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[Dallas Cowboys]

Everything changed for the Cowboys in Philadelphia right before the lightning delay

The Dallas Cowboys lost on Thursday night. We can sit here and list the reasons that Dallas lost to the Philadelphia Eagles and CeeDee Lamb’s drops are at the very top for most people. That is certainly fair.

A lot of people are going to be critical of Miles Sanders’ fumble and that is certainly hard to deny. Turning the ball over so close to the goal line with points seemingly in hand by way of Brandon Aubrey is a recipe for disaster.

Part of what made this game weird was the lightning delay that occurred and there is a little bit to that whole phenomenon that may have changed the complexion of this game. No points were scored by either team following the delay which suggests that for the most part offenses cooled off. That happens.

The Sanders fumble actually came the very play before the delay was called, but let’s turn our attention to the one right before that.

It was 3rd and 22. Jake Ferguson was the target for both Dak Prescott and, as it turned out, Reed Blankenship. Blankenship hit Ferguson in the head area and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty gave Dallas a fresh set of downs and Sanders fumbled.

You can make the case that was not a penalty from Reed. It seemed like things were happening quickly and we have all seen a moment where we wondered what a defender is supposed to do when things are that fast. Imagine if that hadn’t been a penalty. but just an incompletion on third down. Dallas would have trotted Aubrey out on fourth and forever and he would have tightened things up 24-23. Then the delay would have happened.

The Cowboys touched the ball three times after the delay and failed to score at all as we have noted. You do have to wonder though how things could or would have gone if all they had needed was a field goal as opposed to a touchdown.

Maybe it makes a difference. Maybe it doesn’t. But it seems very clear that the lightning delay and the plays right before it served as the biggest points of change for Dallas overall.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...lashpoint-eagles-right-before-lightning-delay

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Sunday Night Football live discussion: Ravens at Bills

The capper for Sunday in the NFL is an excellent game between the Ravens and the Bills.

This is an open thread for game chat. ​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/general/180417/sunday-night-football-live-discussion-ravens-at-bills

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Lions HC Dan Campbell’s take on seeing Micah Parsons instead of Kenny Clark

Big trades in the NFL are sometimes described as “earthquakes” or “bombshells”, and with that comes the expected aftershock of trying to immediately grade these trades based on every ripple that happens between the involved parties. The first ripples for both the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers from the Micah Parsons and Kenny Clark trade are in the books to start the 2025 season. Right away, the Packers have an advantage in the win column after beating the Detroit Lions for the first time in three tries at home, 27-13. The Cowboys lost their season opener 24-20 in Philadelphia to the defending champion Eagles.

When it comes to how the reigning winners of the NFC North, the division with the best record in football a year ago, is taking playing against Micah Parsons instead of Kenny Clark now, the Lions head coach had an interesting take. Dan Campbell gave the impression to the CBS top broadcast crew of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo that they were actually more relieved not be playing against Clark than they worried about Parsons.

Jim Nantz and Tony Romo brought up how the Micah Parsons trade was received by the #Lions and HC Dan Campbell.

Nantz: "It felt like they were more relieved Clark was gone than they were concerned that Parsons was coming to Green Bay" pic.twitter.com/6Ij1Qcatv3

— Sean Martin ✭ (@SeanMartinNFL) September 7, 2025

“It felt like they were more relieved (Kenny) Clark was gone than they were concerned that (Micah) Parsons was coming to Green Bay” – Jim Nantz

Nantz and Romo both strongly agreed they got the feeling Campbell was more in favor of game planning for Parsons in the season opener compared to facing Clark again. Over the time Campbell has been the Lions’ head coach since 2021 and Clark was with the Packers, the Lions actually went 6-2 against them. Despite sweeping them last year, two of the Lions’ five lowest rushing performances came against the Packers last year. Clark made his impact, but the Lions found ways to come out on top. Conversely, Campbell’s team went 0-2 against the Cowboys with Parsons, who had two sacks in the first meeting.

That record for Campbell against Parsons is now 0-3, as the newest Packer wearing jersey #1 played 30 snaps in his debut, had two pressures (one of which led to a red zone interception), and one sack in the fourth quarter protecting a 27-6 lead.

Using statistics, records, and objective facts, there isn’t a whole lot on the Lions side to justify this comment by Campbell right away. The victor will always get the spoils in this game, and right now that is the Packers, ending a three-game home losing streak to the Lions with Parsons on their side.

I bet he won’t say that now https://t.co/iD8hQ6H8i5

— Terrence Parsons Jr (@Tpars_boii) September 7, 2025

The Packers dominant win was easy fodder for this take by Campbell to be taken as something of a joke, but it’s important to separate the context of what it means for the newest Cowboys defender Kenny Clark. Campbell is still the coach responsible for turning the Lions into a respectable contender and winning 15 games a season ago, so his praise for Clark is noteworthy apart from anything to do with Parsons.

Clark, Solomon Thomas, and Osa Odighizuwa helped the Cowboys stand tall at defensive tackle against the Eagles in ways they had not been able to before. Following a late third-quarter lightning delay, the Cowboys defense, now coordinated by Matt Eberflus, held Saquon Barkley to negative one rushing yard on seven carries. The defense as a whole more than did their job of getting the ball back enough times for the offense to go win the game, which they knocked on the door of doing but fell just short.

It is possible to consider the fact both teams involved in a trade can come out better, even if such a thing is frowned upon in the name of always wanting winners and losers in a competitive environment. The Cowboys pass rush was certainly not better than it would have been with Parsons in week one, but they did find other ways to bring pressure and still held up in coverage. They looked like a group with a lot of potential to get better as they adjust to the new scheme and get more key players back on the field. Clark officially finished with five combined tackles over 41 snaps, including being in on Marshawn Kneeland’s sack.

The Packers defense right from the gun looked stifling, but they did have the benefit of playing from ahead early on with a 10-0 lead after three possessions, while both the Lions offense and defense was being called by new coordinators.

It won’t be long until the Cowboys and Packers get together on Sunday Night Football in week four. Until then, it will be interesting to see what other NFC North coaches and players might say about both the absence of Kenny Clark or addition of Micah Parsons. The Bears and Vikings will finish off the first week of this season on Monday Night Football.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...take-seeing-micah-parsons-instead-kenny-clark

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Monday Night Football live discussion: Vikings at Bears

The end game of Week 1 in the NFL is between the Vikings and the Bears.

This is an open thread for game chat. ​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/gen...ght-football-live-discussion-vikings-at-bears

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys will be facing Russell Wilson at quarterback for the Giants

The Dallas Cowboys will have their home opener on Sunday at AT&T Stadium and will host the New York Giants. Both teams lost their first games of the season, New York was on the road as well, and both lost to division rivals. Obviously this means that whoever loses this game will be 0-2 overall and 0-2 within NFC East play on top of that.

Saying there are high stakes in Week 2 feels silly, but tell that to the team who walks off of the field as a loser on Sunday afternoon. The Cowboys and Giants may be in similar places from a record standpoint, but the former has a new head coach in Brian Schottenheimer and is clearly beginning a new era. New York is in a position where they could make a change at head coach if the season doesn’t go according to plan which means that Brian Daboll may have to get creative.

This could be what was in the back of Daboll’s mind when he spoke to the media after the Giants lost to the Washington Commanders on Sunday. When he was asked if Russell Wilson would remain New York’s starter, he was noncommittal.

“We’re going to get home and look at our game,” Daboll said when asked if he would consider starting Dart next week.

The Giants selected Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with their second selection in the first round (they traded up to do so). It has always felt like a matter of when and not if Dart will start this season, but Week 2 would mean a pretty short bit of patience from Daboll.

Speaking Monday, Daboll confirmed this line of thought when he said that Russell Wilson will be the team’s starter.

#Giants head coach Brian Daboll says Russell Wilson remains the starting QB

— Madelyn Burke (@MadelynBurke) September 8, 2025

Truth be told this, famous last words I know, probably works out better for the Cowboys. Wilson is no longer the player he was at his peak, part of that peak involved Brian Schottenheimer as his offensive coordinator, and Dart represents a great unknown.

Prepare for Russell Wilson.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dallas-cowboys-news/180481/giants-quarterback-russell-wilson-cowboys

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys 2026 first-round picks tracker: Week 1 Update

The Dallas Cowboys are projected to hold, barring any future trades, two first-round picks during the 2026 NFL Draft.

Dallas obviously has their own first-round pick, but thanks to the Micah Parsons trade struck with the Green Bay Packers just before the 2025 season began, the Cowboys also hold the Pack’s pick as well. Dallas also received Green Bay’s 2027 first-round pick and defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the deal.

As the 2025 season rolls on we will be tracking the Cowboys’ first-round picks and updating this post every week. It goes without saying that we want Green Bay’s pick to be as close to the top of the order as possible, so from that standpoint we are rooting against the Packers all season.

For reference all draft pick tabulations will come courtesy of Tankathon.

---

Week 1 Update

The Cowboys lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener which put them at 0-1 to start. Green Bay dismantled Detroit in theirs and are the talk of the town.

• Current Cowboys Pick: 12th
• Current Packers Pick: 28th

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...26-first-round-pick-tracker-packers-nfl-draft

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Tyler Booker shares thoughts on Week 1

Cowboys first-round pick Tyler Booker shares thoughts on NFL debut – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram​

The Dallas Cowboys first-round pick grades his debut performance against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fast forward to a little more than four months since hearing his name called, Booker took the field last Thursday night against the Eagles for his NFL debut as the starting right guard on the offensive line.

While it was far from his best showing, in his own words, there were still positives to take away from his debut that saw him allow only two quarterback pressures.

“I feel like I have a lot of room for improvement,” Booker said. “I have a lot that I need to get better at. I’m not going to sit here and say that it was my worst performance ever. But at the same time, to be where I want to be and who I want to be, I have to play a lot better than I did on Thursday.”

In his introductory press conference, Booker said that the player he was most looking forward to going up against was Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Booker, of course, didn’t get that opportunity in the opener after Carter was ejected before the first play for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

While the case could be made that the Eagles lost their best defensive player for the night in that incident, it didn’t change much for Booker who felt that the offensive line was going to play efficiently anyway.

“I felt that way regardless of the situation,” Booker said. “I was a firm believer in our ability to play effectively…I was just focused on the first play of the game. I was focused on controlling the controllables.”

Seven takeaways from Jerry Jones’ weekly 105.3 The Fan interview – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

The Cowboys owner and general manager had a lot to say during his first radio interview of the season.

Overall thoughts on Cowboys’ 24-20 loss to the Eagles

The word that Jones used the most to describe Dallas’ 2025 season opener was “pleased.” Evidently, he takes no consolation in losing the game, but was happy with some of the things that came from it.

“I thought that in particular, I thought that Dak had one of the best games that I’ve seen him play…” Jones said. “I felt really, really, really good about the way our offensive line played. I think that bodes well for as we start down this season.”

Later on, Jones would say that Prescott and new defensive tackle Kenny Clark graded out as the team’s highest rated players based on their internal grading system from Thursday night.

What stood out from Brian Schottenheimer’s debut?

It’s not easy to handle both offensive play calling and head coaching duties. A lot of times, coaches simply just aren’t cut out for it. In Brian Schottenheimer’s debut, that did not seem to be the case, and Jones liked how his team fared under him.

“I thought he had the team ready, prepared. We didn’t see anything there that got us disjointed as a team. I thought he gave us a chance, the plan, the preparation gave us a chance to win that game. That’s what we asked for, be in it at the end and get a chance to win it at the end. I thought he did a great job.”

The next step of course is not to be in it at the end, but to be ahead when the clock runs out. That said, Schottenheimer got “an A” from Jones with how he called the offense and managed the game.

CeeDee Lamb’s crucial drops down the stretch

As the Cowboys made a push in the second half to get down field and ahead on the scoreboard, All-Pro wide receiver had three crucial drops that could have put Dallas into scoring position. Jones isn’t worried about there being any sort of lingering effect from it on Lamb.

“I just look at each play on its own rather than look at a group of plays because nothing in his background or any place suggests that he can’t catch the football,” Jones said. “And so I just look at each one of them and, without getting any way here, they just haven’t ever made a receiver that doesn’t have a drop.”

“He just got two or three there at the wrong time and succession there. So that doesn’t concern me generally about whether CeeDee Lamb can catch the ball.”

That said, Jones did recognize what things could have looked like on offense had Lamb made some of those catches, which he deemed “unfortunate.”

Broncos sign RB Deuce Vaughn to practice squad – Aric DiLalla, DenverBroncos.com​

Deuce Vaughn landing with Sean Payton felt like it would happen after he was released from Dallas.

Denver signed running back Deuce Vaughn to the practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.

A 2023 sixth-round pick, Vaughn has appeared in 14 games in his NFL career. He carried the ball 40 times for 110 yards in regular-season action, all of which came for the Cowboys.

He rushed 17 times for 64 yards in preseason action in 2025 for Dallas.

Vaughn rushed for more than 1,400 yards in back-to-back years to cap his collegiate year at Kansas State. He also scored 34 total touchdowns during that stretch.

The 5-foot-6, 176-pound player is the lone running back on the Broncos’ practice squad. Denver had an open spot on its practice squad and is not required to make a corresponding move.

NFL Announces Final Decision in Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Spitting Incident – Anne Erickson, Heavy on Cowboys​

The NFL made its decision on the penalty Eagles Jalen Carter will receive for spitting on Dak Prescott.

This punishment could be seen as not strong enough, because the NFL’s penalty for Carter wasn’t a suspension. Instead, it was a $57,000 fine, which may sound like a lot of bags, but it’s pocket change to NFL stars. The NFL did make the good point that because Carter was ejected right at the beginning of the Cowboys and Eagles game, that, in essence, was a one-game suspension.

As for the incident itself, following Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren sitting on the grass with an injury after the opening drive, Carter walked up to Prescott and spit on Prescott. Carter was ejected from the game, which really hurt the Eagles’ defense, since they depend on him. Cameras also showed Prescott spitting towards Carter, but at the ground, so it certainly wasn’t the same thing.

Carter has been a superstar ever since the Eagles drafted him No. 9 overall in the 2023 NFL draft. Last season, he notched NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Next up, the Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in on Sunday, September 14, and the Cowboys go up against the Giants the same day.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news about Carter’s penalty on his X account. “NFL is fining Eagles DT Jalen Carter $57,222 for spitting on Dak Prescott,” he said. “The league also says the game he was ejected for will serve as a one-game suspension. ‘After talking to the Eagles, the NFL and the NFLPA, Jalen has decided not to appeal and focus on the Chiefs game,’ said Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus.”

Followers were quick to comment about the news. “A game without pay and a 50k fine. That is more than an adequate fine. That is than enough,” one person on X commented about the news. “He got off easy tbh,” another stated.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ker-shares-thoughts-week-1-debut-dak-prescott

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys CB DaRon Bland could miss multiple weeks with foot injury

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to win their first game of the season against the New York Giants on Sunday. Unfortunately, one member of their secondary likely won’t be available. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, cornerback DaRon Bland could miss a few weeks with a foot injury that he suffered in practice on Monday.

The Dallas Cowboys could be without cornerback DaRon Bland for a couple of weeks because of a right foot injury suffered in Monday’s practice, according to multiple sources.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 10, 2025

Bland is no stranger to foot issues. He missed 10 games last season with a stress fracture. It’s unclear at the moment if he injured the same foot this go around. Nonetheless, this is a big blow to the defensive backfield that played pretty well against the Philadelphia Eagles with a then healthy Bland and Trevon Diggs, something that hasn’t happened a lot of the last few years. Kaiir Elam was the third corner in the game.

The hope is that this injury isn’t a lingering issue for Bland who just signed a four-year extension for $92 million less than two weeks ago.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...n-bland-could-miss-multiple-weeks-foot-injury

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: DaRon Bland foot injury not related to previous issue

Sources: Cowboys’ Bland (foot) could be sidelined for multiple weeks – Todd Archer, ESPN​

DaRon Bland is dealing with a foot injury for the second straight season.

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys could be without cornerback DaRon Bland for a couple of weeks because of a right foot injury suffered in Monday’s practice, sources told ESPN.

Bland did not practice Wednesday, but the injury is unrelated to the foot issue that limited him to seven games last season. Last year, Bland dealt with a stress fracture in his left foot that required surgery.

This injury is not considered as serious, but his absence comes while Trevon Diggs is still ramping up his work after undergoing left knee surgery in January and the Cowboys lack proven depth at the position.

Bland signed a four-year, $92 million extension on Aug. 31 that included $50 million guaranteed. He was credited with four tackles and a quarterback hurry in the season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.

Jadeveon Clowney visits Cowboys: No immediate signing expected for former No. 1 overall pick per report – Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports ​

Dallas kicked the tires on the veteran pass rusher.

The Dallas Cowboys are in the market for pass rush help following the Micah Parsons trade, and they are showing interest in signing a former No. 1 overall pick. The Cowboys hosted Jadeveon Clowney on Wednesday but no immediate signing is taking place, according to NFL Media.

Clowney, 32, spent the 2024 season with the Carolina Panthers, and recorded 46 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 QB hits and nine tackles for loss in 14 games played. It was a homecoming in a way, as the Rock Hill native played his college ball at South Carolina, and even had his No. 7 retired in Columbia.

Clowney is just two years removed from a highly productive season, as he tied a career high with 9.5 sacks for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.

Trevon Diggs ‘felt good’ in return for Cowboys, still ramping up – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com ​

Trevon Diggs is getting back to his old self.

FRISCO, Texas – After 269 days of waiting, Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs finally got make his return to the field last Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles, albeit for 26 snaps.

No matter how many snaps he got, the sixth-year corner was more than happy to be back on the field.

“It felt good,” Diggs said of his return. “Thankful, blessed to just go out there and be with my teammates competing. I missed it a lot being out all the time I was, so it was a blessing just to be out there.”

Throughout the whole process, it wasn’t one that Diggs or the Cowboys wanted to rush given it being the second big knee injury he’s suffered in as many years. His pitch count last Thursday was expected, and he wants to continue to take steps before rushing back to being on the field full-time in order to prevent another injury.

“Still working,” Diggs said. “Just a little bit more [snaps] than last week is best and the smartest and safest thing to do. I feel like just increasing it a couple more plays and just working my way slowly.”

The physical hurdle of recovering from knee injuries at any position in football is one thing. The other hurdle that Diggs is still clearing is the mental one, which requires being confident in your knee and playing free, and he feels that he’s getting over that hurdle during practice.”

“I have to be in order to get over that,” Diggs said when asked about his confidence. “Just doing everything fast, putting my foot in the ground, just driving just to take that fear away and I feel like I do that in practice a lot.”

Cowboys O-lineman fined by NFL for viral but unflagged Eagles head slap – Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire ​

Tyler Guyton will be a little lighter in the pockets after this incident.

Second-year man Tyler Guyton had a mixed bag of a night on Thursday in Philadelphia.

On the one hand, he and the rest of the Cowboys offensive line allowed zero sacks of quarterback Dak Prescott in the 24-20 loss. On the other hand, though, PFF graded him out at 61st place– out of 64 offensive tackles leaguewide- after Week 1 action was complete.

The 2024 first-round draft pick did enjoy a somewhat viral moment for a play in which he gave a vicious head slap to Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt… but now it looks like that one swing will cost the 24-year-old a decent chunk of change.

The NFL has fined Guyton $12,172 for the play, calling it unsportsmanlike conduct. The incident did not draw a penalty flag on the field during the game, with some theorizing that Guyton’s open hand as he swung his left arm likely made the move a failed shove block as opposed to a deliberate punch.

Tyler Guyton my goodness… pic.twitter.com/xA6OsHkK7P

— Landon Holifield ✭ (@TheLandoShow) September 5, 2025

Guyton has said he did not intend to deliver a head shot on the play, but he was absolutely trying to bring violent physicality to his game Thursday night.

Mazi Smith sat out Cowboys’ opener as healthy scratch. Will it happen again in Week 2 – Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News ​

Mazi Smith being active against the Giants is still in question.

FRISCO — Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith was a healthy scratch for the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. That could be the start of a trend.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones intimated that could be the case again during his weekly radio show on Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM).

“My guess would be that it would look pretty similar to last weekend,” Jones said.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about Jones’ projection for Smith, their 2023 first-round pick out of Michigan. The projection, Schottenheimer claimed, was exactly that.

“I think at the end of the day, we’re going to have three great practices this week,” Schottenheimer said when asked about Jones’ comments on Smith, “and we have a projected list of how we think this thing can play out and what we think. But it’s projection and you don’t know. We’re in pads today and we’re running around. And hopefully we come out of it clean and all that stuff. These guys have the opportunity to earn their spots.”

If Smith is going to earn that spot, it starts with being more consistent in the eyes of the coaches. Schottenheimer has been adamant about Smith’s lack of consistency since the start of training camp. He’s pointed to consistency as a reason other players haven’t appeared.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...and-foot-injury-not-related-to-previous-issue

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys analytics roundup: The good and the bad from Week 1

The first week of the 2025 season is in the books, and so too is the first week of data from those games. The Cowboys may have lost to the Eagles, but there were several encouraging things to take from it, along with some areas for obvious improvement. In an effort to table the Kool-Aid for a moment, let’s dive into the first Cowboys analytics roundup of the new year and get a sense for what this team actually is right now.

First, let’s start with a caveat: we are dealing with very small sample sizes right now. Any data will be skewed right now, and any DVOA-based grades in particular are not yet operating with any sort of adjustments for strength of schedule. That said, there is still some value to be gleaned rom these metrics.

DVOA	DVOA Rank	DAVE	DAVE Rank
Offense	25.0%	6th	0.3%	17th
Defense	26.4%	28th	1.1%	20th
Special Teams	1.0%	14th	-0.1%	16th
Overall	-0.4%	14th	-0.9%	19th

The headline here is that the Cowboys grade out as the 14th best team in the league right now. Given all the changes in the offseason, along with the trade of Micah Parsons right before things started, most fans will take that. After one week of games, the Cowboys are buoyed by their offense and held down by their defense, which is unsurprising for several reasons.

DAVE, which combines actual DVOA results with DVOA-based preseason projections, offers a good comparison for where the team should be right now. The offense is way ahead of schedule, while the defense turned out to be a bit worse than expected. All in all, these metrics reflect that the Cowboys played better than expected last Thursday night.

Pivoting to our EPA-based team tiers, the Cowboys find themselves right around the same area as their DVOA ranking. They’re one of many teams in the bottom right quadrant – which is where teams end up when they’re good on offense and bad on defense – but not so far from the average lines that they can’t move into the ideal upper right quadrant in a couple weeks.

Offense​

Grade	Rank
Offensive DVOA	25.0%	6th
Pass DVOA	22.3%	16th
Run DVOA	28.6%	3rd
EPA/Play	0.104	13th
EPA/Dropback	0.134	14th
EPA/Rush	0.049	8th

Let’s start with the good: the offense looked great. Brian Schottenheimer called a beautiful offense, using plenty of motion and taking deep shots regularly. The influence of offensive coordinator Klayton Adams was felt, as many of their counter run plays broke for highly efficient gains.

The Cowboys finished in the top 10 in rushing efficiency by both DVOA and EPA. They were also third in rushing yards over expected (RYOE) per carry and second in rushing success rate. It’s only one game, and it came against a defense that unexpectedly lost Jalen Carter, but that’s a good first step for the run game.

Grade	Rank
QBR	60.1	17th
EPA/play	0.134	15th
CPOE	0.2	16th
EPA+CPOE Composite	0.095	15th
Success Rate	38.5%	28th

This game offered a fascinating case study in why advanced statistics must be measured with game film. By nost accounts, Dak Prescott played a great game against the Eagles, but his numbers – 188 passing yards on 61.8% completion rate – were unimpressive. His lack of touchdowns also negatively impacted his efficiency grades.

We also know that CeeDee Lamb had four crucial dropped passes that, if caught, would have given Prescott a completion rate just under 80% and added roughly 100 more yards to his ledger. Despite those drops, Prescott still posted a positive CPOE, which doesn’t factor in drops; had Lamb caught those four passes, Prescott would have a 14.6 CPOE, which would be good for third.

Grade	Rank
Pressure Rate	34.3%	17th
Adjusted Sack Rate	0.4%	2nd
Pass Block Win Rate	76%	6th
Run Block Win Rate	71%	13th
Adjusted Line Yards	4.99	6th

Prescott didn’t get sacked once in this game, and that should be considered a huge win against this Eagles defense. He wasn’t free of any pressure, though, having a defender in his face on just over a third of his dropbacks. Every starting offensive lineman gave up at least two pressures, and Tyler Guyton led the way with five. Still, giving up that many pressures without a sack is something.

The offensive line really hit its stride in the run game, though. Adams’ pull-heavy run scheme helped get the big hogmollies moving downhill, and it translated to some really impressive run blocking performances. Only three teams saw a lower rate of stuffed run plays in Week 1, a testament to the work being done in the trenches.

Defense​

Grade	Rank
Defensive DVOA	26.4%	28th
Pass Defense DVOA	47.7%	26th
Run Defense DVOA	5.7%	27th
Pressure Rate	42.4%	3rd
Pass Rush Win Rate	36%	18th
Run Stop Win Rate	38%	6th
EPA/Play	0.160	24th
EPA/Dropback Allowed	0.250	21st
EPA/Rush Allowed	0.047	24th

Imagine that: trading away the best defender in the league doesn’t make your defense better. It wasn’t all bad for the Cowboys, but there is plenty to work on moving forward. It was a tale of two halves, as well, but one thing was consistently good for the Cowboys: their pass rush.

Defenses that generated pressure on 40%+ of their opponent's dropbacks in Week 1 (excluding SNF/MNF):

Steelers – 44%
Cowboys – 42.4%
Commanders – 42.2%
Falcons – 40.5%
Broncos – 40% https://t.co/hf0WYqai1T pic.twitter.com/TASTwxmuwy

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) September 7, 2025

The Cowboys only finished with one sack on the night, largely due to the scrambling ability of Jalen Hurts, but they consistently got pressure; Osa Odighizuwa finished fourth among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate That bodes well for Matt Eberflus, as most of the quarterbacks he’ll face the rest of the way aren’t as mobile as Hurts.

And just in case anyone was curious, the Packers rank 22nd in pressure rate.

Targets	Completions	Completion Rate	Passer Rating Allowed	ADOT When Targeted	Air Yards Allowed	Yards After Catch
Trevon Diggs	0	0	0.0%	0.0	0.0	0	0
DaRon Bland	2	2	100.0%	89.6	-0.5	-1	12
Kaiir Elam	5	5	100.0%	118.8	11.6	58	16
Malik Hooker	1	1	100.0%	91.7	6.0	6	0
Donovan Wilson	2	2	100.0%	79.2	2.0	4	0
Jack Sanborn	2	2	100.0%	91.7	4.5	9	3
Marist Liufau	1	1	100.0%	91.7	2.0	2	4
Kenneth Murray	3	3	100.0%	93.1	1.3	4	15
Damone Clark	4	3	75.0%	85.4	1.8	9	11

It’s hard to judge a secondary one week in, especially considering how much of the Eagles’ pass game is generated off RPO’s and play-action. Still, one thing stands out: Philadelphia aggressively targeted Kaiir Elam. The former Bills defender has looked good throughout training camp and the preseason, but he got cooked in this one.

Interestingly enough, the only defender to yield an incompletion in this game was Damone Clark, who has historically struggled in coverage. Hurts’ other three incompletions in this game were all charted as throwaways. Trevon Diggs was notably not targeted once in the game.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...roundup-week-1-offense-defense-advanced-stats

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Dallas will need a couple of vets to step up

Players 2 Watch: Biggest players in Sunday’s home opener – DallasCowboys.com​

Week two is almost here. The mothership highlights a few players to watch for in the Cowboys matchup.

Trevon Diggs – Against the Eagles, Matt Eberflus’ defense did not play a single snap of man coverage in the secondary. You don’t see that often, but for Trevon Diggs in his return, it ended up working out as he wasn’t targeted at all in 20 coverage snaps. If the Cowboys will be that heavy in one coverage again on Sunday, Diggs will need his ball hawking abilities to flash again. He has 16 career interceptions while in zone coverage and 39 passes defended on top of that, and Dallas could use a bump on either or both of those numbers to help them out defensively against New York. – Tommy Yarrish

George Pickens – In the season opener, and his debut for the Cowboys, Pickens saw only four targets but hauled in three of them at critical times. It feels like this could be a game wherein Pickens and Lamb swap roles, and it’s the latter that might be stealing coverage away to allow the former the chances to have a monster game against a Giants’ secondary that’s questionable, at times. Those wondering if Pickens will have his shot at stealing the show on any given week could very well get their questions answered on Sunday against Big Blue. – Patrik Walker

Updates: Juanyeh listed as non-injury DNP – DallasCowboys.com​

Juanyeh Thomas missed practice on Thursday.

For the most part, Dallas’ Thursday injury report remained the same aside from one new addition: Safety Juanyeh Thomas, who did not participate due to personal reasons that were non-injury related.

CB DaRon Bland (foot) once again did not practice as he’s expected to be sideline for a few weeks, and S Malik Hooker (foot) was limited for the second day in a row.

On the Giants side, a majority of their players listed as DNP on Wednesday participated in practice in a limited capacity on Thursday, including starting OL Andrew Thomas (foot) and WRs Wan’Dale Robinson (ankle) and Darius Slayton (groin). Star WR Malik Nabers (back) went from a limited participant Wednesday to a full participant Thursday.

Cowboys fan favorite UDFA could be in line for first start with DaRon Bland injury – Tyler Reed, SI.com​

Cowboys will be searching for young DB’s to step up in DaRon Bland’s absence.

If there was one position the Cowboys could not afford to see more injuries to this early in the season, it is their secondary. However, there’s nothing that can be done now. The Cowboys have to play the next man up mentality.

That next man could be undrafted free agent Zion Childress. Childress won over the fans during his efforts in the preseason, and now, the former University of Kentucky star may get his moment this Sunday.

Childress spent two seasons with Texas State before finishing the final three seasons of his collegiate career with the Wildcats in Lexington.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. They are also something the Cowboys know all too well after last season. Injuries cannot and won’t be an excuse for this team. A moment like this is where the coaching staff will need to lean on its depth.

Childress, the ball could be in your court.

How Matt Eberflus has shifted his defensive scheme to help the Cowboys cornerbacks as injuries pile up – Garrett Podell, CBS Sports​

Will the Cowboys rely on players or scheme to overcome Bland’s injury?

Schematic shift masking injuries​

Even though Dallas and Diggs are making sure they’re responsibly ramping up his snap count, that doesn’t mean Eberflus has Diggs playing cautiously.

Diggs said his blitz of Hurts in Week 1 that recorded the third quarterback pressure of his six-year career was his first real blitz in the NFL. That’s why he didn’t look fully natural while charging at Hurts, which allowed the Eagles quarterback to spin out of Diggs’ clutches before throwing the football away. Eberflus said “wrapping up through the waist” and going for a “punch on the football” would be technique points worth emphasizing.

“It just looked too good to be true,” Diggs said with a smile. “He wasn’t looking at me, and I was coming full speed, hard. Like ‘Alright, I’m about to kill him. I’m about to kill him.’ And then he spun out, and I’m like, ‘Oh, this is kind of harder than it looks.’ … I’m going to come in with a little bit more control next time.”

Cowboys analytics roundup: The good and the bad from Week 1 – David Howman, Blogging the Boys​

What do the analytics tell us from the Cowboys week one loss?

The headline here is that the Cowboys grade out as the 14th best team in the league right now. Given all the changes in the offseason, along with the trade of Micah Parsons right before things started, most fans will take that. After one week of games, the Cowboys are buoyed by their offense and held down by their defense, which is unsurprising for several reasons.

DAVE, which combines actual DVOA results with DVOA-based preseason projections, offers a good comparison for where the team should be right now. The offense is way ahead of schedule, while the defense turned out to be a bit worse than expected. All in all, these metrics reflect that the Cowboys played better than expected last Thursday night.

Pivoting to our EPA-based team tiers, the Cowboys find themselves right around the same area as their DVOA ranking. They’re one of many teams in the bottom right quadrant – which is where teams end up when they’re good on offense and bad on defense – but not so far from the average lines that they can’t move into the ideal upper right quadrant in a couple weeks.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-dallas-will-need-a-couple-of-vets-to-step-up

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys are keeping the idea of Jadeveon Clowney alive

It has been an interesting week for the Dallas Cowboys from a roster construction standpoint. As preparations began for Sunday’s opponent, the New York Giants, it was reported that Dallas was bringing in veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney for a meeting and workout. Clowney ultimately left the team’s facility without a locker at The Star, but the aftermath has suggested that a union is possible down the road.

Stephen Jones took to the radio airwaves of San Antonio’s Sports Star on Thursday and was obviously asked about the subject.

“We’re still looking at him and seeing how this thing is going to work out. Certainly, he’s a guy that we’re looking at who could give us some help on the outside.”

After the initial “what’s going on there” question, Stephen was asked specifically what goes into a meeting with a veteran like this, a situation that could lead to a signing later on down the road and not in the initial moment.

“The biggest thing with someone like Jadeveon is just to get to know him. Kind of see what his plan is. And what his thoughts are. Obviously he’s a guy who hadn’t been in a camp. But there’s veterans, that’s kind of, their plan. And we’ve had those types who’ve really worked out for us in a positive way.”

“Just to get to spend time, let him get to know us. Our teammates. Because a lot of guys like that are certainly wanting to find, not only, the money’s gotta be right, but also the right situation.”

“It was a great opportunity for him to get to see what our organization’s all about. To meet Coach Schottenheimer and his staff. To meet Jerry, and I and Will. To get to know the facility. I think he was certainly impressed with that.”

“But that’s really what goes into the visit. Not as much about the workout with someone like that. He’s a guy who keeps himself in shape and played at a high level for 10+ years in the NFL.”

So often meetings like this are about the player getting to know the team as well, a point that Stephen alluded to. Clowney has been in the NFL for a long time and is certainly closer to the end of his career than the beginning so it makes sense that he would want to be selective in choosing his next team.

For what it’s worth, reports from 105.3 The Fan suggest that the Cowboys may have been ready to pounce but that Clowney is the one who wants to be patient.

@BryanBroaddus tells us that the Cowboys wanted to sign Clowney. He wants to wait and see. So his decision not to sign right now. @gbagnation @1053thefan pic.twitter.com/gwxQcxzpKO

— Zach Wolchuk (@ZachWolchuk) September 11, 2025

Time will tell whether or not the Cowboys wind up signing Clowney. It seems that both parties have a general understanding of what could be if they go down that road, now it is just a matter of whether they do or not.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...owney-free-agent-stephen-jones-future-signing

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys vs Giants referee report: What to expect from officials in home opener

The Cowboys are preparing for their home opener against the Giants, and have had a few extra days of rest following their competitive loss to the Eagles last Thursday. In a bit of a twist, the Cowboys were the more disciplined team in that one, drawing just four penalties to the Eagles’ nine.

Of course, that wasn’t much of a surprise to those who read our referee report last week. And in this week’s report, we’re looking at veteran zebra Bill Vinovich.

Referee for Giants at Cowboys — Bill Vinovich
https://t.co/gWZXZCZeFV #NYGvsDAL pic.twitter.com/5xj3cvikKc

—  Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs (@footballzebras) September 9, 2025

The most senior official in football, Vinovich has been calling games for a long time. He started out as a side judge back in 2001 and was promoted to head referee three years later. However, he stepped away after the 2006 season due to a near-fatal heart condition that required emergency surgery at the time. Several years later, he got back into the swing of things, and gradually worked his way back into being a head referee again.

Returning to that role for the start of the 2012 season, Vinovich technically isn’t the longest tenured referee these days, but he has been around the officiating game the longest. As such, there’s a ton of data on him as a referee, and Vinovich has earned a reputation as an official who prefers to let teams play with minimal interruption.

Since returning as a head referee, Vinovich’s crew has finished in the top half of the league in penalties called just once. There have been six occasions where his crew has been in the bottom three of the league in penalties called, and has finished dead last three different times, most recently in 2022. Only one crew threw fewer flags than Vinovich’s in Week 1.

In short: don’t expect to see many flags thrown Sunday. Well, unless Dexter Lawrence decides to spit on a Cowboys player, or something like that.

Vinovich’s hands-off, let-them-play approach has historically benefitted the home team. Since coming back to the field, home teams are 109-103 when Vinovich is present. However, that record has gotten a lot closer in recent years. As homefield advantage has generally declined since 2017, home teams are just 63-73 in Vinovich-called games.

There’s a theory that officials like Vinovich bode well for the more physical team, rather than the home team, simply because it’s easier for that team to dominate and overpower their opponent when they don’t have to worry about being constantly penalized. That would seem to bode well for the Cowboys, as Brian Schottenheimer has emphasized physicality and trench warfare since taking over as head coach.

All in all, Vinovich has called 21 Cowboys games. They are 12-9 in those games, with a 6-3 record at home. Ironically, the winner of those home games has been the more penalized team in all but one contest: 10 years ago, opening up the season at home against the New York Football Giants.

As for Big Blue, Vinovich has called 11 Giants games over the course of his lengthy career. New York is 7-4 in those games, but 2-2 as the visiting team. This will be the first game (and possibly last) of the Brian Daboll era that is played on the road with Vinovich on the call.

Vinovich is a bit of a throwback official, preferring to let teams just beat each other without having the game hinge on his calls. As a result, it’s harder to expect what the outcome will be. It would be fair to say that the more physical team wins more often than not when Vinovich is around, and that should help the Cowboys. Emphasis on the word “should.”

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...e-report-what-to-expect-officials-home-opener

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys need overtime to scrape out a win against the Giants

If every game in the Brian Schottenheimer era is going to be like this, Dallas Cowboys fans will need to start cutting out caffeine on Sundays.

After last week’s league kickoff game went right down to the wire and featured an opening drive with a bizarre penalty, the Cowboys’ home opener went pretty much the same way. Bizarre penalties on the opening drive were just the start of a nail-biter against the New York Giants that was settled in overtime, with Dallas winning 40-37.

The Giants started with the ball, and a flag was thrown on the very first play, as New York was called for holding on the kickoff return. But it was left tackle James Hudson, getting the start in place of the injured Andrew Thomas, who quickly became the center of attention.

As the Giants moved down the field, a 10-yard run from rookie Cam Skattebo was wiped out due to an unnecessary roughness penalty on Hudson, who had previously been flagged for holding. The penalty itself was truly absurd.

Giants T James Hudson trying out a new blocking methodpic.twitter.com/yoqnoXdFr3

— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 14, 2025

It didn’t stop there, though. Three plays later, Hudson drew another unnecessary roughness penalty after a 50-yard pass from Russell Wilson, which backed the Giants up from the Dallas 2-yard line to the 17. Two plays after that, Hudson drew a false start, making him the first player this century to be penalized four times in one drive.

The rash of penalties caught up to the Giants, and they had to settle for a field goal on the opening drive. Hudson was ultimately benched, which led to a shouting match between him and head coach Brian Daboll on the sideline, officially one-upping the Jalen Carter spit take from last week’s game in terms of being truly bizarre.

#Giants OT James Hudson was not happy that he was benched.

( @BobbySkinner_)pic.twitter.com/iDzzIpu8Pd https://t.co/BherFNYBIA

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 14, 2025

As disastrous as that opening drive was for the Giants, it didn’t stop them from taking the Cowboys to the cleaners the rest of the first half. The offense went three-and-out on their first two drives while the defense gave up chunk plays on every drive to Russell Wilson, who put up a career-best performance before the day was over.

A touchdown pass to KaVontae Turpin on a free play made things close, cutting the deficit to 13-10, but Dallas horribly botched their chance for another score right before halftime too. Overall, it was a very poorly executed first half of football on both sides, but the Cowboys looked worse.

For the most part, that continued to be the case in the second half. Dak Prescott threw an interception off his back foot on the second play of the third quarter, which turned into a touchdown for the Giants. Then things clicked for the offense, as they would score on each of their next five drives.

It started with yet another Javonte Williams touchdown, though two big penalties from the Giants helped the Cowboys get in range. After a Brandon Aubrey field goal, Miles Sanders got in for his first touchdown as a Cowboy, with more Giants penalties helping them move the chains.

The problem is that the Cowboys’ offensive explosion happened in tandem with the Giants’ own offensive explosion. A 24-yard run from Skattebo set up his own short touchdown and put them on top right at the start of the fourth quarter, and Wilson took the lead back again when he found a wide open Wan’Dale Robinson for a 32-yard touchdown after that.

That set up a heroic comeback drive from Prescott, who had looked off for the majority of the game. He locked in down the stretch, though, with big completions to Jalen Tolbert, George Pickens, and CeeDee Lamb to move the chains in high leverage situations. Then, Schottenheimer started to run the ball near the goal line, hoping to milk the clock and burn the Giants’ timeouts.

It worked, and Prescott found Pickens in the corner of the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown, his first as a Cowboy. Dallas went up 34-30 with 52 seconds left and only timeout for New York.

George Pickens for the lead!!!

NYGvsDAL on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/UOUi7QlsRu

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025

Of course, that was all the Giants needed. Wilson launched a moon ball to Malik Nabers, who came down with a 48-yard touchdown despite having a hand in his face blocking him from even seeing the ball. Just like that, the Giants were up 37-34 with 25 seconds, but the Cowboys had all three timeouts left.

That proved to be just enough time for Prescott, too. He hit Jake Ferguson down the seam for an 18-yard pickup, and a quick run from Williams set up a 64-yard field goal try for Aubrey as time expired, which he smashed through with ease, of course.

That set up our very first overtime game with the new rules, which guarantees both teams a chance to possess the ball. The Cowboys got the ball first, but were forced to punt. Then, the Giants were forced to punt, each team doing so for the first time since the second quarter.

Just for good measure, the Cowboys punted once more, and Wilson tried to hit on one more moon ball before being picked off by Donovan Wilson. A 27-yard shot to George Pickens put the ball right on the edge of Aubrey’s field goal range, and a clutch scramble from Prescott set up the equivalent of a chip shot for the flawless kicker.

Dak into field goal range!

NYGvsDAL on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/C5KKlTBhdY

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025

AUBREY FOR THE WIN. COWBOYS WIN 40-37 IN OT. pic.twitter.com/AfbqEmmuLt

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025

The walk-off win from Aubrey marked the first ever win for Schottenheimer, though it was hardly the type of performance anyone wanted or expected. Of course, there’s no such thing as a bad win, and the ugly ones count just as much as the pretty ones. Still, this game let some air out of the feeling of hope the fanbase seemed to have after Week 1.

If there’s any solace to be had from that, it’s that the team feels the same way. The players celebrated the victory, and Schottenheimer himself was emotional over his first win, but he was also his usual blunt self when acknowledging the game wasn’t perfect.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was speaking highly about Dallas’ win, but then adds: “Now, I think we did some stupid shit tonight.” pic.twitter.com/pAZDyDRjU6

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 14, 2025

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...rtime-win-against-giants-brian-schottenheimer

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Dallas escapes with a win, beating New York 40-37 in OT thriller

Dallas Cowboys Win In Electrifying 40-37 Thriller Against Giants – Mark Heaney, Inside The Star​

While it wasn’t the game most fans expected, it certainly was exciting.

I think we’re all still trying to process the mayhem that was that fourth quarter, so forgive me if I don’t perfectly capture that absolute chaos.

That said, I think we’ll all know what I mean in saying this: Brandon Aubrey started and ended this quarter. An 11-play drive concluded with a 44-yarder from the All-Pro kicker, which started a 41-point quarter between both times.

Chronologically, it went like this: Cowboys field goal, Giants touchdown, Cowboys touchdown, Giants touchdown, Cowboys touchdown, Giants touchdown, Cowboys field goal. Simple, right?

The meat and potatoes of the quarter came down to the final three drives, as Dak Prescott surgically led Dallas down the field for a game-leading score, before Russell Wilson turned back the clock with a bomb to Malik Nabers.

It looked like game over, until Dak worked his magic again, and Aubrey had a legacy moment with a game-tying 64-yard nuke to send us to overtime.

That’s a doozy right there.

Game Recap: Cowboys win in OT, 40-37 – Kurt Daniels, DallasCowboys.com​

Re-live the thrilling victory.

Overtime

The Giants won the toss but chose to let the Cowboys take the field first on offense, but neither side could do anything on their first possessions of the extra time. So when Dallas then got the ball back a second time, any points would decide the game, a true sudden death.

But while the Cowboys had to punt again, they got the ball back with two minutes remaining. Russell Wilson attempted a deep ball to Nabers, only to have safety Donovan Wilson intercept the pass to give Dallas the ball at its own 30-yard line.

Prescott made it count. His first pass was a 27-yarder to Pickens to get into enemy territory. Two plays later, Prescott escaped the pocket and scramble up the middle 14 yards to the Giants 28.

That left it to Aubrey, who came on with 4 seconds left to try a 46-yard field goal. And, of course, Aubrey was money, providing the needed three points to send the fans home happy with a 40-37 victory.

2 Cowboys starters exit OT win early; injury updates on Turpin, Beebe – Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire​

Dallas didn’t exit the game unscathed.

All-Pro kick returner KaVontae Turpin and center Cooper Beebe both exited the win over the Giants early. Neither returned to action.

Turpin- who also added four receptions, 47 yards, and a touchdown on four targets- left the game with what was later described as a neck injury. After taking a hard hit on a kick return late in the third quarter, Turpin was observed heading into the sideline medical tent for attention and then left the field under escort from trainers and without his helmet.

And despite reports that the 29-year-old was wearing a neck brace after the game, he told NFL insider Jane Slater that X-rays “came out good” and showed nothing serious.

“I’ll be fine,” he told Slater.

Turpin said the cervical collar was just a precaution for his stiff neck, one he caught grief for from teammates as he congratulated them on their way back into the locker room after the overtime session.

As for Beebe, his right ankle injury could prove to be more lingering. Backup Brock Hoffman entered the game in Beebe’s place to start the overtime period, with last year’s third-round draft pick sitting on the bench.

Brian Schottenheimer’s reaction to Jadeveon Clowney signing says it all – Mike Luciano, The Landry Hat​

Any help on the defense is welcome after two games.

Schottenheimer seemed unaware that the team was this close to completing an official … signing, but he was thrilled with the decision, saying that it will be “awesome for the Cowboys” to get a player with his pedigree in the building to help the defense, via NFL Network’s Jane Slater.

Brian Schottenheimer has funny reaction after Cowboys beat Giants, sign Jadeveon Clowney

As for the immediate aftermath of the game, Schottenheimer didn’t seem too concerned with Clowney, as he was going to relax with a handful of his signature post-drink cocktail of Tito’s and lemon. Every Cowboys fan of age out there might need a few of those drinks after getting put through a serious emotional whirlwind during that game.

Clowney is not going to be a master pass rusher who can turn this team into a feared defensive line (as he has never piled up double-digit sacks in his career), but the three-time Pro Bowler is still one of the best edge-setting pass rushers in the game.

Clowney will fit into a pass rusher room that featured a trio of former second-round picks in Donovan Ezeiruaku, Marshawn Kneeland, and Sam Williams. The Cowboys looked better on the defensive line than many expected without Parsons, and Clowney could bring another unique0ly-built role player into the mix.

Jones’ psychotic obsession with stopping the run likely played into the Clowney signing, and there is no doubt he can earn snaps based on his skills in that area. Where things could get problematic, however, is a nightmare scenario in which Clowney shows next to nothing as a pure pass rusher.

4 winners & 2 losers in Cowboys unbelievable overtime win vs Giants – Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated​

There were plenty of both winners and losers on Sunday.

Winner: Javonte Williams, RB

Javonte Williams was solid in his Dallas debut last week, but turned it up a notch against the Giants. He ran the ball 18 times for 97 yards and scored his third touchdown of the season on a 30-yard run. He added 33 yards on six receptions, consistently running with power and picking up extra yards on each touch.

Williams has proven to be exactly what the Cowboys hoped he would. If he can continue at this pace, he might prove to be one of the biggest steals of the offseason.

Loser: Trevon Diggs, CB

After keeping A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in check in Week 1, the Cowboys headed into this one without DaRon Bland. Clearly, he was missed because Russell Wilson was carving up the secondary.

What was most confusing, however, was that Wilson didn’t have to attack players like Reddy Steward. He went right after Trevon Diggs, who gave up multiple big plays to Malik Nabers. One of those was a 29-yard touchdown that put New York up 13-3 late in the second quarter.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...s-with-win-beating-new-york-40-37-ot-thriller

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

4 Stars from the Cowboys’ 40-37 win vs. New York

Despite being favored over the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys were given all they could handle on Sunday. Looking to avoid an 0-2 start, both teams were desperate to secure a win and avoid dropping their first two NFC East games. Russell Wilson had a vintage performance, throwing for 450 yards to keep the Giants in the game during a back-and-forth shootout with Dallas. However, the Cowboys’ star players answered the call time and time again to get the thrilling win at home. The win gives Brian Schottenheimer his first as an NFL head coach in storybook fashion. Here are four stars for the Cowboys, and they were all on offense/special teams. We won’t speak about that defense.

Dak Prescott ​

It was a slow start for Dak Prescott and the offense because New York held the ball for so long on the opening drive. New York’s opening drive lasted 15 plays and almost took nine minutes off the clock. When New York got a 6-0 lead, Dallas had run just three offensive plays to New York’s 22. Needing to shake the cobwebs, the offense stagnated to start the game. Yet, things started to turn a corner when Prescott engineered a quick, eight-play scoring drive that was capped off by a bullet throw to KaVontae Turpin to bring the Cowboys within three points. In the second half after the interception, Prescott got better and better and then caught fire. His ball placement was terrific, putting the ball in tight windows where only his receivers could get it.

On one occasion, the Giants tried to double-team CeeDee Lamb on third down, using linebacker Bobby Okereke to bracket Lamb, but Prescott put the ball perfectly between the two Giants defenders, where Lamb snatched the ball away from their awaiting hands. In the pocket, he was under a lot of pressure from the Giants and stood strong to make difficult throws, knowing that he was going to get hit hard by a blitzing linebacker or pass rusher. Despite the team having their backs against the wall after surrendering not one, but two, long touchdown passes late in the fourth quarter, Prescott brought his team into field goal range to tie the game to force overtime.

Finally, Prescott broke the pocket for a 14-yard scramble at the end of overtime, placing the team in a comfortable range for the game-winning kick. With the win, his dominance against the Giants continues, having last lost to the Giants when he was a rookie in 2016. The game marked Prescott’s 24th game-winning drive of his career and his third against New York.

Brandon Aubrey​

Brandon Aubrey is the best kicker in football. There’s nobody better at making long kicks look so routine that it’s almost mundane. His steely demeanor exudes a calmness that permeates into the coaches who trust him to make these long attempts, and likely that extends to the fans who expect him to make these kicks. When he lines up to kick a field goal, it’s nearly a foregone conclusion that he is going to split the uprights, as he has made nearly 90 percent of his kicks for his career. He’s like the NFL’s version of Stephen Curry, kicking field goals from the midfield logo with ease. Against New York, he was perfect. He made all four of his field goals and his four extra point attempts. His 64-yard kick to force the game to overtime was a thing of beauty.

Brandon Aubrey isn't human

he's an alienpic.twitter.com/BoXxKIiMV7

— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) September 14, 2025

The broadcast was critical of the team’s decision to settle at that depth before attempting the long try, namely, Javonte Williams downing himself well short of the line to gain. Yet, Aubrey casually stepped up, nailing the kick under perceived pressure, which was no sweat to him and validated the coaches’ faith in their kicker. His presence changes the dynamic of how the Cowboys and their opponents approach end-of-half situations because of Aubrey’s practically unlimited range. He accounted for 16 points, and the Cowboys couldn’t have won the game without his timely and reliable kicking.

Jake Ferguson ​

Jake Ferguson endured a lot of criticism last week for a drop in tight traffic in the end zone against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ferguson had made those difficult plays in the past, so the critiques are somewhat warranted. However, Ferguson responded in a big way against the Giants. With Prescott under so much pressure, he needed to get the ball out quickly, and Ferguson was consistently available for his quarterback. He owned the middle of the field, often taking advantage of the Giants’ linebackers’ inability to cover. He had nine catches (tied for most on the team) for 78 yards.

14 seconds left. 2nd and 10.

Ball on the Dallas 33-yard line.

Cowboys down 37-34 at the moment.

There were a lot of big plays on Sunday, but this Dak Prescott to Jake Ferguson completion was nails and a big reason for the win as it set up the 64-yarder.

(: NFL Pro) pic.twitter.com/adHoL45ZtA

— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) September 15, 2025

His 14-yard connection with Prescott at the end of regulation is easily one of the most important moments of yesterday’s win. With Ferguson working up the seam, Prescott fired the ball with Ferguson’s back still turned, but Ferguson turned and located the ball for the critical catch, setting up Brandon Aubrey to force the game into overtime. The connection with Ferguson up the seam is one of the staples in a high-functioning offense led by Prescott. For as much as is made about Prescott’s success versus the Giants, let’s not forget Jake Ferguson. Ferguson was big time yesterday, and if the Prescott-to-Ferguson connection if functioning, the rest of the offense will fall into place.

George Pickens​

While CeeDee Lamb is certainly deserving of being named one of the stars of the game, as he tied Ferguson for the most receptions, and had the most receiving yards, it felt like another day at the office for the incredible Lamb. Instead, we’ll highlight his partner and spotlight the contributions of George Pickens. His impact on the game was felt outside the conventional sense. The role he played in the win was partially offloading some of the offensive burden from Lamb in the passing game. He can stretch the field vertically and provide another red zone threat as we saw against the Giants.

#Cowboys WR George Pickens has some strong hands. pic.twitter.com/N7yyJ1OUfh

— Dominic White (@DomWWhite) September 14, 2025

His touchdown catch, his first as a Cowboy, was a prime example. Pickens used his strength and strong hands to hold on to the catch in the end zone against Paulson Adebo.

You also have the impact outside of the box score. He drew two defensive pass interference penalties that resulted in 45 yards of field position. His excellent body control and penchant for making circus catches cause defensive backs to panic when the ball is thrown to Pickens, resulting in penalties that can flip the field. He finished with five receptions for 68 yards, including the aforementioned touchdown, while leading the Cowboys with 13.6 yards per reception. You get the sense that Pickens is still incorporating himself into the offense and hasn’t yet optimized his connection with Prescott. There may be much more on the way.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-stars-from-the-cowboys-40-37-win-vs-new-york

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: DeMarvion Overshown hoping to play before Thanksgiving

DeMarvion Overshown ‘getting there’ in recovery, aiming to play before Thanksgiving – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

Getting DeMarvion Overshown back before they take on Kansas City would be a massive boost for the defense.

Overshown has been off the field for the Cowboys since December of 2024, when he suffered his second season-ending knee injury in as many years by tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL. Ten months later, he’s been doing more and more with the rehab group and is feeling good.

“I’m getting there,” Overshown said. “It’s definitely to a point where we’re getting the last clears from my surgeon, and now it’s just easing me back into playing football. The knee is healthy, I’m moving around fast, strong, now just being smart with the timing.”

Initially, Overshown was looking at Dallas’ annual Thanksgiving game against the Kansas City Chiefs as a potential return date. Is that still what he’s targeting?

“I don’t want to say that’s the target date, but I feel like I’ll be playing football before Thanksgiving with the team.” Overshown said.

It’d be a much welcome addition to the Cowboys defense, but they’re going to take their time with his recovery and not rush him back to the field to ensure he is fully healthy and has the best chance to avoid injury again. Ultimately, the decision will be up to the training and coaching staffs for when Overshown returns.

It’s not easy to physically overcome back-to-back devasting knee injuries like that. For some, it can be difficult to get over the mental hurdle as well. In Overshown’s case, trusting yourself is the biggest piece of clearing that hurdle.

“I’d say it’s hard when the faith is not there. I feel like since I got hurt, I’ve always been the one to say ‘Okay, what do I have to do next to make sure I’m ready for when this point happens,'” Overshown said.

The Cowboys have unlocked Javonte Williams, and the whole offense is benefitting – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram​

After Sunday’s win, Dak Prescott called Javonte Williams a key to their entire offense.

In Sunday’s 40-37 win over the New York Giants, his impact was felt with 130 total yards, including a 30-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter that was attributed as his longest run since his rookie season in 2021. In two games, his 3.6 rush EPA (expected points added) is fourth among all running backs in the NFL, per NFL Pro.

While his lightning-fast start out of the gates is a surprise to many, it hasn’t been for head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

“I’ve been the high guy on Javonte the whole time,” Schottenheimer said. “I’m just telling you, if you find a running back in the National Football League that plays harder than this guy, more physical than this guy, I’d love to see it. I’m sure there are some that are on that same level, but I don’t think there’s anybody that plays the game more physical.”

After tearing his ACL in 2022, Williams said over the offseason that he didn’t truly feel like he was back to his previous self until earlier this year. It makes sense, because the numbers show it.

His 3.6 yards per carry over the last two seasons did not offer optimism coming into Dallas, but he has increased that total by a whole yard (4.6) through two games. His rush EPA in 2025 is the first time he’s been in the green in that category in his career after a -28.3 rush EPA in 2024 and a -46.8 rush EPA in 2023 which was fifth-worst across all running backs in the league.

“I could not be more happy for that young man with what he’s had to go through, where he’s been,” Schottenheimer said. “It was so cool to see him break through, but he’s just getting started. I can promise you that.”

5 things to know about the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 3 opponent, the Chicago Bears – Abraham Nudelstejer, Dallas Morning News​

The Chicago Bears have struggled to find balance under Ben Johnson.

Rough Start

Ben Johnson became one of the hottest candidates to take over as an NFL head coach thanks to his outstanding work as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator over the past three seasons.

At 39, Johnson brings an energizing presence to a franchise that hasn’t reached the postseason since 2020, thanks to an expanded playoff format that year.

Johnson played a key role in building the Lions’ dynamic offense, and the expectation is that he’ll work his magic to help quarterback Caleb Williams become one of the league’s elite.

“Ben is a proven leader with a winning pedigree and a mind toward innovation,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said when he introduced Johnson in January.

“When we spent time together on the Zoom call, he basically came to the screen and was like, ‘I want to be there. I want to help you guys win,” Poles added. “And that really separated him from everybody else.”

So far, Johnson’s NFL head coaching debut has been rocky, with losses in his first two games by a combined score of 79–45.

Johnson is the 18th full-time head coach in the franchise’s 106-year history.

Injury concerns

The Bears have several key players nursing injuries entering their matchup against the Cowboys.

Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee) is listed as questionable, and his absence would be a significant blow to the Bears’ pass rush. The 11-year NFL veteran has recorded 36.5 career sacks.

This is his first season in Chicago after spending his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons.

Jarrett’s absence could give Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott a much more comfortable afternoon at Soldier Field.

Another injured Bears player is wide receiver Jahdae Walker (ankle), who is doubtful for Sunday’s game. His absence would limit Caleb Williams’ ability to launch vertical passing attacks.

Walker was signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL draft. He played his final two college seasons at Texas A&M (2023–24).

Cornerback Kyler Gordon (hamstring) is another likely absence, leaving a noticeable gap in the Bears’ secondary. His absence could be well exploited by Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who’s poised for a productive outing.

Jerry Jones eyeing extension for another Dallas Cowboys star – Matt Galatzan, Cowboys on SI​

The Cowboys should have offered a contract extension to Brandon Aubrey as he was walking to the locker room after beating the Giants.

When speaking to 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, Jones noted that kicker Brandon Aubrey – who was the hero of the Cowboys’ 40-37 win over the Giants on Sunday – could be on the verge of signing a new deal, and the two parties have had discussions with that goal in mind.

“He certainly is coming. We’ll be looking at that,” Jones said. “Probably have had communications since the kick. But he’s certainly in the future.”

While Jones didn’t provide an timeline for Aubrey’s extension, getting the star kicker signed to a new deal would be massive for the future of the Cowboys.

Not only is Aubrey’s leg a major weapon in terms of accuracy – he is six for six so far this season, and 90. 1 percent from his career – he is also ostensibly a cheat code due to his propensity to nail field goals from a distance. In fact he is a whopping 27 of 30 on attempts from 50-plus yards.

And perhaps most importantly, his teammates know it too, which makes the whole team more confident as a result.

“That boy got ice in his (expletive). Now I know, we cross that 50, we’re good,” defensive end James Houston said in the tunnel after the game, via Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...hoping-play-before-thanksgiving-injury-update

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Wednesday Discussion: Who is having the most surprising start to the season?

We are two games into the Dallas Cowboys season and it stands to reason that something about it has caught you off guard.

This can be true in both a positive and negative way. Positively, perhaps you did not anticipate Javonte Williams being so productive for the Cowboys early on (or in general). On the other side of the spectrum maybe you are a bit shocked at just how poor the secondary is and that Kaiir Elam has not translated quite yet.

For our discussion prompt today we want to focus on this specific idea.

Who is having the most surprising start to the season in your opinion?

Remember, this can be positive or negative. The fun part about questions like this is it can generate a number of different answers. People may share a person who has surprised them, but they may feel that way for different reasons.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...cowboys-message-board-surprising-start-season

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Rookie battleground: Cowboys vs. Bears breakdown of draft picks

Each week we dive into each team’s rookie class and compare how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com)

Dallas Cowboys​

Tyler Booker (OG)​

First Round
This is a communication street fight for Booker. If he and Brock Hoffman pass off every twist like a baton, Chicago’s simulated pressure turns into just four guys running in place. Win first contact against length, keep the pocket square, and Dallas can live in second-and-manageable all afternoon. Do that, and Booker doesn’t just survive, he erases the chaos the Bears need to steal this one. Later in the week on Reading Between the Lines here on BTB we’ll take a deeper dive into Bookers challenges for this week.
Grade: 53.0

Donovan Ezeiraku (DE)​

Second Round
Through two games, Ezeiruaku has one solo tackle and zero sacks, a light statistical start while he acclimates to NFL speed and Dallas mixes its sub-packages. The good news for Ezeiruaku is the Bears’ offense has protection problems. Detroit sacked Caleb Williams four times and held Chicago to penalty-soaked drives. That’s fertile ground for a speedy, inside-counter rusher like Ezeiruaku.

This sets up like a breakout game for the rookie pass rusher. Chicago’s tackles have been leaking and Ezeiruaku brings fresh legs and a first step that kills. If he keeps his rush lanes tight on Williams so he’s forced to climb into traffic, not out the back door, it can all fall into place for Ezeiruaku. We could be seeing his first sack this weekend.
Grade: 72.9

Shavon Revel Jr. (CB)​

Third Round
Currently on Non-Football injury list (NFI)

Jaydon Blue (RB)​

Fifth Round
Another week inactive and we wait for news on if the coaches feel he can make it to the field this week. With Miles Sanders scoring last week after Javonte Williams had another big game, could see Brian Schottenheimer sticking to what’s working. That means less of our boy Blue.

Grade: N/A

Shemar James (LB)​

Fifth Round

Watching Jack Sanborn try to cover the seam last week was both frustrating and disappointing. A guy like James might have been golden in that area of the field, but we have to wait for the coaches to feel confident putting him in. So for now, it’s a case of wait and watch for James and whether he gets to see action.
Grade: N/A

Ajani Cornelius (OT)​

Sixth Round
Inactive
Grade: N/A

Jay Toia (DT)​

Seventh Round
The rookie nose is still easing in and has one tackle with zero sacks so far. He’s been used situationally to anchor early downs and absorb double teams while the Cowboys mix sub-fronts, so this will take time for Toia. But this week is a trench bully game for Toia. Win half a yard on first down and Chicago’s shiny playbook shrinks to panic buttons. Dent the pocket, don’t just hold it, and make Caleb Williams climb into traffic. Given the Bears coughed up four sacks and 12 pressures last week, Toia could find a few A-gap wins.
Grade: 30.2

Phil Mafah (RB)​

Seventh Round
Inactive
Grade: N/A

Chicago Bears​

Colston Loveland (TE)​

First Round
Usage for Loveland has been modest so far this year, but on-script for a rookie behind a veteran room. He has two receptions for 12 yards so far, after a debut with 57% of offensive snaps and a small target share. Early efficiency indicators are shallow by volume, with an average depth of target of just 2.5 yards, meaning he’s mostly getting quick outlets and underneath throws as Chicago sorts its passing game out. Expect his role to expand as spacing and protection improve, if they improve.

Loveland projects as a classic in-line or slot-flex tight end with plus movement skills for his size with loose hips, clean hitch/comeback transitions, and good timing at the catch point. His biggest setback is the Bears offense in general that lacks efficiency.
Grade: 48.7

Luther Burden II (WR)​

Second Round
During the draft season a lot of Cowboys fans wanted Burden to be the first of the draft for Dallas, and with good reason. A dynamic slot receiver with running-back balance after the catch, short-area burst and contact strength, Burden adds firepower to an offense and offers great RPO utility options. At Missouri he was a high-volume YAC weapon, and he tested well pre draft. With a compact frame that suits quick separation and screen work he is very exciting to watch.

The Bears got to him, however, before Dallas could call his name in the second round, but so far in Chicago it’s been quiet from the dynamic playmaker who has made only two catches for two yards across two games. Early usage has been limited behind Rome Odunze and the veteran rotation, but he’s logged situational snaps and special-teams downs while the Bears’ offense finds its footing. Expect gradual growth in manufactured touches as Chicago stabilizes its offense and expands the rookie’s role. Is that going to happen as early as Week 3? Doubtful.
Grade: 46.7

Shemar Turner (DT)​

Second Round
The next two guys on this list are quite a head-scratcher if you’re a Bears fan. Turner adds some real juice to the inside and this Bears defensive line needs it. But the coaching staff over in Chicago are not only opting to stick with the veterans and their guys, they keeping Turner inactive. The second-round pick out of Texas A&M has yet to play a single snap this year, but is a healthy scratch. This has infuriated Bears fans and media personnel are running with the story based on the fact the defense is struggling and the guys they’re playing are doing very little. Does that happen again this week? Unknown, but you can be sure if he is and the defensive line fails to Dallas, those media guys are going to off the wall.
Grade: N/A

Ozzy Trapilo (OT)​

Second Round
The second guy that can’t get on the field despite heavy failings at his respective position is Trapilo. Also taken in the second, Trapilo has been inactive since the season started and the Bears offensive line seriously has problems. Why he can’t get on the field or why the coaches are choosing to keep him inactive while the offensive linemen are being thrown around like empty tracksuits is a mystery, and one that that has Bears fans up in arms.

Grade: N/A

Ruben Hyppolite II (LB)

Fourth Round

It’s been a light but positive rookie start on rotational and special-teams snaps. He’s logged a handful of defensive reps with four total tackles with no splash plays yet, looking to stop runs inside and running to the football when on the field. The usage matches expectation for a Day-3 linebacker on a veteran unit. The Maryland product is a twitchy, undersized WILL hybrid linebacker with real range and pursuit speed. A high-motor space backer with click-and-close burst, special-teams temperament, and enough zone feel to hold up on passing downs.
Grade: 73.9

Kyle Monangai (RB)​

Seventh Round
Best way to put this is limited but encouraging. In Week 1 vs. Minnesota he logged one catch for 11 yards in a 27–24 loss. In Week 2 at Detroit he handled his first NFL carries making seven rushes for 28 yards (4.0 YPC) and one catch for eight yards, working as the RB2 behind D’Andre Swift. His role looks to be as the change-of-pace back who can grind out snaps when Chicago finds a way to get ahead on offense, but there in lays his biggest problem.
Grade: 53.4

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...okie-battleground-bears-breakdown-draft-picks

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Thursday Night Football live discussion: Dolphins at Bills

Week 3 kicks off with the Dolphins visiting the Bills.

This is an open thread for game chat. ​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/gen...night-football-live-discussion-dolphins-bills