Cowboys open as 2.5-point underdogs on road for NFL Week 5 against Steelers K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys are underdogs for the third time in five weeks as they prep to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. After taking out the New York Giants, the Cowboys are back on the road again, heading back to the east coast. Meanwhile the Steelers stubbed their toes for the first time this season, falling way behind the Indianapolis Colts and unable to complete their comeback. With Justin Fields now entrenched as the Steelers starter, the Cowboys will have to prepare themselves for yet another mobile quarterback after getting gutted by Lamar Jackson in Week 3 but containing a healing Daniel Jones in Week 4. Who will emerge victorious? Here’s how the Vegas sharps see things shaking out. Opening Point Spread: Cowboys +2.5 Relying on Bet MGM’s odds, the Cowboys are road underdogs. Many people feel that home-field advantage is an automatic three points before a spread is adjusted for the quality of the team. That isn’t always the case. Based on historical trends, some team’s home-field advantage is adjusted up or down. When reading spreads, the team that is favored is referred to as “giving points.” The Steelers are 2.5-point favorites, so in order to win a bet The Steelers have to win by at least three points. The Cowboys are referred to as +2.5. Spread History in 2024 LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 02: The betting line and some of the nearly 400 proposition bets for Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos are displayed at the Race & Sports SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on February 2, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The newly renovated sports book has the world’s largest indoor LED video wall with 4,488 square feet of HD video screens measuring 240 feet wide and 20 feet tall. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) The Cowboys were +1 road underdogs in their opener and beat the Browns by 16.  They were 6.5-point favorites at home over the Saints and lost by 25. In Week 3 Dallas was +1.5 and lost by three. On Thursday Dallas was favored by 5.5 and won by only five. The Cowboys are 1-3 against the spread. The Steelers are 3-1 against the spread; their lone loss in Week 4 as they were 2.5-point favorites against the Colts but lost outright. They were 2.5-point favorites in Week 2 and Week 3 and respectively won by seven (@Broncos) and 10 points (vs Chargers). The one time they were underdogs was in Week 1, by four points, and they beat the Falcons by eight. Over/Under opens at 42 The Over/Under is the guesstimate of the total amount of points to be scored by both teams. For instance if the final score of Sunday’s game ends up being 23-20, then an Over bet would win because 43 total points were scored. If the final score was 21-20, then the Under bet would win based on a total of 41 points being scored. Over/Under History in 2024 Dallas had blown the O/Us out of the water. Week 1 was expected to be a defensive struggle, but they and the Browns combined for 50 points, 8.5 above the 41.5 water level. In Week two the O/U was set for 47 and the teams combined for 63 total points. In Week 3 the O/U was 47.5 and Dallas and Baltimore combined for 53 points. In Week 4 the Cowboys and Giants combined for only 35 points. The Steelers have been in defensive struggles the first three weeks, hitting the under as they combined for 28, 19 and 30 points respectively. That went out the window in Week 4 combining for 51 points, clearing the 41-point O/U handily. Cowboys Money Line is currently set for +110 The Money Line is a simple win-or-lose bet. If someone thinks one team will win, but they don’t want to give or take any points, they bet on them “straight up.” Dallas’ moneyline is +110. The Steelers’ moneyline is -130. If someone bets on a favorite the ML will be negative, an underdog, positive. All bets are spoken of in terms of wagering an even $100. A bet of $130 on Pittsburgh to win outright would result in getting that back, plus winning an additional $100. If someone were to wager $100 on the Cowboys, then they would get their $100 back, plus $110 in profit. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb fined over $20,000 for this heady play Todd Brock CeeDee Lamb had a rough outing back on Sept. 22 in the Cowboys’ loss to the Ravens. His costly fumble in the red zone contributed significantly to an overall collapse that eventually had the team down by 22 points before they were able to stop the bleeding. Lamb all but checked out entirely after the miscue and was even seen having heated exchanges on the sideline with teammates and coaches. Thursday night’s win over the Giants, in which Lamb posted seven catches for 98 yards and a score, certainly helped put the previous weekend behind him (he also apologized for his behavior), but it turns out he’s not done paying for his Week 3 performance. Per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the NFL has fined Lamb $22,511 for unnecessary roughness on a play that didn’t draw much attention when it happened. On the final play of the first quarter, Lamb hauled in a short pass from quarterback Dak Prescott at about the Baltimore 20. He spun away from cornerback Nate Wiggins and broke for the end zone. At the 10, as linebacker Trenton Simpson wrapped him up from behind, Lamb met safety Kyle Hamilton head-on. Literally. The league has determined that Lamb used his helmet illegally on the play, even though the moment didn’t draw a penalty flag from the officials on the field. The hit doesn’t seem particularly noteworthy, even when viewed in replay. Yet the official rulebook specifies: “It is a foul if a player: lowers his head and makes forcible contact with his helmet against an opponent; or uses any part of his helmet or facemask to butt or make forcible contact to an opponent’s head or neck.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Cowboys safety Markquese Bell was also fined- $5,500- for unnecessarily rough use of his own helmet in the same game. League officials were on a bit of a rampage after Week 3, with 34 plays from across the league drawing fines totaling over $394,000. Several players were docked even more than Lamb; Packers running back Josh Jacobs was hit with a $45,020 fine and Chargers defensive back Derwin James was dealt a one-game suspension, both for roughness (helmet) incidents. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys injury update: Parsons out until bye, Lawrence to IR K.D. Drummond Things have been a little cryptic about what to expect from the injury tent. During Thursday’s 20-15 win over the New York Giants, the Cowboys suffered a couple of injuries to key defenders. Both starting edge rushers, Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence suffered foot injuries. X-rays came back negative, but those only show broken bones. MRIs the next day gave a clearer picture, but the club hasn’t been forthcoming about the extent of each injury. Fans did hear that Parsons suffered a high-ankle sprain, but Lawrence’s diagnosis was a little more cloudy. On Sunday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided some clarity. Parsons is out for at least 7-10 days and Lawrence is headed to IR with a mid-foot sprain. The Cowboys will turn to a combination of players to replace the duo, led by rookie Marshawn Kneeland. Also in the mix will be veterans Carl Lawson and Chauncey Golston. Lawson is currently on the practice squad and has used up two elevations thus far, with one remaining. Dallas may need to go outside the organization for depth help. If so, the list of potential street free agents is headlined by former Cowboys DE Randy Gregory. The list of potential trade candidates is led by former Eagle Haason Reddick, who has refused to report to the New York Jets after being traded their this past spring. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

The Dallas Cowboys are already back at home, resting up on a Week 4 minibye before getting back to work on Tuesday. In the meantime, there are 15 games on the NFL schedule for this weekend, including another Monday Night Football double-header to keep fans entertained. The slow start to the season, a 2-2 record courtesy of wins over two teams widely considered in the bottom third of the league, now dives into an extremely difficult stretch of games. Facing Pittsburgh, Detroit, San Francisco and Philadelphia with just a bye week and Kirk Cousin’s Falcons sprinkled in, is daunting. It means that Dallas is likely going to need some help to get into prime playoff positioning. From here until the end of the season, we’ll go through the contests and weigh in on which victor would benefit Dallas the most, and who we actually think is going to win. Later on in the year, the rooting guide will be centered around more specific impacts to playoff chances but for now several allegiances will be based on super-scientific vibes. Game: New Orleans (2-1) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-2) Kickoff: Sun 1pm Rooting Interest: Falcons – lost to Saints, need better record for tiebreakerPrediction: Saints Game: Cincinnati Bengals (0-3) @ Carolina Panthers (1-2) Kickoff: Sun 1pm Rooting Interest: Panthers – Bengals have intriguing Fire Sale parts Prediction: Panthers Game: Los Angeles Rams (1-2) @ Chicago Bears (1-2) Kickoff: Sun 1pm Rooting Interest: Bears – may be more likely to fade down the stretch Prediction: Rams Game: Minnesota Vikings (3-0) @ Green Bay Packers (2-1) Kickoff: Sun 1pm Rooting Interest: Packers. Prediction: Vikings Game: Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) @ Houston Texans (2-1) Kickoff: Sun 1pm Eooting Interest: None Prediction: Texans Game: Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) @ Indianapolis Colts (1-2) Kickoff: Sun 1pm Rooting Interest: Steelers. Rather them hot than mad they were upset in W5. Prediction: Steelers Game: Denver Broncos (1-2) @ New York Jets (2-1) Kickoff: Sun 1pm Rooting Interest: None Prediction: Jets Game: Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) Kickoff: Sun 1pm Rooting Interest: Bucs Prediction: Bucs Game: Washington Commanders (2-1) @ Arizona Cardinals (1-2) Kickoff: Sun 405p Rooting Interest: Cardinals Prediction: Cardinals Game: New England Patriots (1-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (1-2) Kickoff: Sun 405pm Rooting Interest: Patriots Prediction: 49ers Kickoff: Sun 425p Rooting Interest: None Prediction: Chargers Game: Cleveland Browns (1-2) @ Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) Kickoff: Sun 425p Rooting Interest: None; both have spare parts Dallas can use. Prediction: Raiders Kickoff: Sun 820p Rooting Interest: Ravens. Strength of Schedule tiebreaker bump. Prediction: Ravens Game: Tennessee Titans (0-3) @ Miami Dolphins (1-2) Kickoff: Mon 730p Rooting Interest: None Prediction: Titans Kickoff: Mon 815p Rooting Interest: Seahawks, want Lions to be filled with doubt. Prediction: Lions

DeAndre Hopkins headlines 5 AFC South trade targets Cowboys must ask about before NFL deadline K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys need help. Sure, they were able to stem the tide with their 20-15 win over the New York Giants on Thursday, but things are far from righted. Dallas has two victories on the season, over two teams that, as currently constituted, don’t seem very capable of winning many games. They played two teams which look like contenders and were blown out. Through four games, clear deficiencies have appeared. There’s little depth behind All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb. The running backs are moving behind a work-in-progress offensive line and aren’t breaking tackles. The defensive line doesn’t appear capable of stopping a top rushing attack. Add it all together and what does it spell? Trade for help. Picks are a commodity for the Cowboys more so than most teams. That makes it unlikely they want to part with any unless the price is in their favor. But with four comp picks on deck for 2025, perhaps the Cowboys would be willing to part for any of these players who could help. We first examined the AFC North for help, where entering the weekend, three of the four teams are below .500. The same can be said about the AFC South, with only the Houston Texans looking like legitimate playoff contenders. That means the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans might be willing to part ways with soon-to-be free agents in exchange for draft compensation. Here are five players the Cowboys should make calls about, to see if there may be a trade that can be worked out. WR DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) Hopkins is dealing with yet another underdeveloped quarterback and the veteran simply doesn’t have that much time left in his career to waste. Now in his 12th season, he bounced back in 2023 to haul in 75 catches and surpass the 1,000-yard plateau for the seventh time in his career. Getting him to Dallas would solve the issues Dallas has had with Brandin Cooks, although the two aren’t similar in size or role. Pairing Hopkins with Lamb and TE Jake Ferguson would give the Cowboys an imposing arsenal at Dak Prescott’s disposal. DT Taven Bryan, Indianapolis Colts Christine Tannous USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images Bryan has been a part-time starter since coming into the league in 2018 and is set to hit free agency next summer. He’d be a nice rotational pickup who could log some time at either position despite not being the prototypical size for a Mike Zimmer DT (6-foot-4, 291 pounds). DE Dayo Odeyingbo, Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (54) Sitting behind Kwity Paye in the rotation, Odeyingbo has notched 13.5 sacks across the last two seasons. In Dallas, he may be helpful as a rotational 3-tech as opposed to an edge player, but he certainly offers more in both departments over draft classmate Chauncey Golston. RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] This one’s more likely a pipe dream, but closed mouths don’t get fed. The Jaguars owner said he expects to win now and the team is winless. They drafted an impressive Tank Bigsby last year and perhaps they’d be interested in recouping a second-round pick for a talented back that will require a second contract before the club gets good again. If things fall down further in Jacksonville, the Cowboys should be prepared to make an offer for the exciting dual-threat runner with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons and who’s under the fifth-year option for 2025. RB D’Ernest Johnson, Jaguars  Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images More than likely the Jaguars are going to hold on to Etienne, so if rebuffed Dallas should focus on the backup’s backup in D’Ernest Johnson. He’s proved his worth as a depth piece over the years with a strong 3.07 yards-after-contact per attempt metric throughout his career, including 4.29 this season, albeit on only seven carries through Week 3. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Amari Cooper headlines 5 AFC North trade targets Cowboys must ask about before NFL deadline K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys have, temporarily, stopped the bleeding. Playing on short rest, it wasn’t a pretty exercise defeating the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football in Week 3. They paid a steep price, too, losing both Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence to lower-extremity injuries and likely for multiple weeks. Beyond those injury issues, the Cowboys have other needs as well. There has been very little contributions to the passing game beyond All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, and although they were able to shut down the Giants’ run game, it’s been less than a week since they allowed 464 combined rushing yards across two games. There is a need to improve the roster and they should consider trading to do so. The Cowboys extended both QB Dak Prescott and Lamb before the season started, opening up a large amount of 2024 cap space to make in-season moves. If they are so inclined, Jerry and Stephen Jones have over $25 million of space to bring in help from the outside. Blessed with a minibye to sit back and watch other teams operate, it makes sense to identify teams which may be looking to cut bait on players in exchange for draft picks. Picks are a commodity for the Cowboys moreso than most teams. That makes it unlikely they want to part with any unless the price is in their favor. But with four comp picks on deck for 2025, perhaps the Cowboys would be willing to part for any of these players who could help. Our first look is at the AFC North, where entering the weekend, three of the four teams are below .500. The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-0, but both Baltimore and Cleveland are 1-2 and the Bengals are winless. The Ravens aren’t going to stay bad, so the focus of these trade offers will be on Cincinnati and the Browns’ talent. WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) Higgins is currently playing on the franchise tag as he and the Bengals were unable to work out an agreement all summer. Playing on the fifth-year option, he’s earning $21.8 million a year, so he’d cost Dallas a large chunk of their remaining space at $1.2 million for each week left in the season when acquired. But the Bengals are struggling, already at 0-3 for the year. If they don’t win a few games in a row, the season is lost and it would make perfect sense to give up Higgins for a fourth rounder in 2025. The kicker? The two-time 1,000-yard receiver be a free agent rental that will likely get his next team a 2026 third or fourth-round comp pick. DT BJ Hill, Bengals  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) Another potential Bengal to keep an eye on is interior defensive lineman BJ Hill. Hill is the player Dallas was hoping Jordan Phillips was, a 310-plus three-tech with pass-rush and run-stopping ability. The 2018 Giants’ third-round has three different seasons with at least 4.5 sacks. DE Trey Hendrickson, Bengals Denny Medley-Imagn Images Likely a non-starter, but the Cowboys have a need at the position. This becomes more true if Lawrence is out for much of the season as the team has been a bit cryptic on exactly what is wrong with his foot. Hendrickson is a similar build to Lawrence, though a more prolific sack artist and not as good at setting the edge. He’s not the best fit as he has only played on the right side, Parsons’ side, and rarely kicks inside. He’s also signed through 2025 and won’t be a free agent like the others on this list, but he’s too good of a talent to not ask about if the Bengals go Fire Sale. WR Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper celebrates after scoring on the team’s first drive during the first half against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. Cooper made waves this summer, threatening a holdout and got the final year of his contract (originally written by the Cowboys) guaranteed. But if the Browns continue to flounder, perhaps the Cleveland front office would bite the bullet and send him back down south. Cooper had a career high in yards in 2024, 1,250, and would make a great compliment to Lamb; they’ve proven what they could be as a duo already. DT Quinton Jefferson, Browns Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Jefferson is a traveling veteran three-tech who just signed with the Browns for about $4 million in the offseason. A lost season means he should be able to be acquired for little draft compensation and would help in a rotation in Dallas. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Studs and Duds: Cowboys must extract more from Brandin Cooks or change offensive ingredients Mike Crum An ugly win is better than a loss any day, but this particular Thursday night game was even more hideous than most games on short weeks. The Dallas Cowboys survived a division road trip, a 20-15 win over New York, by having a bend-but-don’t-break defense that held the Giants out of the end zone all five times they got into Cowboys territory. That included two trips into the redzone. Many will downplay this win, but after playing a physical Baltimore Ravens team, then traveling, surviving to get to 2-2 is a positive outcome. Dallas still has too many issues with players not playing well and multiple injury concerns. They aren’t tackling well, there are too many penalties, and they rely too much on great play from their quarterback, Dak Prescott. However, the team did have some new contributors step up and play like Studs, and their top weapon bounced back from a poor performance against the Baltimore Ravens. Studs: QB Dak Prescott Sep 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) while playing New York Giants in the 1st half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images The Cowboys did not play winning football against the Giants. They had 11 penalties, allowed over 35 minutes of time of possession, rushed for only 3.5 yards per attempt, and converted on third down only three times in 10 tries. The reason they won this game is because Prescott played an unbelievable game. Prescott completed 22 of his 27 attempts for 221 yards, two touchdown passes, and had no turnovers. Prescott had an incredible 21.2 completion over expected (CPOE) percentage, with only one threat at receiver, no rushing game, and an average offensive line. Dallas has to find a way to not lean on stud performances from their QB. The scheme isn’t doing enough to get people open. The defense doesn’t get nearly enough stops so field position is almost always an issue, and penalties are crippling drives. Asking Prescott to routinely overcome those obstacles against better opponents isn’t viable. Duds: WR Brandin Cooks Sep 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (3) runs with the ball against New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images One of the reasons there was hope for improvement for the 2024 Cowboys offense was that Brandin Cooks was coming into his second year with the offense. He only has eight receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in four games. CeeDee Lamb had a more productive night against the Giants than Cooks has had all season combined. He only had a single reception on four targets versus New York. He isn’t getting separation and isn’t an impactful player in the offense. Jalen Tolbert has outperformed Cooks with 10 receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown. Cooks had success last year running crossers and was often open on deep routes, but the hitches and curls this season haven’t been working for him. Studs: WR CeeDee Lamb Sep 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) celebrates after a a touchdown against the Giants in the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Lamb had another poor second half, mainly because the Giants controlled the ball, but his first half was so elite that he was a stud on that alone. He was left in single coverage on one play all night, and Prescott hit him for a 55-yard touchdown. He caught seven of his eight targets for 98 yards and that long TD reception. He has 107 yards after the catch over expected, the most in the NFL. Lamb is also the best running back on the team, he has three runs more than 10 yards, more than all of the running backs combined. Lamb needed to bounce back. He was a dud in the game against the Ravens for his play on the field, his attitude, and his effort. He came back with a vengeance. Duds: Passing defense EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 26: Trevon Diggs #7 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after an injury during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 26, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) Dallas, at one point, was down to their sixth and seventh cornerbacks, so they have a built-in excuse for their poor play. DaRon Bland and Caelen Carson were both out with injuries. Andrew Booth Jr. was benched after a bad start, and Trevon Diggs had to leave for a short time with cramps due to dehydration. Add poor play from Malik Hooker and especially Donovan Wilson, and even Daniel Jones can have a good game throwing the ball. Jones completed 29 of his 40 attempts for 281 yards, and his only turnover was on a Hail Mary to end the game. He completed 12 passes to convert a first down and hit two different receivers with double-digit receptions. Malik Nabers brought in 12 receptions for 115 yards, and Wan’Dale Robinson added 11 for 71. Jones should not be able to control the game through the air like that. Studs: 2023 draft class Jul 30, 2024; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (13) during training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys’ 2023 draft class had nearly no impact in their rookie season, but Thursday was a possible breakout game for a few of those guys. DeMarvion Overshown was hurt all 2023 but looked like a potential star. He tied for the lead with six solo tackles, but the most impressive thing about his game was how he tackled the Giants two top playmakers in the open field. He tackled