Here are the key trends and stats you need to know about Ezekiel Elliott and his player prop bet options. He’ll take the field Sunday starting at 8:20 PM ET on NBC. The Dallas Cowboys (6-8) and Elliott face off versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) in a Week 16 matchup from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Watch Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys vs. Buccaneers on Fubo! Ezekiel Elliott week 16 player props Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Time: 8:20 PM ET Date: December 22, 2024 Rushing yards prop: Over 8.5 (-120) National Football League odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds updated Saturday at 10:35 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Elliott rushing stats and trends Elliott records 17.2 rushing yards per game, 8.7 higher than Sunday’s over/under. He has gained over 8.5 yards on the ground in eight of 13 games so far this season. Elliott’s average rushing yards over/under so far this season (22.2) is higher than his rushing yard average (17.2) this year. Elliott went over on his rushing yards prop bet total in five of his 11 opportunities this year (45.5%). He has scored a rushing touchdown twice this season in 13 games. Cowboys vs. Buccaneers stats and trends Elliott will go up against a Buccaneers squad that allows 109.2 rushing yards per game and is the NFL’s 11th-ranked rush defense. The Buccaneers have the NFL’s 30th-ranked pass defense this season, giving up 247.7 yards per game through the air. On offense, the Cowboys rank 12th in the NFL with 229.1 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, they rank 21st in passing yards allowed per contest (219.9). With 136.1 rushing yards allowed per game on defense, which ranks fourth-worst in the NFL, the Cowboys have had to rely on their 27th-ranked running game (99.8 rushing yards per contest) to keep them in games. In addition to 6.1 yards per play allowed on defense, which ranks second-worst in the NFL, the Cowboys have posted the 23rd-ranked yards-per-play average on offense (5.3). Watch the NFL on Fubo! Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. 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.
Time for Cowboys to test WRs Jalen Brooks and Jonathan Mingo
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
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
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.
Cowboys’ Micah Parsons shows up on Friday injury report; questionable to play Week 16
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.
Cowboys Headlines: Parsons reveals ’25 mindset; Brock Hoffman’s mom revealed as unexpected inspiration; Lamb’s nitpicky fines
Micah Parsons ends all speculation on possible holdout, future with Cowboys :: The Mothership Link There’s plenty about the team that is uncertain for next year and beyond, but Parsons is adamant that he’s locked in and ready to do whatever it takes to best help the Cowboys. He says he’d take a smaller paycheck “to keep as many guys as possible.” He also explains he’s prepared to take a more active role in the offseason and at training camp as an example-setting mentor. “I’ve got to be around the guys,” he said. “People also got to see it from a leader aspect.” Cowboys’ Micah Parsons aims to sign new Dallas deal before free agency ‘so we can attack the offseason’ :: CBS Sports Link After watching the delays in re-signing Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and how it affected the team once the season began, Parsons has put out the word that he’d like a long-term extension done sooner rather than later. “I’m going to try and work with them as much as possible to help them attack free agency,” Parsons said. He won’t issue a deadline per se, but Parsons is making sure his representation know to inform Jerry and Stephen Jones that he is open for business. Mike Zimmer proving his worth in Cowboys pseudo “prove-it” season :: Cowboys Wire Link Zimmer’s return to both Dallas and a coordinator’s role is finally starting to pay off. Every layer of the defense has suffered significant injuries, yet the defense is getting better by the week. Zimmer deserves to be in the conversation for 2025, and whoever the head coach is will see a compelling case for keeping him around. Undrafted OL Brock Hoffman seizing opportunity with Cowboys: ‘He is the alpha in there’ :: Dallas Morning News Link The nasty attitude Hoffman plays with comes, in part, from his mother. “She called me soft,” Hoffman said this week, recalling his Pop Warner days as a third-grader. “She called me another word [describing soft], and ever since then I wasn’t going to be a soft football player.” Now starting at guard for Zack Martin, he uses that hardened energy to fuel his offensive lineman teammates, acting as a “force multiplier,” as Jourdan Lewis called him. Lamb, Hooker, Wilson back to full participation :: Jon Machota Cowboys bring back former 7th-round draft pick at DT :: Cowboys Wire Link Justin Rogers was the 244th overall pick in the spring draft and flashed promise in Oxnard, but he didn’t survive cuts in Dallas and ended up on the Bengals practice squad. When a roster spot opened up due to DeMarvion Overshown’s move to IR, the Cowboys jumped at the chance to bring Rogers back. “We still consider him one of ours,” Mike McCarthy said. “Obviously, we thought enough of him to draft him, so it’ll be great to get him back into the mix.” Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb has been fined a lot this season. Not for what you might think, though :: Dallas Morning News Link Lamb has been docked multiple times this season for uniform violations- everything from untucked jerseys to sock height to the color of his cleats. “I’m like a target; I don’t get it,” Lamb said. “I do feel like I am dressing the same way as other guys. Not saying they should get fined, too; I just feel like I should not get fined, either.” He says attempts to talk to some of the league’s uniform inspectors to make sure he’s in compliance have not helped. What does the Cowboys’ 2025 salary cap really look like? :: ESPN Link Some projections expect the 2025 salary cap for teams to be approximately $275 million. The Cowboys will restructure several big deals (Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb) to create a big chunk of space. They have void years coming up on Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Brandin Cooks. There are decisions to make on guys like Terence Steele, KaVontae Turpin, and Markquese Bell. But after all the financial maneuvering, it will remain true that if the Cowboys want to be active in free agency- if not at the top of the market- they can be. Whether or not they will, though… Micah Parsons doesn’t want Eagles’ help vs. Commanders :: ProFootballTalk Link Stating in no uncertain terms, “I hate them,” Parsons says he can’t root for the Eagles, if their win this weekend would help the Cowboys’ chances. “Even if we got eliminated, like, I gotta crush Philly. [Expletive] them. … I be seeing them just talking so much on socials.” Expect a lot more of that now during the lead-up to the Dallas-Philadelphia rematch in Week 17. WATCH: Netflix drops first trailer for series focusing on Jerry Jones, Cowboys ‘soap opera’ :: Cowboys Wire Link America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but the preview is sure to get people talking. Among the clips just released, Jerry Jones can be heard saying, “It’s bigger than winning football games,” and then later, “Keep ’em talking. It’s a soap opera 365 days a year.” Cowboys fans know that all too well. NFL 2025 Pro Bowl Games adding trivia to traditional slate of dodgeball, tug-of-war :: The Athletic Link New competitions are coming to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games. Along with returning events like tug-of-war and dodgeball, participants will square off in punting accuracy, a relay race, obstacle courses, and even a trivia showdown for the quarterbacks that helps decide the passing skills test. The celebration will still culminate in a flag football game pitting AFC versus NFC.
WATCH: Netflix drops first trailer for series focusing on Jerry Jones, Cowboys ‘soap opera’
WATCH: Netflix drops first trailer for series focusing on Jerry Jones, Cowboys ‘soap opera’ Todd Brock The Cowboys’ current chances of making this postseason are roughly the same as being struck by lightning while being attacked by a shark, but there’s something else being offered up to fans as a timely diversion. Come to think of it, it’s probably just as much for the franchise’s many haters, too… and it’s coming to small screens everywhere in the coming year. Netflix has dropped the first official trailer for America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, the new docuseries focusing on billionaire Jerry Jones and his ownership of the most-recognized and highest-valued franchise in sports. News of the project was announced in May, but there is no premiere date yet established for what was conceived to be a 10-part series of 45-minute episodes. The short preview posted to social media on Thursday gives glimpses of just some of the notable figures who sat down to be interviewed. Former Cowboys stars Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, Troy Aikman, Herschel Walker, and Michael Irvin can be seen, as can former President of the United States George W. Bush. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] But no moment in the 30-second clip will get more mileage on the sports-talk circuit- not to mention eye-rolls from Cowboys fans- than a pair of very telling quotes from Jones himself, shown during a montage of historic Cowboys moments. “It’s bigger than winning football games,” Jones says at one point. “Keep ’em talking,” he says in a later voiceover. “It’s a soap opera 365 days a year.” Cowboys fans know that all too well. And though they’d certainly prefer a little less melodrama and a lot more postseason success, they’ll likely be tuning in nevertheless once the Netflix docuseries goes live. America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders was a massive hit for the streaming service in 2024 and has been greenlit for a second season in 2025, continuing the brand’s seemingly never-ending media presence. Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!
Mike Zimmer proving his worth in Cowboys pseudo “prove-it” season
Mike Zimmer proving his worth in Cowboys pseudo “prove-it” season reidhanson Signed to a one-year deal over the offseason, 2024 has been a prove-it season of sorts for Mike Zimmer. With a lifetime of experience and plenty of skins on the wall in Dallas, Zimmer didn’t need to prove his value to the Cowboys organization, he had to prove his value to the current roster and to whomever takes the head coaching reins in 2025. Since Mike McCarthy was entering the last year on his deal this season it’s understandable the Cowboys wanted the other coaching contracts to synch up. Not many coaches would except a one-year offer since schemes, personnel, and strategies take time to implement. But Zimmer did and he likely did so with an eye on something else down the road. He’s really proving he can work with the Cowboys’ main pieces they have on defense. He’s proving he can effectively follow a player-friendly coach like Dan Quinn. He’s proving he has a good thing going if and when a new head coach comes in over the offseason. Based on Jerry Jones’ familiarity, he may even be proving he’s a candidate for head coach. Whatever he happens to be trying to prove this season, he appears to finally be getting some traction. The Cowboys defense started the season horrifically. The defense’s talent, discipline and depth were exposed. Through the first 11 weeks of the season, Zimmer’s defense ranked 30th in EPA allowed and dead last in run defense. Zimmer’s defense was always supposed to take time to implement, and growing pains were expected, but not to the degree that unfolded. The injuries and front office malfeasance provided cover, but if 2024 was an audition, Zimmer looked like a one-and-done coach early on. Then things started to click. As the schedule softened and the running game on offense started to pick up, the defense hit its stride. Over the last four games the Dallas defense has shockingly played like a top five unit (based on EPA/play). With Micah Parsons back in the fold, the Dallas pass rush has led the league in sacks and pressures. They’ve done so with smart play design and well-timed blitzing. Every layer of the defense has suffered significant injuries, yet Zimmer’s group is getting better by the week. For the first time in years discipline and accountability appear to be a thing on defense and it’s beginning to produce results, even if the talent is less than ideal. Zimmer deserves to be in the conversation for 2025. That’s a statement that would have been laughed at just one month ago. It’s a statement that speaks to what a coach with a fairly complicated playbook has accomplished with a revolving door of players and undeniable roster holes to overcome. It doesn’t demand his return in 2025 or warrant a promotion, but it keeps him in the conversation. Whoever takes over next season will see a pretty compelling case to keep the veteran coach around. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys bring back former 7th-round draft pick at DT
Cowboys bring back former 7th-round draft pick at DT Todd Brock The Cowboys are bolstering their defensive line depth for the regular season’s final stretch of games by bringing back a familiar face. Defensive tackle Justin Rogers has been signed off Cincinnati’s practice squad, according to the team. He takes the roster spot of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who has officially been placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a devastating knee injury versus the Bengals on Dec. 9. Rogers was drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh round of 2024’s draft, selected 244th overall. After spending training camp with the team, he was released on Aug. 26 and signed by the Bengals three days later. Rogers has not yet made it into a game at the NFL level. The 6-foot-2-inch, 340-pounder caught the eye of several observers in Oxnard this summer with not only his size but the run-stop skills he showed at Auburn as a college senior and prior to that at Kentucky. “Been keeping an eye on him,” head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Thursday. “Fortunate to have the opportunity to bring him back. We still consider him one of ours. … Obviously, we thought enough of him to draft him, so it’ll be great to get him back into the mix.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Rogers will join a DT group that currently includes Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith, and Linval Joseph. Denzel Daxon and Phil Hoskins are also listed at the position on the Dallas practice squad. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Week 16 Mike McCarthy Replacement Rankings: Would Jerry Jones hire a young, innovative mind?
This is going to be a very interesting offseason for the Dallas Cowboys in a few weeks. The assumption is that Dallas will need to move pretty quickly after the final whistle on Week 18. Back in 2019 and under similar circumstances, owner and GM Jerry Jones waited almost an entire week from the final day of the regular season (December 29) to moving on from Jason Garrett (January 5) whose contract expired. Garrett was replaced by Mike McCarthy, a veteran coach who had convinced the Joneses that he was hip to the new NFL after spending a year away from the game. Will they look for similar things if and when they let McCarthy go this coming offseason? There are a slew of really good candidates this go round. Time may be of the essence this cycle, as there could be upwards of seven or eight openings come early January. The Jets, Saints and Bears have already fired their head coaches. The Cowboys, Giants, Jaguars, and Raiders could all be in that boat. There’s even an outside chance the Bengals and 49ers are looking for new leaders for their sidelines. The searches are going to be diverse, depending on what each ownership group prefers, and that question is no more pertinent than in Dallas. The Cowboys have been on an experience roller coaster for 30-plus years of coaching. Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer were established college leaders with no NFL coaching experience. Switzer was replaced by Chan Gailey, who had over 10 years experience as an NFL assistant and pro head coaching experience from the WLAF. Dave Campo was similar, a decade-long assistant who was bumped up to replace Gailey. When those didn’t work, Jones turned to two-time Lombardi hoister Bill Parcells and his lengthy resume as a team fixer. Parcells was replaced four years later by another veteran of the head coaching pipeline, Wade Phillips. Garrett was hired before Phillips to be a coach in waiting with just two years experience as an assistant, which grew to six by the time he ascended. His departure saw Jones go back to the proven winner ranks with Super Bowl champ McCarthy. So where do things go this cycle? There’s a ton of guys with various amounts of experience as coordinators, though it’s hard to envision Jones hiring a Liam Coen of Tampa, whose called plays in the NFL just for one season, or Frank Smith of Miami who hasn’t done it at all. There are assistants who have been head coaches before, like Kliff Kingsbury and Brian Flores. There are former head coaches like Mike Vrabel, collegiate coaches like Deion Sanders and Kirby Smart, former Cowboys assistants like Kellen Moore and Wes Phillips, and that’s before the young guns like Ben Johnson, Bobby Slowik, Joe Brady and others are even mentioned. It’s going to be a crazy upheaval in the NFL coaching ranks and if Dallas throws their hats in the ring, they will be the biggest tent at the circus. Here’s a look at our Week 16 replacement rankings. Honorable Mentions: Liam Coen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Last Week: Honorable Mention Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks OC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Lincoln Riley, USC, HC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Adam Stenovich, Green Bay Packers OC | Last Week: Honorable Mention University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart | Last Week: Honorable Mention Vikings OC Wes Phillips | Last Week: 13 Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips walks on the field before a game between the Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports OK wak with us for a second. Phillips has been instrumental in the improvement of Sam Darnold this season, and while Kevin O’Connell calls the plays, the biggest impediment to Phillips becoming a head coach is that he’s in the booth on gamedays and not down on the sideline. At 45, Wade Phillips son who was an assistant in Dallas for seven years to start his NFL coaching career (staying on with Jason Garrett after his dad was fired) has spent three years in Minnesota. If he were to make the jump, he’d need a defensive coordinator with head coaching experience by his side, but the idea shouldn’t be outright dismissed. Former NFL head coach Mike Vrabel | Last Week: 12 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. Brian Daboll (NY Giants) and Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals) would make ridiculously good fits as OCs for Vrabel. Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith | Last Week: 7 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. Miami’s rough year continued with the loss of Jaylen Waddle in a disappointing Week 15 loss where they only managed 12 points. Lions DC Aaron Glenn | Last