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

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

Cowboys know where they’ll finish in NFC East; watching other division races for ’25 opponents Todd Brock The math has finally caught up with the Dallas Cowboys. Even if they win their final three contests, they know there will be no playoff berth coming at the conclusion of the 2024 regular season. But Washington’s come-from-behind win over Philadelphia not only left the NFC East crown in play for both of those squads, it also cemented the Cowboys’ divisional standing. They’ll finish third in the NFC East, no matter what happens over their final three contests. And that information, while understandably depressing for Cowboys fans who came into the 2024 season with high hopes, does help firm up the slate of opponents the team will face in 2025. Somewhat. As usual, Dallas will play its annual two-game series with Philadelphia, Washington, and the New York Giants, with one game at home and one game on the road. Per the NFL’s pre-determined divisional rotation, the Cowboys will also square off against all four teams in both the NFC North and the AFC West. Green Bay, Minnesota, Kansas City, and the Chargers will come to Arlington. The Cowboys will travel to play Chicago, Detroit, Denver, and Las Vegas. But with the third-place spot in the East now locked up, the Cowboys now know they’ll line up against the third-place finishers in the NFC West, NFC South, and the AFC East in 2025. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] While the standings in those divisions are still fluid, ESPN has projected those teams to be, respectively: the 49ers, the Saints, and the Jets. Dallas will host the NFC West opponent, while the NFC South and AFC East matchups are slated to be road games. Though Cowboys fans know their place in the final standings is set, they should be keeping an eye on these three other divisions as they start to turn their hopes to 2025. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Is CeeDee Lamb playing today? Injury news update for Cowboys wide receiver K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys return to action on Sunday night, hoping they have something to play for. After winning their third game in four attempts last week, Dallas has inched closer to .500 and want to improve to 7-8 with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The hobbled, mangled crew currently still has a chance to make the playoffs, but that ends with any loss in their final three games or any win by Washington. The Commanders take on the NFC East leading Philadelphia in the early window of games. If the Eagles win, the Cowboys game still means something towards this pursuit. To accomplish a victory in the NBC-aired contest, Dallas is in need of their No. 1 receiver, CeeDee Lamb. Fortunately for Dallas, Lamb’s limited status from Wednesday’s practice over his lingering shoulder injury seems precautionary. Lamb was a full participant in Thursday and Friday’s work confirms things have not gotten worse, and the ailment does not seem to preclude him from suiting up. He should play as long as nothing wild happens during pre-game warmups. The fifth-year wideout enters Week 16 third in the NFL in receptions with 94, already surpassing the millenium yardage mark with 1,089. Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase has already run away with Lamb’s receiving yardage crown from 2023, with the Cowboys’ passing game dearly missing Dak Prescott for the majority of the season. Perhaps Lamb will be catching passes from both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance in this contest. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Time for Cowboys to test WRs Jalen Brooks and Jonathan Mingo reidhanson The 2024 postseason is still technically in play but for all intents and purposes the Cowboys seem to understand their fate. With less than a one percent chance of advancing, the Cowboys front office knows it’s more about next season than this season. The team is nobly taking it each game at a time. Players and coaches don’t have the luxury of shifting focus onto next year because for them there might not be a next year.  It’s why talks of tanking earlier in the year were shot down the moment they began percolating. But there’s a difference between winning at all costs and losing on purpose and that’s an area the Cowboys should be residing in today. With just three games remaining on Dallas’ schedule, it’s important the Cowboys learn what they can about a few young players who, up to this point, look like major question marks heading into the offseason. Receivers Jalen Brooks and Jonathan Mingo are two of such players who deserve an extra look these last three games. As things stand now, WR is one of the Cowboys biggest needs heading into 2025. Brandin Cooks is set to leave in free agency and Jalen Tolbert has been too inconsistent to be responsibly trusted as a top option. It’s safe to say the Cowboys need two WRs this offseason to fill top four spots on the depth chart, and one of those spots needs to be WR2. Based on what we’ve seen (and haven’t seen) of Brooks and Mingo, it’s unlikely either are the No. 2 option Dallas so desperately needs. But maybe one can be a WR3 or WR4? Tolbert, fresh off possibly the best catch of career in Week 15, is a player fans have been excited about for some time. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound pass catcher from South Carolina flashed potential since joining the Cowboys as a draft pick in 2023. He’s a top special teams player with a killer instinct and someone who can handle the physical demands of playing the x spot on offense. Mingo, acquired in a midseason trade this season, is another player with the ability to play snaps as an x. At 6-foot-2, 220-pounds he has the size the Cowboys love, but with only two catches for a total of 10 yards since joining Dallas, he’s extremely green and unproven. Either player has the potential to be that WR3 or WR4 the Cowboys need, just like either player could bust out and never break the top four on the depth chart at all. The point is the Cowboys don’t know either way and it would go a long way in their planning for 2025 if they had an idea which direction these two are trending. Mike McCarthy and staff are clearly playing for wins each and every week. With expiring deals, they have no interest in the long-term health of the team. Therefore, this is not something the front office could push if McCarthy thought it would be detrimental to winning. Though if all things are equal, making a concentrated effort to get answers from a couple of the Cowboys’ biggest question marks is something the front office would seemingly appreciate. At this point Tolbert probably is what he is. He’s a shifty playmaker who’s good for a nice play or two each week but also someone who’s going to get bullied off the ball and who’s liable to disappear for long stretches. Handing some of his snaps to Brooks and/or Mingo wouldn’t exactly be seppuku to the offense. It could be win-win. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Report: Surgery for Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs to include bone graft, increasing rehab time Todd Brock More details are coming out about the latest injury suffered by Trevon Diggs, but what’s becoming increasingly clear is that the Cowboys will be without their star cornerback for a long time. The surgery to repair his left knee will require a bone graft to address cartilage damage, according to multiple sources, and it will prolong his recovery time even further than originally anticipated. While the team had been hopeful that the two-time Pro Bowler would be able to return to action around the start of the 2025 regular season, this latest news makes that timetable extraordinarily unlikely. “I hope it’s definitely sooner,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Friday, per ProFootballTalk. “But this is a big recovery for Trevon. It’s way too early for me to speculate on that.” The injury reportedly occurred during the team’s Week 14 game against Cincinnati. Diggs tore the ACL in the same knee early in the 2023 season and missed 15 outings, but this injury is said to be a different issue. The former second-round draft pick played every snap of the 27-20 loss and even began the next week of practice on a limited basis before consultation with the Cowboys medical staff determined that he should sit out the Week 15 trip to Charlotte to face the Panthers. “He was having to play with fluid in his knee,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said last week. “It’s certainly a very legitimate injury that’s gonna take him some time to recover from.” Initial estimates put his rehab at “up to eight months,” but longtime Cowboys insider Clarence Hill Jr. of AllCity DLLS first posited that Diggs “could possibly miss most of next season.” News of a planned bone graft lends considerable weight to that more conservative outlook. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] As described by David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, “this is where a new piece of bone is inserted into the damaged area in the same way a pothole is repaired or a gap in a joint is caulked.” The procedure necessitates a longer recovery time than other options, but it offers a better chance at stimulating growth and strengthening the area. Wide receiver Noah Brown underwent a similar procedure when he was with the Cowboys, causing him to miss the entire 2019 season. At the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, Diggs will have played in just 13 of the Cowboys’ last 35 games, including playoffs. And now a sizable chunk of next year’s 17 is also in serious jeopardy. Diggs, 26, has a $9 million base salary for 2025 that is guaranteed in case of injury. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Joe Burrow certainly wins the ‘best QB gift to OL’ award Chris Roling What quarterbacks gift their offensive linemen around the holidays has become something of a public competition, it seems. And of course, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow wants to win. That’s how it feels, anyway. According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, Burrow gifted his linemen authentic Japanese Katana swords, letting his linemen pick out their own from a selection. “Joe does a great job at buying gifts that are extremely meaningful,” Orlando Brown said, according to Dehner. “The fact that he bought me a sword, it’s the most ancient form of respect.” Where some quarterbacks settle for more normal things like gifting his linemen cars, Burrow went a bit extra here — and it rules. Go figure, from the guy who bought his own Batmobile.

Even the most talented and feared players in the NFL are susceptible to cold and flu season. That may be what keeps Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons from continuing the tear he’s been on lately. The defensive game-wrecker sat out Friday’s practice, and his status for Sunday night’s primetime matchup is in question. Five other Cowboys players are considered 50/50 as well. A knee injury claimed wide receiver Jalen Brooks during the week and will keep him sidelined in Week 16. For the Buccaneers, safety Antoine Winfield is out with an knee injury, and wide receiver Kameron Johnson is out with an ankle. Linebacker K.J. Britt and tight end Cade Otton are doubtful to suit up, and safety Mike Edwards is questionable. Here’s a closer look at the Cowboys who have a gameday designation as of Friday. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] LB Micah Parsons – Questionable CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: Micah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) Parsons popped up on the final report of the week with an illness. He did not participate in Friday’s practice is officially listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game. During a call-in with 105.3 The Fan, though, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones hedged his bets a bit, saying, “I’d be surprised if Micah doesn’t come around. You never know with these flu bugs. He should be fine.” CB Jourdan Lewis – Questionable Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) attempts to make a catch as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) defends during the second quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Lewis was limited all week after suffering an elbow injury during last weekend’s win in Carolina. He said then that he felt “good” and that he expected to be fine for Week 16, but he is now classified as questionable for when the Bucs come to town. LB Eric Kendricks – Questionable ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 18: Eric Kendricks #50 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a defensive stop against the Houston Texans during the third quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on November 18, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) The veteran linebacker did not practice Wednesday or Thursday and was limited on Friday. The reason given is a two-parter, both “non-injury rest – personal” but also “calf.” Kendricks did not practice for most of last week either, but he was fine to suit up and go versus the Panthers. Safety Juanyeh Thomas – Questionable LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 17: Juanyeh Thomas #30 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after a defensive play during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders during a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) Thomas has not seen the field since Thanksgiving Day as he continues to nurse a knee injury. He was limited this week in practice but has been wearing a brace and is considered questionable for Sunday night. He told reporters he expects to play. OG T.J. Bass – Questionable Aug 1, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard T.J. Bass (66) blocks during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge playing fields. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Bass has performed well as a reliever along the Cowboys offensive line this season. He didn’t participate in the Wednesday walkthrough with a thigh injury, was limited on Thursday, and sat out again Friday. He’s a 50/50 proposition to see the field against Tampa Bay. LB Nick Vigil – Questionable ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 09: Nick Vigil #41 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts to a play against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on December 09, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Vigil has taken the vast majority of his snaps on special teams this season. Dealing with a foot injury, he was a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday, but he returned in a limited capacity to finish the work week. He’s uncertain for Sunday. WR Jalen Brooks – Out Dec 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Brooks (83) catches a touchdown pass as Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods (25) and cornerback Michael Jackson (2) defend in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images One of the heroes of last week’s win in Charlotte, Brooks reportedly hyperextended his knee on the final play of Thursday’s practice. As a result, he did not participate Friday and has already been declared out of this week’s game.