Bengals $7 million bargain defender predicted to cut ties with Cincy, join Cowboys K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys have enjoyed employing one of the league’s top slot corners for several seasons. After escaping the weird-dimension doghouse of former secondary coach and passing-game coordinator Kris Richard, the former Michigan Wolverine has steadily filled his resume with outstanding seasons. However Lewis is on a one-year deal and the eight-year veteran is once again going to be a free agent this coming offseason. If the Cowboys don’t bring Lewis back, which is a huge if considering the status of the coaching staff, then the rebuild may look elsewhere for veteran leadership at the slot. That might make Mike Hilton a top consideration during 2025 free agency. At least, that’s the thought process of Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who predicted the Bengals slot corner would join Dallas next spring. Hilton possesses a tremendous combination of ball skills, awareness, physicality and reactionary speed. He’s appeared in eight games this season, played 67 percent of the defensive snaps and allowed an opposing passer rating of only 69.3 in coverage. An overlooked part of Hilton’s game is his ability to disrupt plays via the blitz. He has recorded 16 tackles for loss since the start of last season and logged a pair of sacks in 2023. Despite his size, Hilton has flashed an impressive ability to work through blocks and disrupt the backfield throughout his NFL career. Dallas has Trevon Diggs signed to a long-term deal and has another year of cheap control of DaRon Bland. Assuming the former continues to recover from his lost 2023 season due to an ACL tear and the latter can get over the foot injury that’s wiped out his 2024 campaign to this point, slot is the only real consideration for the cornerback group in 2025.
Cowboys 53-man roster for Texans in Week 11: IR full of unactivated help
The Dallas Cowboys’ season is close to being written off. With a 3-6 record and facing their fourth and fifth consecutive winning teams over the next two weeks, nothing is expected to get better before it gets worse. There’s a realistic shot the team goes into Thanksgiving five games below .500. Last week, Dallas got a little bit of help back with the return of Micah Parsons. Parsons was one of several players who were injured around the beginning of October who had been absent for a while. Though never put on the Reserved/Injured list, it was known his high ankle sprain would keep him out of the lineup for several weeks. Several other players went on IR around that time, and those players are becoming elegible to be activated this week or next. DE DeMarcus Lawrence, who had a lisfranc injury in his foot, and WR Brandin Cooks, who had a procedure done on his knee, were technically eligible to have their 21-day practice windows activated last week. DE Marshawn Kneeland is eligible this week. Dallas has only won one game since the first two went out and none with all three missing. Wednesday’s practice will be the first official tell. For now, here’s a review of the 53-man roster, 16-man practice squad and the full slate of players on IR. No. 1 WR Jalen Tolbert Jul 27, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Jalen Tolbert (18) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 2 CB Jourdan Lewis Sep 25, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (27) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports No. 4 QB Dak Prescott Dec 10, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) smiles on the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 5 Punter Bryan Anger Dallas Cowboys punter Bryan Anger (5) prepares for the game against the Giants, at MetLife Stadium. Sunday, September 10, 2023 No. 6 Safety Donovan Wilson Wednesday: — | Thursday: — | Friday: — No. 7 CB Trevon Diggs Apr 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs talks to a member of the Mavericks staff during the second quarter of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the LA Clippers during game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports No. 9 WR Kavontae Turpin LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 04: NFL player KaVontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys attends the NFL Pro Bowl Weekend Celebrity All-Star Game 2023 benefiting the charity D Up On Cancer at the Cox Pavilion on February 04, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) No. 10 QB Cooper Rush Wednesday: — | Thursday: — | Friday: DNP No. 11 DE Micah Parsons Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson (11) warms up during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports No. 13 LB DeMarvion Overshown Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (35) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 14 Safety Markquese Bell Wednesday: Limited | No. 15 RB Ezekiel Elliott Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) on the field during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 17 Kicker Brandon Aubrey Sep 17, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) watches his field goal in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 18 LB Damone Clark : Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 19 QB Trey Lance EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Trey Lance #15 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) No. 21 CB Caelen Carson No. 23 RB Rico Dowdle 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) No. 24 Safety Israel Mukuamu Aug 12, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu (24) walks off the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 26 CB DaRon Bland Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) eats a turkey leg after the Cowboys victory over the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Bland was returned to the 53-man roster in Week 9. No. 28 Safety Malik Hooker Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (28) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 29 CB C.J. Goodwin Jan 16, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive back C.J. Goodwin (29) catches a pass for a first down on a fake punt in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 30 Safety Juanyeh Thomas Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) during pregame warm ups against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports No. 35 LB Marist Liufau No. 40 FB Hunter Luepke Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Hunter Luepke (43) during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA
Fatal flaw prevented Cowboys CB from two interceptions in Week 10
Fatal flaw prevented Cowboys CB from two interceptions in Week 10 reidhanson When the Cowboys selected Caelen Carson in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, fans and draftniks alike declared it a steal. The cornerback out of Wake Forest looked like a well-rounded prospect capable of fitting any system and serving any role. As a jack-of-all-trades he didn’t come with an obvious Pro Bowl skillset, but he brought starting ability which is pretty impressive two rounds into Day 3 of the draft. Like many rookie CBs, Carson struggles with consistency. He sprinkles in missed tackles with made tackles and good coverage with bad coverage. All of that is perfectly forgivable for a player as green as Carson but one fatal flaw threatens everything: ball tracking. On at least two occasions on Sunday, Carson had an opportunity for an easy interception. Underthrown passes were there for the taking if only Carson would have just turned his head to locate the ball. Against the Eagles in Week 10, Carson was frequently targeted by Jalen Hurts. Before getting replaced late, Carson gave up five receptions off seven targets. The 108 yards given up by him were 66 more than the next closest Cowboy. It was Carson’s lowest graded day as a pro and a clear setback in his once-exciting trajectory. Ball tracking is far easier said than done and despite many players’ best intensions, some CBs never develop the ability turn and track. It’s this aspect of the game that could make or break Carson in the NFL. Keep in mind, even when in good position and step for step with his assignment, Hurts showed zero hesitation letting loose and airmailing a ball in Carson’s direction. Without showing he could turn and track, the rookie wasn’t a threat to ever put those passes in jeopardy. It offered consequence-free passing and made him a frequent target all afternoon. Carson’s current game is the antithesis of what Trevon Diggs offers at the position. QBs are forced to second guess their decisions throwing Diggs’ way because what he lacks in tight coverage, he makes up for in generational ball skills. He offered proof of this when he made a jaw-dropping interception in the endzone on Sunday. It makes him an asset for Dallas even when he’s not playing the crispest game. If Carson can’t develop the ability to turn and track, he may be resigned to a supporting role in zone schemes. That’s not the worst thing in the world but it pigeonholes a player who was once touted for his versatility and flexibility. 10 weeks into his rookie season and Carson has struggled to live up to the draft day hype. Injuries have relegated the 22-year-old to just five games this year and the action he has seen has been unconvincing and uninspiring for those who once declared him the Cowboys’ steal of the draft. The good news is Carson was thrown into the fire way before any Day 3 prospect should be. If it wasn’t for a preseason injury to DaRon Bland, Carson would have had a much different start to his career. There is still plenty of time for development and that starts with building confidence and playing to his strengths. Pushing Carson back down to CB4 might be the best way to handle this situation because it would allow Mike Zimmer to use him more in Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone situations and less in those pesky Cover 1 looks that asks him to man up. Based on his Week 10 game, he needs steppingstones so he can build his confidence. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys Headlines: Micah, McCarthy make up; CeeDee requests curtains; Romo gets call
Updates: Overshown, Guyton get positive prognosis :: The Mothership Link Tyler Guyton’s neck/shoulder injury kept him out of the lineup versus the Eagles, but it may be cleared up by next Monday in time for the Texans. “He was in this morning early, I think they feel really good about him playing this week.” Stephen Jones said. Asim Richards filled in for the first-rounder on Sunday and played well at left tackle. Report: Cowboys LB gets encouraging update on Sunday’s knee injury :: Cowboys Wire Link The linebacker’s play was one of the rare bright spots in Sunday’s loss, but a knee injury that took him out for a chunk of the game caused concern. Overshown reportedly has a case of bursitis in his right knee. While painful and possibly limiting in terms of movement, it is not believed to be a serious injury. “Treatment and rehab” will be the course of action this week. Parsons makes waves with remarks interpreted as shot at McCarthy’s Cowboys future :: Cowboys Wire Link Asked about the locker room’s feelings on Mike McCarthy and whether he’ll be back next season, Parsons touched off a firestorm, even if it was accidental. “Mike can leave and go wherever he wants,” Parsons said, “but guys I kind of feel bad for is guys like Zack Martin and guys who might be on their last year, on their way out, because that’s who I want to go hold the trophy for. You want to win games and do great things with those type of legends who put in more time and work than Mike McCarthy ever did.” Debate raged Monday over whether the edge rusher’s comments were an inexcusable disrespect of his head coach or just a poorly-worded show of support for the veteran players for whom the window is closing. McCarthy, Micah clear the air on viral comments after Cowboys’ sixth loss :: The Mothership Link McCarthy said he and Parsons sat down Monday, “and we handled those things as men should handle it,” he explained. The coach believes that it was not his edge rusher’s intent to offend him with comments about his job status or the time he puts in doing it. “We’ve got to keep it about football, bear down on the things we know we need to improve on, build off of some of the things we didn’t.” Micah goes after critics after comments :: Bleacher Report CeeDee Lamb wants Cowboys to block sunlight with curtains after drop :: ESPN Link Lamb should have had a second-quarter touchdown grab, and he knows exactly where to lay the blame for coming up empty. He was seen motioning to teammates that the sun had been in his eyes. So would he be in favor of AT&T Stadium using curtains during these late-afternoon fall games? “Yes,” he said unequivocally. “1,000 percent.” Jerry Jones lashes out at question about sun’s glare at AT&T Stadium after Cowboys’ loss :: USA Today Link The Cowboys owner got sarcastic after being asked about the topic that seems to come up every season. “Well, let’s tear the damn stadium down and build another one?” Jones quipped. “Are you kidding me?” He maintains the team is well aware of the sun positioning before every game. “We do know where the damn sun is going to be in our own stadium… Every team that comes in here has the same issues.” Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott explains what he saw on ‘disgusting’ red-zone fumble vs. Eagles :: Dallas Morning News Link Elliott’s return after a one-game benching netted him 22 yards on six carries… and one major miscue. “I think the guy just got his helmet on the ball,” he explained of his goal-line turnover. “I got to go two hands or just can’t, that’s [an] unacceptable fumble in the red zone. It’s disgusting.” Elliott says the support he’s gotten from teammates after being made inactive in Week 9 has meant a great deal. McCarthy reveals Cowboys’ Week 11 QB plan; report names third-stringer to be added :: Cowboys Wire Link The coach confirmed that Cooper Rush would remain the starter as the team preps to face Houston. He also said the team was in the process of adding a third quarterback to the squad. A later report identified the mystery man as Will Grier, the 2019 third-round draft pick of West Virginia who served as a Cowboys backup in 2021 and 2022 and was cut after the trade for Trey Lance. Sorry, Dak. Dallas Cowboys must now consider drafting a quarterback in the first round (Opinion) :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link The Cowboys’ $60 million man is on the wrong side of 30 and now has to be considered “injury-prone.” That’s already not a formula for long-term success, but Cooper Rush and Trey Lance showed Sunday that there is no sufficient safety net at the position. Given the way the season is progressing and the high draft pick that seems to be coming, the organization needs to borrow a page from the Falcons and grab an elite propect as their QB of the future… even while the current guy is still here. Cowboys fan calls on Romo to take over :: Pat Doney Cowboys-Eagles postgame analysis :: Cowboys Wire 20 candidates to replace Mike McCarthy as Cowboys head coach :: Cowboys Wire Link The watch list includes USC’s Lincoln Riley; Georgia’s Kirby Smart; former Titans coach Mike Vrabel; current coordinators Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Bobby Slowik, Klint Kubiak, and Kliff Kingsbury, former Cowboys star Deion Sanders, and the legendary Bill Belichick. Dallas Cowboys set up screen to block sun from coaches at news conference :: Fox 4 KDFW Link After all the talk about the sun getting in the eyes of players during Sunday’s game, the team took extra steps to make sure it didn’t happen to McCarthy during his Monday press conference. Referencing the sunscreen that had been erected near his podium, the coach opened his remarks with an obvious question.
Winners and Losers: Pressure game returns with Parsons, but glaring issues doom Cowboys
Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle is a flavor of choice many fans don’t see eye to eye on, but his recent performance has been worthy of applause. The former undrafted free agent out of TCU ran 12 times for 53 yards generating 4.4 yards per carry. On the outside, that stat line will go unnoticed but it’s the philosophy behind his lack of carries that makes him a winner. Dowdle ranks 7th in success rate throughout the NFL, averaging 4.5 yards a carry. Head coach Mike McCarthy has spoken at length about getting the run game going but his playcalling suggests his remarks are merely lip service to appease the fan base. Dowdle ranks 35th in rushing this season with 374 yards. He is 36th in carries with 83 suggesting a higher volume of rushes would put him on par with the other lead running backs in the league. A free agent at the end of the year, Dowdle may venture into free agency and be a real find for someone willing to commit to running the football.
20 candidates to replace Mike McCarthy as Cowboys head coach
The Dallas Cowboys still have eight games remaining on their 2024 schedule, but by and large, this thing is over. Now sitting with a 3-6 record, the club has lost four games in a row and Sunday’s woeful defeat at the hands of rival Philadelphia put an exclamation point of how bad things have gotten. The offense turned in their worst performance since 2002, failing to reach 150 yards of offense for the first time in two decades. The defense got a boost from their best players, but they could not stem the tide after being asked over and over again to go out without much rest thanks to turnovers (five) and three-and-outs. The mood has been grim. A coaching staff full of lame ducks cannot fight the current, and every uttered word is now viewed as a shot or at minimum a slight to someone else. It will only get worse from here on out as the Cowboys play out the stretch of the 2024 season. Head coach Mike McCarthy will not earn a new contract and will be cleaning out his office in early January. That will likely set off an intriguing search that if the front office is worth anything (debatable at this point), they are already doing the leg work to form a list of candidates. We’ll do similar work, putting together a watch list of potential replacements; checking in periodically throughout the rest of the regular season. Honorable Mentions: Dan Pritchard, Cincinnati Bengals OC Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks OC Adam Stenovich, Green Bay Packers OC Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers, DC Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers, DC Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos, DC Klint Kubiak, New Orleans Saints, OC Lincon Riley, USC, HC University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; rGeorgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart reacts after the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports The best collegiate head coach since Nick Saban.. he likely makes way too much ($13 million per year) coaching at his alma mater to move, but there’s no process that is sane without at least kicking the tires on the possibility. Minnesota VIkings DC Brian Flores Jan 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sideline during the second quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Will Flores get another shot at a head coach gig? He was dumped by the Dolphins in their owner’s “I’m rich I can do what I want” attempt to lure Sean Payton and Tom Brady to South Beach. The revelation about trying to have a coach to tank games may have pulled the curtain back on the innerworkings of the league, but it likely didn’t do Flores much favor. What has though, is the job he’s done righting the ship in Minnesota with their defense. Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith Nov 2, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith at press conference at the PSD Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Grabbing from a fruitful tree is always a wise idea, and snatching Smith from under Mike McDaniel as part of the Kyle Shanahan limb system seems like a wise call. Dallas rarely uses motion at the snap and isn’t particularly good at it; and that’s literally the forte of Smith. Doesn’t currently have play-calling duties though, which could be seen as a knock. Former NFL head coach Mike Vrabel Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel reacts to a Titans penalty against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Vrabel was fired by owner Amy Adams Strunk Monday after having two losing seasons back-to-back. Vrabel is a defensive-minded head coach who was able to achieve strong levels of success in Tennessee with a veteran QB who wasn’t well regarded (Ryan Tannehill) prior to their time together. Known as a disciplinarian, pairing him with Dak Prescott would require finding the next big thing as offensive coordinator. Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick Sep 30, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline as they take on the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports For better or worse, the clubhouse leader. Belichick is a huge Prescott fan, Jerry Jones is a huge supporter of retreads and it would be interesting to see if given a competent front office… oh wait. Lions DC Aaron Glenn Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn watches practice during OTAs at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Glenn obviously has ties to Dallas, playing two of his 15 seasons with the organization, but the growth of the Lions’ defense under his tutelage has been impressive on its own. In 2020 they ranked 32nd in defensive DVOA. Since Glenn joined they moved to 29th, 27th, 13th and ranked 4th going into Week 7’s action. He’s consistently being highlighted by their players as a phenomenal leader of men. Comanders OC Kliff Kingsbury Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images It appears that Kingsbury’s time away after the disaster in Arizona has done him a ton of good. The offense he’s put together in DC for rookie Jayden Daniels is quite impressive and a stark contrast to what he was doing with Kyler Murray in the desert. That transformation should lead to him having a second opportunity not always afforded. Colorado HC Deion Sanders Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders (right) talks with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports After great success at Jackson State
Report: Cowboys LB gets encouraging update on Sunday’s knee injury
Report: Cowboys LB gets encouraging update on Sunday’s knee injury Todd Brock Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown looked like he was playing at a different speed than the other 21 men on the field Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The second-year prospect out of Texas, playing in just his ninth game as a pro after losing his entire rookie season to a knee injury, finished the Cowboys’ 34-6 loss as the team’s leading tackler, adding two sacks, two QB hits, and two tackles for loss in what was one of the few bright spots on the day for the silver and blue. It was all the more disheartening, then, to see the 24-year-old down on the turf in the third quarter of the Week 10 contest, requiring attention after a routine play in which he appeared to not even take a hit. Overshown was able to return to the game after getting checked out by medical personnel and told the media afterward, “I’m great [physically]. I’ll be ready to go next week.” Monday brought more good news for the former third-round draft pick. NFL insider Ian Rapoport cites a source who explains that Overshown is dealing with a case of bursitis in his right knee. (He tore the ACL in his left knee last August.) Per Rapoport, X-rays on the knee were negative, and he appears to have avoided a significant injury. https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1856010235196166365/ Knee bursitis is a condition in which one or more small fluid-filled sacs near the joint become inflamed. While painful and possibly limiting in terms of movement, “treatment and rehab” from the Cowboys staff is the likely course of action. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] It is not known if the injury will affect Overshown’s practice schedule for the week or his availability for next Monday night’s game versus the Houston Texans. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Good, Bad, Ugly: Historically bad air attack, turnover fiasco, misspelled legend punctuate Cowboys’ Week 10 disaster
The Cowboys were a perfect 8-0 at home last season and had a 16-game win steak at AT&T Stadium heading into January’s playoff date hosting Green Bay. Since then, though, they’ve not just lost five consecutive home games, they’ve gotten humiliated every single time. With Sunday’s 34-6 face plant at the hands of the Eagles, Dallas has now trailed by 20 or more points during each of the five straight home losses. That’s the first time that’s ever happened to an NFL team. It’s no surprise, then, that there was a whole lot of “bad” and “ugly” in the Week 10 contest and very little “good.” With Dak Prescott on the sideline, the Cowboys offense was positively putrid, and not even Micah Parsons’s return from a high-ankle sprain could pull the Dallas defense out of the dumps. From pointless play calls to a big batch of turnovers, bad tackling, horrible passing, another late-afternoon battle with the sun, and even an inexcusable spelling error, there’s a long list of things that went very wrong for the Cowboys on Sunday. Here’s our look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Birds’ beatdown. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Bad: Historically bad passing numbers Forty-nine passing yards. For the entire game. On 29 attempts. An average of 1.5 yards per pass play. Only two receptions that went for double digits (and both, just 10 yards). For all the confidence the Cowboys coaches and teammates said they had in Cooper Rush, the veteran backup did absolutely nothing to prove a shred of it was deserved. Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, the team’s 49 passing yards were the fewest for the Cowboys since 2001. And according to The 33rd Team, the performance ranks in the worst 1% of all the NFL’s passing games ever. Ugly: Turnovers become comedy of errors Rush’s dropped snap in the first quarter that put the Eagles in the red zone. Ezekiel Elliott’s goal-line fumble, his first career red zone turnover. Trey Lance’s egregious interception. Take your pick; each of the Cowboys’ five giveaways was atrocious, but none was more ridiculous than Rush’s fumble at the end of the third quarter. Right tackle Terence Steele was in position to recover, but instead of falling on the ball, the 310-pounder inexplicably tried to scoop it and run. In the process, he denied fullback Hunter Luepke a shot at it, and both ultimately watched the ball skitter away to Philadelphia linebacker Zack Baun. A close second: Jake Ferguson’s fourth-quarter fumble, which squandered a one-handed grab… and then, to everyone’s horror, nearly took out the legs of an already-injured Dak Prescott, who was standing way too close on the sideline. The Cowboys’ minus-10 turnover differential is among the NFL’s worst, and they seem to be finding new ways to add to it. Good: Overshown offering hope for pass rush’s future The second-year linebacker out of Texas is more than making up for his lost rookie season. Overshown has been the lone bright spot on the Dallas defense this year and is providing a tantalizing preview of what the pass-rush unit could be. Overshown looked like he alone was playing on turbo mode for most of the game, racking up two sacks, two QB hits, and two TFLs, and leading the team in tackles… all despite leaving the contest midway through the third quarter. He reported from the locker room afterward that he’s fine and will be “ready to go next week.” Micah Parsons is a bone fide beast, but Overshown could be making a push for the title of most impactful player on the Cowboys defense. Bad: Another mid-game meltdown When Elliott fumbled at the goal line in the second quarter to unceremoniously end a 13-play, 63-yard drive, he fumbled away more than what was to be a go-ahead Cowboys touchdown. The proverbial bottom fell out of the Dallas offense from that moment on. A subsequent Philly fumble set up Rush & Co. on the six-yard-line, but they managed just one yard on three plays and had to settle for a field goal. After that, Dallas turned in three straight three-and-outs, then three straight possessions that ended in a very quick turnover. From the moment of Elliott’s fumble to the start of the fourth quarter, the Cowboys were particularly inept: five possessions, 16 plays run, zero first downs made, three three-and-outs, five total yards gained. Ugly: Renewed debate over curtains The unique east-west orientation of AT&T Stadium is a well-covered topic within Cowboys Nation. And on Sunday, the late-afternoon setting sun pouring in through the massive glass doors and walls was once again a deciding factor in a game. While it appeared that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had the sun in his eyes on a few passes, it was painfully obvious that the blinding glare was directly responsible for CeeDee Lamb being unable to haul in a touchdown pass just before halftime. Owner Jerry Jones has bristled before when asked about using the facility’s curtains (which do exist) during games; he has always waved off the suggestion without so much as a second thought. Put it in the same bucket as fan tours through the locker room, helicopters landing on the practice field, and an interview-happy owner who insists on also playing general manager: it’s just one of the many quirks of playing for the Cowboys that may make the job more difficult… but will never change. Good: Diggs shows vintage form on early INT Diggs has had an up-and-down season. When he wasn’t coming under fire for lashing out at a reporter in a postgame exchange or dealing with uncertainty over a calf tear, his numbers have been down. After a Week 1 pick in Cleveland, Diggs hadn’t had an interception since. But on the first play of Sunday’s second quarter, the 26-year-old made an acrobatic play to steal an end-zone target away from Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert. It was reminiscent of the moves Diggs was making on a near-weekly basis in 2021, when
4 Takeaways: Wasting turnovers among reasons Cowboys took 34-6 thrashing
The Dallas Cowboys were never supposed to be in this game, and they weren’t. Their Week 10 matchup against the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles was a tale of two opposite moving franchises. Dallas, losers of their last three games, have been besieged by injuries in 2024. Poor performance, dated play-calling, and criminal roster building combined for the perfect storm. For as low as the Cowboys were entering Week 10, Philadelphia was high. The Eagles, winners of their last five, have been thriving behind Kellen Moore and Saquan Barkley. The run-first offense has been a model of consistency in 2024 and when things break down, they just ask Jalen Hurts to tuck and run. On Sunday afternoon the Eagles ran for 187 yards on the ground. Barkley was generally kept in check much of the day, only posting 66 yards off 14 carries but Hurts made up for his modesty, posting 56 rushing yards and two touchdowns himself with a 0.77 EPA/rush (which led both teams). The Cowboys were largely stuck in neutral offensively. Not only did they commit five turnovers but starting quarterback Cooper Rush passed for just 45 yards on Sunday. That was not a typo. 45 yards. Hurts wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire through the air either. Even though the Cowboys were committed to stopping the run and offering up huge opportunities in their secondary, Hurts struggled to hit his targets. His 202 passing yards blew Rush out of the water, but it was hardly a passing day to brag about. Losing by the score of 34-6, Dallas has seemingly lost all hope of earning a postseason bid. They entered the week with just a 3 percent chance of making the playoffs, Week 10 was the nail in the coffin. Nasty turnovers, different results Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The tale of the first half was sloppy play inside the 20s for both teams. Ezekiel Elliott fumbled the ball into the end zone for an EPA value of -6.4 and Rush fumbled a snap back inside his own 20 for an EPA value of -6.1. Hurts added sloppy play of his own, throwing an interception to Trevon Diggs in the end zone for a -6.1 EPA. He was later strip-sacked by Micah Parsons inside his own 20 for another turnover worth 6.1 EPA in the Cowboys’ direction. The primary difference between each enormous mistake is the Eagles were able to capitalize on the errors while Dallas just wasted their opportunities. Conservative passing, predictable results Nov 10, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) defends a pass against Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images It wasn’t surprising to see Mike McCarthy take a conservative approach with Rush starting at QB. Dallas’ suspect-at-best pass protection and their receiver corps’ season-long struggle with separation turned the Cowboys offense into a dink-and-dunk passing attack. McCarthy took some shots downfield but typically avoided them on late downs and other obvious passing situations. On first watch, Rush’s passes beyond the sticks only resulted in a 25 percent completion percentage. Dallas finished 3 for 14 on third downs with just four of their 11 total first downs coming through the air in Week 10. Micah Parsons movement Nov 10, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) rushes the passer in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Mike Zimmer has always been willing to move his top pass rusher around to create opportunities, but in Week 10 the stage was set for a more focused approach. The Eagles were once again starting Fred Johnson at left tackle, providing a prime opportunity for Parsons to feast. Unfortunately, it looked like business as usual for Parsons with him logging more snaps on the left side of the defense and less snaps on the right against the replacement LT, Johnson. Parsons still posted a successful afternoon, tallying two sacks, but if he would have focused on playing primarily right edge, he probably could have had more. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Liufau stock up, Kendricks stock down ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 10: Marist Liufau #35 and DeMarvion Overshown #13 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate a fumble recovery during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Linebacker Eric Kendricks has been a valuable player for Dallas in 2024. He’s provided veteran leadership and on-field accountability to a very undisciplined Cowboys defense. But Father Time is undefeated and playing in the open field and in coverage is not something Kendricks does well anymore. Marist Liufau, on the other hand, specializes in those facets of the game. The rookie linebacker flies to the ball, and though he makes mistakes, he offers an exciting future for the Cowboys LB corps. The time for snaps to swing in Liufau’s favor is now. Kendricks still has to play, but in situations likely to be passes, Zimmer should look to his rookie more often. Related articles . Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Promising Cowboys LB leaves Eagles game from non-contact injury
Promising Cowboys LB leaves Eagles game from non-contact injury K.D. Drummond One of the few bright spots from the 2024 season has been the play of first-year linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. The University of Texas product missed his entire rookie season due to a summer ACL injury, but has largely looked unaffacted in his return. During Sunday’s game against the Eagles, the first since the return of edge rush extraordinaire Micah Parsons, Overshown has been used to pressure the quarterback. The results have been electric, with the heat-seeking missile securing two of the Cowboys’ five first-half sacks. But in the second half, the mood has soured. During the Eagles’ third drive of the third quarter, Overshown fell to the ground with a non-contact injury. Through less than three quarters, Overshown has 11 tackles along with his two sacks, and he’s been the most impactful player on the defense that has tried as hard as possible to keep their team competitive while the offense sputters embarrassingly almost every time they’ve been on the field. Dallas has lost a fumble in the red zone and also failed to convert two other opportunities, settling for field goals. With the score now 28-6, hearing the extent of Overshown’s injury may be the only thing yet to be decided in the contest. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
