No one seriously expected the Dallas Cowboys to win on Sunday afternoon. Even with backup Kenny Pickett under center for the now 13-3 Eagles, Philadelphia was universally considered the far better team in this late season matchup. It was supposed to be an easy win for the Eagles. With playoff hopes already eliminated, fans had different goals for their team in Week 17. Most truly appreciated the relentless effort the Cowboys had shown in recent weeks, but fans also wanted to see some long-term solutions. And in many areas, they got their wish. Overall, the Cowboys looked good in their lopsided loss to Philadelphia. For as counterintuitive as that is to say, the players Dallas hoped would play well, generally did play well. The players who played poorly, Cooper Rush and Andrew Booth just to name a couple, were players who were never supposed to be playing in the first place. They’re unlikely to return in 2025 and therefore inconsequential to the big picture. Offensive line validity Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports As a unit, the Cowboys offensive line started clicking late this season. There was concern it was a byproduct of poor competition rather than an indication they improved. Sunday didn’t show them dominate but it showed they can be starters in this league, and that the late season success witnessed wasn’t an illusion as some had feared. For as dysfunctional as the musical chairs along the Cowboys offensive line has been, it has somehow worked for them. The Eagles, billed as a measuring stick game for the likes of Brock Hoffman, Cooper Beebe and Tyler Guyton, validated the Cowboys young unit. It’s a reason for optimism heading into the offseason. Travelin’ Bland Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports In this day age many top flight cornerbacks prefer to play one role on the defense. They prefer to play either the right or the left and either inside or outside. Very few are willing to take on the challenges of traveling for the sake of matchups. DaRon Bland has no problem traveling. Understaffed at the CB position, Mike Zimmer wanted his best CB on the Eagles best receiver as often as possible. His ambidextrous approach kept him matched up on A.J. Brown all afternoon, and for the most part, he did well. Forced to play on an island because safety help needed on Booth’s side, Bland kept Dallas in the game and solidified the former All Pro as a cornerstone on defense.   Dowdle for real (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Not many people believed in Rico Dowdle when the 2024 season began. He was widely expected to be the starter, but since he wasn’t overly accomplished or loaded with potential, expectations were modest. What Dowdle’s done in 2024 is show he’s not only a legit starting RB in this league, but a darn good one at that. Dowdle’s speed, power and contact balance make him a valuable asset for Dallas. His pass protection and hands make him an every-down back. The 2025 free agent is going to start somewhere next season, but will it be Dallas? WR progression . (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) One of the main goals this week was to see if any of the Cowboys young WRs could show out against this impressive Eagles secondary. Mission accomplished. Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and Jonathan Mingo each flashed big plays on Sunday. Tolbert, three receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown, was busy making the case he deserves to keep his WR3 spot next season. Brooks, one big jump ball catch for 12 yards, showed he’s someone who can make tough catches in big situations. And Mingo, a maligned trade deadline pickup in 2024, showed he can make critical catches if just given a catchable ball. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Draft pick ramifications . (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) The loss also protected the Cowboys from dropping up to three draft slots with a meaningless win. While this may sound like loser mentality it’s really just focusing on the bright side of a bad situation. The 2025 NFL draft class is considered one of the weaker classes in years. The number of first round worthy picks could be as few as 14 this year. Dropping from 12 to 15 could mean the difference between a bona fide building block or just another rotational player.

It’s time for the first Mock Offseason projection for 2025. Despite winning four of their last six games, the Dallas Cowboys are in trouble as a franchise. After three years of strong regular season performances followed by disappointing playoff outings, the damn broke on the regular season. Not only did the franchise exit the gate with a thud, but the relative injury luck the team has enjoyed as deteriorated with disgusting results. Already, two key members of the defense are going to miss a significant portion of next year. LB DeMarvion Overshown and CB Trevon Diggs, who both missed all or most of 2023, are going to miss all or most of 2025. The injuries are a mask, though. This team was broken to begin with, even when relatively healthy, and that’s why fans should hope Jerry Jones doesn’t make the mistake of retaining head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy’s tenure was on its last legs because they have been unable to overcome their nerves in the playoffs. The team fighting like crazy even though the season has long been over doesn’t erase those shortcomings. The injury losses for 2025 are on top of a long list of impact players set to become unrestricted free agents and before conversations need to be had about several starters who probably need to be upgraded. It’s going to be a long several months for fans as this team which has a problem with opening their wallets in the first place tries to navigate out from under what will likely be their first sub-.500 season since 2020. The first step will be to determine what the coaching staff looks like, and then to move on to players to fit their scheme. We’re here to help. Head Coach Hire: Joe Brady, current Bills OC Jan 8, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady poses for a picture with fans prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports In our most recent Mike McCarthy Replacement Rankings, Brady wrestled the No. 1 spot away from Detroit’s Ben Johnson, so we roll with him in our initial mock offseason. Brady runs a passing offense that is huge on pre-snap motion (66% this year) and a West Coast attack, which Dak Prescott has run under McCarthy. The run game is a zone scheme, which has worked in Dallas in the recent past. Brady’s first order of business is bringing in a defensive coordinator, and for that we’ve pegged Dennis Allen. Allen was the DC in New Orleans when Brady cut his teeth in the NFL as an assistant. As DC in New Orleans, he stewarded a top unit that led to him succeeding Sean Payton as head coach. Re-Sign Own Free Agents CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys takes the field before playing the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) Who Walks: DT Osa Odighizuwa OG Zack Martin LB Eric Kendricks WR Brandin Cooks QB Cooper Rush RB Ezekiel Elliott P Bryan Anger Who Returns: RB Rico Dowdle DE DeMarcus Lawrence QB Trey Lance CB Jourdan Lewis DL Chauncey Golston DE Carl Lawson WR KaVontae Turpin (RFA) Safety Markquese Bell (RFA) Safety Juanyeh Thomas (ERFA) Center Brock Hoffman (ERFA) Outside Free Agents: Offense Dec 11, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches the ball during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports LT Alaric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams – sends Tyler Guyton to right tackle, the position he played in college and ends the experiment on the left side. WR Darius Slayton, New York Giants – a speedy pairing with good size to add to the mix opposite CeeDee Lamb. Slayton, Turpin and Flournoy gives a solid core in addition to anything Jonathan Mingo provides. Outside Free Agents: Defense Aug 18, 2018; Carson, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Poona Ford (97) looks on during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports DT Teair Tart, Los Angeles Chargers DT Poona Ford, Los Angeles Chargers LB Elandon Roberts, Pittsburgh Steelers CB Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints Draft Needs Aug 20, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (left) talks with vice president of player personnel Will McClay before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports If the above haul and defections were to take place, then Dallas would be left with some wiggle room at several positions. The depth chart would be fine at quarterback, the starting OL would be missing a guard with Brock Hoffman penciled in as the replacement-level starter. Running back would need help. Wideout and tight end could be upgraded but wouldn’t have to see a premium pick. On defense the edge rush position is secure and the DT spot could use a dog to headline a decent rotation. Linebacker will always need bodies but has starters with Liafau and Roberts. The secondary, as always, could use more bodies, but there’s nothing egregious here after Adebo is added as a stop-gap for Diggs for a year. 4-Round Mock Draft Sep 14, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; LSU Tigers offensive tackle Will Campbell (66) warms up before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images 1.13: OG Will Campbell, LSU TRADE DOWN: 2.45, 6.187 to Pittsburgh fo 2.57, 3.89 2.57: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon 3.77: WR Jalen Royals, Utah State 3.89: HB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech

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.

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

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 Week 17 matchups in Philadelphia about measuring sticks and legitimacy reidhanson It’s difficult to zero in on one particularly interesting storyline this Sunday. After weeks of breaking down key matchups, laying out compelling narratives and discussing long-term ramifications, the Cowboys find themselves in a no-win situation in Week 17. Already eliminated from the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys aren’t playing for much these days. Last week against the red-hot Buccaneers Dallas proved their pride, perseverance and discipline in their 26-24 upset win. It was a potential turning point game for CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, with the two superstars stepping up big in both character and leadership. In a way it was a high point for Dallas this season, and with Lamb now out for the year, it doesn’t leave much else to prove for Week 17. Playing the spoiler always holds some value and there’s no better team to spoil than that of the Eagles. But spoiling the Eagles may also help other rivals like Washington, Green Bay and Detroit, so how much fun would beating the Eagles really be and would that justify the ramifications in the draft? For as much as sports purists want to avoid the topic, there is a significant cost that comes with winning on Sunday. It could mean dropping as many as three draft spots. Presumably picking in the teens, that drop could be significant since there may be as few as 14 players graded as first round talents this draft cycle. What Sunday’s matchup with Eagles offers is a good opportunity to weigh the legitimacy of the Cowboys’ improved play. Philadelphia is a highly talented football team, even without Jalen Hurts in the lineup. Back when the Cowboys were busy cutting costs the last two offseasons, the Eagles were busy loading up. Now nearly every corner of the Eagles’ roster is rock solid, meaning many of the Cowboys’ starters will have their work cut out for them. Testing Dallas’ offensive line against a solid defensive line such as Philadelphia’s will be must-see-TV in film review. The Eagles highly talented secondary against the Cowboys’ underachieving pass catchers will be extremely helpful in offseason roster building decisions as well. How players perform in their individual matchups will either legitimize the Cowboys recent success or expose it as nothing more than success against inferior opponents. Week 17 has taken on preseason appearance in this way. The final score isn’t as important as the individual assessments made across the roster. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

If the plan is to keep McCarthy, the team can do things to improve and strengthen his chances of succeeding Mike Crum When the Dallas Cowboys were humiliated at AT&T Stadium by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 wild-card round, most people believed head coach Mike McCarthy would be fired. But he was brought back. By Week 11 this year, it seemed all but cemented. The Cowboys lost to the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, 34-10, falling to 3-7 on the year. The coaching search had begun in the media and amongst the fan base, but then Dallas had a resurgence. The Cowboys have gone 4-1 since, with the lone loss being on a muffed punt return after a blocked kick. This has led many to speculate McCarthy should return and get a chance to get over the playoff struggles with a healthier team. If McCarthy does return as the head coach and play-caller, what can the front office do to improve their chances of winning in 2025? Bringing back defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer seems simple enough, but it is an enormous key to the Cowboys contending next year. Zimmer has lost his top four defensive ends, has only had his top three corners together for a single game, and lost playmaking linebacker DeMarvion Overshown for the season. Still, Zimmer has continued to improve the defense. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith has raised his PFF run grade from 30.6 in weeks 1-9 to 70.5 in weeks 10-16. The defense has forced a turnover in eight straight contests, the most since 2018. The percentage of Dallas penalties called on the defense have dropped from over 40% in 2022 and 2023 to under 30% this year, and they run the best third-and-long defense in the NFL. The issue will be whether Zimmer wants to come back to coaching in Dallas next season, if at all. He told reporters how hard this year has been and was noncommittal about his future when asked. The other thing the Cowboys will need is a better supporting cast around quarterback Dak Prescott. The offensive scheme for McCarthy doesn’t match up with Sean McVay, Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, or Ben Johnson. The rushing attack is less creative and the passing game doesn’t help to create separation like those more modern offensive schemes. To overcome that, they need to overload their talent. The first step would be to develop Jonathan Mingo or Ryan Flournoy into an outside receiver who could make impact plays down the field and give a big target for slants, hook, and curl routes or sign a veteran free agent to do so. Then, they need to add explosiveness to the rushing attack. Rico Dowdle or an equivalent veteran can run the ball up the middle and take the punishment like the Detroit Lions use David Montgomery, but they need a big play threat like Jahmyr Gibbs. The team needs players to take pressure off of CeeDee Lamb, and an outside receiving threat and more explosive running play are necessary for McCarthy’s offense. The offensive line and tight end room could improve organically just from growing together. Rookie center Cooper Beebe went from a PFF grade 55.4 in the first six weeks but improved to 71.6 from weeks 7-16, the seventh overall ranked center in that time. Tyler Guyton is another rookie with talent at offensive tackle. Tyler Smith was an All-Pro but only 23 years old, so he has room to improve. Jake Ferguson has had a down year statistically, but he will be in a contract season and the team has plenty of young potential behind him. A naturally improving OL and tight end room, with extra weapons and a returning Zimmer to run the defense, are the base elements for a chance at a contender with McCarthy returning for a sixth season. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

How to buy Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys NFL Week 17 tickets Nick Wojton Few rivalries in the NFL top the battles within the NFC East division, perhaps none larger than the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. That matchup is on deck during the NFL’s Week 17 slate. The Cowboys (7-8) have had little to play for in recent weeks. Dallas has been eliminated from the 2024 postseason and their slew of injuries this year never helped. Even so, knocking down their bitter rival on the road would be a strong way to finish the season. Shop Eagles vs. Cowboys tickets For the Eagles (12-3), the NFC East title is theirs with a win over the Cowboys. In addition, the Birds will look to keep pace with the Detroit Lions (13-2) for the No. 1 seed in the NFC postseason as well. But Philadelphia will likely have to do all that without Jalen Hurts (concussion). Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett would take the reins with everything on the line. The game kicks off on Sunday, Dec. 29, at 1:00 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field. Don’t miss out on your chance to see it in person. Act soon to catch this epic clash as only limited Eagles vs. Cowboys tickets are still available. How to buy Eagles vs. Cowboys NFL tickets On top of all the postseason factors, these two did battle in Week 10. The Cowboys will want revenge for that 34-6 loss. At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys are $140. Shop Eagles vs. Cowboys tickets 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.