Cooper Rush can actually manage the game Geoff Burke-Imagn Images In last week’s loss, we learned that quarterback Cooper Rush couldn’t carry the offense to a victory. Having Rush throw too much while ignoring the running game was a recipe for disaster. McCarthy learned from his mistake and the game plan against the Commanders featured more of the rushing attack. The run-pass splits were more evenly dispersed, and Rush responded with a strong game, going 24-32, throwing for 247 yards and two scores. This was the quarterback who had played so well and won five of his first six starts with the Cowboys; he was in control and comfortable in the pocket, taking what the defense was giving him. Rush played mistake free and didn’t turn the ball over, which is the path to victory with a backup QB. When Rush has help and manages the game, he can be a winning player. The 32 passes and 28 rushing attempts were a recipe for pulling off the upset. McCarthy’s team still has some fight Patrick Smith/Getty Images Over the last five weeks, it was hard to see the fight in these Cowboys, but that wasn’t the case in the Week 12 win. McCarthy’s team showed resilience by taking the negative plays and pushing through against a good Commanders team. Bad teams usually don’t fight, force three turnovers and sack the QB four times. Or hold one of the better offenses to just nine points through three quarters. Teams that have given up don’t allow an opponent to narrow the gap on a double-digit lead to a one-score game late and then return a kickoff for a touchdown. Answering scores with scores is something good teams do. Bad teams do have poor effort on 86-yard touchdown plays when all they have to do is make one or two tackles to win the game, but that didn’t stop the Cowboys from finishing off the game with a second kickoff return for a score in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys had ample opportunity to pack in the game, and the season, in Week 12, but they didn’t. McCarthy’s team fought for him and the win, which shows they haven’t quit on their lame duck coach. KaVontae Turpin is special Peter Casey-Imagn Images For the second week in a row, the Cowboys got a lift from KaVontae Turpin. In Week 12, the big contribution came on a play he began by botching the kickoff. After a touchdown to make it a one score game late, the Commanders had time to get a stop and get the ball back with a chance to tie or win the game. After fumbling the kick, Turpin made a spin move and then found daylight for a 99-yard return for a touchdown and put the Cowboys up 10 points late. Turpin also had two other big returns to give the Cowboys good field position, providing the offense with a boost. The pint-sized return man continues to make plays when the balls in his hands, and Turpin puts the special in Dallas’ special teams. Makeshift offensive line holds up well Geoff Burke-Imagn Images When it was announced the Cowboys would be without their two starting guards due to injury, very few people could have expected the offensive line would play so well. Yet the makeshift unit held up in a tough matchup against a Commanders defense that has a formidable pass rush. Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass acquitted themselves very well at starters, as did Asim Richards, who was sent in for left tackle Tyler Guyton in the second half after the rookie was called for a few penalties. Rush was only sacked once and was rarely pressured. The Cowboys have drafted offensive linemen in the premium rounds recently, but it was a couple of undrafted free agents and a fifth-round pick that helped lead the way. Young players step up Peter Casey-Imagn Images There’s a saying in the NFL that goes “next man up” and the Cowboys embodied that mantra in Week 12. With several veterans out, a team that was undermanned turned to their youth to step up and beat the Commanders, and they came through. Young tight ends Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford had nice outings, which included a Schoonmaker 22-yards core. Third-year wide receiver Jalen Tolbert had a touchdown as well. The aforementioned young offensive line came through, as did Josh Butler making his first start at cornerback. Butler had a team-high 12 tackles, had three passes defensed and his game included a sack. Safety Juanyeh Thomas had a solid game on defense, and he also had a touchdown on special teams, while Israel Mukuamu sealed the win with an interception. There were some young players who made a name for themselves and stated their case for more playing time even when the injured players return. Jerry Jones continues to talk about needing the young players the step up, and the Cowboys got that in the Week 12 win over the Commanders.

This Cowboys specialist has punched his ticket to Pro Bowl in Week 12 K.D. Drummond It hasn’t been a particularly fun season for the Dallas Cowboys and their players. Starting out 3-2, the club lost several contributors over the first month of the season and that led to a cascading record that turned into 3-7. Along that five-game slide, QB Dak Prescott was lost for the year and the season went down the drain. From an individual perspective it becomes hard for players to stand out amongst the sullenness of the organization, but Sunday’s electrifying win allowed one player in particular to emerge from the doldrums. Return specialist and (unfortunately only) part-time receiver Kavontae Turpin punched his ticket to the Pro Bowl. VOTE FOR THE PRO BOWL HERE In the game’s fourth quarter, Dallas extended their lead to 20-9 when Cooper Rush found Jake Ferguson wide open over the middle for a 22-yard score. Cowboys fans are used to the bottom falling out from under any positive play, and sure enough the Commanders offense woke up and they quickly marched down the field to score their own touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff with three minutes remaining and a 20-17 advantage, Washington’s Austin Seibert kicked it off to Turpin in the field of play at the five-yard line. Turpin muffed it; the ball squirted through his hands and legs to the goal line. But then, magic. Turpin scooped up the ball at the one, turned back upfield and saw magic in the middle. He went into Madden spin mode at the nine-yard line and it was dust. Turpin has long been the victim of opposing teams not kicking in his direction. After returning this punt for a touchdown opening week, it’s been a ton of frustration as kickers are choosing hang time instead of distance to make sure he doesn’t get a good opportunity to embarrass them. Turpin’s opportunities are limited. He has only returned 31 on the season and has now scored twice, and is the only NFL returner with both a kick and punt return score this season. Turpin is actually the only player in the NFL with a kick, punt and catch touchdown each at least 60 yards, and has three plays where he’s reached speeds that rank in the top 10 across the league. Starting to be mentioned with some of the best return men in NFL history through less than three seasons, Turpin is a lock to make this year’s Pro Bowl and it’s only Week 12. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

‘The seas parted’: Cowboys’ unlikely hero could build off key TD catch Todd Brock Facing 3rd-and-5 from just outside the red zone, nursing a slim 13-9 lead with five minutes and change to play, the Cowboys offense was hoping for a dagger. A field goal- no sure thing this past Sunday- would extend their margin, but it would keep Washington within a single score. The Commanders, understandably, focused on CeeDee Lamb, far and away the primary target within the Dallas passing attack all afternoon and season. Instead, Cooper Rush went a different direction, arcing a pass down the middle of the field to a wide-open Luke Schoonmaker. He had to extend his six-foot-five-inch frame and even leave his feet just to collect the throw, but the moment proved to be massive. Not just in the Week 12 win, but maybe within the tight end’s football life. “Well, the seas parted, right? I just needed to catch the ball,” he explained to reporters after the Cowboys’ thrilling 34-26 win. “Gosh, I didn’t even know what to do after that moment, but it was the best feeling.” Schoonmaker’s score- his third catch of the afternoon and the third touchdown of his career- actually marked the first touchdown reception for a Dallas tight end all season. “Someone needed to get a touchdown this year, so it was great to have that for the room.” The Michigan man implied he was doing it for his position mates: third-stringer Brevyn Spann-Ford, practice squadder Princeton Fant, and John Stephens Jr., who’s been on injured reserve since last month, as well as Jake Ferguson, the concussed starter he was subbing for on nearly two-thirds of the offense’s Week 12 snaps. “That’s what’s great about the room, is the competition and the chemistry,” Schoonmaker continued. “Every day, we’re going out there. Lunda [Wells, Cowboys tight end coach] is working us hard as ever. Just credit to him for each and every one of us, just taking the practice field to the game field, and that’s certainly helped everybody rise to the occasion and not have any dropoff at all.” But coming through in that fourth-quarter gotta-have-it moment could well prove to be a turning point in Schoonmaker’s young career trajectory. Since Ferguson went down in the first quarter of last week’s game with a concussion, Schoonmaker has been tasked with stepping up. And he’s made the most of his newfound opportunities: in 87 offensive snaps over the past two games, the 26-year-old has caught nine of 14 targets for 111 yards (by far his most productive two-game stretch as a pro)… and Sunday’s all-important score. “It’s one thing to make plays,” head coach Mike McCarthy said of Schoonmaker in his postgame press conference, “but when you start making big plays, critical plays in games, it’s a whole different level, a big chunk of confidence.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Of course, Sunday’s fourth-quarter score ended up not being the definitive death blow that the Cowboys were looking for; there were five more insane minutes of football- and another 31 points still to be rung up- before the final gun. “I didn’t even want to watch at some points,” Schoonmaker said of the final flurry of back-and-forth action. The backup tight end still wasn’t thinking of his own individual growth even after the Cowboys pulled out the improbable win; he was far more excited about the team coming together- even as a mostly-ragtag bunch of injury replacements- to snap a five-game losing streak. “That’s really what was said last night going into today, like, ‘Let’s get a win. Let’s play all together and everybody have each other’s backs, and let’s play this whole game.’ What a way to win today. Just the contribution all around was amazing.” Schoonmaker’s timely contribution was huge, and just maybe a foundation to build on for the 2023 second-round draft pick who’s been used sparingly over just 28 regular-season games. His career numbers- 25 receptions for 232 yards- certainly don’t look like those of the game’s top tight ends. He’s already labeled a bust by a contingent of the fanbase who expects every Day Two selection to be an instant star. But for right now, it’s one game, one day, one rep at a time for Schoonmaker, who was thankful that his one touchdown of 2024 came when it did. “Oh my gosh. Just to win felt amazing,” he grinned. “The fact that we won just kind of takes over everything else. That felt great. Took a little breath, and now we forge forward.” The suddenly-buoyed Cowboys… and an emerging Schoonmaker, too. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

How to buy 2024 Thanksgiving NFL tickets dylanreffe Thanksgiving means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but one thing sports fans can all agree upon is that Thanksgiving means football. As has become custom, there are three NFL games taking place on Thanksgiving this year. Thursday will be busy as the Detroit Lions host the Chicago Bears for first game of the day, the Dallas Cowboys welcome the New York Giants for the late-afternoon game, and finally the Green Bay Packers take on the Miami Dolphins for the nightcap. Limited tickets are still available to all three games. Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears tickets The red-hot Detroit Lions will face Caleb Williams and the hard-luck Bears at 12:30 on Thursday. If you thought Thanksgiving in Detroit used to be a party, wait until you experience this fan base when the team is good. As of publication, the cheapest Detroit Lions Thanksgivng ticket was priced at $256. Shop Lions vs Bears Thanksgiving tickets Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants tickets While some might say a matchup between backup quarterbacks brings little to the table, we think a Thanksgiving nap is overrated. As of publication, the cheapest Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving ticket was priced at $56. Shop Cowboys vs Giants Thanksgiving tickets Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins tickets Thursday’s nightcap could sneakily be the best game of the day. The Packers are 8-3 and coming off a nice win against the 49ers, and the Dolphins appear to have righted the ship. Miami is very much alive in the AFC playoff hunt but they need to keep winning in order to remain so. As of publication, the cheapest Green Bay Packers Thanksgiving ticket was priced at $94. Shop Packers vs Dolphins Thanksgiving 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.

Which player can’t be trusted among major takeaways from Cowboys’ 34-26 win over Commanders reidhanson It’s a game that virtually no one gave Dallas a chance to win. The 3-7 Cowboys were in a freefall, losing five of their last five and on pace for a top-10 draft pick. The Commanders entered 7-4 with eyes on the playoffs and a shot at the division. It was supposed to be a mismatch and snoozefest and for most of the day it was as boring a game as there was in the NFL. Neither team looked good enough for the postseason on Sunday afternoon. The first half, in particular, was an exercise in ugly. Miscues and unforced errors ruled the day as both offenses floundered early with the teams going into halftime tied at 3. But things soon opened up and chaos ensued with 54 of the game’s points scored in the second half. After winning 34-26, the Cowboys have plenty of takeaways from the Week 12 affair and they aren’t all positive. CB Josh Butler may be someone to build around Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports In a losing season, finding out which players can be part of the future and which cannot is one of the top tasks for any front office. Josh Butler’s performance at the cornerback position was something to build on for 2025. Butler showed all things fellow CB Caelen Carson struggled to show in the weeks prior. He showed an ability to play with the boundary, he was able to play off coverage and crash in and make tackles with reliability, and he was able to turn his head and track the ball on deep throws. It was an inspiring effort. Jourdan Lewis is the defensive MVP . (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) One of the very few internal free agents the Cowboys re-signed last offseason was nickel CB Jourdan Lewis. It wasn’t met with much fanfare but it was one of the best decisions the front office made last March. Lewis is the heart and soul of the Cowboys defense in 2024, mixing in coverage savvy with run-stopping ability. Lewis is the complete package and has been playing the best ball of his career this season. Assuming the price is right, Lewis is someone the Cowboys should look to retain again in 2025. SNAFU central Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports SNAFU (situation normal: all “fudged” up) perfectly describes the 2024 Cowboys. Even when things start going well the Cowboys find a way to muck up drives and scoring opportunities with the first half serving as a perfect example. Dallas messed up scoring opportunities with snafus like a blocked field goal, a missed field goal, a Rico Dowdle fumble, a fumbled shotgun snap and a blocked punt. It was a comedy of errors and an illustration of how Murphey’s Law is out to get the Cowboys this season.    [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Defense starting to click . (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Mike Zimmer is known for his complicated playbook and high demands, so it’s been no wonder the Dallas defense has struggled so much this season. On a defense that’s severely lacking interior talent and is riddled with injuries, bad play isn’t just likely, it’s expected. In Week 12 things appeared to start clicking for the Cowboys defense. Maybe it was inevitable or maybe it’s just Fool’s Gold from an overrated Commander’s offense, but the Cowboys looked legit on Sunday. Cowboys need a real WR2 Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Jalen Tolbert has been hot and cold for Dallas all year. Expected to play WR3 behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, Tolbert was thrust into the No.2 role in Week 5 after Cooks was lost to injury. In that time Tobert has made good and bad plays on a somewhat regular basis. It’s hard to envision Tolbert ever jumping up into a real WR2 role and with Cooks slated to leave in free agency, finding a No. 2 should be a top priority for the Cowboys front office this offseason. Related articles Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Twitter, social media reacts to Cowboys-Commanders pulling off this crazy NFL first K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders pulled off an NFL first on Sunday. In their Week 12 matchup, the special teams ineptitude between the two rival franchises was so thick, they managed a level never before seen, so it’s only right that it turned into two different special teams touchdowns in an epic fourth quarter. Dallas entered the final stanza holding a slim 10-9 lead before the two sides combined for 41 points, including kickoff returns of 99 and 43 yards to keep the Commanders at bay. It’s the first game in NFL history where teams had two missed extra points, a blocked punt and two kickoff returns. That doesn’t even take into account a blocked and two other missed field goal attempts. Somehow, Dallas escaped Washington with their fourth win of the season, 34-26, to snap their five-game losing streak. As expected, fans were besides themselves in trying to wrap their minds around what they saw on their screens. Here’s a few safe-for-work social media reactions from Twitter and BlueSky. Me to my Day 1s: youtube.com/watch?v=bqce… [image or embed] — KD Drummond (@kddrummondnfl.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 5:19 PM Death and the Child, by Edvard Munch, 1899, 📸 via @SportsCenter [image or embed] — ArtButMakeItSports (@artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 4:40 PM WE GET A SOUNDS OF THE SIDELINES THIS WEEK!!! [image or embed] — Dana B (@day-nuh-bee.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 4:30 PM “Hey, you wanna come on my podcast this week?” – Micah, probably — sarcasmpowered.bsky.social (@sarcasmpowered.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 4:28 PM [image or embed] — Patrik [No C] Walker (@voiceofthestar.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 4:27 PM I don’t want to be a prisoner of the moment, but I can’t remember EVER watching a game like that in my life. Not ever. #Cowboys #Commanders — Patrik [No C] Walker (@voiceofthestar.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 4:43 PM This was quite the note from the FOX broadcast about the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders game on Sunday [image or embed] — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 5:23 PM came to steal the dub 📜 [image or embed] — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 5:23 PM Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

With four teams on a bye in Week 12 (Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets), the AFC is working at three-fourth capacity. The NFC is missing two sourthern teams, Atlanta and New Orleans, from their slate this weekend. It’s a light schedule for the networks as far as must-see TV. Still, it’s the NFL and there’s rarely a week where there’s a complete dearth of intriguing matchups. The primetime world lives in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, with the Rams hosting the Phiadelphia Eagles Sunday night and the Chargers hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Monday. The early Sunday window is highlighted by the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs having a get-right opportunity when they visit the surging 3-7 Panthers after their undefeated streak snapped vs Buffalo. Three division leaders all play below .500 teams while the Dallas Cowboys (3-7) take on the Washington Commanders. The afternoon window features the struggling San Francisco 49ers trying to stave off revenge from Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers. Here are all of the coverage maps, complete with the broadcast teams for each, courtesy of 506 Sports, along with all of the ways to watch DAL-WAS. National Broadcast Games for Week 12 Thursday Night: Cleveland 24, Pittsburgh 19 (Amazon)Sunday Night: Philadelphia Eagles vs LA Rams (NBC)Monday Night: Baltimore Ravens vs LA Chargers (ESPN) Fox Early Games RED: Dallas @ Washington | Joe Davis, Greg Olsen BLUE: Minnesota @ Chicago | Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston GREEN: Detroit @ Indianapolis | Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma How to Watch, Stream Cowboys-Commanders TV Channel: FOX Broadcasters: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady FoxSports.com streaming Fox Sports App: Android | Apple Sunday Ticket on YoutubeTV Weekly, if your internet browser and comp’s GeoLocation shows you are within the normal viewing area of the Cowboys (or their opponent), you can also live stream the game.Live stream FuboTV (free 7-day trial) Local Broadcasts: Fans with IPTV services that broadcast local stations should be able to find one of the affiliates from an area that will see the game. Fox Late Game Window RED: San Francisco @ Tampa Bay | Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady BLUE: Arizona @ Seattle | Adam Amin, Mark Sanchez CBS Game Map – Early and Late Windows combined RED: Kansas City @ Carolina | Ian Eagle, Charles Davis  BLUE (late game): Denver @ Las Vegas | Kevin Harlan, Trent Green  GREEN: Tampa Bay @ NY Giants | Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Jason McCourty YELLOW: New England @ Miami | Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta ORANGE: Tennessee @ Houston | Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, Jay Feely Cowboys vs Commanders Radio Stations, Ref Assignment Satellite Radio Channels Cowboys Stream: Sirius 381, Internet 808Commanders Stream: Sirius 231, Internet 831 Local Radio Channels Cowboys: 105.3 The FanCommanders: BIG 100 (WBIG-FM)

Is Brandin Cooks playing today? Injury news update for Cowboys wide receiver K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys will once again try to put a halt to their losing streak, which has now reached five games. This time, they’ll go against division rival Washington as the Commanders have bubbled up under new head coach Dan Quinn to a 7-4 record. With no Dak Prescott to steward the ship, the team turns to Cooper Rush for the third straight game, amidst hopes the coaching staff can unlock the offense; something they’ve failed to do so far this season. WR CeeDee Lamb has been trying to hold things together on offense, without much help. Brandin Cooks struggled to begin the season and when he went for a knee inspection following the team’s Week 4 win in New York, it appeared an explanation was available. Only Cooks suffered an infection in that doctor’s visit and ended up on IR. This week the club opened his 21-day practice window in hopes of activating him for Week 12. Despite being given the designation of questionable, that will not happen just yet. Cooks was not activated from IR on Saturday when the team did so with OL Chuma Edoga and DE Marshawn Kneeland. Cooks is a pending free agent following the season. He had a mediocre first season with Dallas in 2023, catching 54 passes for 657 yards, but scoring eight touchdowns. This season has been a total failure for the 11-year veteran. Through four games he had just nine receptions for 91 yards and one score. Cooks has six career 1,000-yard receiving seasons across his career. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

It’s just not going to be the Cowboys year in any way shape or form. Already teetering on the brink of disaster, the club received a couple doses of additional bad news on Saturday. After declaring the first questionable and the second doubtful, the team ruled out both RG Zack Martin and CB Trevon Diggs from Sunday’s Week 12 matchup with the Washington Commanders. Martin’s absence was expected, but losing Diggs means that once again, Cowboys fans came tantalizing close to finally seein the boundary cornerback duo of All-Pros with DaRon Bland finally set to make his season debut. Bland’s debut also comes along with the return of two others who were activated from IR on Saturday. OL Chuma Edoga (toe) is expected to make his season debut, and rookie edge Marshawn Kneeland (knee) will play for the first time since Week 5. The Cowboys sent safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) to IR to help create space on the roster, and then waived DE KJ Henry. Dallas also elevated two players from the practice squad, TE Princeton Fant and CB Kemon Hall. Got all that? Here’s a look at the complete roster ahead of Sunday’s action. 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 (out) Luke Schoonmaker Brevyn Spann-Ford Princeton Fant (elevation) Wide Receivers (6) Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) walks the field before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images CeeDee Lamb 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 Chuma Edoga Asim Richards Matt Waletzko Offensive Guards (3) Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) runs through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Zack Martin (out) Tyler Smith 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 Brock Hoffman 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 (4) 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 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 DeMarvion Overshown Damone Clark Marist Liufau Buddy Johnson Nick Vigil Cornerbacks (7) 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 Trevon Diggs (out) DaRon Bland Jourdan Lewis Caelen Carson Israel Mukuamu Josh Butler Kemon Hall (Elevation) Safeties (3) 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 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

Running out of gas among 3 things Cowboys will love about Commanders Ben Grimaldi There’s no love lost between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders, but the Week 12 matchup doesn’t have the same feel when there isn’t much riding on the game for both teams. It hasn’t been that way in quite some time, as the Cowboys have been getting the best of their opponents recently. That won’t be the case in this contest, as the Commanders are ahead in the NFC East standings at 7-4 and are inside the current playoff race. The Cowboys, on the other hand, are in a different race, for a top 5 draft pick. That’s something the fans want, but Jerry Jones shies away from. The organic tank is on for the Cowboys, yet these are professional athletes who won’t back down from trying to win. Sadly for Team Tank, Mike McCarthy’s team does have a path to winning the Week 12 meeting, as there are things to love about playing the Commanders. Can’t stop the run Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Here’s a rare place where the Cowboys and Commanders are actually competing in 2024; the race to see whose defense is worse against the run. Mike Zimmer’s defense currently holds the title, allowing 151 yards per game on the ground, while the Commanders give up 150.5 yards. That half-yard is all separates the Cowboys in 31st place in the league, just one spot ahead of their rivals in 30th. The Commanders have given up 13 rushing scores this season, good for eighth-worst in the league, and they allow five yards a carry, third worst in the NFL. If the Cowboys ever wanted to establish the run, this would be the game to do it. The offense hasn’t had much opportunity this season to run the ball efficiently, but the Commanders will give it up on the ground and it could be a big part of the Cowboys pulling off the upset in Week 12. It’s a defense that’s struggled against the run, but the Commanders have been getting out to leads in the first half, making their weakness less of a factor. If that sounds familiar, it was the same script when Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator in Dallas. If quarterback Jayden Daniels and Quinn hadn’t won seven games, much more would be made of the team’s inability to stop the run. Perhaps McCarthy can make his old DC pay by beating him how Quinn used to get beat when he was with the Cowboys, by keeping the game close and attacking the Commanders with the run game. Bad second half team Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Commanders have been one of the best first half teams in the NFL through 11 games, but they have been fading in the last 30 minutes, especially on defense. In the first half, Joe Whitt’s defense has been allowing only 8.4 points a game, which is fourth best in the league. However, that number jumps to 13.7 in the second half, 25th worst in the game. In the fourth quarter, it’s gotten even worse recently, where the Commanders are giving up 13 ppg in the last three games, which ranks 31st in the league over that span. Offensively the Commanders have been steadier in their half splits, but they still have a drop-off in their scoring. In the first half of games, Kliff Kingsbury’s group is scoring 15.4 ppg, which is second-best in the NFL. During the final 30 minutes, Washington averages 12.6 points, which is tied for eighth. In their last three games, however, the Commanders are scoring just nine points a game in the second half, so their offense is slowing down. The Commanders look like a team that gets out to good starts and falters in the second half. If the Cowboys can stay close, they might have a chance at beating their rivals on the road. Bad red zone defense Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports The Commanders’ defense has been good enough to help the team get to 7-4, but they have one of the worst red-zone defenses in the league. Washington allows touchdowns on close to 67% on their opponents’ trips inside the red zone, which ranks 27th in the NFL. Dallas’ problem has been their efficiency when getting the ball inside the 20-yard line. Their offense is next to last in scoring touchdowns when they get into the red zone, but the Commanders could be the elixir for the Cowboys’ red zone woes. Playing against a defense that gives up touchdowns instead of field goals is a welcomed sight for the Cowboys. If they want to beat their rivals in Week 12, the Cowboys need to take advantage of any red zone trip. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.