hero that’s played efficiently the past two weeks. The biggest problem for this defense is the fact they are facing the number one rushing offense this season. It’s not just Saquon Barkley, it’s also Jalen Hurts who leads the league in rushing touchdowns. Adding to Dallas’ defensive problems is the Eagles offensive line which is built to pave the way in the running game, and does so very effectively. The Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive line has been a significant strength for the team during the current NFL season. Several key players have emerged as impactful contributors, showcasing both individual talent and effective teamwork. Jalen Carter has been a standout performer on the Eagles’ defensive line. His ability to rush the passer is particularly noteworthy, as he has achieved an impressive pass-rush grade of 80.6 ranking fifth among defensive interior players in the NFL. Over the past four games, Carter has delivered three strong performances, solidifying his position as a crucial asset for the Eagles. After experiencing a slump earlier in the season, Josh Sweat has rebounded impressively. In his last five games, he has recorded five sacks, seven quarterback hits, and five tackles for loss. Milton Williams has contributed effectively to the defensive line’s overall performance and continues to develop into a reliable player within the rotation.Win: Eagles Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images LINEBACKER Marist Liufau has now solidified himself as the new sheriff in town. He’s been making plays the last couple of weeks and last week was no exception. He’s now established himself as a defensive playmaker leading to plays that result in either a turnover or a negative play for the opposition. Eric Kendricks is a key figure on this defense and he was inactive last week due to a calf strain. The Eagles linebacker corps this season is characterized by a mix of established talent and emerging potential. The team has made significant changes to its linebacker unit, bringing in new players through free agency and the draft, while also relying on returning players who have shown promise. Nakobe Dean is looking to establish himself as a key player after an injury-plagued second year in 2023. He’s second on the team in tackles and tackles for loss. The player leading the way in tackles and tackles for loss is Zack Baun who joined the Eagles after leaving the New Orleans Saints. Dean is dealing with an abdomen injury. Conclusion:Losing players due to injury is no exception for both teams at this position. But the loss of DeMarvion Overshown seriously puts a negative spin to this group for Dallas. Baun and Dean have been both been having good seasons. They can defend very effectively laterally or come down and press. Win: Eagles Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images DEFENSIVE BACKS The Cowboys defensive backs have had a notable season, characterized by both strengths and challenges. The performance of this unit can be analyzed through several key aspects: overall effectiveness, individual performances, injury issues, and their role helping to find ways to impact the opposing passing game. This secondary has shown resilience and adaptability throughout the season. They have been effective in creating turnovers, which is a critical component of their defensive strategy. Jourdan Lewis made one of the most mind-blowing interceptions last week that looked like a touchdown pass all the way up until Lewis stood up with the ball. DaRon Bland had the biggest play to end the game with his fumble recovery to end the game last week. One of the standout features of the Eagles’ defensive backs is their ability to work together as a unit. This season, they have excelled in communication and teamwork, which has allowed them to cover receivers effectively and support each other in various defensive schemes. The absence of individual interceptions among cornerbacks highlights a collective approach where players focus on minimizing big plays rather than seeking personal accolades. Rookie Cooper DeJean has made a notable impact during the 2024 NFL season. Drafted in the second round, he has quickly established himself as a versatile player capable of contributing significantly to the Eagles’ secondary. His ability to play multiple positions within the defensive backfield has allowed him to adapt to various game situations and matchups against opposing offenses. Quinyon Mitchell has demonstrated elite coverage abilities, but he’s had a mixed season this year. His statistics reflect this, as he has allowed the most number of yards and completions against him among all defensive backs between these two teams. Conclusion:Injuries have played a significant role in shaping the performance of the Cowboys’ defensive backs this season. The absence of key players at various points has forced younger or less experienced players into starting roles, impacting overall cohesion and performance. The Eagles have stayed healthy this year and other starters like Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all come into this week with a clean slate. That’s led to a team allowing the second-fewest passing yards this year. Win: Eagles Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys have a sort of chance to play spoiler on Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys already know their season is over. They were eliminated from playoff contention just a few hours before kickoff against the Buccaneers on Sunday night, but it didn’t stop them from playing their hearts out and stealing a win from a team firmly in the postseason mix. Now, the Cowboys have two games left, both of them against divisional foes. First on the schedule is a road trip against the Eagles, who just lost their first game since the last week of September. The first time these teams met this year, it was Cooper Rush’s first start of the year after Dak Prescott went down for the year. Things were surprisingly close in the first half, as Philadelphia led just 14-6 at halftime, but Rush lost two fumbles and the Eagles outscored Dallas 20-0 in the second half for a big win. Since then, though, the Cowboys have been much better. Rush has gotten into a groove, ranking 16th in EPA/play over the last five games, ahead of the likes of Kyler Murray, Geno Smith, and C.J. Stroud. The offense as a whole has stabilized as well, but it’s their defense that has taken off. Since Micah Parsons returned from his injury the week of that game against the Eagles, Dallas is 10th in EPA/play allowed. More specifically, they’re second in EPA/dropback allowed and rank fourth in both pressure rate and sacks on the season. Parsons is also eighth in the league in individual pressures despite missing four games. Parsons’ elite play has been partnered with some exceptional games from CeeDee Lamb, who will not be suiting up for this one. On Thursday, it was announced that Lamb would be shut down for the year so he can get rehab his shoulder, an injury he had been playing through in recent weeks. The Eagles aren’t exactly a clean bill of health either, with their biggest question being Jalen Hurts. Their star quarterback left this past game with a concussion in the first quarter and he remains in the concussion protocol as of Thursday. Hurts’ backup, Kenny Pickett, is also on the injury report with a rib injury. He was limited on Wednesday’s practice but participated fully on Thursday, The general sense from Philadelphia is that Hurts is likely to miss this game, though you can never say never. If that is the case, it will mark Pickett’s first start of the year and his first start since early December of last year. Pickett was a first-round pick in 2022 by the Steelers, becoming their starter during his rookie year. Last year, Pickett led Pittsburgh to a 7-5 start but injuries knocked him out. When Pickett did return to full health, the Steelers chose not to put him back in the lineup, which led to their decision this offseason to pursue both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Not long afterwards, Pickett was traded to Philadelphia, where he has been Hurts’ backup all year. Coming into this last game, Pickett had attempted just three passes on the year and played a total of 28 snaps. When called into action against the Commanders this past week, Pickett completed 58.3% of his passes for 143 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and a fumble. He came in during a touchdown drive for the Eagles, but after that drive Pickett produced just 12 points the rest of the game, while Washington was able to come back in the fourth quarter for the win. Needless to say, there isn’t a wealth of optimism from Eagles fans if Pickett is the starter. Still, though, this offense runs through Saquon Barkley. The former Giants running back accounts for 38% of the Eagles’ offensive yards and leads the league in scrimmage yards with 2,114 yards. That said, one of his worst games of the year came against this defense, as Barkley averaged 4.7 yards a carry. His 67 rushing yards in that game was the third-fewest he’s had in a game all year. The Cowboys will need to have similar success against Barkley in this one regardless of who plays under center. Mike Zimmer’s defense has surged lately because they don’t let run games go wild, creating more passing downs for Zimmer’s chaotic pressure schemes to run loose. Similarly, Mike McCarthy will have his work cut out for him trying to scheme things up in the passing game without Lamb anymore. This game brings a lot of uncertainty for both teams, but it probably figures to be closer than the last time these teams met. The Eagles are favored by a touchdown, but the Cowboys have been exceeding bettors’ expectations in recent weeks. Can they pull out another surprise win and play spoiler for their bitter rival, who still haven’t locked up the NFC East?

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Regardless of these last two games, Mike McCarthy has nothing left to prove to the Dallas Cowboys. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. The Dallas Cowboys were supposed to crash and burn, the locker room would turn on each other, players would quit on their lame duck coach and make early plans for their beach vacations in January while coaching interviews get under way. That’s exactly where things were headed at the start of November, when the Cowboys were in the midst of what turned out to be a five-game losing streak that saw Dak Prescott go down for the season. He was the latest, and most prominent, veteran leader to spend significant time on the injured reserve. On top of it all, a postgame incident with Trevon Diggs hinted that the walls were about to crumble in Dallas. Then, something clicked. The Cowboys went on the road and beat the Washington Commanders, who at one point looked like the frontrunner in the division. They returned home for Thanksgiving and crushed the Giants. Now, after back-to-back wins against the Panthers and Buccaneers, the team has improved to 7-8 and are one crazy play away from looking at a five-game win streak. The most recent win was the best, too. Tampa Bay came in as winners of four straight and, after the Falcons won earlier in the day, they knew they needed this game to remain in the driver’s seat of the NFC South. Meanwhile, Dallas watched the Commanders beat the Eagles at the last second, thereby ending the Cowboys’ slim chances at reaching the postseason. They hadn’t even had a chance to play their game this week, and the Cowboys’ post-season chance was officially ended. Some teams would’ve let that get to them. Some teams would have come out flat and gotten crushed by the vastly superior team. Shoot, most Cowboys teams of the last two decades would’ve done that. This team is different, though. They’ve been dealt adversity from the moment last year ended. Every single day brings a new conversation about their head coach, while injuries and losses have both stacked up over and over. They’ve been through the ringer, but somehow they’ve come out on the other side stronger for it. The team took the field on Sunday night with nothing to gain, so they took their anger out on the Buccaneers instead. It’s been a long time since we saw a Cowboys team play like this. No longer was it about “getting right” or pushing for a playoff spot to climb the mountain that is nearly three decades of playoff disappointment for this franchise. This was about a love of the game, going out there and playing good football for 60 minutes just because that’s what professionals do. It was a direct reflection of the way McCarthy carries himself, and the most resounding endorsement this team could possibly give their embattled head coach. Cooper Rush arguably had the best game of his career, CeeDee Lamb showed a level of toughness never seen before, and defenders just kept making play after play no matter what. Some will look at this win, which did nothing to get them closer to the playoffs and only hurt their draft positioning, and say it was a mistake. But the intangible impact this kind of win has on the culture has massive implications. Take Lamb, for example, who had this to say after the game: Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb: “My shoulder is outta whack, I’m not gonna even lie to you. I’m just out there battling and doing what I do. It’s not fun.” What is the biggest reason he keeps playing through it? “I love this game that much. I’m literally willing to put my body out… — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 23, 2024 Lamb earned plenty of criticism earlier this year for a perceived lack of toughness, some of which was at least somewhat warranted. But there is no way to make such a claim now, as Lamb has played through excruciating pain and played at a high level even knowing there are no playoffs to be made anymore. Micah Parsons had similar comments after the win: Cowboys DE Micah Parsons said he “100 percent” believes if they finish strong that it can carry over into next season: “You need to go through things. Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows. I’m looking to finish this year strong and prove to these guys that we can get over… — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 23, 2024 Of course, Parsons made history in this game too, becoming the fifth-fastest player to reach 50 career sacks. After the game, though, his comments were focused on continuing this momentum and building a solid foundation for next season. With Prescott out, as well as DeMarcus Lawrence and Zack Martin – not to mention the offseason losses of Tyron Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, and Stephon Gilmore – there was a bit of a leadership vacuum on this roster. Lamb and Parsons have stepped up over the last month, which is great news considering their status as the future of this team. That kind of development is more valuable for the Cowboys than any draft pick. It all comes back to McCarthy, too. His steady leadership, even in the face of what so many assumed to be his final season in Dallas, provided a calming presence in the face of so much turmoil. It’s not easy to tune out the noise in a season like this, or any season in Dallas, but McCarthy has continually had his team focused and ready to play. Whether or not they can play spoiler to the Eagles or Commanders over these last two weeks, McCarthy has proven everything he could at this point.