Dallas Cowboys player labeled as ‘bust’ is rapidly improving :: SI.com Link Don’t look now, but Mazi Smith is turning into a force. The first-rounder’s PFF grades have climbed steadily and significantly over the past three games, from a 55.9 in Week 11 to a 69.6 in Week 12’s win in Washington, and finally a 79.9 against New York on Thursday. Brandin Cooks felt the “trust” from his coach, QB in first game back :: The Mothership Link No one was happier to have Cooks back in the lineup than the veteran receiver himself. “It’s always frustrating when you’re not playing the game that you love,” he said after Thursday’s game. And despite missing seven weeks, Cooks clicked right back into place within the Cowboys offense, even though he had a new quarterback throwing him the ball. “I think that’s huge to trust me in the situation like that,” said Cooks of his third-down grab late that moved the sticks and iced the game. “Coop trusts me and Coach trusts me with the play call.” Cowboys’ DeMarvion Overshown hits turbo button for two takeaways en route to historic performance vs. Giants :: CBS Sports Link Overshown didn’t have just a great outing Thursday, he had one that put him in rarefied air. He became the first Cowboys player with a pick-six and a fumble recovery in the same game since 2002, back when safety Roy WIlliams did so in a Week 17 game at Washington. Overshown is now just the fifth player in Cowboys history to accomplish the feat in a single game. Overshown shines, Dowdle among Cowboys winners, loser in the secondary :: Cowboys Wire Link Overshown was clearly the biggest winner, thanks to his do-it-all pick-six play that will be shown on highlight reels for years to come. Rico Dowdle, Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker, and Carl Lawson turned in outstanding efforts as well. Cornerback Josh Butler came out on the short end of things after his unfortunate injury, and we all lost when it was revealed that some mystery contingent of the team had a star-shaped chicken nugget celebration planned with the big red kettles in the end zone… only it didn’t happen. Cowboys sideline exclusive: Dallas defense feasts, boosts points-off-turnover ratio :: Dallas Morning News Link Sideline reporter Kristi Scales notes that with Thursday’s victory, McCarthy tied Bill Parcells for 14th place in all-time regular-season wins. McCarthy’s next win will be his 173rd, which will tie him with Jeff Fisher for 13th place. That’s as high as the Cowboys head coach will be able to climb this season; Mike Tomlin is next on the list, but he’s nine wins ahead of McCarthy. Tom Brady ripped for not actually eating a Turkducken during Fox Thanksgiving broadcast :: New York Post Link The Fox broadcast made a big deal of going to a shot of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady in the booth on Thanksgiving so that Brady could get his first official taste of “turducken,” the holiday mashup popularized by the late John Madden. Brady milked the moment and mimicked ripping a huge bite off the leg (though he actually took just a nibble) to then exclaim, “That’s good. That’s really good,” in an attempt to show what a normal, regular guy he is. Only problem? None of the duck meat or chicken meat that actually makes it a turducken is stuffed inside the leg; Brady’s baby bite was plain turkey. Baylor distracts Kansas kicker with a little help from Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium sunlight :: Dallas Morning News Link As Kansas lined up for field goal in their game Saturday, their Baylor hosts put a shot of AT&T Stadium’s blinding sunlight glare on the end-zone jumbotron just behind the goalposts to distract the Jayhawks kicker. It worked; Tabor Allen missed the 38-yard try. The Bears went on to win, 45-17. No shade: Why the Cowboys’ sun issues are unique to Dallas :: ESPN Link AT&T Stadium is one of just two NFL venues built on a northeast-southwest axis and the only one with a transparent end zone to the southwest, creating the much-talked-about sun issues during certain portions of late-afternoon games for several months of each season. It’s a known issue for other teams, too, who spend time scouting the sun’s exact positioning long before they come to Dallas. It absolutely factors into which direction smart teams that happen to lose the coin toss choose. But data shows that this knowledge isn’t necessarily helping anyone; neither the Cowboys nor their visiting opponents are any worse at AT&T when it comes to dropped passes or fumbled punts. Top 50 NFL Player Sales List, March 1 – August 31, 2024 :: NFLPA Link For the sales period that basically encompassed the 2024 offseason, three Cowboys landed in the top 50 of player-branded merchandise, and all three were in the top half of the list. Micah Parsons came in at No. 9, CeeDee Lamb was at No. 15, and Dak Prescott finished in 25th place. That’s saying something, considering Lamb and Prescott both had tenuous futures with the club as they went through contract negotiations during the same timeframe. Tyron Smith placed on IR, likely ending year and maybe Jets career :: ESPN Link The ex-Cowboy has been placed on injured reserve with an apparent neck issue that’s been left somewhat unexplained by the Jets. He’ll technically be eligible to return for the last two games of the season, but with the team all but officially out of playoff contention, it’s unlikely. Smith went to eight Pro Bowls as one of the all-time Cowboys greats, but he didn’t have a strong 2024 season protecting Aaron Rodgers in New York. He’s a shoo-in for Canton one day, but this may be how Smith’s 14-year NFL career ends. NFL puts a dent in Bobby Wagner’s Thanksgiving holiday after hitting him with news he doesn’t want to hear :: A to Z Sports Link The veteran linebacker has been fined $16,883 for a
Overshown shines, Dowdle among Cowboys winners, loser in the secondary
Winner: DeMarvion Overshown Nov 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown celebrates his interception touchdown return during the second quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images New York lined up with two tight ends on the right side and snapped the ball with a play-action fake to their left. A blitzing Cowboys linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown, collides with Giants running back Tyrone Tracey Jr., before continuing en route to quarterback Drew Lock. Overshown sensed the running back gave up too easily and sniffed out the well-timed screen, who then tips the pass into the air before intercepting the ball and taking it 24 yards for the Cowboys first touchdown of the game. The linebacker finished the game with 9 tackles to go along with his game-breaking interception and a fumble recovery. The second-year player is not only a Thanksgiving winner, he may now be viewed as a major defensive piece for the Cowboys moving forward. That play highlights Overshown’s versatility and his importance to this team. His arrival may be the first true game-altering player Dallas has had on the second level of their defense since linebacker Sean Lee suited up. Loser: Josh Butler Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) runs for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler (31) during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images Loser may be a harsh word according to the context Winners and Losers has used in the past but a week after having his NFL moment, a non-contact injury sent cornerback Josh Butler to the locker room before halftime with what appeared to be a significant right knee injury. The Michigan State alum recorded 12 tackles and deflected three passes in a victory over Washington last week. With only so many games remaining, his season may be over just as it was beginning. Butler lost both parents while at East Lansing and opted to walk out on Senior Day with his two dogs shedding light on how much adversity this young man has been through. He may be in the loser category today but there is no doubt Butler was already a winner. Winner: The 2023 Draft Class Aug 12, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith (58) on the field in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys’ 2023 Draft class hit rock bottom when they were voted the worst group at the conclusion of their rookie seasons. This year, a slow start in Dallas compounded the issue, and the class slowly faded into oblivion. Overshown (third round) was already highlighted for his unreal performance on Thanksgiving but tight end Luke Schoonmaker, whom Dallas took in the second round of that draft, has slowly worked his way into a viable receiving option. Schoonmaker finished with five catches for 33 yards against the Giants. First-round pick Mazi Smith was expected to shore up the interior of the defense but fell out of favor with fans for below-mediocre play. Another slow start to the year pushed many to wonder about his roster spot but Smith has climbed the ladder with his play of late. His recent run of analytics sheds a positive light on how well he has played of late. Smith could shed the draft bust label if he can continue to stack performances like this. 2023 fifth-rounder Asim Richards, although currently on injured reserve, has developed into a nice offensive lineman and could be the leading candidate to become the team’s swing tackle next season. Richards has played well filling in for injured starters as well. Although there is still much room for growth, the 2023 draft class is finally contributing to the Cowboys. Loser: Thanksgiving TD celebrations ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 18: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown by jumping into a Salvation Army red kettle during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott once jumped into the giant Salvation Army Red Kettle on Thanksgiving and donations soared 61% from his act. The team followed it up later by tossing quarterback Dak Prescott into the kettle after a touchdown. Both players were fined but the awareness they brought was beneficial and worth the price the players paid to spread awareness. This year, the celebrations were, average. With plenty of chances, an investigation into what exactly the Cowboys had planned could be warranted as a few newly debuted Cowboys nuggets were suspiciously left behind. The 2024 season hasn’t been kind so celebrating the good moments was much needed for this prideful team. A rehearsed celebration that went viral would have done good on and off the field. Tyson released their new nuggets on Thanksgiving featuring their new star shape branded with the Cowboys emblem. A celebration featuring both would have boosted nugget sales but more importantly, raised more money for the needy. Dallas could get a mulligan to help assist the Red Kettle campaign on December 9 when they host the Bengals on Monday Night football. Winner: Carl Lawson EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 26: Carl Lawson #55 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 26, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) The Dallas pass rush once again came alive recording six total sacks on quarterback Drew Lock and the Giants. Although the entire defensive line deserves credit, the late free-agent addition of veteran defensive end Carl Lawson is starting to pay off. Lawson finished the day with one sack and three quarterback pressures. He also had five of the team’s 14 quarterback hits adding to an interesting stat. To begin the second half, New York faced a third down
Cowboys Headlines: Lawrence nearing return, was new red-kettle TD celebration foiled?
Cowboys’ Josh Butler suffers ACL injury, Juanyeh Thomas dodges disaster :: The Mothership Link After delivering a breakout performance against Washington in Week 12, Butler will need season-ending surgery to repair a torn ACL, according to Stephen Jones. Thomas, however, could be back in two to three weeks despite having to be carted off the field on Thursday. His knee injury has been classified as a meniscus issue, one that will require a far shorter rehab. DeMarcus Lawrence nearing return for Cowboys after defense loses another player for the season :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link While Jerry Jones announced that Lawrence will “more than likely” make his return when the Cowboys takes on the Bengals, McCarthy was careful to temper expectations slightly. “D-Law is going to do more this week,” McCarthy clarified. “We don’t have a definitive answer there. That plan hasn’t been set for the week…He’s coming back into the real fray as far as practicing.” Shifting the Overshown window: a major takeaway in Cowboys 27-20 win :: Cowboys Wire Link When the Texas product was first drafted by the Cowboys in 2023, he was a player without a clear and obvious position, projected to perhaps play a safety-linebacker hybrid role in Dan Quinn’s defense. But after missing his rookie season to injury, Overshown is proving to be a linebacker/edge rusher who’s making an impact much more like Micah Parsons and becoming the kind of defender that opponents must directly scheme against. DeMarvion Overshown explains emotional pick-six in Thanksgiving win over Giants :: The Mothership Link Overshown revealed that he had “been told all week” that a big play was coming his way. Recounting his first-ever pick-six, the linebacker explained, “When the running back let me loose, I was like, ‘There’s some B.S. going on.’ And then the quarterback threw the ball and I was like, ‘This is my play to make.’ I was able to kick in some nitrous and we were dancing in the end zone.” Brandin Cooks’ return shows Cowboys how important WR2 is for plans :: Cowboys Wire Link The veteran’s return after seven weeks illustrated just how important a true WR2 really is on this team. Cooks is slated for free agency this winter and expected to leave Dallas. Finding someone at least as good, preferably better, has to be a key objective for the Cowboys front office. Given their history in free agency, that may mean using a top-50 draft pick. While Cowboys’ spirits rise, this is where Mike McCarthy wants his team’s focus directed :: Dallas Morning News Link A two-game win streak has buoyed the mood significantly within The Star, and McCarthy knows that the playoffs are now a talking point for outside observers. He’s trying, however, to keep his players locked in to a much short-term objective. “My messaging will be, ‘Let’s just pour all of this into Cincinnati right now,’” the coach said. “That’s all that matters. If we don’t take care of Cincinnati, the narratives will definitely change.’’ Cowboys Thanksgiving Game ratings prove they’re still America’s Team :: SI.com Link Backup quarterbacks, lousy records, whatever. The Cowboys-Giants matchup drew 38.5 million viewers, per Fox, good enough to count as the most-watched telecast of the NFL season so far. (Another report, though, does point out that Thursday’s game had the lowest in-person attendance of any game at AT&T Stadium this year. The team still leads the NFL at the turnstiles.) Cowboys-Giants coverage, analysis :: Cowboys Wire Predictions: Can Cowboys make playoff push in final five games? :: Cowboys Wire Link It’s possible, though certainly unlikely, that the Cowboys have a miracle in them that would turn the 2024 campaign into a postseason berth. They’re not as close to catching the lowest-ranked wild card teams as the numbers suggest, and remaining tilts versus Philadelphia and Washington will make it very hard to win out (Cincinnati and Tampa Bay are no slouches, either). Even if Dallas finishes with nine or even 10 wins, they will likely be on the short end of any tiebreaker scenario with another NFC team. Cowboys Today: Did Dallas plan to do TD celebration with chicken nuggets? :: The Athletic Link There was no red kettle touchdown celebration for the Cowboys this Thanksgiving… but someone seems to have had one planned. Found inside each of the on-field props- well after the game- were boxes of chicken nuggets shaped like the Cowboys’ star logo. Jason Garrett revealed how long he kept turkey leg John Madden gave him in 1994 :: Awful Announcing Link The former Cowboys head coach was on the call for Thursday night’s game and got to re-live his moment of glory as the team’s backup quarterback in 1994, when he led Dallas to an improbable Thanksgiving win over Brett Favre and the Packers. Reminiscing about being awarded an official John Madden turkey leg that day, Garrett admitted that he kept it as a souvenir a little longer than was probably healthy. “You know something? I had it in the freezer,” Garrett said. “It was in tinfoil… I probably had it for 15 years. Then we finally moved.” Bears fire Matt Eberflus following timeout disaster at end of Chicago’s Thanksgiving loss to Lions :: CBS Sports Link Eberflus, 54, served in Dallas as Cowboys linebackers coach from 2011 to 2015 and then added passing game coordinator to his title for 2016 and 2017 during Garrett’s tenure. The coach was heavily panned for how much time the Chicago offense wasted in the closing moments of their Thanksgiving Day comeback attempt versus the Lions. It’s the first time in the long history of the Bears franchise that they’ve made a head coaching change in-season.
Brandin Cooks’ return shows Cowboys how important WR2 is for plans
Brandin Cooks’ return shows Cowboys how important WR2 is for plans reidhanson In the immortal words of the great 20th century philosophers Cinderella, “you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone.” For a year and some change the Cowboys enjoyed the presence of veteran receiver Brandin Cooks on their offense. Despite falling short of some initial expectations, the 31-year-old pass catcher was a stable presence and legitimate option as WR2 during that time. For the past seven games the Cowboys got a taste of what life is like without a true No. 2 WR on their roster. Cooks fell to a knee injury in Week 4, forcing Jalen Tolbert to move up the depth chart and leaving his own vacated No. 3 role a revolving door of unproven personnel. Not only was Tolbert clearly fighting above his weight class but no one behind him proved they were ready to step up and fill the void either. Cooks’ return in Week 13 against the Giants illustrated just how important a true WR2 really is on this team. Three receptions for 16 yards doesn’t sound like much, but when one of those balls is a touchdown and the other a perfectly executed third-down conversion that iced the game, the actual value he added was significant. In a revelation that’s more about the role of WR2 than the actual WR2 himself, Cooks’ return shows finding a true No. 2 pass catcher this offseason is extremely important for the Cowboys offense. The Cowboys were able to survive the poor outing by CeeDee Lamb on Thursday by having Cooks on the field. Cooks’ veteran presence combined with KaVonate Turpin’s increased usage and Tolbert’s key plays, saved the Cowboys passing game on Thanksgiving Day. It was a trickle-down effect that allowed everyone to play within themselves. Cooks himself is slated for free agency this winter and expected to leave. Finding someone at least as good, preferably better, has to be a key objective for the Cowboys front office. A free agent class that features Tee Higgins, Stephon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnson probably falls outside Dallas’ budget. If the Cowboys want to properly address the WR2 position it will likely involve a top 50 draft pick. Luckily for Dallas this happens to be a solid WR draft class in 2025. It would be nice to get elite talents like Travis Hunter or Tetairoa McMillan at the top of the first round but if the Cowboys find themselves outside the top 10, they have a chance at plenty of other attractive options. Dane Brugler from The Athletic currently has Luther Burden and Elic Ayomanor as first round options next spring. Emeka Egbuka, Evan Stewart, and Isaiah Bond are further down the list but also fall inside his top 50. Every one of these players has the ability to be an instant contributor at WR2. For seven weeks the Cowboys got a taste of what it’s like without a true WR2 on the roster and it wasn’t pretty. Let this lesson serve as a guide when the Cowboys work out their to-do list this winter. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Studs and Duds: Lamb’s poor performance can’t overshadow Cowboys’ Overshown, Dowdle
Studs and Duds: Lamb’s poor performance can’t overshadow Cowboys’ Overshown, Dowdle Mike Crum The Dallas Cowboys haven’t had much to be thankful for this season. Between poor play and a bombardment of injuries, Dallas could’ve given up on the season. The coaches are all on one-year deals, and the core players are mostly signed up beyond this year. A team with less character and connection would have shut it down, especially after losing their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott. But the Cowboys have now won back-to-back games and earned their first home victory, winning their Thanksgiving matchup over the New York Giants, 27-20. Dallas has multiple players, like Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and Brandin Cooks, returning from injuries and playing well. The much-maligned early 2023 draft choices, Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker, are stringing together good performances. The offensive line is stepping up with players rotating in and out every week, but the studs from this game come from players the fanbase has waited to break out, while the duds all come from the receiving core. Studs: LB DeMarvion Overshown Nov 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (13) intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images DeMarvion Overshown was seen as a potential star before he played a snap in a regular-season game, and his flash plays are beginning to become consistent episodes. He has been great as a blitzer, covered well, and brought down ball carriers in the run game, but he had his breakout performance on Thanksgiving with everyone watching. He was second on the team with nine tackles, recovered a fumble, and made a spectacular interception by tipping a pass in the air, catching it, and returning it for a touchdown that gave Dallas a 13-7 lead. Overshown became the first Cowboys player since Roy Williams in 2002 to have a Pick-Six and a fumble recovery in the same game. Going into this week, Overshown led the team in solo tackles and tackles for a loss while being tied with Parsons in sacks, but he might have made himself a star in this win over the Giants on Thanksgiving. Duds: WR CeeDee Lamb ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 18: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks over plays on the sideline against the Houston Texans during the third quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on November 18, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) CeeDee Lamb entered the game as the league leader in receptions and was top three in yards even though the team hasn’t had their starting QB for part of the year, his second receiver has been injured, and the team hasn’t had a good running game to take pressure off of him. His performance has elevated his standards, so it is a poor game when he has a non-impactful performance. If he had only six targets and the quarterback’s poor performance led to him only getting two receptions for 39 yards, then he might not be a dud, but when one of the best receivers in the league has three drops on six targets, then that is a dud performance. Lamb has been playing through injury, which might have impacted his game, but his expectations are too high to have games like he had against the Giants. Studs: RB Rico Dowdle ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: Cooper Rush #10 of the Dallas Cowboys hands the ball to Rico Dowdle #23 during the first quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) It took Dallas 10 weeks to figure it out, but Rico Dowdle is finally being treated as the top running back on the team instead of being part of a committee with running backs who combine to be the worst performers in the NFL. Thanksgiving marked a lot of firsts for Dowdle. He got 20 attempts in back-to-back games for the first time, scored his first rushing touchdown of the season, and had his first career 100-yard game, which was the first for a Dallas player in 26 contests. Dowdle tied Prescott for the longest run of the year, 22 yards, and caught all three targets thrown to him. If Dallas could get a running back to run 22 times for 122 yards, a 5.1 average, and score a touchdown, they could be tough to beat. Duds: Devolping receivers ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: Jalen Tolbert #1 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a pass against Cor’Dale Flott #28 of the New York Giants during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Poor performances from the receivers behind Lamb and Cooks are understandable with their starting QB out and the team targeting their star receiver at such a high rate. At some point, Cowboys receivers have to step up and perform. Jalen Tolbert has been the second option at receiver all season, Jalen Brooks has played a lot of snaps in almost every game, and the team just gave a fourth-round pick for Jonathan Mingo. Still, the same inconsistency persists for Tolbert and Brooks, while Mingo hasn’t had an impact past run blocking. Tolbert had one nice catch on third down for 36 yards but one reception otherwise. Brooks had one catch for no yards, and Mingo was targeted four times but had only a single reception for two yards. Three players have little to no impact 13 weeks into the season, and that has to change if the team wants to help Rush be a better quarterback going forward. Studs: WR KaVontae Turpin ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball during the third quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) KaVontae
What OL problems? Cowboys learned several things about themselves in Week 13
The Cowboys had been struggling with their offensive line for most of the year, but they’ve been much better the last two weeks. Against the Giants, who entered the game with the fifth-most sacks, the unit didn’t give one up and kept Rush comfortable in the pocket. On wide receiver Brandin Cooks’ four-yard score, McCarthy dialed up one of his favorite plays from the 2023 season to get a big touchdown. The long developing play only works if the line gives the QB time to throw and the group did their job allowing Rush time to find Cooks near the corner of the end zone. The offensive line also led the way for Dowdle’s big rushing day, it was the best game from a Cowboys’ RB in a long time, becoming the first 100-yard rusher since Week 3 of last season. It was another positive outing for a group that is getting better. And the most interesting part is the team is doing it without Zack Martin, who missed his second consecutive game. Chuma Edoga played two-thirds of the snap in place of Tyler Guyton at left tackle on Sunday. Tyler Smith returned after missing last week. It’s been a series of switchups among the personnel and things are finally starting to click.
Good, Bad, Ugly: Dowdle’s big day overcomes offensive slump in Cowboys’ holiday victory
Sometimes, the Thanksgiving dinner is just… fine. The food was decent enough, everyone at the table got along, and nobody burned the house down trying to deep-fry the turkey. There was a zinger of a side dish and in the end there was plenty of pie, but nothing about the day really knocked your socks off. No one in Cowboys Nation will complain about the team’s 27-20 win over the Giants − the Cowboys‘ first home victory this season − but it wasn’t an overly impressive win. DeMarvion Overshown’s tip-drill interception touchdown and overall performance was the highlight, to be sure, but a look beyond that magical moment shows few other bright spots that could signal hope for the closing five-game stretch run of the 2024 season. There are still concerns. The offense still bogs down way too often, and the defense clearly has an issue containing quarterbacks who can run. Injuries are still plaguing the entire team, and one sometime superstar had another off day… much to the chagrin of those who expect a level of consistency more on par with his astronomical salary. But a win is a win, and now the Cowboys have strung two of them together, creating some newfound optimism as they head into the mini-bye week and prep for a trio of upcoming opponents who currently have losing records. Here’s a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Cowboys’ perfectly serviceable Thanksgiving Day win. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Good: Dowdle’s dynamite day ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: Cooper Rush #10 of the Dallas Cowboys hands the ball to Rico Dowdle #23 during the first quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Watching Rico Dowdle tear through the Giants like an electric carving knife through the holiday bird, it’s hard to believe the Cowboys haven’t viewed him as their top backfield option since Week 1. The fifth-year ball carrier notched a career-high 22 carries on Thursday and recorded 112 yards, the first time he’s ever hit triple digits, scoring his first touchdown of the season along the way. He also put up four runs of over 10 yards, including the longest Cowboys run of the season at 22 yards. More impressive, 104 of his rushing yards came after contact; Dowdle forced 10 missed tackles in the Week 13 win. It’s a great time for Dowdle to get on a roll; the Cowboys’ next three opponents (Cincinnati, Carolina, Tampa Bay) all fall in the bottom half of the league in yards per carry allowed. Bad: Letting Lock loose Nov 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) rushes for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images The Cowboys defense managed to keep the Giants running backs under wraps, but quarterback Drew Lock was the latest mobile passer to be a thorn in their side. For the fourth game in a row, the Cowboys allowed their opponent’s signal-caller to average eight yards or more per run. Though the pass rush got to him plenty, Lock still led the Giants on Thursday with 57 ground yards and a touchdown. Most of that yardage came on just a pair of runs (for 28 and 21 yards) that comprised Big Blue’s two longest plays from scrimmage. Lock nearly ended the day with two rushing scores, but replay review determined his first-quarter scramble came up just short of the goal line. Of Dallas’s five remaining contests, four are against a quarterback currently in the league’s top 15 in yards per carry. Ugly: Injury bug doesn’t take holiday off LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 17: Juanyeh Thomas #30 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after a defensive play during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders during a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) Injuries continue to ravage the Cowboys roster, with several new players joining the list of the wounded. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb appeared to re-aggravate his sprained shoulder and sat out the fourth quarter, while left tackle Tyler Guyton exited early with a high-ankle sprain, cornerback Josh Butler suffered a knee injury, and special-teams star Juanyeh Thomas was carted off with what looked to be a serious knee injury of his own. Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin, Jake Ferguson, and Marshawn Kneeland were already made inactive before the Week 13 kickoff; they’ll all have a mini-bye week to try to rehab themselves back onto the field in time for the Cowboys’ next game, Dec. 9 versus the Bengals. Good: Getting Cooks back in the kitchen ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: Brandin Cooks #3 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a touchdown pass against Adoree’ Jackson #21 of the New York Giants during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) He caught just three passes on seven targets, but Brandin Cooks came up huge in his return to action after nearly two months missed due to a knee infection. His two-yard catch in the corner of the end zone capped off a six-play drive in the third quarter and widened Dallas’s lead to 10, and his three-yard diving grab with under two minutes to play moved the chains on a key third down to ice the win. KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, and other receivers have stepped up in various moments in Cooks’s absence, but the Cowboys’ passing game just has a different threat level when the 11-year veteran is on the field in his WR2 role. Bad: Rough patch for offense in second quarter ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: Cooper Rush #10 of the Dallas Cowboys throws a pass during the second quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) The Cowboys offense wasn’t
Cowboys carve up Turducken meat, devour Giants 27-20 on Thanksgiving
Cowboys carve up Turducken meat, devour Giants 27-20 on Thanksgiving K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys are back, baby! Okay, not really, but they are still are capable of beating teams playing badly and flat-out bad teams. Just four days after upsetting the Washington Commanders to snap a five-game losing streak the Cowboys returned to the field to take on another division opponent. This time, the New York Giants were up on the schedule and for the first time in seven games, the Cowboys were able to win in Dallas. A losing streak stretching back to the wild-card game in January, Dallas had also fallen behind by at least 20 points in each contest. But with Drew Lock under center and a clear fixation on the No. 1 draft pick, the Giants offered little resistance, even to a team flying as low as the Cowboys have been. Dallas extended a three-point halftime lead and turned it into a dominant second half. A late Giants touchdown shrunk the final margin to 27-20, as the Cowboys improve to 5-7 on the season. The Giants dropped to 2-10 as the Cowboys swept the season series. QB Cooper Rush turned in another solid, bus-driver performance and was complimented by Rico Dowdle’s first career 100-yard ground game and a second-consecutive strong defensive performance. Edge rusher Micah Parsons chipped in a sack and a half, while LB DeMarvion Overshown continues to develop into a complete weapon. The second-year Texas product who missed all of his rookie season had a Pick-Six and a fumble recovery, along with seven tackles on the game. Dallas held Lock to a frustrating day after a 70-yard opening touchdown drive. The Giants managed just 161 yards on offense until their final scoring drive, as they struggled to string together any semblance of rhythm in his first start of the season. The Giants released starting QB Daniel Jones, who cleared waivers and signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday. Last week he was replaced by Tommy DeVito, who was unable to go on Thursday. The Cowboys are now 2-2 since Dak Prescott was lost for the season with a hamstring injury. After playing three games in 10 days (Week 11 was a MNF blowout loss to Houston), the Cowboys will now get a mini-bye week before closing out their 2024 schedule. At 5-7 the playoffs isn’t impossible, but it’s an incredibly long shot, as is now the No. 1 overall draft pick. Dallas’ next opponent will be the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football in Week 14. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Shifting the Overshown window: a major takeaway in Cowboys 27-20 win
Shifting the Overshown window: a major takeaway in Cowboys 27-20 win reidhanson The Overton Window is known as the shifting spectrum of government policies that are deemed acceptable by the masses. What seemed crazy one year ago might now seem perfectly fine today. It’s achieved by changing circumstances and/or desensitization to the public. DeMarvion Overshown has produced his own shifting window. When the Texas product was first drafted by the Cowboys in 2023, he was player without a clear and obvious position. At 6-foot-2, 220-pounds, he played a safety-linebacker hybrid role in college and projected to play something similar in the NFL. After missing his rookie season to a season-ending injury, Overshown has been used largely as a linebacker in 2024. Yet day by day, he’s seen more and more opportunities to showcase the special talents other linebackers don’t possess. In the Cowboys’ 27-20 win over New York on Thanksgiving, Overshown has successfully normalized an abnormal role on the Dallas defense. As the best weapon not named “Micah Parsons,” Overshown is an elite weapon blitzing up the middle, playing in the box, dropping into coverage, and playing off the edge. He’s become the player a defensive coordinator schemes for. He’s become a player offensive coordinators scheme against. 12 weeks ago, using Overshown as a regular pass rusher seemed like an absurd thought. A player built for the secondary didn’t have much business playing on the line of scrimmage. But Mike Zimmer’s infamous double A-gap blitz provided him a perfect opportunity to showcase his skills. He did that and more this season, logging 17 pressures and five sacks prior to Week 13. He trails only Parsons in the sack department this season and added another pressure, interception and touchdown to the ledger on Thursday. It’s no longer a crazy proposition to use Overshown as a regular pass rusher, be it from the edge or up the middle. The Overshown window has shifted where the absurd have quietly become the expected. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Blocking improving but Cowboys RBs must take things to another level
Blocking improving but Cowboys RBs must take things to another level reidhanson The Cowboys are starting to see some return on their investment. Over the offseason they invested heavily in their offensive line, dedicating their first-round and a third-round pick to the unit. After some significant growing pains melding the new pieces into the machine, the unit is starting to show some signs of life in the run game. Even with the constant shuffling of personnel along the line, Dallas ranks eighth in run block win rate. While Zack Martin is the only individual high performer of the group, the unit as a whole has been producing solid results. In a single point failure area like run blocking, team success is paramount. It only takes one error for the entire play to be blown up. A study conducted by Pro Football Focus concluded a running play in which all blockers received positive grades produces a 60.2 percent success rate while a block with one or more negative grades offers just a 25.7 percent success rate. It carries over in EPA as well, with a positively graded blocking effort producing a +0.27 EPA compared to -0.27 EPA for a run block with one or more negative scores. Shockingly, the Cowboys are currently in the NFL’s top tier in perfect run block rates in 2024. Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle have both been given solid opportunities for positive gains even if the results of the run haven’t shown it. While running games are largely a byproduct of the blocking, at some point it falls on the running back himself to really push it over the goal line (so to speak). Explosive plays in particular are an area in which the Cowboys RBs are struggling. Creating holes and delivering positive gains often falls on the offensive line, but it’s the RB himself who’s largely responsible for making players miss at the second level. Per Sumer Sports, Dowdle’s explosive run rate is 6.3 percent while Elliott’s is just 1.7 percent. For reference, Saquon Barkley is at 11.7 percent and Derrick Henry is at 11.8 percent. It’s a significant difference but Cowboys fans can take solace in the fact the difference between Dowdle and Elliott is far greater than the distance between Barkey/Henry and Dowdle. Based on a side-by-side statistical comparison it’s clear the Cowboys made the right move giving Dowdle the top spot and pushing Elliott into a supporting role. Dowdle hasn’t just shown he’s the best of the bunch in Dallas but that he’s a legit NFL starter. When Dowdle is getting the ball, the Cowboys are producing at a top 10 success rate (filtered for those with 70+ carries). Nontraditional ball carriers in Dallas are also producing at high clip. Hunter Luepke (66.7%), KaVontae Turpin (40.0%) and CeeDee Lamb (38.5) are posting decent success rates behind this Cowboys offensive line as well. The Cowboys haven’t fixed their issues with run blocking, but they are clearly moving in the right direction and better than what some want to credit them for. What this offense needs now is some extra juice from the ball carriers themselves and some more assistance from downfield blockers like receivers and tight ends. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
