Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Todd Brock Mr. Claus, if you’re reading this before your sleigh is fully loaded up for this year’s ride, you may want to grab a bigger trophy case to drop off for Brandon Aubrey. He’s quickly running out of space in his current one. The Cowboys kicker has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his four-field goal performance in Sunday night’s 26-24 win over the Tampa bay Buccaneers. Incredibly, all four boots came from 49 yards or beyond. Aubrey won the weekly award twice last season as a rookie. He won the monthly version of the award for September of this season, as well in both October and December of last year. The second-year phenom nailed kicks of 49 and 53 yards on Sunday night, as well as two from 58 yards in the Week 16 win. That gave him 14 so far in 2024 from 50-plus, the most in league history from that distance in a single season (although Texans specialist Ka’imi Fairbairn has 13 and could theoretically be the recordholder by season’s end). Per NFL.com, Sunday marked just the fourth time ever that a kicker has converted multiple field goals from 58 yards or longer, and Aubrey’s done it two of those times. The 29-year-old seems a strong contender to be named to his second Pro Bowl and could bring home a second straight All-Pro nod. He is a perfect 28-for-28 on PATs and has connected on 85.7% of his field goal tries this season, including a remarkable 87.5% on attempts from 50 or longer. Aubrey drilled a 66-yarder earlier in the season, the second-longest in NFL history. He tried one from 70 yards in Week 15 but sailed the attempt wide left. Coaches blamed windy conditions at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium for the miss and believe 70 yards is within Aubrey’s range. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Aubrey’s long-distance efforts Sunday gave him back-to-back seasons with 10 or more field goals from 50 yards or beyond, the first time that’s ever happened. Additionally, he has now attempted more field goals -42- in a single season than any kicker in Cowboys franchise history. And he still has two more games on the regular-season schedule. That’s plenty of time for Aubrey to rack up a few more trophies for the case. Maybe you’d better make it an extra large, Santa. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys’ UDFA projected as replacement for $100 million, former 1st-round pick with Vikings K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys may have a surprise bidding war on their hands come next spring. When the 2024 season started, everyone pointed to the pending free agency of players such as Zack Martin, Osa Odighizuwa and DeMarcus Lawrence. Brandin Cooks was identified as a potentially key exodus as well, and fans were hopeful Rico Dowdle would prove to be a commodity. Prior to the regular season, there were heart palpitations over the fact Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb were on the final year of their deals; the ordeals taking up most of the ink spilled over the summer. Because of that, Trey Lance’s pending free agency was a topic as well. But one name that didn’t much matter to most folks was the pending free agency of Cooper Rush. That may have all changed. After once again proving that, although not very dynamic, Rush has what it takes to drive a talented ship toward victory. He has a ton of faults, but Rush’s quick processing and release have allowed him to once again be a long-term replacement for an injured Prescott and keep the Cowboys afloat. After Sunday night’s 26-24 win that knocked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of the NFC South driver seat, despite his own club being eliminated from the playoff chase earlier in the day, Rush has secured the title of capable backup. Rush is now 4-3 on the season and 9-4 overall as an NFL starter. The seven-year vet has now become a quarterback teams can win with, and teams that are breeding young QBs of various expectations love QBs like Rush. So much so, Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department identified Rush as a replacement for soon-to-be Pro Bowler Sam Darnold in Minnesota. The big question facing Minnesota’s front office this offseason is what to do with Sam Darnold, who has played well enough to earn a new contract and be a starter in 2025. However, the organization also invested a first-round pick in J.J. McCarthy last spring. If the club lets Darnold walk to make way for McCarthy, signing Rush as a backup in free agency would be a smart move. That gives the young quarterback a good mentor, and the 31-year-old has plenty of starting experience to fill in when needed. Darnold has been balling this year, his first with Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings. Through 15 games he’s shattered his career highs with 3,776 passing yards and 32 touchdowns to the tune of a 105.4 passer rating. Minnesota’s situation is very interesting in that they invested a premium draft pick and the head coach is a known QB guru. Darnold, according to Spotrac, is in line for an annual salary of $35.4 million on the free agent market. At just 27 years old, the former first-round pick of the New York Jets is likely going to command a solid QB contract on the open market. Unless he’s forced into a prove-it deal, he’ll land at least a three-year run which means a contract value of at least $100 million.

Studs, duds as Cowboys get it out the mud in win over Bucs Mike Crum The Dallas Cowboys knew they had been eliminated from the playoffs before they even kicked off. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were trying to stay on top of the NFC South and had everything to play for, but the Cowboys came out early and took control of the game. With their offensive performance led by Cooper Rush and CeeDee Lamb, Dallas got ahead by two scores on the first two drives and took that lead into the half. The defense took over in the second half, keeping the Buccaneers from making a comeback on the final drive to steal the victory from Dallas. Tampa Bay had six second-half possessions, and the Cowboys forced two turnovers and two punts while only allowing a high-powered Buccaneers offense to score 10 points. This was a complete victory for a team so injured it could’ve thrown in the towel weeks ago. Dallas had plenty of stud performances to choose from, with its offensive production in the first half and its big defensive plays in the second. There were enough bad performances to clean up though, so it doesn’t cost them a win in the final two contests. Studs: WR CeeDee Lamb Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) runs after catching a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Lamb is stepping up in a big way, not just as one of the best receivers in the NFL but also as one of its toughest players. Players play hurt all the time, but they typically are trying to make the playoffs or attempting to sign a big-money contract. In Lamb’s case, he was paid before the season began, and the team was eliminated from playoff contention before kickoff. He also has hit his significant statistical milestones for the season, but he continues to play and take hits with a shoulder injury. Lamb hardly played in the second half due to his injury, but he put up great numbers despite not seeing the field much after halftime. He was targeted eight times and caught seven for over 100 yards. On the opening drive, Lamb converted a 3rd-and-2 which led to a field goal. Later, he caught a 52-yard reception on a 3rd-and-4, which ended in a touchdown. Lamb passed Jerry Rice for fourth place in yards from scrimmage in the first five seasons of their career; he only needs 158 yards in the final two games to move to second on that list. He also passed Drew Pearson for fourth on the Cowboys all-time receptions list. Lamb has shown leadership in Dak Prescott’s absence just by playing well when he could sit out anytime with a significant injury. Many other players are playing through the end of this season because they are young and proving themselves or on one-year deals, but Lamb is doing it for his teammates, his coach, the fans, and the love of the game Duds: Second half offense ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) The Cowboys took control early with an excellent offensive performance in the first half. Dallas scored on five of their six drives, scoring 23 points without any involvement from the rushing attack. Tampa Bay has a bottom-five passing defense, allowing over 350 yards per game, but in the second half, they bounced back to shut down the Cowboys. Rush had minuscule numbers in the second half, throwing 8-for-11 for 66 yards, and the team put up only three second-half points. After an opening drive field goal, Dallas had a five-play-and-a-punt and three straight drives ending as three-and-outs. The defense had to create two fourth-quarter turnovers to keep the Buccaneers from making a comeback from down nine with less than three minutes left in the contest. It is one of the issues the Cowboys have had under head coach Mike McCarthy, even with Prescott being healthy at quarterback. The team cannot put games away relying on its offense this season, and it nearly cost them against Tampa Bay. Studs: QB Cooper Rush Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) reacts after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Rush played his best game this season and did almost all his damage in the first half. He went 26-for-35 for 292 yards and a touchdown, with zero turnovers. He had a QB rating of 108.3 and had his first game of the season with a positive completion percentage over expected. It was Rush’s fifth-highest passing total of his career. His first half was one of the best performances of his career. He led five scoring drives, throwing 18-for-24 for 226 yards and his sole TD. If that were his totals for the entire game, it still would’ve been his third-most passing yards this season behind only the 247 against the Washington Commanders and the 354 against the Houston Texans. While the second half wasn’t as successful, Rush’s first-half performance would be enough to be stud-worthy and help earn his team another victory. Duds: Rushing attack ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) The Cowboys’ rushing attack stepped up last month. Rico Dowdle performed like Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley over the past three games. He is the only back all year to eclipse 100 yards rushing in three straight games while maintaining an average of over five yards per attempt. Over the past four

Jerry Jones, NFL plotting on NBA’s turf, Christmas games just the beginning angeltorres Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is already in the Hall of Fame for turning millionaires into billionaires with his business acumen and branding, but it looks like he may add another achievement under his resume with his latest proposal. On his weekly radio interview on 105.3 The Fan, Jones hopes the NFL will make the NFL Christmas Day games a permanent fixture no matter the day of the week. The NBA has traditionally showcased its best slate of the year on Christmas with some anticipated matchups yet it looks like they might get Scrooge’d by the NFL on one of the year’s highest “households using television” or HUT-level days of the year. Jones and the NFL struck a deal with powerhouse streaming provider Netflix on a three-year deal that will show two Christmas games for the cool price of $150 million. The $75 million per game price tag must mean the Cowboys are on a short list of teams that would generate enough viewership to make it worthwhile. Christmas lands on a Thursday in the 2025. This may not be the finish line for Jones and his 31 colleagues. If the league plans to market the game globally, an 18-game season may provide the NFL a reason for adding two bye weeks, giving players enough time to rest after playing in a different country. The extra regular season game could hypothetically push the Super Bowl a week allowing it to land on President’s Day providing viewers the opportunity of a day off the following Monday. That’s more bad news for the NBA as that holiday had become the date they used to host their All-Star weekend and festivities. With the NFL eyeing a move towards a global product, Jones may have inadvertently revealed the NFL’s long-term plans. Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!

All three Cowboys units put on a show Sunday night in their 26-24 win over Tampa Bay. For the offense, it was Cooper Rush’s red-hot start and CeeDee Lamb’s courageous battle through a painful injury. Defensively, a long list of standouts brought the lumber and delivered big hits throughout the game. And on special teams, kicker Brandon Aubrey continued his assault on both the NFL and Dallas Cowboys franchise record books. But with the good always comes at least little bit of bad and usually a smidgen of ugly. The Cowboys let Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers work their way back into the game on multiple occasions, usually at the end of a half when they could have just as easily kept their foot on the gas. And the recently-revived rushing attack suffered a serious setback that now makes the success of the past three weeks look more like a bad-opponent blip than a true turnaround. But a win is a win, and although the Week 16 victory is bittersweet in light of the team’s official ouster from playoff contention, there’s still plenty of good, bad, and ugly to be found once you look past the final score. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Good: Defense delivering the lumber Mathematically eliminated from postseason contention several hours before kickoff, the Cowboys could have been excused for simply going through the motions Sunday night. But the defense chose instead to take out their frustrations on anyone wearing pewter-colored pants. Marist Liufau, Micah Parsons, Donovan Wilson, C.J. Goodwin, and Amani Oruwariye were among the Cowboys who made sure they got in a few good swings of the hit stick during the Week 16 win, delivering dynamite blows and flying all over the field. Several supporting-cast defenders also stood out; Nick Vigil led the unit in tackles, while Chauncey Golston, Linval Joseph, and Carl Lawson all made significant contributions in shutting down the Tampa Bay attack. Bad: Letting Mayfield march downfield late in both halves The Dallas defense didn’t break Sunday night, but they sure got bent over a couple times, letting the Bucs sneak back into the game late in both halves. Up 20-7 with under two minutes to play before intermission, the Cowboys let Mayfield go 71 yards in less than 60 seconds for a key touchdown. (All but four of the yards on that drive came through the air.) Late in the fourth quarter, it happened again: the Cowboys couldn’t stop a nine-play, 87-yard TD march that never even reached third down. (Mayfield was a perfect 8-of-8 passing on that drive… and ran the other 12 yards himself.) If not for that crazy strip by DaRon Bland with 1:40 to play, the defense’s habit of collapsing when it mattered most would have been the story of the night. Ugly: Run game regressing ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) Rico Dowdle came back to down earth in a big way against the Bucs defense. After three straight 100-yard games and back-to-back-to-back career highs versus weak defenses, the new workhorse managed just 23 rushing yards on 13 attempts, averaging a meager 1.8 yards per carry. Tampa Bay’s stingy run-stop unit kept the Cowboys bottled up for 31 total yards on the ground and one touchdown, a one-yard plunge scored by Ezekiel Elliott on his only tote of the contest. The next team on the docket, the Eagles, are statistically about the same this year (if not slightly better) against the run, so the sledding could be tough again in Week 17. Good: Cooper cooking early Some wondered if the Cowboys would turn to Trey Lance in an essentially meaningless game, but Cooper Rush had other plans. He went 6-of-6 passing on his first drive and finished the first half having completed 75% of his 24 throws for 226 yards and a score. (That half alone would have been an all-time top-five outing for him.) Rush and the Cowboys slowed in the second stanza, but the hot start proved enough for the team to just squeak by with a two-point win. The veteran finished with a 108.3 passer rating, tied with two other games for the fourth-best of his career. (And two of those higher-rated games have come in the last four weeks.) Bad: Instead of burning clock, Cowboys nearly blow game When Jourdan Lewis’s incredible goal-line interception gave Dallas the ball with 6:22 to play and a nine-point lead, the thoughts of Cowboys Nation had already turned to milking the clock. The offense’s first possession of the night had eaten up 5:54, and an early fourth-quarter drive killed another 3:53. That kind of time-consuming keep-away effort (i.e., “running the damn ball”) could have ended the drama early, but Dallas chose to come out passing instead. Rush’s surprising first-down attempt to Hunter Luepke instead went right into the bread basket of Tampa Bay linebacker J.J. Russell. What should have been an interception instead stopped the clock and set the tone for a failed drive that ended in a punt just three plays later, having chewed up just 1:39. It’s what- completely unnecessarily- gave Mayfield and the Buccaneers the opportunity to make things interesting at the end. Ugly: CeeDee’s shoulder saga Lamb showed himself to be a true warrior as he continues to play through the AC joint sprain he suffered back in Week 9. Explaining that it’s not the hits from defenders that aggravates the injury as much as hitting the ground, Lamb is putting on a week-to-week show that has become downright painful to watch. Even at less than full strength, he finished with seven catches on eight targets for 105 yards. Many fans were critical of Lamb during his training camp holdout over a new contract, but seeing him literally put his body on the line in games that now mean nothing

Former Cowboys 3rd-round pick projected to replace $21 million free agent with Texans K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys have had to endure a ton of attrition on the defensive line in 2024. Things started off bad in the offseason, worsened in training camp and hit rock bottom during the first month of the season. After losing DL guru and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to Washington, the Commanders new head coach took two free agent defensive ends with him. Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler moved to the nation’s capital, making way for some new blood in Dallas. Only Sam Williams, the third-year DE predicted to breakout with the increased snap allocation, was lost for the season in training camp to an ACL. Then, just four games into the season, Dallas lost four-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence for what is now the rest of the season to a foot injury. In that same game, All-Pro monster Micah Parsons was lost for five weeks to a high-ankle sprain. The following week, rookie Marshawn Kneeland went out with his own knee injury and the barrel was barren. Except for one player, fourth-year pro Chauncey Golston was still around. After being an afterthought through his first three seasons, Golston has stepped up. Entering 2024 with just 3.5 career sacks, Golston has four on the year. His size and skillset allows him to have a role on the end of the line or on the interior. Golston has proven in 2024 that he’s capable of being an integral part of a defense’s plans, not just should lead to some interest on the open market once free agency hit. Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department identified the fourth-year defensive end as someone who could follow in the footsteps of a former teammate and travel down I-45 to land in Houston with the Texans. The Texans have looked to the Dallas Cowboys to fill needs before. They signed Dalton Schultz to become the team’s starting tight end in 2023. It might be time to look to The Star to fill another need in free agency. Chauncey Golston isn’t as well-known as Schultz, but he fills an important role. He has the size to play at both defensive end and defensive tackle, offering flexibility for the Cowboys up front. The Texans could use some of that as they don’t really have a lot of young depth at tackle or end. Signing Golston would help alleviate that issue as he could take over Denico Autry’s role. Autry signed last offseason to a two-year deal worth $21.5 million. The 34-year old has played in just eight games in 2024. Golston was a third-round pick in 2021 out of UCLA. He had started just three games in his career prior to this season.

Cowboys win was a pivotal moment for CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons reidhanson A funny thing happened on the way to Week 16 for Dallas. Sunday afternoon’s game between the Eagles and Commanders officially eliminated the Cowboys from the postseason, and two of the biggest and most polarizing stars in town grew into undeniable leaders within the organization. Despite having “nothing to play for,” CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons played with the level of heart rarely seen under these circumstances in professional sports. The two Cowboys superstars have drawn criticism in the past for things ranging from sideline behavior, to on field body language, to selective effort, to comments and attitudes expressed between games. Legitimate or not many fans have grown weary of such antics and voiced displeasure in two of the biggest franchise cornerstones. It’s unquestionably been a trying season for the Cowboys. Injuries were catastrophic and Dallas’s hope of posting a fourth straight 12-win season was vanquished three days into November. Superstars were lost, homefield felt like a foreign land and disappointment generally reigned supreme. The loss of Dak Prescott to a season ending injury left a power vacuum in the locker room. The Cowboys had other great players but no one with the leadership skills and gravitas of the recovering quarterback. With postseason hopes gone and an uncertain future awaiting the franchise in 2025, the team had every reason in the world to mail it in. Yet in a game that in many ways meant nothing, Lamb and Parsons showed firsthand that, to them, it meant everything. Lamb, physically pained by a shoulder injury, and Parsons, absolutely exhausted carrying the load as edge rusher, showed the grit and determination that harkened back memories of heroes past. The optics of the situation showed Lamb and Parsons grow as leaders on Sunday night. It was a scene reminiscent of the Grinch overlooking Whoville on Christmas Day. It was the kind of growth that doesn’t just go away. It’s the kind of fight, kind of spirit, kind of leadership that can propel a team into a tide turning offseason. To many, Sunday’s win against Tampa Bay meant nothing more than a cruddier draft pick next April. But this win wasn’t just any win. It was a win and a performance that can change the very DNA of a locker room. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Final Stats, best pics from Cowboys’ big win over Bucs despite elimination K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys knew they weren’t making it to the playoffs this season, but they didn’t play like it. Eliminated earlier in the afternoon when Washington pulled out a last-second win over Philadelphia, the Cowboys had no inclination of mailing things in. With no incentive to playing down-roster guys just to help the organization, lame-duck coach Mike McCarthy’s troops put their best foot forward, dominating the still-playoff hopeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys’ defense used relentless pressure on QB Baker Mayfield and unyielding hitting on ball carriers to bully their way to a double-digit lead in the third quarter. Despite letting the Bucs make the game close and have a last chance to win, the Cowboys beared down and left AT&T with their second home win of the season, 26-24. Despite being eliminated from the playoffs, Dallas kept their hope of finishing above .500 alive and improved to 7-8. Cooper Rush played his best game of the season, throwing for 292 yards and only having one egregious head scratcher of a throw. He focused his attention on CeeDee Lamb in the first half as the wide receiver crossed the 100-catch threshold with 100 yards through two quarters. The defense, led by Micah Parsons and a turnover-focused secondary, corralled one of the league’s hottest offenses. Corners Jourdan Lewis and DaRon Bland made huge fourth-quarter plays, ripping balls away from ball carriers to thwart both a touchdown and a game extender with time running out. Dallas will now prepare for their rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. Here’s a look at the stats and some great captures from the wonderful photographers of USA Today Images and Getty Images. Screenshot 2024-12-22 at 11.56.52 PM image gallery Screenshot 2024-12-22 at 11.57.02 PM image gallery Screenshot 2024-12-22 at 11.57.12 PM image gallery Screenshot 2024-12-22 at 11.57.20 PM image gallery Screenshot 2024-12-22 at 11.57.31 PM image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jalen Tolbert #1 celebrates with KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jalen Tolbert #1 celebrates with KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys after catching a pass for a first quarter touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform during halftime of a game against… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform during halftime of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys is tackled by Christian… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys is tackled by Christian Izien #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers short of the goal line during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks Baker Mayfield #6… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball as Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers works to make a tackle during the third quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ryan Flournoy #80 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the third… ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ryan Flournoy #80 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) more image gallery Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22:

Before the Cowboys even took the field on Sunday night their fate had already been sealed. The Commanders’ win over Philadelphia officially eliminated Dallas from the postseason equation in Week 16. The Cowboys, playoff longshots since before Thanksgiving, have shown a tenacious spirit late in this otherwise forgettable season and that didn’t end when told of the official reality. Coming into Week 16 with wins in three of their last four, Dallas was a dangerous opponent with a recently acquired nothing-to-lose attitude. The Buccaneers, 4-0 in their last four, have been even more red hot than the Cowboys. Playing some of their best ball of the season and hungry to stay ahead of the Michael Penix-led Falcons, Tampa Bay had a lot to play for on Sunday night. Turns out playing the spoiler wasn’t a second-class motivation at all for Dallas. After jumping out to an early lead, the underdog Cowboys had no trouble dispatching the Buccaneers in convincing fashion. While the final score shows closeness, the Cowboys were in control most of the night. It doesn’t make much sense, but the results were fair, and the takeaways were poignant. No Rico, no cry (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) It was supposed to be Rico Dowdle’s game to win. Dowdle is coming off the best three game stretch of his career and statistically Cooper Rush has been one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL. If the Cowboys wanted to get in the win column, they’d need Dowdle to take them there. Nobody told Rush that. Rush was story of the night in Week 16. He passed for 292 yards while Dowdle only contributed 23 on the ground. It was a sad ending to Dowdle’s brilliant stretch, but passing was the clear path to victory, no matter how much sense a strong running game meant in theory. Rookie sighting! (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) When the Cowboys selected Ryan Flournoy with the 216th pick in the draft, they assumed he’d be a project player with a strong upside. As a prospect Flournoy was generally seen as an elite athlete with very little refinement. As such, he was a project player who wasn’t expected to do much as a rookie. Nobody told Flournoy that. He might not have lit the world on fire, but Flournoy contributed in a fairly substantial way on Sunday night. The rookie pulled in three balls for 41 yards at an average of 13.7 yards/catch. It wasn’t much but it was something to build on and provided plays downfield that represent clear progress in his development. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Edoga over Guyton Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Chuma Edoga once again received preference over the highly touted rookie Tyler Guyton at left tackle. It’s interesting because the Cowboys entered the game eliminated from the playoffs and focused on tomorrow, yet they still made Edoga the starter instead of Guyton. It’s something to discuss more down the road but why are the Cowboys so sour on starting Guyton? Pride and platitudes (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) The idea the Cowboys are better today than they were yesterday, is both right and wrong. Mike Zimmer certainly deserves his flowers by bringing discipline and accountability to this squad for the first time in maybe five years, but the Cowboys are far from being great without Dak Prescott, and as such, far from being any more than a midlevel team worthy of draft pick in the 12-17 range. This was perhaps the Cowboys’ best game of the season and that’s not an exaggeration, it’s a reality. It may have happened too little too late, but it speaks to the direction of the franchise. Related articles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images