News Cowboys Team Notes

[Dallas Cowboys]

Vikings sink Cowboys playoff hopes to virtually zero on same day they’re eliminated from contention

It was Week 16 of last season on Sunday Night Football when the Dallas Cowboys, hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, were eliminated from postseason contention from the earlier action that Sunday, but still played one of their most inspired games of the season and beat the Bucs 26-24. Here in Week 15 of the 2025 season, the Cowboys were again hosting SNF, this time with playoff hopes slim but in tact, but fell victim to a team in the same circumstance they were last season. Losing 34-26 to a Minnesota Vikings team that was eliminated from playoff contention by the Chicago Bears win in the early window, the Cowboys have followed up their first winning streak of the season with back-to-back losses that likely leaves just three games left to close out this constantly up-and-down season.

The Cowboys’ playoff odds are down to less than 1% now, losing in the same week the Philadelphia Eagles got back in the win column with a 31-0 win over the Raiders. That 30 point output for the Eagles at home against the Raiders defense made Las Vegas’ defense one of just two this season to allow 30 points in seven games, but by the time Sunday night was over Matt Eberflus’ Cowboys defense joined these ranks with the Raiders and Bengals by allowing 34 to J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings. This loss closes out a chapter that will define a 2025 Cowboys season destined to go nowhere in Brian Schottenheimer’s debut now, as the Cowboys went 0-3-1 against the NFC North.

Three times a defense led by a former head coach from this division lined up looking to make a statement, and three times they were shredded in a loss – the Bears scored 31, the Lions scored 44, and now the Vikings scored 34. It remains miraculous that Dallas managed a tie out of allowing 40 points to the Packers as well. McCarthy’s 250 yards and 10.4 yards per attempt against the Cowboys on Sunday night were both career highs for the 2024 first-round pick.

The Vikings overcame an early 7-0 hole to sink the Cowboys into the same boat they are in, which is playing just to evaluate their roster and prospects for the future. While Minnesota ended up with plenty to be pleased with in this area as they competed all night and got a second straight win, the Cowboys will be left with a ton of questions and concerns about this performance. Special teams mistakes continued, the protection plan struggled to keep a clean pocket for Dak Prescott, the defense was not on the same page in coverage, George Pickens was nearly invisible again, and Brandon Aubrey missed two field goals.

The Cowboys are now below .500 at 6-7-1, and will need to win at least two of their remaining three games versus the Chargers or at the Commanders and Giants to finish above this mark this season. With two of these opponents being teams Dallas has already beat within their division, their next four quarters against the Chargers stands to tell a lot about the makeup of this team at the moment. When it comes to a late push for the playoffs though, too much damage has seemingly already been done in home losses to the Cardinals and Vikings now, as well as road losses at the Panthers and the Eagles by four.

Let’s get to our notes on another majorly disappointing primetime loss for the Cowboys at home, which snapped a three-game winning streak against the Vikings.

Losing the battle of field position was a major reason the Cowboys lost to the Lions, and they improved on this from the jump versus the Vikings. A Donovan Wilson blitz off the corner led to a deflected pass that was intercepted by Quinnen Williams, setting the Cowboys up at the Vikings’ 35-yard line. Not looking to just get a field goal off of the short field, the Cowboys ran a beautiful fake field goal on 4th-and-4 to move the chains with Brandon Aubrey rushing for six yards. When faced with another fourth down, the Cowboys moved the chains to the one-yard line with Javonte Williams – who scored one play later to put the home team ahead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Aubrey hit a well-placed bouncing ball that was difficult to field for the Vikings’ return team, and allowed first-year UDFA Alijah Clark to get downfield and make a tackle inside the 15. Another aggressive defensive call on third-and-short led to a quick stop for the Dallas defense with a long field to defend. Dante Fowler forced an inside handoff into secondary players Malik Hooker and Shavon Revel, who were both lined up close to the line of scrimmage and made the stop to force a punt.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, all of these good vibes were very short lived, as this punt pinned them at their own three-yard line. The Vikings got the stop they needed to swing field position back in their favor, scored in two plays with Josh Nailor beating DaRon Bland for the tying touchdown, and truly never looked back in this game.

For the rest of the evening, the Cowboys looked to remain patient on offense and keep the Vikings aggression at bay by testing them with interior runs, which were effective, but this style of ball control did not mix with the way the Cowboys secondary was giving up chunk plays. Both teams only converted twice on third down, but the Vikings forced the Cowboys into 12 attempts compared to just nine for themselves. Minnesota scored touchdowns on three of four red zone trips, while the Cowboys were just two for five.

The Cowboys passing game did not create more answers for Prescott than Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings did for their first-year starter J.J. McCarthy, who was not sacked once compared to Prescott being sacked twice. The first sack for the Vikings came on third down, and led to Aubrey’s first miss from 51 yards. Already having scored back-to-back touchdowns, the Vikings added their own field goal off this short field.

Trailing 17-14 before halftime, the Cowboys drove to tie the game at 17, but would have loved to come away with a touchdown on a drive that saw George Pickens make just one of three catches on the night for a first down into the fringe of the red zone. Starting the third quarter with the ball, the Cowboys would get deep into the red zone this time, but still come up with only three points. These six points within the crucial “middle eight” of the game were not nearly enough with the way the Vikings offense continued to get better as the game progressed. Prescott made a great scramble drill toss to Luke Schoonmaker for a 29 yard gain on this drive, but on a later third down was not on the same page with Turpin against the rush, allowing the Vikings to keep the Cowboys well short of the end zone.

The other Vikings sack in this game also created a turning point, as the visiting team had rallied to lead 24-23 at this point. A screen pass that served as the equivalent of a “get me over fastball” from a major league starting pitcher to Pickens just to keep him involved set up a third down where Prescott was sacked, pushing another Aubrey field goal try back to 59 yards. Aubrey missed again, the Vikings moved the pocket for McCarthy and created easy throws attacking the Cowboys safeties, and in back to back plays saw T.J. Hockenson set up first-and-goal with a catch against Markquese Bell and Nailor score his second touchdown working against Wilson in man coverage on the goal line.

The Cowboys defense showed a few wrinkles that were effective in this game when putting their starting safeties Wilson and Hooker down in the box, but the Vikings made their adjustments to force the Cowboys to use their secondary in coverage, where the safeties proved a big liability again. Dallas would have less of a need to find value in their safeties being strong box players if they were better at linebacker, but once again Kenneth Murray struggled in the middle and Logan Wilson in increased playing time was not a major upgrade either.

The Cowboys were on the very limit of only being down one score now, but the juice for the offense was not there to get this score. C.J. Goodwin, solely on the Cowboys roster for special teams, was called for holding on the kickoff following Nailor’s touchdown – wiping out a big return from Turpin. On a must-have fourth down attempt, Prescott bought time in the pocket but had no receivers coming back to the ball for him, and checked it down to Malik Davis who was tackled just short. The Vikings took the ball back, and although the Cowboys defense forced them into a fourth down, defending a short field again proved too difficult as even giving up a field goal put this game on ice. The Cowboys answered with a field goal in a last ditch effort to preserve time for the touchdown they still needed, but Aubrey’s onside attempt was handled by Josh Oliver before Marist Liufau could displace him from the ball.

The Vikings left Arlington playing as the better team, now with back-to-back wins against NFC East opponents. A defensive shutout that saw McCarthy throw three touchdowns for the first time in his career in a home win against the Commanders was a sight for sore eyes in Minnesota last week, and this win at the Cowboys is a whole new layer for that team to feel good about culturally despite not going to the playoffs. The Vikings outcoached and outplayed the Cowboys in a huge spot, coming back from trailing on three separate occasions.

In the loss, the Cowboys will have to face the same reality as the Vikings of not going to the playoffs possibly before they even line up again, as the Eagles next chance to win and clinch the division comes next Saturday against the Commanders. The reality of this being a “when” and not “if” scenario for the Cowboys getting eliminated is going to shine an even brighter light on some of the chemistry, scheme, and coaching miscues that have cost them consecutive games, and Dallas didn’t find much in the way of leadership that can carry them out of this hole on Sunday night.

The Cowboys going 1-4-1 in primetime games this season is also something that is not going to sit well within the organization, only clinging to relevancy here in December thanks to an Eagles slide they can no longer rely on.

Their last opportunity to get a win in front of AT&T Stadium home fans is a rare early window game for the Cowboys against the Chargers in Week 16. Coming in with some similarities to the Vikings when it comes to being well-coached with a QB that can pump confidence into the entire team and a multiple defense, the Cowboys will have their chance to earn just a bit of redemption after a week that will be full of soul-searching.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...es-dak-prescott-george-pickens-brandon-aubrey

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys roundtable discussion: Playoff chances, Matt Eberflus, and the Chargers game

Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have Sean Martin, Jess Haynie and Tom Ryle.

The Cowboys have to win out, the Eagles have to lose out for Dallas to make the playoffs. Do we see that happening?​

Mike: Short answer here is it’s alive, but it’s a parlay I’d never bet. Winning out is hard enough, asking the Eagles to simultaneously lose out multiplies the improbability across every remaining week. Could it happen? Sure, football is noisy, injuries pop, and weird December games swing on a bounce. Let’s also not forget that the Eagles have failed at this stage of the season before. But the realistic stance is to treat this as a one-week season. If Philly stumbles once, great. If not, Dallas’ focus switches to the draft, my favorite time of year, including Christmas.

Sean: Sadly, not at all. Enjoying the Eagles slide was fun while it lasted, but we can’t lose sight that the best thing that happened during it was that the Cowboys were also playing well. Without that element, there is no enjoyment in rooting for a team to limp into the playoffs, and that’s exactly what Dallas would be doing if a miracle happens in these last games. I do think the Cowboys will beat the Commanders and Giants to end the regular season on a win streak, but whether its two games or three with how they’ve played at home is hard to say going into the final home game versus a hot Chargers side.

Jess: Their Buffalo game feels like a loss, but Washington sweeping Philly with a division title on the line just isn’t in the cards. And even if that miracle happens, this Cowboys team may not even win their next game. It feels like segments of the team have checked out this season. I think many of us are ready to do the same.

Tom: TBH, I wish they were eliminated already. I’m tired of finding a way to hope when my more rational side has known for weeks if not months that this Dallas team is just too flawed to be a contender. I’m not going to let myself get sacked back in again.

After the collapse against Minnesota, do you see Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator next season, or does he get fired?​

Mike: I’d lean toward a narrow second chance, with guardrails, and I know the readers will be going mad over that sentiment. The collapse last week was about repeatable fixes with rush-lane integrity, tackling technique, and explosive-play prevention. Midseason changes with Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams gives Eberflus tools he didn’t have in September. If Eberflus returns, it should be with clear benchmarks and cleaner communication toward his plan. Miss those standards early next year and Brian Schottenheimer should pivot, but meet them and you’ve stabilized a unit that has potential.

The Cowboys have been churning through defensive coordinators the past seven years, and getting another next season would make that six different coordinators in eight years, and that is only going to disrupt cohesion further. I now hide under my desk while the readers take shots.

Sean: The larger sample size points towards Eberflus not returning, in my opinion. This was a near consensus opinion through the fanbase through the early-to-mid portion of the season, and now that feeling has returned after getting shredded by J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings. Without a single win against his former division, I just don’t think there’s enough Eberflus can point to in defending his job status for next season.

Jess: This team needs a defensive coordinator who will adapt to his players, and who has actually shown a consistent acumen for the job in the last five years. Eberflus seems to have been figured out in most league circles. He isn’t adaptable enough, either to the talent at his disposal or to what opponents are showing. Wrong guy for the job, probably for any team at this point.

Tom: While the offense has some issues, the defense has just outright failed on multiple occasions. So many games we had to watch the opponents just march down the field in the fourth to get a win, while the defense radiated confusion. If Schottenheimer gets to make the call he can’t hesitate. Frankly, I don’t think it matters who decides because Jerry has to be disgusted, too.

What’s the biggest improvement you want to see this week against the L.A. Chargers?​

Mike: The biggest improvement needs to be in consistency. That means winning early downs, finishing drives in the red zone with touchdowns instead of field goals, and playing defense with disciplined rush lanes so Justin Herbert doesn’t get free extensions that become explosives. If Dallas can keep their penalties down, get the ball out on time, and stop the chunk plays on the back end, the Chargers game is winnable.

Sean: Getting George Pickens involved somehow, and not with an arbitrary bubble screen. For as long as I can remember covering the Cowboys in this capacity, this team can field a number one offense without getting the chemistry at WR correct enough to make it mean anything. There have been few common denominators, but no shortage of talent. The duo of Lamb and Pickens was too good in too many games this season to not continue trying, but they have to show more starting in this Chargers matchup.

Jess: Forget improvements; it’s time to prepare for 2026. Give Klayton Adams a crack at calling plays. Give more reps to the likes of Brevyn Spann-Ford and Ryan Flournoy. Even if you’re not going to fire Eberflus, give Aaron Whitecotton some opportunities to handle more responsibility. And of course, more playing time for Joe Milton.

Tom: Exactly, Jess. It’s hard to throw in the towel this early, but as you also said, that may be happening already. As bad as things are, it would be far worse for one of the stars to be seriously injured in an eventually meaningless game. Time to use every minor ding possible to sit the vets and work the young ‘uns.

Rapid fire section​

Who scores first for Dallas?

Sean: Malik Davis

Jess: Brandon Aubrey

Tom: Aubrey

If the Chargers sit in two-high, pound light boxes with Javonte, or stick with Dak and the quick-game?

Sean: Too many empty yards in the passing game right now. Lean on the defense more with the run.

Jess: Pound the rock and let your offensive line do what it’s actually good at.

Tom: Count me in for some ground and pound.

If Derwin James lurks as a robber, attack the perimeter or still hunt seams?

Sean: Winning on the perimeter is a must to winning games.

Jess: One of their best weapons is the RAC ability of all of their WRs. They need to do more with short passes: slants, crossers, etc. Whether it’s Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy, Turpin, give these guys space to work with and get the ball out of Dak’s hands quick.

Tom: Quick passes all day. Don’t have Dak holding the ball at all.

CeeDee Lamb receiving yards, over/under 89.5

Sean: Over

Jess: Over

Tom: Under

Javonte Williams rushing yards, O/U 80.5

Sean: Over

Jess: Over

Tom: Under

Cowboys third-down conversion rate, O/U 44%

Tom: Under

Sean: Over

Justin Herbert passing yards, O/U 280.5

Sean: Under

Jess: Under

Tom: Under

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...off-chances-matt-eberflus-chargers-game-draft

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Hot Schotts: A staffing decision looms for Cowboys head coach

The tide is turning, though not in a good way. The Cowboys’ latest loss has all but eliminated them from the postseason. The Vikings had been eliminated hours before kickoff, but it didn’t stop them from winning in Dallas. The worst part is that J.J. McCarthy, the de facto rookie quarterback who has struggled mightily this year, had his best game yet.

It’s once again put all the pressure back on defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and, in some ways, added some pressure to Brian Schottenheimer. A month ago, Schottenheimer doubled down on his coordinator, and he briefly looked like a genius for it. The defense appeared to be genuinely turning a corner after the trade deadline, and Eberflus had made some necessary changes to assist in that regard.

Last week’s loss to the Lions was forgivable, albeit still frustrating. Detroit has been an offensive powerhouse and the Cowboys looked tired after playing three games in 12 days. But a bounce back was expected, especially against Minnesota. Instead, they rolled over, and Eberflus reverted back to his worst, timid tendencies when push came to shove.

Schottenheimer still isn’t firing any coaches, or hinting that he might, but his tune has changed. After Jerry Jones came dangerously close to saying he wanted to make a change, Schottenheimer more or less echoed his sentiment of needing to prove it over the final few weeks of the season.

Eberflus has completely run out of excuses at this point.

He was lacking talent early on, but not anymore. Quinnen Williams has been as advertised, DeMarvion Overshown looks better each week, and Shavon Revel flashes potential the more he plays. The edge rushers have all gotten better in recent weeks, and Donovan Wilson has made strides as well. Even DaRon Bland recovered from his rough night in Detroit to hold Justin Jefferson to just one catch.

Eberflus was also running into the issue of his scheme not fitting his players well. Even after the influx of talent, it wasn’t much of a fit. He tweaked some things – blitzing more, using more press man coverage, and adopting five-man fronts to get the most out of his stacked defensive tackle room – and they started to work.

Then, for some reason, he went away from it all against the Lions. And, for reasons that make even less sense, he continued to go away from it against the Vikings, a game where the season was on the line. The stubbornness of Eberflus to do what it takes to win with what he has amounts to a fireable offense.

Perhaps the most concerning part about this defense is how it’s performed against the NFC North.

Of course, Eberflus spent the past three seasons in that division as the Bears head coach. For most of the last two seasons, he called plays on defense, too. There’s no group of teams Eberflus knows better than the Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings. Yet the Cowboys went 0-3-1 against them; every single one of them topped 31 points, with two of them dropping 40-burgers.

To put it in further perspective, the Cowboys defense is averaging 0.145 EPA/play allowed for the season. That’s 30th in the NFL, just slightly ahead of the Commanders and Bengals. But against teams in the NFC North, Dallas is allowing 0.277 EPA/play. They’re nearly twice as bad against the teams Eberflus knows best.

There’s simply no excuse for that, and Schottenheimer knows it. He was caught delivering a fiery (and, perhaps, not safe for work) criticism in the direction of Eberflus after burning a timeout against the Vikings when the defense was visibly confused on the play call. Schottenheimer isn’t the kind of person to publicly degrade one of his assistants, but there seems to be hints that his patience is nearly out.

The Cowboys have been in this spot before. Mike McCarthy’s first year on the job brought with it the Mike Nolan Experience, and that ended after just one year. That was a bit of a stunner, because McCarthy and Nolan went way back in their relationship; it was certainly not easy for McCarthy to fire Nolan, but he did.

Schottenheimer has no such ties to Eberflus, as the two had never been part of the same staff before this year. That may suggest whose idea it was to bring Eberflus back to Dallas, but whether or not that’s true, it doesn’t change what must be done from here.

Another point that feels worth mentioning: the Mike Nolan Experience was also the last time Micah Parsons didn’t play for the Cowboys. While Eberflus deserves plenty of blame, and Schottenheimer must absolutely do what needs to be done, the current state of this Dallas defense goes way beyond X’s and O’s.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...tenheimer-defensvie-coordinator-fire-decision

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Starters will play until season’s end

Dak Prescott and starters will remain in for Cowboys even if playoff hopes die – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram​

The Cowboys won’t pull their main players no matter the outcome for the remainder of the season.

As the Dallas Cowboys cling to the smallest of playoff hopes (less than one-percent odds after Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings), head coach Brian Schottenheimer is not planning on making any major changes to the lineup with three games left in the season.

While some teams tend to lean into personnel changes to evaluate the full roster when already eliminated from playoff contention, Schottenheimer said doing so would deviate from the team mantra all season: compete every day. Even though losing games would benefit draft positioning, Schottenheimer wants to do everything possible to win the team’s final three games.

“It doesn’t change,” Schottenheimer said on Wednesday. “We get judged on winning and losing, and we haven’t won enough games. Doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be things when we look back that we’re like, ‘Hey, we’ve built this and this is great. We really upgraded this position.’”

“I’m going to stay in the moment. I’m going to be all about the Chargers. After we go and play the Chargers, and hopefully win, I’m going to be all about the Commanders and then the Giants and see what happens. We’ll take a broader, bigger picture at that point.”

Cowboys WR George Pickens on recent criticism: ‘It’s starting to get kinda old’ – Jon Machota, The Athletic​

George Pickens fires back at recent comments concerning his effort.

FRISCO, Texas — George Pickens didn’t talk with reporters last week leading into the Dallas Cowboys’ Sunday night game against the Minnesota Vikings. The star wide receiver didn’t talk after the game, either.

Pickens did speak outside of the locker room after Wednesday’s practice at The Star.

The criticism he received for his lack of effort in Dallas’ Week 14 loss at Detroit is something he is trying to move past.

“I’m kind of more focused on the Chargers, honestly,” he said of the team’s Sunday opponent. “Everybody has a job to do. Some people’s job is to do that, tear down character, see how many clicks they can get. I’m just here to play football and help the team.”

But while responding to a follow-up question, Pickens added: “It’s starting to get kinda old, honestly.”

Pickens averaged 95 receiving yards per game and scored eight touchdowns over the first 12 games of the season. During the last two, he has no touchdowns and averaged 35 yards per game. Pickens said that drop-off in production can be attributed to him seeing more double coverage.

“Just keeping a guy inside and keeping a guy outside,” he explained, “or keeping a guy over the top and having a guy underneath, just on one side of the field, which is a huge product of CeeDee (Lamb) is going crazy, (Ryan Flournoy) is going crazy. I’m super proud of them guys.”

Pickens is playing in the final year of his rookie contract, but the Cowboys have no plans of letting him leave. They will either work out a long-term deal or use the franchise tag.

Dallas Cowboys post lengthy Wednesday injury report ahead of Chargers matchup – Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News​

The Cowboys are pretty banged up heading into Week 16.

FRISCO — The Cowboys had a lengthy injury report for Wednesday’s practice that included two significant new additions.

Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb missed practice due to illness, while cornerback DaRon Bland missed practice with a foot injury, according to the team report.

There were two expected absences, as well. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and fullback Hunter Luepke are still in concussion protocol.

Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton also missed practice as he continues to work back from an ankle injury he suffered on Nov. 23 in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s missed each of the last three games.

Second-year tackle Nate Thomas has started in place of Guyton, though he didn’t play the full game in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Thomas suffered a shoulder injury, forcing veteran Hakeem Adeniji into action. Thomas was a full participant in Wednesday’s padded practice.

Cowboys corner Trevon Diggs was a limited participant due to a knee injury designation which was one of the reasons he was originally placed on injured reserve. There’s a lot of attention on Diggs, a former All-Pro corner for the Cowboys, as the deadline for him to be activated this season nears. If Diggs isn’t activated by Saturday he’ll revert back to injured reserve for the rest of the season.

6 players Cowboys must evaluate in final 3 games including playmaking QB, RB – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire​

Dallas should take the last several weeks to get some good film on some of their younger players.

QB Joe Milton

The Cowboys have one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Dak Prescott. The issue is that Prescott hasn’t been able to stay healthy for two seasons in a row since the 2018 and 2019 seasons. When he plays, he’s one of the best in the league, flirting with MVP consideration. When he doesn’t, the team tanks. This past offseason, Dallas traded a late-round pick in hopes of finding a young, athletic backup when they acquired second-year man Joe Milton from the New England Patriots.

He didn’t look good initially in the preseason, but Joe Milton’s stock went up based on the final 2025 preseason performance.

It’s time to let Milton play and find out what they have in him. Chances are, the backup is going to be called upon for several games next season, and the staff needs to know what they have in the former Tennessee Volunteer. Milton has appeared in two blowout losses, first to Chicago in Week 3 and then to Denver in Week 8, and has completed 6 of 9 passes for 99 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Give him some extended action over the next three games so that offseason plans can be made accordingly.

RB Jaydon Blue

The Cowboys’ fifth-round selection had run afoul of the coaching staff since the summer. Rumors ran rampant about whether he was taking his opportunity seriously and his work ethic was questioned. He’s appeared in just four games this season, rushing only 22 times, while being a healthy scratch more often than not.

It’s clear that the coaching staff is not enamored with him, and at a position like running back where a player is the last line of protection for the $60 million quarterback, incompetence and unprofessionalism cannot stand. So while Dak Prescott is under center, the team cannot trot Blue out there.

However, when the team plays the more mobile Milton, they need to have Blue out there the majority of the snaps so that they can see whether he’s one of those guys who practices horribly, but plays at a high level. Perhaps the second chance inspires him to hit the offseason hard and work on the things that were issues this season.

WR Ryan Flournoy

The Cowboys are about to enter what is probably going to be contentious negotiations with WR1A George Pickens and his representative, David Mulugheta. The thinking is that there won’t be bad blood between the organization and the very professional agent of Micah Parsons, who Jerry Jones publicly insulted during those failed negotiations. Good luck with that.

The Cowboys need to know that if Pickens balks, and they have to either tag-and-trade him come March, or let him hit free agency all together, whether or not Flournoy is what he appears to be, a true WR2 solely in need of more opportunity.

Twice this season Flournoy has stepped up in a big way, with 100-yard receiving games during CeeDee Lamb’s absences. The former sixth-round pick hasn’t been asked to do much outside of those two games, only seeing more than three targets four times all season. Feed him the rock. At worst, the Cowboys will know whether or not they have a three-headed monster for 2026.

Butler, Mafah among three return to practice for Cowboys – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com​

There was some good injury news as some 21-day practice windows opened up.

FRISCO, Texas — With just three games remaining in the 2025 regular season, the Dallas Cowboys are giving three players a chance to potentially be activated from injured reserve ahead of the looming matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 21-day practice window has officially been opened on running back Phil Mafah, defensive end Payton Turner and cornerback Josh Butler — neither of whom have practiced at any point this season.

“It’s just a chance to get them on the grass and see the guys compete,” said head coach Brian Schottenheimer. ” … I know they’re excited to get out there and play the game that they love.”

Butler’s journey has been the most arduous of the three. The young defensive back suffered a season-ending knee injury in late November 2024, and he’s been working to recover from that for roughly a year. And though Butler professed his readiness to return to action a few weeks back, the Cowboys erred on the side of caution.

The injury cut short one of the better Cinderella stories of 2024, Butler having a breakout game against the Washington Commanders before suffering the aforementioned knee injury only four days later against the New York Giants.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...y-playoff-status-george-pickens-ryan-flournoy

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Week 16 rooting guide for Cowboys fans

After two straight losses, the Cowboys’ comeback story has all but ended. While still technically alive in the NFC playoff race, it would take near-impossible circumstances for Dallas to worm their way back into the tournament. Given that, our rooting guides will now focus on the much more realistic impact that these final weeks have on our 2026 draft picks.

Officially, Dallas could still win the NFC East if it wins out and the Eagles lose their remaining games. But the Cowboys, who’ve gone from surging to slumping, may not even beat the Chargers this Sunday. It’s also hard to imagine Philly losing twice to Washington over the final weeks. If we have to revisit this come Week 18, we gladly will. But we don’t expect to.

So, where does Dallas stand now in the 2026 draft? Our brief dalliance with renewed playoff hopes took us away from this conversation for a bit. According to the NFL, and basic math, the Cowboys’ original pick would be 14th in the current order. Their 6-7-1 record puts them definitively behind the 6-8 teams but ahead of the 7-7 crowd, eliminating the fuss over tiebreakers.

If the draft was now, here would be the first 18 picks for the non-playoff teams:

1. Giants 2-12
2. Raiders 2-12
3. Titans 2-12
4. Browns 3-11
5. Jets 3-11
6. Cardinals 3-11
7. Commanders 4-10
8. Saints 4-10
9. Bengals 4-10
10. Rams (from Falcons) 5-9
11. Dolphins 6-8
12. Vikings 6-8
13. Chiefs 6-8
14. Cowboys 6-7-1
15. Ravens 7-7
16. Panthers 7-7
17. Lions 8-6
18. Jets (from Colts) 8-6

With only three weeks to go, there’s only so much range for Dallas to rise or fall in the order. They can’t get any worse than 6-10-1, which means 3-11 teams like the Jets and Cardinals can’t be passed. The highest that the Cowboys can reach now in the order is the seventh pick, currently held by the 4-10 Washington Commanders. But that would require Dallas losing out and a lot of bad teams winning out, so it’s probably not happening.

The pick from Green Bay can’t be projected until we see if the Packers make the playoffs and where they finish. Where a team finishes in the playoffs is what decides their eventual pick, no matter how they entered the tournament. So obviously, we’re rooting for Green Bay to fall out of the postseason. And while we’re certainly not happy about Micah Parsons’ injury, that may help end up helping us.

Realistically, Dallas’ original pick should fall somewhere in the 11-16 range. If Green Bay does miss the tournament, they’ll still probably land in that 16-18 range. As we get into the Week 16 schedule, we’ll look at all of the games that could potentially help the Cowboys on either front.

Eagles d. Commanders​

Again, we’re focusing on next April now and not January. If you’re still hoping for a miracle in the NFC East, then you’re welcome to root for Philly here. We probably still won’t move past Washington in the draft, but an Eagles win could help them build momentum going into the playoffs. If they were to play Green Bay in the first round, Dallas would benefit if the Packers get eliminated sooner.

Bears d. Packers​

Ideally, though, Green Bay doesn’t even make the playoffs and keeps that pick at 18th or better. They’re currently the last wild card team and have a two-win lead on the eighth-seeded Lions. We probably need them to lose every remaining game to give Detroit a chance to pass.

Vikings d. Giants​

While we hate for New York to improve its shot at the number-one pick, Minnesota winning could directly help the Cowboys move up.

Chiefs d. Titans​

Kansas City is a team that Dallas has a realistic shot at moving ahead of in the draft. The Titans are completely out of our reach, so this one’s easy to pick.

Dolphins d. Bengals​

Dallas has a much higher chance of finishing worse than Miami over Cincy, so a Phins win is the way to root.

Saints d. Jets​

Probably irrelevant to Dallas either way, but there’s at least a mathematical shot of getting ahead of New Orleans in the draft.

Panthers d. Buccaneers​

One of these teams will be the NFC South Champion, and the other probably won’t make the playoffs at all. The best thing for Dallas is that they split their upcoming series to weaken the runner-up’s draft position. So we’ll take Carolina here as the home team, and probably Tampa in Week 18.

Falcons d. Cardinals​

Atlanta’s pick, which actually belongs to the Rams, is one Dallas might be able to move ahead of. Arizona’s is not.

Lions d. Steelers​

A Detroit win helps them potentially steal the Packers’ playoff spot and keeps them further away from Dallas’ original pick.

Ravens d. Patriots​

Baltimore is currently 15th in the order, right behind Dallas. We’d like some more cushion between us.

49ers d. Colts​

San Francisco, currently in sixth place in the NFC, helps keep Green Bay vulnerable as the seventh seed with a win.

---

If we get these outcomes, and the Cowboys lose to Los Angeles, Dallas’ pick would move up to 11th. The Packers would still have a claim on the last wild card spot, but it would be severely weakened. Detroit would only be a half-game behind with two more to go.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...eek-16-rooting-guide-draft-picks-playoffs-nfc

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Cowboys CB DaRon Bland could be headed to IR with foot injury

Cowboys CB DaRon Bland may need season-ending foot surgery – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News​

The Cowboys have received devastating injury news on cornerback Daron Bland.

FRISCO — Cowboys officials are trying to determine if starting cornerback DaRon Bland needs surgery on his left foot, a person with knowledge of his health told The Dallas Morning News.

It isn’t known how Bland suffered the injury, but he missed the second and third games of the season with a foot issue.

Bland underwent surgery on his left foot last season, which caused him to miss the first ten games. Bland returned and played in seven games.

This season, Bland played in 12 games, recording one interception and six pass breakups.

Matt Eberflus moving upstairs to coaching booth to call Cowboys’ defense – Tommy Yarish, DallasCowboys.com​

Matt Eberflus will no longer be on the sideline during games.

FRISCO, Texas – After a conversation with head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is moving from the sideline to the coaching booth to call plays for Dallas’ defense.

Eberflus said on Thursday that it was not the first time he and Schottenheimer had discussed the possibility, but they now believe it’s best for the Cowboys heading into their final three games of the 2025 season.

“I think that’s a really good thing,” Eberflus said. “[Schottenheimer] and I talked it through, and I’ve done it before. It’s really a chance for me to get good perspective, get good information, see the game develop in terms of information given to me on the sidelines… it’s been a while, but it’s going to be a good adjustment.”

The first time Eberflus was in the booth in the NFL was his first season, when he served as the Cleveland Browns’ linebackers coach from 2009-2010. In recent years as defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts and then head coach for the Chicago Bears, Eberflus has been on the field and has also served as the play caller.

With Eberflus calling plays upstairs, that means those on the sidelines need to be able to deliver adjustments, messages or whatever else Eberflus observes from upstairs. While there’ll be communication from Eberflus to all his position coaches, defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton will be the one tasked with messages for the defense as a whole.

Cowboys injuries: DaRon Bland, CeeDee Lamb still not practicing – LP Cruz, Blogging the Boys​

The Cowboys injury list has been a long one for most of the season.

On Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys practiced again where it’s business as usual with a game against the Los Angeles Chargers coming up. Here’s where the Cowboys are regarding injuries.

The Cowboys’ secondary is banged up once again this week, as many of their defensive backs are on the injury report. DaRon Bland (foot) did not practice for a second consecutive day. Bland has been hampered by a foot injury sporadically this season, so far this week he’s not quite healthy. Aside from Bland, many of his secondary counterparts were limited on Thursday again. Caelen Carson (shoulder/hamstring), Trevon Diggs (knee), Josh Butler (knee), Shavon Revel (knee). In Diggs’ case, he believes that he feels well enough to play, but there are some obstacles he needs to clear with the team before returning to the field.

Cowboys mailbag: Despite drop-off, George Pickens will be in Dallas in 2026 – Jon Machota, The Athletic ​

The George Pickens conversations over the last two weeks have gotten silly. He will (and should) be here for the foreseeable future.

How much, if anything, will Pickens’ disappearance the last couple of weeks when the season was on the line cost him in terms of the Cowboys’ willingness to make a long-term deal? — Michael S.

Not much at all. They understand that a big part of it is the extra attention coming his way from opposing defenses. They also know how much more explosive the offense is with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb on the field together. If I had to predict today, Pickens will end up getting the franchise tag. He obviously won’t like that idea. I just have my doubts about Jerry Jones’ being able to get a deal done with David Mulugheta after how ugly things got with Micah Parsons. Jones could prove me wrong, but the tag is more likely at this point. Either way, I don’t see a scenario where Pickens is playing anywhere but Dallas next season.

New Dallas Cowboys NFL mock draft takes surprising turn with shock pick – Josh Sanchez, SI.com​

It is (unfortunately) mock draft season for the Cowboys again.

16. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1), Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn

This season, Faulk has taken a step back in production, but there is no denying he is an explosive pass rusher who would immediately improve the Cowboys’ attack on the edge.

“Dallas has the NFL’s second-worst scoring defense, ranking fourth-worst in yards allowed. The Cowboys also have the league’s worst pass defense, but they have pieces at corner and have played much of the season without the injured Trevon Diggs,” Flick wrote. “So the pass rush that’s tied for ninth-worst with 29 sacks is a better place to start. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Faulk, a team captain at Auburn, brings size, intelligence, and a tremendous athletic profile to the table.”

Last season, Faulk totaled 45 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, and a forced fumble. This season, he totaled 29 tackles, five tackles for a loss, and two sacks.

Dallas Cowboys top Forbes’ most valuable teams list, Real Madrid lead football clubs – Reuters, FlashScore​

Most fans are probably tired of this being the team’s biggest accomplishment.

The Dallas Cowboys retained their status as the world’s most valuable sports team, according to the list published by Forbes on Thursday that was dominated by National Football League clubs.

The NFL’s Cowboys, who unseated Spanish football club Real Madrid ‌for top spot on the list in 2016, ‌were valued at $13 billion, a 29% jump compared to last year, Forbes said.

The National Basketball Association’s Golden State Warriors ($11 billion), the NFL’s Los Angeles ⁠Rams($10.5 billion) and New York Giants ($10.1 billion), and the NBA’s ‌Los Angeles Lakers ($10 billion) rounded out the top five.

Forbes said 30 of the NFL’s 32 teams were on its top-50 list, which also included 12 NBA clubs and two each from Major League Baseball, Formula 1, LaLiga and the ‌Premier League.

COWBOYS SALARY CAP: KENNY CLARK, A QUALITY VETERAN, MAY BE CUT IN 2026 – Mark Heaney, Inside the Star ​

The Cowboys have a big decision to make on Kenny Clark coming up this offseason.

This means the 2026 offseason will see “cap casualties,” as they will need extra money to operate in free agency, the trade market, and with upcoming extensions.

Specifically, there is one high-quality and new-to-Dallas player that may fall victim to the Cowboys’ financial constraints. Here, we’ll talk about him and the money it would save by releasing him in 2026.

Kenny Clark: In-And-Out Of Dallas Thanks To Salary Cap Issues

Savings (via Over The Cap): $21.5 Million If Released

Cap Penalty/Dead Money (via Over The Cap): $0 If Released

That’s right, the man in question is the player Dallas received from Green Bay this summer in exchange for the All-Pro Parsons.

Kenny Clark, 30, joined the Cowboys, alongside two first-round picks, and has played well in a reformed interior defensive line that now includes both Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa. Due to the financial details above, the trio may last one season.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...e-ir-foot-injury-matt-eberflus-george-pickens

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys vs Chargers: 3 bold predictions for Sunday’s matchup

After two consecutive crushing defeats, the Dallas Cowboys look to rebound on Sunday as they welcome the Los Angeles Chargers to AT&T Stadium. Before the two teams square off, here are three bold predictions for the matchup.

1) Cowboys’ defensive line takes advantage of the Chargers’ makeshift offensive line, recording five sacks

Coming into the season, the Los Angeles Chargers had to feel good about their outlook on the offensive line. After selecting stud left tackle Rashawn Slater back in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Chargers once again selected a high-profile tackle with a premium selection, this time taking Joe Alt out of Notre Dame with the fifth pick.

With Slater and Alt at both tackle spots, Los Angeles had one of the best young offensive tackle duos in all of football. Unfortunately for the Chargers, untimely injuries ruined this season for the talented young tackles. Slater suffered a season-ending injury in training camp, a huge blow for Los Angeles’ offense. Things got even worse as the season went on, as the 22-year-old Alt also suffered a season-ending injury, just six games into his NFL career.

The loss of both Alt and Slater caused a complete overhaul of the Chargers’ offensive line. To this point in the season, playing without both of their tackles has caused Los Angeles to have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. The Chargers have allowed Justin Herbert to be sacked 49 times, tied for the most of any quarterback in the league.

It’s almost hard to believe how poor the protection has been for Herbert this season. The 27-year-old quarterback has been pressured 15 or more times in eight of the Chargers’ 14 games this season, along with being sacked four-plus times in four separate matchups.

This week, Dallas’ defensive line gets a very favorable matchup against this struggling Chargers’ offensive line. For the first time since Thanksgiving, we see the Cowboys’ defensive line make a true impact as they generate some consistent pressure and record an impressive five sacks.

2) Chargers’ defense forces Dak Prescott into his fourth multi-interception game of the season

The Chargers’ defense has been, without a doubt, one of the more impressive defensive units in all of football this season. Los Angeles has allowed the second-fewest yards (3,907) of any defense in the NFL, allowing just 20 points per game.

Since Week 8, the Chargers have allowed more than 20 points in a game just one time. Over this seven-game span, Los Angeles leads the league in Defensive EPA/Play (-0.192), Dropback EPA (-0.185), and is second in Defensive Rush EPA (-0.204). Los Angeles has also been the best in the NFL at recording takeaways in these seven games, recording a league-high 13 takeaways over this span.

On the season, the Chargers have recorded the third-most interceptions (17) of any defense in the league, and that number will increase on Sunday. With recent poor play from the Cowboys’ offensive line, we’ve seen Dak Prescott have to make some quick decisions over the past few weeks. On the season, Prescott has been pressured on 10.2% of his throws (most in the league), and while he has done an outstanding job escaping negative plays, he has had some turnover luck on his side.

Prescott has just 10 interceptions in 14 games this season, but that number could easily be much higher. The 32-year-old quarterback is top-10 in the league in interceptable passes (15) and danger plays (20), showing he has had some luck to only have 10 interceptions on the year.

This week, Prescott won’t be so lucky as the impressive Chargers’ defense will take advantage of mistakes. Los Angeles picks off Prescott twice, forcing the quarterback into his fourth multi-interception game of the year.

3) Teams combine to score fewer than 40 points, going well under the pregame O/U total of 49.5

While the Cowboys’ defense has been atrocious this season, they should have a fairly favorable matchup this week against a Chargers’ offense without a true number one wide receiver and a struggling offensive line. On the Chargers’ side of things, their defense has been playing like the best defensive unit in football of late, and that likely will continue on Sunday.

For really the first time this season, Dallas is locked in a defensive battle on Sunday as the two teams combine to score fewer than 40 points.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...edictions-dak-prescott-defense-over-under-bet

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys injuries: Tyler Guyton, DaRon Bland ruled out, CeeDee Lamb in

We’re rounding the home stretch of the regular season. This week, the Dallas Cowboys host the Los Angeles Chargers. In our last injury report for the week, here’s who we can expect to see suit up on Sunday.

#Cowboys final injury report vs. #Chargers:

as expected, both Tyler Guyton and DaRon Bland are ruled out — the latter likely heading to IR.

several listed as questionable, including Trevon Diggs, but a decision on him looms.

full report: pic.twitter.com/HflIR6ujmT

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 19, 2025

Quinnen Williams and Hunter Luepke have both been ruled as questionable. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer had that they are both making progress with their respective concussions and are on the right track toward playing Sunday. CeeDee Lamb (illness) got some work on the field on Friday and has does not carry an injury designation, therefore he will play versus Los Angeles.

Cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) has also been listed as questionable. If Diggs is not activated this week, it effectively ends his season, as his window to return from injured reserve will have closed. Meanwhile, Jake Ferguson (calf), Osa Odighizuwa (shoulder), and Nate Thomas (shoulder) were full participants today and are expected to be in the lineup versus the Chargers. DaRon Bland will be placed on injured reserve with a lingering foot injury and was ruled out.

#LACvsDAL game status

QUESTIONABLE — Bud Dupree, Quentin Johnston, Elijah Molden, Trey Pipkins, Teair Tart

OUT — Derius Davis, RJ Mickens

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 19, 2025

The Chargers have ruled safety RJ Mickens (shoulder) and receiver Derius Davis (ankle). Quentin Johnson (groin), Elijah Molden (hamstring), and Teair Tart (shin) have been listed as questionable. Justin Herbert (hand), Khalil Mack, and Keenan Allen were removed from the Los Angeles’ injury report and will play this weekend.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...daron-bland-ruled-out-ceedee-lamb-in-chargers

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys fan confidence in this team is shot

Losing is a stinky cologne, to mangle a quote. It permeates all elements of a football franchise and can cover up the slight smell of any success or confidence. That is where the Dallas Cowboys are right now when it comes to the fanbase.

There are some definite positives from the 2025 season for the Cowboys. Brian Schottenheimer proved he is a capable head coach, navigating some really rough waters to a point where he still seems to be in command of his club, and still has the respect of the roster. His side of the ball, the offense, has been one of the better units in the league in 2025 and will return most of the key players, pending a resolution of George Pickens’ situation.

Even on defense, which has been tragic this season, the Cowboys have some foundational pieces to build upon. Quinnen Williams is the kind of player that can alter game plans and wreck schemes. DeMarvion Overshown is healthy once again and should be a 2026 terror. They have a couple of rookies who are showing promise in Donovan Ezeirauku and Shavon Revel Jr.

They even have two first-round picks in the 2026 draft.

But as mentioned above, losing games and missing the playoffs is the dominant stench that comes off this team at the moment. When we asked the fanbase if they were confident in the direction of the Cowboys, only 22% of fans said they were confident. That leaves a whole lot of people smelling that stinky losing cologne.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ence-low-brian-schottenheiemer-george-pickens

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys vs Chargers Week 16: How to watch, game time, TV schedule, streaming, radio

The Dallas Cowboys have been eliminated from the playoffs for the 2025 NFL season. With the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Washington Commanders, Brian Schottenheimer’s first season will end out of the tournament. They have three games left with nothing to play for but pride… or maybe draft position. Anyway, today they take on the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that is looking forward to a playoff run.

The Cowboys have stated that they are going to play to win even if they were eliminated, and it is likely they will roll out their regular unit this week. Teams tend to follow through on what they planned for during the week. Next week may see some roster maneuvering, but the Chargers will get the Cowboys best, which still may not be enough for the home team to get a win.

Here is info for the game.

Cowboys vs Chargers game info​

Important links: Cowboys depth chart | Roster

Date: Dec 21, 2025

Game time: 1:00 PM EST

Location: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX

TV channel: FOX

Coverage Map: 506 Sports

Radio: 105.3 The Fan | SXM

Streaming: Fubo

Cowboys record: (6-7-1)

Chargers record: (10-4)

Odds: Dallas -1.5, courtesy of FanDuel

Prediction: Cowboys 24 – Chargers 27

Enemy blog: Bolts from the Blue

Twitter: @BloggingTheBoys

Facebook: Please Like us!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...o-watch-game-time-tv-schedule-streaming-radio

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Brian Schottenheimer: Tyler Smith will remain at left tackle for rest of season

The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, but they did so with something interesting happening along the offensive line. Tyler Smith played left tackle. We joke about the names along the offensive line so to be clear we are saying it again. Tyler Smith played left tackle, as in the normal starting left guard (just want to be clear here).

Following the loss, Brian Schottenheimer noted that Smith is going to stay at left tackle across the final two games of the regular season.

Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer said postgame that Tyler Smith will remain the starter at left tackle for the rest of the season, even if Tyler Guyton returns.

He said if Guyton returns, he will be the swing tackle, opening up the possibility of him seeing time at right tackle.

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) December 21, 2025

The Cowboys have a need at left tackle because Tyler Guyton (as noted we joke about the names) has been out due to injury. As the FWST’s Nick Harris noted, Schotty said that if Guyton is back then he will be the swing tackle and could see time on the right side where Terence Steele plays (the same initials as Tyler Smith… the jokes have been everywhere for a few years now).

This news invites several questions:

• Are the Cowboys no longer committed to Tyler Guyton at left tackle?
• Is Tyler Smith viewed as a potential future answer at left tackle? Again? Surely so because otherwise why do this?
• Would this information have changed anyone’s stance during the Cowboys’ contract negotiations with Tyler Smith a few months ago when he was paid top guard money?
• Does the future offensive line involve Tyler Smith at left tackle and Tyler Guyton at right tackle?
• In that hypothetical who would the left guard be?

Obviously these are answers that the coming months will bring, but this is interesting to say the least.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ckle-tyler-guyton-swing-tackle-terence-steele

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Jerry Jones sells an optimistic future after missing playoffs

Jerry Jones: Cowboys ‘underachieved’ in 2025 but bullish on future – Todd Archer, ESPN​

The Cowboys owner is always selling.

But Jones does not believe that the Cowboys are far from making an extended postseason run.

“We’ve got a team that I think has got a top future, as far as next year’s concerned,” Jones said. “Starting with the offense, starting with that as we stand here tonight. And I think we’ve got the bones of a heck of a defense out there as well.

“And so, I think that as we do things that are directed toward making us better, period, no matter who we do it with, as we do those things, we’re starting [from a] real good spot. And I like what we’ve done with our cap. We’re able to spend money if we need to. And we’ll be able to draft with the picks we got. So, I can give you all kinds of reasons why we can change up what we’re doing out here tonight.”

The Cowboys have a 4,000-yard passer (Dak Prescott), a 1,000-yard running back (Javonte Williams) and two 1,000-yard receivers (CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens) for just the second time in franchise history. The other time it happened came in 2019, with Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, and the Cowboys also missed the playoffs.

Jones feels good about the interior of his defensive line, with tackles Quinnen Williams, who did not play against the Chargers because of a neck issue, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa. Jones sees promise in linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who suffered a concussion in the first half Sunday, and rookie edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku.

Jerry Jones makes Cowboys’ tank official with Matt Eberflus decision- Jerry Trotta, The Landy Hat​

Eberflus might be down to his last two games as a Dallas DC, but he isn’t being fired before then.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he won’t make a defensive coordinator change before the end of the year.— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) December 21, 2025

As painful as it is to watch an Eberflus-led defense, firing him might lead to some improved performances. At this point, losing out is in the Cowboys’ best interest. Harming their draft position by winning meaningless games would not be ideal, even though Brian Schottenheimer is undoubtedly coaching to win to finish out his first year as a head coach.

With the Vikings’ win over the Giants, the Cowboys moved up one spot to the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They will also pick No. 21 overall, courtesy of the Packers. That’s not a bad spot to be, considering they were still alive in the playoff race before Saturday.

Of course, Jones would never openly admit to tanking. The 83-year-old wants to win. But he is indirectly feeding fans’ desire to tank by continuing to employ Eberflus.

Trevon Diggs on return to the field, uncertain of future with Cowboys- Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

Diggs’ time in Dallas may also be numbered.

With his counterpart DaRon Bland out for the season with a foot injury that will likely require surgery, Diggs was activated off IR on Saturday and played 52 snaps in his first game back in over two months.

“It was a blessing, it felt amazing,” Diggs said. “Super excited, super happy to go out there and get to compete with my brothers.”

Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones will have to go back and watch the film, but from what he saw live, he was happy with Diggs’ performance.

“Without looking at it, I wouldn’t know when he was in or out of coverage, but I thought he played with a lot of, really, awareness. I thought he played well,” Jones said. “He played against some good competition. That’s a good quarterback out there… I was glad to see him back out there.”

The Diggs saga has been one that’s dated several weeks now, with head coach Brian Schottenheimer saying a few weeks ago that the team needed to see consistency from Diggs in “everything.” This week, Diggs said that Schottenheimer and the team challenged him to on “competing, doing everything right, tackling, everything.”

Cowboys wideout makes team history in loss to Chargers – Angel Torres, Cowboys Wire​

On a more positive note.

For the fifth consecutive season, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, tying him with fellow 88-club member and Dallas Hall-of-Famer Michael Irvin as the only pass-catchers to do so in franchise history. Lamb caught a three-yard pass at the end of the first quarter to move him to 26 yards on the game.

He’d finish the contest with six receptions for 51 yards, breaking his three-game streak of over 100 receiving yards.

This is also the first time Dallas has had two 1,000-yard receivers since the 2019 season when Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup both reached the milestone, the fourth time in Cowboys history. Receiver George Pickens entered the game with 1,212 yards. Drew Pearson and Tony Hill became the first to accomplish that feat back in the 1979 season.

Dallas had to wait for 27 years for it to happen again when Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn did it in 2006 before that 2019 season. The list extends to eight times if tight ends are included, all coming with Jason Witten as the non-receiver who gained 1,000 yards.

Depressing stat highlights harsh reality of Cowboys’ defense – Dustin Lewis, Sports Illustrated​

You don’t need stats to know the defense has played poorly, but it definitely highlights the point.

Sunday afternoon marked the second consecutive game where the Cowboys failed to record a sack. It’s not like the defense front was facing two of the top offensive lines in the league, either.

Los Angeles came into the contest ranked second-worst in the league in sacks allowed (51). Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had been sacked 11 times in his last two appearances. The victory over Dallas marked the first game this season that LA didn’t allow at least one sack.

A week earlier, the Cowboys produced a single quarterback hurry while giving away the game in the fourth quarter against Minnesota. The Vikings also sit near the bottom of the league in sacks allowed.

These are the type of lapses that can happen when a team doesn’t field an elite pass-rusher. The Cowboys are relying on a veteran on his last legs, as Jadeveon Clowney is second on the roster with four sacks. Outside of that, James Houston and Dante Fowler Jr. are the only real threats, with Quinnen Williams getting in the mix as well.

Clowney’s production has been up and down over the last few years. Houston recorded eight sacks in 2022 but only totaled one during the past two years. Fowler Jr. posted 10.5 sacks last season; however, he’s finished with five or fewer sacks in eight of his 12 seasons in the league.

Another issue on a long list that the Cowboys will have to set out and fix this offseason.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...s-missing-playoffs-matt-eberflus-trevon-diggs

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones: Dak Prescott will play on Christmas despite team being eliminated

The Dallas Cowboys were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday evening and had to play a game the next day against the Los Angeles Chargers knowing that. All primary/important members of the Cowboys played against the Chargers, but an argument could be made that Dallas prepared all week to play things down to the wire in the event that they were still mathematically alive in the playoff hunt.

A new week means a change to reassess and think about things with a different perspective. Perhaps the Cowboys would look at their remaining games and decide to close up shop on the season by sitting important players to the franchise and not risk injury.

This will not be the case. Stephen Jones said Monday on 105.3 The Fan that quarterback Dak Prescott will play and that seems to represent the idea in an overall sense.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan said “absolutely” Dak Prescott will play Christmas Day at Washington. “Our goal is to win the football game. Our goal is to finish strong.”

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 22, 2025

It is easy for fans to punt on a season when a team is eliminated and move the focus to next year. Arguments are made for tanking in the name of improving draft position as much as possible. Obviously it is a different sort of disposition for the teams. We will see how the Cowboys feel after this week’s game.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...scott-play-christmas-commanders-stephen-jones

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Monday Night Football live discussion: 49ers at Colts

Closing out Week 16 with the 49ers and the Colts.

This is an open thread for game chat. ​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/general/192602/monday-night-football-live-discussion-49ers-at-colts

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dak Prescott and Cowboys players participated in Christmas bonuses for team staff

The Dallas Cowboys will play a Christmas Day game on Netflix this week, but they have been a part of another streaming service for a few weeks now.

In case you were unaware the in-season version of Hard Knocks has been covering the NFC East (yes the entire division) for the last few weeks which means that the Cowboys have gotten some air time on HBO and HBO Max. It has been interesting to see some behind-the-scenes footage over the past few games, but obviously it would have been more fun had the team kept on winning.

The episodes drop every Tuesday and this week’s had a teaser shared on social media before it dropped. As noted it is Christmas time and in the clip in question Dak Prescott can be seen encouraging his teammates to donate for bonuses that the team’s staff will receive.

.@dak gets his teammates together each year to give Christmas bonuses to well-deserving @dallascowboys staff

New episode of Hard Knocks In Season with the NFC East airs tonight at 9pm ET on @hbomax pic.twitter.com/ArWcw1z3i9

— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2025

It is hard to know the exactly logistics of what is going on here obviously, but it seems that the players are adding to an overall pot that will be shared to the staff that supports them by way of bonuses. Prescott and others can be heard encouraging the group to not “be cheap” in the name of giving as much as possible.

This Cowboys season has been a disappointment, but it is impressive to see the players on the team using their financial standing to help those around them.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...0965/dak-prescott-hard-knocks-christmas-bonus

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

The harsh reality of the CeeDee Lamb & George Pickens season the Cowboys wasted

The Dallas Cowboys are not going to the playoffs, and after Sunday’s 34-17 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, don’t seem all that interested in going into the ensuing offseason that’s sure to be full of drama with any good vibes at all. There hasn’t been much of anything that’s been consistent for the Cowboys this season, not in the big picture and not within the play of any one position group. The Week 16 loss to the Chargers guarantees the Cowboys cannot having a winning streak this season that is longer than any of their losing streaks, with the current one being at three games and just two games remaining to play. The Cowboys won three in a row directly before the start of this active three-game losing skid.

There is going to be ample time once the NFL playoffs begin with Dallas on the couch to break down Brian Schottenheimer’s first season as head coach and offensive play-caller, and diving into the final statistics of the season will be one of these ways. There’s no way around the fact this is a bad team on the field right now, and many of the defensive stats will reinforce this, but not all stats will back this up especially when looking at the offense.

With six catches on seven targets for 51 yards against the Chargers, CeeDee Lamb surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth season in a row. With Lamb over 1,000 receiving yards and George Pickens already surpassing this mark, the Cowboys have a pair of 1,000 yard receivers for just the fourth time in franchise history. Their most recent instance of this happening was 2019 with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup.

The Dallas Cowboys have never won a playoff game in any of these four seasons​

That’s right. In recent history from the transitions but continuity-mindful changes from Kellen Moore to Mike McCarthy to Schottenheimer, the Cowboys wasting top-ranked offenses as a whole is unfathomably nothing new, but seeing it specific to their talent at receiver is more shocking.

The Cowboys missed the playoffs with eight wins in 2019, a mark they’ll need to win out to achieve this season. Going back even further, the Cowboys had Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn surpass 1,000 yards in 2006, went to the playoffs at 9-7 but lost to the Seahawks in the Wild Card round. Drew Pearson and Tony Hill in 1979 were the only other Cowboys receivers to do this in the same year, and that 11-5 team lost their first playoff game to the L.A. Rams as well.

There was legitimate reasons for hope that something was different this season about the duo of Lamb and Pickens, but also times where one was without the other on the field, and now in back-to-back home losses a Pickens 38-yard touchdown feels like the only real impact play made by either despite what the final stats say. It also doesn’t help that the Cowboys went scoreless for longer than two and a half quarters following that Pickens touchdown against the Chargers to lose control of the game completely.

It is obviously far, far, far too early to rule out the 2026 Cowboys from being a contending team, but with the state of the roster right now, adding a retool at wide receiver to an already daunting list of needs feels like something that could also sink this contending status before it ever gets off the ground. Second-year player Ryan Flournoy emerging here will be one of the best bright spots of this 2025 season, but that is within the context of what he’s done as a third option behind Lamb and Pickens.

This problem of the Cowboys somehow, some way not knowing how to either reach the playoffs or win a game when they get there with more than one 1,000 yard receiver points to a bigger problem that has directly resulted in their underachieving this season.

On paper in the offseason, the Cowboys seemed to finally learn a valuable roster building lesson by flipping the script on how they support their best, cornerstone players. Instead of asking these players to carry entire position groups and be stars on every snap, the Cowboys added to positions of strength to make them even stronger and mimicked what the best teams in the league do to have depth in this way. Many of these moves have not worked out for a variety of reasons, sending the Cowboys back to the drawing board on how to actually execute an idea that’s still new to them. The position group where it is the least new is likely wide receiver though, and yet the combinations and permutations under Prescott have either been not talented enough, or really good but not when it matters most. Adding Lamb and Pickens to this “list” of sorts is a failure of a result all around from this tumultuous season.

Have the Cowboys not been balanced enough with the run when playing with these receivers, and in the case of how to fix that with this current team, will the defense ever be solidified enough to not force the team into constantly passing from behind? Perhaps most importantly, will the Cowboys decent process but poor results from this offseason to the regular season send them back into a shell to regress even more in multiple other areas?

The very idea that Lamb and Pickens will even be together for more than this just season is going to hang in the balance this offseason, and if we know anything about how the Cowboys handle these types of things, it will be hanging for so much longer than it needs to be. If the expectation remains that Pickens will re-sign though, the Cowboys still need to figure out beyond Lamb, Pickens, and Flournoy what the right ingredients are in the pass game. Whether that’s even heavier usage of their tight ends or finding a running back they can throw to with any regularity, Jaydon Blue or otherwise, are questions they can only scratch the surface of answering with the eight quarters they have left to play.

How Pickens remains engaged and fits into Schottenheimer’s culture will also be something to watch against the Commanders and Giants, after some negative progress there against the Lions and Vikings. Pickens got this arrow pointing slightly upwards again with his touchdown and 130 yards against the Chargers, but as the reality of these games being meaningless for the Cowboys drags on, it will remain something to monitor.

The Cowboys have also seen their promise to utilize KaVontae Turpin as a wide receiver more frequently not be worth the squeeze, and to make this matter worse haven’t gotten the gains in the return game from Turpin either. From a pure Xs and Os standpoint, there is a lot to like about what the Cowboys did under Schottenheimer this season, and more importantly where it could go in year two. There are also underlying concerns about the “Jimmies and Joes” that line up in the most important spots of this offense going forward, none of which may get the attention the total overhaul needed on defense will this offseason. History says the Cowboys having any playoff viability can depend most heavily on the work they do offensively though, especially feeling the pressure of still trying to reach the playoffs for the first time three seasons into the Dak mega contract.

We say ad nauseum that games need to be won and lost with a team’s best players on the field, and in the case of a QB the players that directly make the most plays for them are in that equation too. What the pass catching group looks like in Dallas next season is a question at the moment, but one that may remain under the radar for some time as well.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ckens-season-wasted-1000-yards-2026-offseason

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Loss to the Chargers exposes an unfortunate truth about the Cowboys cornerback position

It doesn’t feel like that long ago when the Dallas Cowboys were sitting pretty at cornerback. This team was expecting to have both its All-Pro cornerbacks healthy again and eventually add a promising young rookie to the mix. How could we not be happy with that?

Sadly, things have not worked out as fortuitously as we hoped. It’s been quite the opposite, in fact. Every element of the Cowboys’ cornerback situation has turned out poorly. Every single one. In less than a full season, the outlook at cornerback has gone from pleasantly hopeful to desperately in need of assistance. Let’s take a look.

Trevon Diggs​

It’s amazing to think about how exciting it was to watch Trevon Diggs pick off 11 passes during his second year in the league back in 2021. The guy was such an incredible ball-hawking corner who had a football magnet for hands. Sure, he had a little gamble in him, and sometimes that left him exposed, but more times than not, his decisions worked out favorably as he racked up the interceptions. With each additional pick, the excitement grew. It was fun to watch.

That is why it’s so baffling to see things transpire as they have. Diggs had a good third season, earning Pro Bowl honors, but then tore his ACL in practice early in his fourth season, less than two months after signing a five-year, $97 million extension. He returned in 2024, but he just didn’t look like the same player. He started the first 10 games before suffering a groin injury that caused him to miss two games. Shortly thereafter, we learned that his knee had been bothering him all year and that he would miss the final four games to undergo season-ending knee surgery, again on his left knee. Little did we know, the drama was just beginning.

The Diggs ordeal has been one weird story after another. This summer when he was docked half a million for not meeting the offseason program clause in his contract. He didn’t rehab at the Cowboys facility, and the team didn’t like that. As the days went on, the friction grew stronger. He suffered a mysterious concussion, which we now know resulted from a TV mounting mishap, so he was placed on IR in October. When he was healthy enough to return, he didn’t.

For weeks now, fans have been left wondering what was going on with him. It was recently revealed that his delayed return wasn’t health-related, but rather because the coaches had issues with his mistakes in Cover 2. His reluctance to follow the scheme led him to take chances in practice, resulting in bad plays. When they feel Diggs was capable of following the direction of the coaching staff, then he’d be back on the field, and finally, that time came on Sunday. Unfortunately, his return did nothing to aid the defense and only served to validate the team’s apprehension in bringing him back. While the fat lady is not singing, we can’t help but think his time in Dallas is nearing an end, because let’s face it, he’s no longer that guy.

DaRon Bland​

Right before the season started, the Cowboys rewarded Bland with a new four-year, $92 million deal. It caught many of us off guard, and it wasn’t clear if the extension had more to do with their belief in him or an indictment of how they felt about Diggs. Regardless, the team is now committed to him. And after what we saw during his second year in the league, many would be ecstatic about that, as he had a record-setting five interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Bland started the 2024 season on injured reserve from a stress fracture he suffered in training camp. After missing the first 10 games of the year, he returned. Obviously, he wasn’t going to continue to jump routes and take them to the house, so his presence on the field felt small in contrast to the year prior. His passes defended were few and far between, and he didn’t have a single interception. He wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t great either. Fast forward to this season, and his performance has gotten worse. His effort is there, and his physicality is never questioned, but he just isn’t fluid enough to hang with the top corners in the league. Far too many times, Bland has been a liability in coverage and sometimes even embarrassed.

His underwhelming play is a concern, but now there’s another factor that’s become a huge downer for the Cowboys. His feet. His injury history over the past two years has begun to grow:

• Missed 10 games in 2024 with a stress fracture (LEFT foot)
• Missed two games early this season with a sore foot (RIGHT foot)
• Will now miss the final three games of the year with a foot injury (LEFT foot again)

Maybe this is something he’s dealt with most of the year that has hindered his on-field performance? Maybe a fresh bill of health will be in the cards for him next year. Or, maybe all that’s just wishful thinking and the Cowboys have a legit concern with him. At some point, we have to start questioning if Bland is the guy.

Shavon Revel Jr.​

It felt like the Cowboys would need to choose between Diggs and Bland, as paying top money to two corners didn’t seem plausible. Both corners came with questions, and the team appeared to hedge their bet with the Bland extension this offseason. Suddenly, it looked like that was a “tomorrow” problem, which afforded the team the luxury to select a top college prospect who came with a draft discount. That discount existed because he was dealing with his own recovery from a torn ACL he suffered during his final year in college. And that is what they got when they selected Shavon Revel Jr. in the third round of April’s draft.

It was exciting to think about landing a top corner, even if it meant his debut would be delayed. In week 11, his time had finally arrived as he logged 19 defensive snaps against the Las Vegas Raiders. Over his first two games, the rookie looked pretty good. He wasn’t giving way too much and kept his opponents in check. However, as his season progressed, Revel Jr. has shown more and more instances of vulnerability. On Sunday, the Chargers were coming after him, and he wasn’t up to the task.

To be fair, he’s a rookie. There will be growing pains. But it’s not just that. He’s a rookie coming off a major knee injury that inevitably will take time for him to trust his body. It wasn’t that long ago when he was sporting a huge brace on his knee, and his movement was so rigid that you wondered if the guy was even going to be ready at any point in the season. And maybe he’s not. Is it possible the Cowboys are trying to do too much with him out of necessity? Does he need more time to be comfortable enough to move like he did at East Carolina? That is what we are all hoping, but because we’ve seen what we’ve seen, doubt has now crept into our minds that maybe, just maybe, he’s also not the guy.

Then, who’s the guy?​

We’ve still got time to evaluate the rookie next year. And all we can do is hope that Bland heals up and starts showing more of the good stuff than what we’ve seen this season. There’s no way the Cowboys will continue to pay good money for what they’re getting out of Diggs, so unless something changes with that situation, he won’t be around next season. So, what does all that mean for the Cowboys’ cornerback situation?

Premium draft capital. The Cowboys have two first-round draft picks next year. They sit in a great position to grab one of the top corners in the draft if that’s the direction they go. And considering how bad things have gone for them at the position, they might feel like they don’t have much of a choice. This team will address the defense in the draft, and edge rusher will also be at the top of the list, but it seems apparent that they’ll have to prioritize cornerback as well.

It wasn't that long ago when Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs were the top two defensive players on the Cowboys. Now, the team could very well use their two first-round picks in next year's draft to help find their replacements. pic.twitter.com/tb7NcuPJWN

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) December 23, 2025

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-cornerback-position-trevon-diggs-daron-bland

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys vs. Commanders: Matchups to watch in Week 17

The Dallas Cowboys really have a little to play for in the Week 17 matchup with the Washington Commanders. Some fans around Cowboys Nation might be rooting against them this week due to the fact another loss will improve their draft position, but it’s unlikely the Cowboys will approach the game that way.

There are certain matchups this week that will definitely sway the game one way or another, but we decided to approach this a little differently this week since both teams don’t really have anything to play for except pride. So instead of identifying certain head-to-head matchups to keep an eye on, we decided to focus on certain Cowboys players will be watching more closely with the future in mind this week against the Commanders.

CB Shavon Revel vs. Commanders’ receivers​

With Trevon Diggs likely playing his final games in Dallas and with DaRon Bland once again needing surgery on his injured foot, questions about the future of the Cowboys CB position raises a red flag. It seems to be a top priority that needs addressing in the offseason, especially since rookie Shavon Revel is a bit of a mystery still as well. After missing the majority of the season recovering from a knee injury, he was thrown into the fire once healthy. You see flashes of his talent, but the consistency sadly isn’t there yet to be too confident about his future.

LT Tyler Smith vs. Commanders’ pass rush​

Whether it’s by necessity or experimentation, the Cowboys seem to be evaluating whether or not Tyler Smith’s future could be at left tackle moving forward. He not only started at LT in the loss to the Chargers in Week 16, but will continue to start there for the remainder of the season. It’s a little strange considering he’s been one of the best left guards in the league, but with nothing really to play for evaluating him once again at LT could give Dallas options as to how they want to go about addressing their offensive line for the future.

DE Donovan Ezeiruaku vs. LT Laremy Tunsil​

While Donovan Ezeiruaku has had a solid rookie season, the Cowboys need more from him moving forward. With two games remaining in the regular season, he’s someone we would all like to see finish the year strong to build on for next year. That’s especially true considering he’s basically the only DE Dallas has on the roster heading into the offseason. Finishing strong against Laremy Tunsil would be a great confidence booster for him as he should be the future of the position for the foreseeable future. That’s why No. 41 is someone to keep an eye on.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...up-shavon-revel-tyler-smith-donovan-ezeiruaku

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys did something for the first time ever during their Christmas Day game

The Dallas Cowboys did something that they never had during their Christmas Day game against the Washington Commanders. Any time you set history it is always interesting to point out.

You may have missed the “history” as it was not obvious to the naked eye, even if it was technically seen by it. The Cowboys’ history made on Christmas was by way of their uniform combination as they wore (from top to bottom) their white helmets, navy jerseys, and white pants. Basically this was their old school “color rush” uniform with the navy jersey as the middle portion.

This is a combination that Dallas had never worn as noted. We have seen them use the helmet and pants before or helmet and jersey even, but either the silver helmet or pants were a part of those particular ensembles when they were trotted out before.

Recent history has seen the Cowboys wear their navy uniforms more often and even do so at home which was previously something they never ever did. Consider that they wore navy at home last week in their AT&T Stadium finale.

We will see what else they come up with in the future.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...2873/christmas-day-history-uniform-washington

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys fast start holds off Commanders for 1st Christmas win since last Super Bowl season

After officially being eliminated from playoff contention less than 24 hours before their Week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Cowboys had to find things to play for in a hurry, and deal with the latest talk around “The Streak” of not reaching a NFC Championship game aging another year. Dallas did not do a good job in either area when they lost to the Chargers, but with a few extra days to find this motivation for their first Christmas Day game since 2010, the Cowboys did something they hadn’t done since their last Super Bowl-winning season and earned a season-sweep of the Commanders in the process. The Cowboys won 30-23 at the Commanders on Christmas, their first regular season Christmas Day win since the season finale in 1995 against the Cardinals.

The Cowboys had lost their previous three Christmas games to the Titans, Eagles, and Cardinals, two of which also came in losing seasons with first-time head coaches. The 31-0 loss to the Titans in 2000 ended Dave Campo’s first season, and the 2010 loss to the Cardinals was one of three losses in the final eight games of a season then being coached by an interim Jason Garrett. With this win against the Commanders, Brian Schottenheimer joins Barry Switzer as the only other Cowboys coach to have wins in the same season on Thanksgiving and Christmas, although in Schottenheimer’s case both wins came against teams that will not be in the playoffs this season. Switzer’s Thanksgiving win was also against the Chiefs in that ‘95 Super Bowl season, but one that finished 13-3 and won the AFC West.

With the Schottenheimer era still just beginning, this Christmas game on Netflix was about playing with better energy compared to the Chargers loss which was the team’s third straight, notching another divisional win with yet another chance to add to it in Week 18 next Sunday, seeing young players get reps, and cornerstone players be just that. By getting off to a fast start and 21-3 lead against a third-string quarterback for Washington in Josh Johnson, the Cowboys made progress in all of these areas and did just enough through the second half to hold off the home team and win. The Cowboys have played late-season games in Landover before that were defined by the team being out of contention and suffering another defeat, but no such thing happened here on Christmas.

Let’s get to a few notes on the team’s seventh win of the season.

Another comparison between this Christmas game and Thanksgiving against the Chiefs for the Cowboys is that they matched a season-high in first downs with 28 against the Commanders. Doing so in a way that may never be repeated, the Cowboys were 8-20 on third down but a remarkable 6-6 on fourth down attempts. All but one of these conversions came on a drive that ended in points for the Cowboys, including three on their second touchdown drive to go ahead 14-3. The final fourth-down conversion was a simple Dak Prescott sneak for a yard to keep the clock running to triple zeros and end the game.

The second touchdown drive was more of a statement than the first for the Cowboys, and although they don’t leave this game without a long list of further things to correct such as 11 penalties and conceding six sacks, it was moments like this that proved they were flat out better than the Commanders as well. The first touchdown drive was capped off by a beautifully executed throw out of 13 personnel to Jake Ferguson, who later left the game with an injury, but not before scoring his first touchdown since Week 11 – and crossing off something that was on my personal pregame wish list from Santa. The Cowboys moved all of their skill players including lesser-used ones like Hunter Luepke, Jalen Tolbert, and Brevyn Spann-Ford around a lot in this game, overwhelming the Commanders with different looks while still forcing them to respect the downhill run game. With three tight ends on the field in the red zone, the Cowboys took advantage passing out of this run look to hit Ferguson in the back in the end zone.

Compared to an opening drive for six that had to overcome yet another failed pass to a running back when Javonte Williams was targeted incomplete on second down, and was extended by a third-down pass interference penalty that bailed the offense out of having Kavontae Turpin and George Pickens in the same spot, the Cowboys first half execution picked up quickly in this game and made a statement about backing up their talk throughout the short week of still playing to win.

Pickens and Tolbert had fourth-down conversions on the next drive capped off by Williams’ four-yard touchdown run, but it was the touchdown itself that best encapsulated what this Dallas offense wants to be all about. Cooper Beebe at center and T.J. Bass making his second straight start at left guard executed a double team that bulldozed a Commanders defender all the way across the goal line, with Williams following close behind and scoring. These two touchdowns were sandwiched around a promising drive for the Commanders that settled for a red zone field goal after a Jadeveon Clowney 3rd-and-goal sack, an early turning point in a game that would later get much tighter and have the road team relying on all the points they could get.

Another clear sign of progress of the Cowboys still working hard in preparation for this game and wanting to play up to a standard came when Turpin added to this 14-3 lead with the longest touchdown in Christmas Day history across the NFL. Turpin’s 86-yard deep ball was a carbon copy of a play the Cowboys tried to hit the speedy Turpin on last week against the Chargers, getting the matchup they wanted with Turpin running against a linebacker, but he gave up on the route downfield. This time Turpin caught the ball and was off to the races, capping off a flawlessly executed play from start to finish between Prescott and Turpin.

Throwing out of an empty formation, the Cowboys needed an answer for the Commanders aggressive pass rush to give Prescott the time to deliver this ball downfield. Jake Ferguson started the play aligned inside from Turpin, in position to help Tyler Smith at left tackle but also give Turpin a free release upfield. On the other side to help Terence Steele, the Cowboys motioned Luepke out of the backfield. The interior of the offensive line has been a strength from nearly start to finish all season in Dallas, but inconsistency at tackle has been enough to make a top-ranked and highly-talented offense inconsistent enough to not finish games. Schottenheimer using as many motions and personnel groupings as he did to keep the aggressive Dan Quinn defense at bay was a win for his Cowboys offense and something to feel good about going into the Giants rematch.

With so many bodies around the line of scrimmage, inviting the Commanders defense down into close quarters as well was a recipe for big plays so long as the Cowboys could protect, which is not something they did a great job of overall, but given their skill out wide they made it work. This was yet another game that proved George Pickens needs to be a long-term component to this offense.

The Turpin touchdown was also a turning point in another area the Cowboys have struggled in mightily, winning the battle of field position. Scoring on a drive that started at their own three-yard line with a third down deep ball, the Cowboys were one play away from having to punt and likely give great field position to the Commanders. With the way the Dallas defense has put up so little resistance this season, defending short fields while not being able to sustain drives to score on long fields has been a theme of recent losses to the Lions, Vikings, and Chargers. As it turned out, the Cowboys avoiding this by springing Turpin behind the defense proved even more important, as the Commanders answered with a Jacory Croskey-Merritt 10-yard touchdown attacking Kenneth Murray and Malik Hooker right up the middle.

Another opportunity for the Commanders to have great field position that the Cowboys denied came after their first punt of the game, which was brought on by back-to-back plays of George Pickens being called for pass interference and then a third-down drop. C.J. Goodwin made a strong special teams tackle on the punt that also got penalized for the Commanders, but yet again it didn’t fully matter as Croskey-Merritt ran right by Murray and Reddy Steward again, this time for a backbreaking 72-yard touchdown. The Cowboys were now in a one score game and it was time for fans to put the eggnog down and lock in on a game that got close in a hurry, but the two teams trading four field goals for the remainder of the afternoon was enough to keep Dallas ahead.

Kenneth Murray struggling in run defense is nothing new from this season, so much so that it’s hardly worth pointing out. What was way more disappointing on the explosive run for a touchdown was the way Steward was asked to defend down in the box. The Cowboys have strong box safeties in Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson, and Steward actually flashed some positive plays as a deep coverage safety earlier in this game. For as much as the Schottenheimer offense deserves praise in this game for putting their players in the best position to succeed, in what could well be the second-to-last game of the Matt Eberflus experience on defense, the Cowboys did not do this playing against such a banged up Commanders offense.

The defense did have to rise up and make plays to hold Washington to the two field goals they managed for the rest of the game though, doing just enough to support a 30 point output from the offense which has become the benchmark the Cowboys need to score to win as currently built. After being called for a facemask penalty to extend a drive, rookie CB Shavon Revel redeemed himself and had the coverage on Treylon Burks on 3rd-and-goal to hold the Commanders to three at 27-20. The Cowboys also forced a three and out with second and third down short-yardage run stops following Brandon Aubrey’s 58-yard field goal miss.

Christmas cookies for everyone, the Cowboys played as a team and got another NFC East win within a division they’re guaranteed to finish second in. In a season where the early expectation was that Dallas would be woefully behind the two division teams that reached the NFC Championship Game a year ago, sweeping one of those teams in the Commanders and having a head-to-head win against the Eagles who hardly look as dominant as they did in 2024 may be a slight something to appreciate this holiday season. The Cowboys coaches, players, and front office have already promised bigger and better things for 2026, and not losing a game on the same streaming platform that hosts a ten-part documentary to their past success isn’t a bad place to start. A lot of players that can be part of a brighter future had their fingerprints on this win under the tree.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-vicotry-kavontae-turpin-brian-schottenheimer