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[Dallas Cowboys]

Doesn’t sound like a vote of confidence for Matt Eberflus from Jerry Jones

It stands to reason that the Dallas Cowboys are going to make a change at defensive coordinator sometime soon. For the most part, the Cowboys defense has been objectively awful across the entire season. The team as a whole had the three-game winning streak where everything was sort of working together, but the defense has let the group down time after time after time after time.

Consider that Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Javonte Williams have each had amazing years on offense, and that the offense as a whole has been among the very best in the NFL. They have partly had to be so great because they have had to try and put up more points to make up for where the defense is falling apart, and it seems that Jerry Jones is pretty much at his limit with this whole thing.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan when asked if he’s pleased scheme-wise and with the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball: “No. No. Not at all. We have a lot of work to do over there. But we can do it.”

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 26, 2025

Jones appeared on 105.3 The Fan on Friday morning and noted that he is not pleased with the defensive scheme or defensive coaching staff. He added a bit of optimism in saying that he believes they can accomplish all of the work that needs to be done there, but this certainly sounds ominous as far as the defensive staff is concerned specifically.

Much is made about how current defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is the third that the Cowboys have had in as many years. Jerry has noted that this is partly his fault as he hired Mike Zimmer last year in a situation where it was likely it was going to be of a one-year variety.

When seasons are as bad as this Cowboys one is there is always a necessary fall guy. It would appear that the Cowboys are lining things up for Matt Eberflus to be theirs.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...y-jones-matt-eberflus-defense-coaches-results

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Jerry Jones is upset the Cowboys are not playing LB Logan Wilson more

It gets lost in the shuffle of everything, but the Dallas Cowboys traded for someone other than Quinnen Williams at this year’s deadline. Linebacker Logan Wilson was actually acquired before Williams and was someone who people were excited about in the hours that separated those deals. Part of the reason was that the Cowboys have had such poor linebacker play for some time now, and the thought was that Wilson could seriously help in that regard.

To be frank, we still don’t totally know whether or not Wilson can help, because he hasn’t played a ton. Wilson was curiously absent from the team’s Christmas Day win at Washington and Jerry Jones took to the radio airwaves of 105.3 The Fan on Friday morning to express his displeasure with that.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan on why LB Logan Wilson didn’t play yesterday: “I don’t have an explanation for you for why Wilson wasn’t in there. We planned to have him in there. He needs to be in there. He has good instincts. The reason we got him was because he reads…

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 26, 2025

Jerry speaks a lot on the radio, everybody knows that, but he is rarely so pointed about a subject like this. You can almost sense that Jerry is directly calling out the coaching staff for not playing Wilson more.

Arguments can be made in a number of directions here. Your takeaway can be that the coaching staff is playing who they believe is best and that ultimately this is how an NFL team should operate. That is objectively fair.

Another takeaway can be that the Cowboys have arguably the worst linebacker play in the NFL and so trotting out the players they are (no one is trying to explicitly point fingers here, but Kenneth Murray has been a target of many) feels questionable at best. That is also fair on some level and seems to be where Jerry is coming from at least.

Perhaps Wilson will garner the trust of the Cowboys coaching staff over the offseason and into 2026 if they decide to keep him. His deal might need to be adjusted as his cap hit is $6.5 million in 2026, and the team can cut him with no dead cap hit.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ry-jones-logan-wilson-linebacker-playing-time

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

NFL Week 17 Saturday games live discussion

We have two games on Saturday this week. The Texans battle the Chargers, then later the Ravens and the Packers tangle.

This is an open thread for game chat. ​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/general/193108/nfl-week-17-saturday-games-live-discussion

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

RB Malik Davis a surprise star from Cowboys Christmas win over the Commanders

Although it was pretty much a meaningless game after already being eliminated from the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys played to win in Week 17 against the Washington Commanders and came through victorious. They may not have succeeded though if it hadn’t been for the surprise performance of Malik Davis, Dallas’ current backup running back.

After Javonte Williams got things started off rushing for 54 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game early with a stinger, Davis stepped in as the starter and had himself a career day on Christmas. He ended up rushing for a total of 103 yards on 20 carries and averaged 5.2 yards per touch. His performance was a big part of the Cowboys victory.

Davis has no doubt paid his dues to get where he is now as the Cowboys backup running back behind Williams. He’s been on and off the Cowboys roster and practice squad since joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2022. He’s even been released multiple times over the years, twice just this season alone. And yet, none of that seemed to discourage him.

Davis’ journey since in the league with the Cowboys is the kind of story we all want to see. He’s fought and clawed his way from being an undrafted free agent to now becoming a key part of Dallas’ offense, all the while not ever really knowing how secure is roster spot is. It’s a testament to his character and work ethic, something we’d love to see more of from his teammates. Maybe it will rub off on them.

No. 43 may have a chance to further prove his worth in the Cowboys regular-season finale next week against the New York Giants if Williams is sidelined with a shoulder injury (stinger). Getting a look at him as starter could help evaluate how the Cowboys brass views the RB position moving forward and potentially give them leverage if they decide to negotiate a contract extension with Williams.

It may come to no surprise, but we’ve seen a story similar to that of Davis’ not long ago. Rico Dowdle also bided his time buried on the depth chart most of his career in Dallas until he finally got his chance as the starter. He went on to rush for 1,079 yards last year, and then turn that into another 1,000-yard season this year with the Carolina Panthers. Maybe now 43 is following a similar path.

It’s difficult to know exactly where Davis stands with the Cowboys moving forward, but at the very least he deserves to be part of the conversation. Whether that is being a valuable depth piece or a potential starter is something that will need to be decided over the offseason, but regardless of which it is he should have an important role with this team next season.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ning-back-malik-davis-future-javonte-williams

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2025 rookie report: Promise and problems against Washington

The Dallas Cowboys managed to scrape a win on Christmas Day against the Washington Commanders in a game that got close, closer than what some fans would have preferred. But how did the Cowboys rookie class perform during the divisional victory? Let’s take a look.

OG Tyler Booker ​

(Game stats- Snaps: 92, Pass Blocks: 49, Pressures: 1, Sacks: 2, Penalties: 1)

Booker turned in another heavy-workload performance against Washington on Christmas Day, playing all 92 offensive snaps and earning a 74.6 overall grade, one of the better marks on the Cowboys’ offense in the 30–23 win. Dallas leaned hard on the interior run game, piling up 211 rushing yards and repeatedly gashing the middle of the Commanders’ front. Booker was a big part of those double teams and combo blocks with Cooper Beebe, helping Malik Davis and Javonte Williams stay on schedule and letting Brian Schottenheimer live in fourth-and-short territory.

It wasn’t a clean day in protection for the unit as a whole. Dak Prescott was sacked six times and hit repeatedly, with rookie phenom Jer’Zhan Newton racking up three sacks and five QB hits as Washington generated 19 total pressures. Interior pressure was prominent in postgame breakdowns, so Booker clearly had some rough snaps dealing with Newton’s quickness and power on games and stunts, even if not every sack can be laid at his feet.

One blemish on his night was an early bad penalty flagged on Booker on the opening drive, which, paired with a sack, put the offense behind the chains before they worked their way back into scoring range. To his credit, the moment didn’t snowball. He settled in, and as the game wore on his physicality in the run game helped Dallas salt away clock on multiple long marches in the second half.

DE Donovan Ezeiruaku ​

(Game stats- Snaps: 39, Total Tackles: 2, Pressures: 3, Sacks: 0, TFL: 0)

Ezeiruaku had one of his quietest games of the season against Washington, more solid in assignment than impactful on the stat sheet. He was on the field for just 26 defensive snaps off the edge and registered only one total tackle with zero sacks, zero tackles for loss, and one total pressure. With the Cowboys generating only two sacks and three quarterback hits as a team and still allowing 8.6 yards per play and 138 rushing yards on just 17 carries, this was clearly not a night where the front consistently lived in the Commanders’ backfield.

Through this week, PFF has Ezeiruaku at a 76.4 overall grade with 35 total pressures on 580 snaps, ranking him among the league’s better rookie edge defenders. Pre-game advanced scouting had highlighted his recent 25% pass-rush win rate and 12% pressure rate over the previous month, even though that stretch produced hits rather than sacks. Against Washington, that underlying disruption never really showed up in the box score. He finished the game in a low-impact role while others, notably Jadeveon Clowney and Quinnen Williams, handled the actual finishing on Josh Johnson.

CB Shavon Revel Jr.​

(Game stats- Snaps: 42, Total Tackles: 6, PBU: 1, INT: 0, TD Allowed: 0, RTG Allowed: 109.7)

Revel’s Christmas Day against Washington was another bumpy outing in what has become a tough rookie year, and it ended in a way that almost certainly pushes his focus to 2026. PFF graded him at 50.1 overall, the third-worst mark on the Cowboys’ defense, with of 43.0 against the run, 33.5 in tackling and 59.4 in coverage. On the coverage side of things, he was targeted six times and allowed four catches for 84 yards, his second straight game giving up 80-plus yards, as Washington repeatedly found space on his side of the field. The tackling issues that have dogged him all season showed up again too, he’s now credited with eight missed tackles (18.6%) on the year, and open-field whiffs in this game turned short gains into bigger plays.

Midway through the second half he took a blow to the head, walked off slowly and did not return. Postgame reports confirmed he’s been placed in the concussion protocol, with the team acknowledging he faces an uphill battle to be cleared for Week 18. With only one game left and nothing to play for in the standings, there’s a good argument for Dallas to shut him down, effectively ending his rookie season so he can recover fully and attack 2026. That might be the wisest move given his backdrop coming off an ACL tear, missing the entire offseason program, camp, preseason and a big chunk of the regular season.

LB Shemar James​

(Game stats- Snaps: 36, Total Tackles: 6 TFL: 0, Sacks: 0)

James finally looked like a real part of the defensive plan against Washington, not just a special-teams body. He played 36 defensive snaps, his heaviest load in weeks, and he responded with six total tackles, tied among Dallas’ leaders on the night. He didn’t register a sack, tackle for loss, or any takeaways, and he stayed out of the penalty column, so his stat line is all about volume rather than splash. The Commanders ran only 41 offensive plays but still churned out 138 rushing yards thanks in large part to Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s 72-yard touchdown. James spent most of the evening in clean-up mode by fitting inside runs, rallying to Johnson’s checkdowns and helping get bodies on the ground after chunk gains rather than creating those big negative plays himself.

It’s fair to be harsh on the linebacker group as a whole, especially Kenneth Murray, and calling the heavy dose of Murray and James ugly against the run is also a fair criticism as Washington found creases between the tackles. On film, it’s a mixed bag for James, he was active and around the ball, but there were snaps where he got caught in traffic or arrived a beat late on cutbacks, contributing to a run defense that gave up far too much on a low play count. At the same time, this game underlined why Dallas has been nudging his role upward as he handled a starter-level snap share without blowing assignments, and his six stops push his season totals into genuine starter territory.

The best way to call James’ game is it was a busy but imperfect outing. James was heavily involved, did enough to look like a viable long-term piece, but he was also part of a front seven that made Washington’s ground game look more efficient than it should have.

DB Alijah Clark​

(Game stats- Snaps: 18, Total Tackles: 1

*Snap count are all special team snaps*

Clark’s Christmas Day against Washington was another quiet but functional special-teams outing. He didn’t log any defensive snaps, with his entire workload coming in the kicking game as a core coverage and return-unit player. On those snaps he made one tackle and didn’t factor into any of the big swings. For a depth safety in his role, that kind of you didn’t notice him performance is basically neutral. He did his assignment work on special teams, avoided hurting the Cowboys in a game where field position and explosive runs were already a problem, but didn’t provide the kind of momentum-changing play that would jump off the tape going into 2026.

CB Trikweze Bridges​

(Game stats- Snaps: 15, Total Tackles: 0)

*Snap count include special team snaps*

Bridges played almost entirely on special teams, with just a tiny glimpse of him on defense. He logged the bulk of his work on the kicking units, running lanes, taking on blocks and doing the dirty work that doesn’t show up much in the box score but matters for field position and consistency. On defense he saw only two snaps, essentially a cameo as an emergency outside corner rather than a true part of the game plan, and he didn’t figure in any major targets or tackles on those plays. Bridges handled his special-teams role and gave Dallas a reliable back-end option without ever having the kind of exposure that would define the game one way or the other.

RB Jaydon Blue​

Inactive

OT Ajani Cornelius​

Inactive

DT Jay Toia​

Inactive

RB Phil Mafah​

Injured reserve

WR Traeshon Holden​

Practice squad

TE Rivaldo Fairweather​

Practice squad

LB Justin Barron​

Practice squad

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...t-tyler-booker-donovan-ezeiruaku-shemar-james

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

3 replacements for Javonte Williams should he leave in free agency

As the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 season draws to a close, we’re reminded of the business side that comes with the NFL. In a short few months, some tough decisions will have to be made. The most burning question has been about defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and his hot seat, which has to feel like sitting on molten rock after his defensive unit disappointed this year. There’s also the topic of what the Cowboys should do about the impending free agency of George Pickens. Pickens has exceeded all expectations since arriving in Dallas and will certainly receive a pay raise, whether that be by a new contract here or elsewhere, or the franchise tag. Yet, there’s one contract decision that has gone under the radar.

Running back Javonte Williams was signed by the team last offseason for a modest $3 million contract and expected to compete with Miles Sanders for the starting job. Almost immediately, he separated himself from Sanders and every other running back on the roster. He has compiled 1,201 rushing yards and 11 rushing scores this season, despite playing through some ailments. He has been a punishing force for the Dallas rushing attack that has given them a physical identity to pair with their high-flying passing game. It’s a no-brainer that the Cowboys would love to have him back, as he fits in seamlessly with Klayton Adams’ running philosophies. However, yesterday’s price is not today’s price for Williams, and he is very deserving of a pay increase as well.

Unlike Pickens, the franchise tag for a running back doesn’t make a lot of sense for Dallas. To simplify, the franchise tag price is determined by the top five running back salaries in the NFL, adding them up, and then taking the average. That number would cost the Cowboys roughly $14M to place the tag on Williams. That’s not going to happen. You may not like where this is going, but be prepared for a scenario where Williams isn’t part of the Cowboys’ future plans.

The foundation is set. Dallas has the ideal run designer in Adams, the interior offensive line are fantastic run blockers with Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Booker. The Cowboys have now produced a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last three seasons with as many different runners. Therefore, Dallas likely won’t be beholden keeping continuity there. Should the Cowboys decide to go in a different direction at running back, don’t fret. Here are a few options that are all pending free agents, and could fill the role at the price point the Cowboys like.

Kenneth Walker

While the Seattle Seahawks have enjoyed a lot of success this year, the one thing that has been puzzling is the usage of Kenneth Walker. When healthy, Walker is an efficient runner who is hard to tackle in space. He runs with a low center of gravity that causes defenders to slip right off him. For some reason, Seattle has put Walker in a split backfield with Zach Charbonnet, at almost even snap share to limit his touches. In a contract year for Walker, that limitation on the field does the same for his contractual value, as he is sure to hit free agency. Still, Walker has managed to 890 rushing yards on 4.6 yards per carry and could nicely fit in to Dallas as their new lead runner with a lot of tread left on the tires.

JK Dobbins

It’s completely understood that JK Dobbins has a checkered injury history. However, let’s remember that’s exactly why Javonte Williams was so readily available to the Cowboys in the first place. What you cannot deny is that Dobbins, who is currently on injured reserve, will aggressively attack his rehab to be healthy at the start of next season. So put that concern aside, and focus on what Dobbins has produced up to this point in his career.

Dobbins averages over five yards a carry for his career. 2024 was arguably his best season as a pro. That season, 54% of Dobbins’ 905 rushing yards came after contact. He’s a rugged runner in between the tackles, who, despite his injuries, still has some straight-line speed. Dobbins would easily be a productive runner who can also help in pass protection.

Brian Robinson

Brian Robinson is a talented runner who, for some reason, was traded to the San Francisco 49ers to back up Christian McCaffrey and had his playing time severely decreased from his days as a starter with the Washington Commanders. Like all the runners on this list and like Williams, he fits the part perfectly for the Cowboys. He’s a strong downhill runner who runs through arm tackles and will excel in short-yardage situations.

He also has shown he can carry the load if asked to. Robinson had 2,329 career rushing yards and 15 rushing scores in three seasons with Washington. Robinson should easily come at a fair price point and be a bargain for the Cowboys. Also, having somebody like Robinson still allows the Cowboys to have the flexibility to add more to the running back room if they were to add another rookie in the draft or carve out a role for Phil Mafah.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...s-javonte-williams-free-agency-kenneth-walker

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Jake Ferguson is chasing Dallas Cowboys history in season finale

The Dallas Cowboys have a single game left on this season and have gone on record in wanting to win it to avoid a losing campaign. In case you are unaware, a win would give them an 8-8-1 record which is .500 and technically not a losing record. Whatever.

On the subject of records, tight end Jake Ferguson is chasing one from an individual standpoint. Last week Ferguson hauled in his eighth touchdown of the season and that means he trails the single-season record for touchdowns by a tight end in team history by one entering the finale.

This is Jake Ferguson’s 8th touchdown of the season.

The Dallas Cowboys record for most touchdowns in a season *by a tight end* is 9 (Billy Joe DuPree in 1978, Jason Witten in 2010).

There is still time for Ferguson to tie/pass them.
pic.twitter.com/P7yo1eTrxK

— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) December 25, 2025

Billy Joe DuPree originally set the record of nine touchdowns by a tight end during the 1978 season, an amazing one where Dallas ultimately lost the Super Bowl. Jason Witten managed to tie the mark in another lost year in team history back in 2010, but obviously Ferguson has the advantage of 17 games to work with. Still, it is pretty neat.

Once upon a time the Cowboys saw a tight end have a field day during a season finale on the road against the Giants. Back during the 2018 finale (another game that was meaningless, but because Dallas was already set in their playoff seeding that year) you will recall that Blake Jarwin had a hat trick on the day. If Jake Ferguson were to have multiple scores on Sunday then he would hold this record all to himself.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ferguson-cowboys-history-touchdowns-tight-end

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

The absence of Micah Parsons is being felt by two teams now

The Dallas Cowboys have known their fate as a team that will miss out on the playoffs for the second year in a row for some time now, and all that’s left to put a bow on the 2025 regular season is their Week 18 game at the New York Giants. The Cowboys winning on Christmas Day brought the focus back to the on-field play of the team with something to feel good about momentarily, but the fact that yet another early arrival to an offseason full of further changes is inescapable now.

One of the things that feels the most inescapable in this regard is the team moving on from defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus sometime following the Giants game, and looking for their fourth coach in this role in four seasons. If the book is closed on Eberflus’ time as a coordinator after just one season, it will also coincide with the first chapter of the blockbuster Micah Parsons trade being closed. The Green Bay Packers may be going to the playoffs, but not with Parsons on the field after he tore his ACL at the Denver Broncos in Week 15. The Packers lost that game at the Broncos, and also their next two following it.

The Packers struggling so much defensively without Parsons, and obviously the Cowboys struggling so much for mostly the entire season without him, provides some unexpected context to where these teams stand on defense after the trade with the previously durable Parsons being sidelined now. Beyond the obvious that Parsons is an all-world player that single-handedly makes a huge impact on the game, his absence being felt by two teams now is insight into where modern defenses should stand in the great pass rush versus coverage debate.

With Parsons this season, the Packers rattled off wins against Jared Goff (twice), Jayden Daniels, Aaron Rodgers, and Caleb Williams. They gave up only 200 yards of passing in one of these games. Without him, they’ve lost to Bo Nix, Caleb Williams the second time around, and Ravens backup QB Tyler Huntley. Nix and Williams both threw for over 250 yards, and while Huntley only had 107 passing yards, the Ravens ran for 307 yards and four Derrick Henry touchdowns. The Packers only sack over their active three-game losing streak was against Huntley as well. Not having Parsons on the field for a play like Caleb Williams’ overtime winning deep ball touchdown to D.J. Moore two weeks ago was a backbreaker for the Packers to lose control of the NFC North.

To say the Cowboys have missed the juice of Parsons off the edge is an understatement, but elsewhere around the defensive line there at least have been a few things to feel optimistic about otherwise. Rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku looks like a solid piece for the future. Kenny Clark hasn’t been asked to do it all at defensive tackle, as the other trade chip of Quinnen Williams has made an impact along with Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas. Jadeveon Clowney has been a veteran addition that’s helped the depth of the group and played with great motor and pursuit. All of this may lead to the conclusion that the Cowboys best use of resources moving forward to fix a fundamentally broken defense would be directed towards the backend, but pass rush is still where the biggest difference can be made the quickest.

One of the things that will be very important to sort through at the end of this season for Dallas is how much actually falls at the feet of Eberflus when it comes to how bad the defense has been. Although his struggles to coordinate a sound group go beyond just the surprise of losing Parsons at the 11th hour before the season, it still can’t be forgotten how much of Eberflus’ plans for the entire defense focused solely on Parsons being a consistent play maker. The timing of the Cowboys making this trade did Eberflus no favors, although the best-case scenario moving forward may be that the Cowboys are in position to get out from under his zone-heavy approach quickly. We’ll never know if playing zone constantly would have been more effective more often without opposing quarterbacks having all day to throw, but the Cowboys also lack the personnel in the secondary to be truly comfortable in zone.

With the amount of games being decided by penalty flags in the secondary in today’s game, and misdirection and motions in the backfield at an all-time high (and on the rise in the Cowboys own offense), getting penetration to disrupt plays at the point of attack is the most effective way to consistently stop offenses. Much like the Cowboys immediately went back to the first-round draft pick well to replace a former first-round pick in Zack Martin with rookie right guard Tyler Booker this season, the Cowboys need to take a similar approach with similar results going into their first offseason without Parsons and a void to fill at EDGE. The Cowboys will have a harder time selling their “by committee” approach at any position group lacking star power this offseason after working hard to address multiple such positions last offseason, and at this year’s trade deadline, but still sitting outside the playoffs. They have the defensive tackle depth to allow a speed rusher off the edge to thrive, but lack the number one guy to fill that role in the worst way right now. The loss of Micah Parsons sinking two defenses in one season should be all the evidence Dallas needs to see where their weakness is.

The Cowboys taking the field with the current defense they have one more time is going to come and go in the early window without any fanfare at all in Week 18. By the time the long wait until they return to the field is over, so many things stand to look a whole lot different, but if the defensive end group is not one such thing, it may all be for waste yet again.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ah-parsons-defense-packers-pass-rush-coverage

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2025 NFL Week 18 Power Rankings: Cowboys brace for season to be over

There is a single week left in the regular season which means that seven days from now over half of the teams in the NFL will be off into the offseason. Unfortunately for all of us the Dallas Cowboys will be one of them.

Last week saw the Cowboys put an end to their three-game losing streak with a victory over the Washington Commanders. It was a hard game to draw anything serious from as Washington was down to their third quarterback in Josh Johnson, the phrase “a win is a win” can only stretch so far under these types of circumstances.

Given that the playoff teams are just about set on both sides of the league the situation with power rankings is pretty straightforward. This will be our last time conducting this exercise this year, hopefully it has been a fun ride for you on a weekly basis.

Let’s begin.

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1 – Seattle Seahawks (LW: 1)

Can they lock down the one seed?

2 – New England Patriots (LW: 4)

The Patriots had two separate NFL dynasties, saw it all torn down, and built themselves back up all before the Cowboys returned to the NFC Championship Game.

3 – San Francisco 49ers (LW: 5)

They look absolutely terrifying.

4 – Buffalo Bills (LW: 3)

It feels like Buffalo’s year on the AFC side of things, but their path through the playoffs is going to be difficult and they have no one to blame for that except themselves.

5 – Los Angeles Rams (LW: 2)

They have blown a lot over the last few weeks.

6 – Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 7)

The Jags definitely feel legitimately for real. Now it is just a matter of doing it deep in January.

7 – Denver Broncos (LW: 8)

I know it is not fair to call teams paper tigers, but I just don’t see it here. I know they will likely be the one seed. We will see.

8 – Chicago Bears (LW: 6)

If that offense shows up… they can do the whole thing.

9 – Houston Texans (LW: 9)

I do think we are consistently overlooking the Texans. They have all of the pieces.

10 – Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 11)

Surely the offense being horrendous is going to doom them at some point, right? Right?

11 – Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 10)

They lived up to a lot of people’s assumptions last week.

12 – Baltimore Ravens (LW: 18)

Perhaps they really will steal the division.

13 – Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 12)

Because they don’t seem to want it.

14 – Carolina Panthers (LW: 14)

This has been a strange team all season, haha.

15 – Green Bay Packers (LW: 15)

Hopefully they are bounced from the playoffs sooner rather than later for draft purposes.

16 – Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 19)

Too little too late.

17 – Detroit Lions (LW: 13)

They had a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship Game two years ago. Nothing is ever promised.

18 – Indianapolis Colts (LW: 16)

They were 7-1!

19 – Minnesota Vikings (LW: 17)

It will be interesting to see how they handle J.J. McCarthy and the quarterback position at large in the offseason.

20 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 20)

Another team who has just thrown this season away.

21 – Dallas Cowboys (LW: 21)

Yea. Well. Same.

22 – Atlanta Falcons (LW: 23)

Monday night was fun!

23 – New Orleans Saints (LW: 24)

Kellen Moore has a lot of hype surrounding this team as they approach an important offseason.

24 – Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 22)

They will be a very popular pick to bounce back next year.

25 – Cleveland Browns (LW: 26)

Who knows what this group will look like in the future.

26 – Miami Dolphins (LW: 25)

The new head coach will be critical here.

27 – Washington Commanders (LW: 27)

What even is their biggest problem? Where do you start?

28 – Tennessee Titans (LW: 28)

Cam Ward is starting to generate excitement for the future.

29 – New York Jets (LW: 29)

Gross.

30 – New York Giants (LW: 30)

Imagine blowing the number one overall pick.

31 – Arizona Cardinals (LW: 31)

They have now lost 13 of their last 14 games… you know the one!

32 – Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 32)

Fernando Mendoza time.

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ESPN: 20 (LW: 20)​

They also provided a lesson learned on the season for each team.

What we learned this season: A high-scoring offense is not enough.

The Cowboys have a 4,000-yard passer (Dak Prescott), a 1,000-yard rusher (Javonte Williams) and two 1,000-yard receivers (CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens), but they were eliminated from the playoffs with three games to play. Had the defense been average or close to it, perhaps Dallas would be in the postseason. Aside from a three-game winning streak, the unit underperformed in every area, which could lead to a fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons. Blame the Micah Parsons trade, but the Cowboys have just 31 sacks (their fewest since 2020) and 11 takeaways (their fewest since 2015), and they’ve given up 30-plus points eight times. — Todd Archer

NFL.com: 20 (LW: 20)​

No movement.

The Cowboys have a chance to finish 8-8-1, which certainly sounds better than 7-9-1 (or 7-8-2, yuck). That would give slightly more credence to the idea that Dallas can be a double-digit-win team next season under the right circumstances. Brian Schottenheimer wasn’t a lot of folks’ first choice as head coach, and it has definitely been a yo-yo season with plenty of twists and turns, but finishing above .500 with this defense would be pretty encouraging on the whole. Dak Prescott’s window has closed ever so slightly, but he’s still playing high-level football — and if the ‘Boys can keep George Pickens, this offense could reach new heights. Can Dallas rebuild the unit on the other side of the ball, though? That’s the question I am left with. This hasn’t been the most daring springtime team in recent years.

USA Today: 19 (LW: 21)​

A teeny bump up.

Given how the last 12 months have gone − notably the departures of former coach Mike McCarthy and DE Micah Parsons − a .500 finish in 2025 would have seemed rather admirable. One more win will get Dallas there.

Yahoo: 18 (LW: 19)​

And another.

Dallas finishing 8-8-1 with a win over the Giants in the finale would be fitting. They’re not good, they’re not bad, they have few good wins (Philly being an exception) and not a lot of bad losses (the Cardinals loss was the only awful one). They’re the epitome of mediocrity, and being the only team to finish .500 this season — no other team can unless there’s a Week 18 tie — might be the most appropriate way for the season to end.

CBS Sports: 19 (LW: 20)​

And again.

That offense is sure fun to watch, but the defense still has issues. I expect major progress next season.

The Athletic: 20 (LW: 20)​

No movement here.

Head coach check-in: Who knows in Dallas?

Jerry Jones’ unconventional hiring of Brian Schottenheimer has half-worked — the offensive half. With Schottenheimer calling plays, the Cowboys are fourth in the league in scoring (28.4 ppg). Whoever hired Matt Eberflus to coach the defense, though, might be rethinking that decision. Dallas is last in the league in scoring defense (29.8 ppg allowed). Schottenheimer probably will return, but it can be hard to read Jones.

Sports Illustrated: 21 (LW: 20)​

A slight drop.

A wild stat from Ed Werder: The three highest point totals allowed in Cowboys history have all occurred in the past six years, with this year’s performance from Matt Eberflus serving as the worst. Oh, and there’s another game left this season.

Week To Week Movement​

Full Power Rankings​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...fl-week-18-power-rankings-cowboys-season-over

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Report: Trevon Diggs, Brian Schottenheimer had travel disagreement after Christmas win

The Dallas Cowboys released cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday and in the process said goodbye to one of their longest-tenured players.

Diggs reached some high peaks with the Cowboys. He led the NFL in interceptions in 2021, but the last few years have been a bit down. It felt pretty inevitable that he and the team would go their separate ways after this season. While releasing him before the final game was a bit surprising, ultimately the move didn’t catch anybody off guard.

Given that Diggs and the Cowboys have a long history together it is possible that this story is far from over. Details may emerge about the fallout between their relationship and they began to do so shortly after news of his release.

Jordan Schulz reported that following the Cowboys win at Washington on Christmas that Diggs asked head coach Brian Schottenheimer if he could stay in the D.C. area, where he is from, and not fly back with the team. According to Schultz, Diggs expressed that the first thing he would be doing upon returning with the team would be to fly back to where they left so staying made sense in his mind.

My understanding of the Trevon Diggs situation is this: after the #Cowboys finished their Christmas game vs. the Commanders, Diggs requested with HC Brian Schottenheimer to stay in Washington for the holiday since he’s from the area and his family stays there. Players often ask… pic.twitter.com/KO8k98RqaG

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 30, 2025

According to Schultz this request was denied by Schottenheimer. This is, not to doubt Jordan Schultz at all, only one report, and again the first of a potential few that we may get, but needless to say this is an interesting detail to emerge.

It should also be noted as far as matters of interest are concerned that following his release from the Cowboys, Diggs changed representation to David Mulugheta.

After the Cowboys waived CB Trevon Diggs today, he hired David Mulugheta of Athletes First to represent him.

Diggs now will go on waivers and, if unclaimed, become a free agent. pic.twitter.com/mpujH0F70q

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2025

This is of note because David Mulugheta is the agent who represented Micah Parsons during his negotiations with the Cowboys. He is the agent, in case you forgot, who Jerry Jones claimed last offseason to not know the name of. Diggs and Parsons were famously very close so this is all pretty logical, and yes, Mulugheta’s agency also represents George Pickens so you can file this away for a rainy day to come.

It stands to reason that Jerry Jones and Brian Schottenheimer will both be asked for their accounts of this story. We will see what they have to say at that point.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-schottenheimer-disagreement-travel-christmas

 

[JJ]

LOL oh man where do I even start with this dumpster fire of a franchise update?

First off - the Diggs situation is HILARIOUS to me. The guy wanted to stay home for Christmas after playing a game IN HIS HOMETOWN and Schottenheimer said no? Then they cut him a few days later anyway? What an absolute clown show of an organization. Jerry Jones out here running things like a circus as usual. And now Diggs signs with Mulugheta - the same agent Jerry pretended not to know? That's some petty king behavior right there and I'm here for it.

As for the Javonte Williams replacement talk - Kenneth Walker would actually be solid but let's be real, Dallas isn't going to pay ANYBODY. They'll probably just draft some mid-round guy and convince themselves he's the next great thing because they're too cheap to pay running backs. The whole "we've had three different 1000 yard rushers in three years" thing is such a cope - yeah you've also missed the playoffs two years running so maybe continuity matters more than they think?

The Parsons trade fallout is genuinely fascinating though. Green Bay getting exposed without him just proves what we all knew - the dude was carrying that entire Dallas defense on his back for years. Now BOTH teams are suffering. That's gotta sting for Jerry.

And the power rankings having Buffalo at 4? I'll take it! THIS IS OUR YEAR BABY. Josh Allen is about to run through the AFC like a freight train.

Cowboys finishing 8-8-1 would be the most Cowboys thing ever. Perfectly mediocre. Not good enough to matter, not bad enough for a great draft pick. Chef's kiss.

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys interested in re-signing Jadeveon Clowney

After Sunday’s season finale against the New York Giants, it will be time for the Dallas Cowboys to begin their offseason operations. Per usual, Dallas will work to bring back some of their in-house free agents. One of the more intriguing ones is pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones, the man who oversees most of the day-to-day operations with the Cowboys, was on 105.3 The Fan recently. When Clowney’s name was mentioned, Jones didn’t hesitate to point out that the team would be on board about bringing him back in 2026.

Stephen Jones says on @1053thefan that the #Cowboys "would love" to have DE Jadeveon Clowney back in 2026.

"We'll be talking with his guys right away…With his willingness to want to be here and us wanting him to be here, hopefully we can figure something out."

— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) December 29, 2025

The 12-year veteran didn’t step on the field until Week 4 versus the Green Bay Packers in which he logged three tackles in 23 snaps in a 40-40 tie. By the time the Cowboys took on the Washington Commanders in Week 7, Clowney had his football legs under him and he flashed with five tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in the win. Two weeks later against the Arizona Cardinals, Clowney got his first start for the Cowboys, and he performed very well in the loss with five tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass breakup.

While the Cowboys were in the midst of their playoff push, one the biggest wins for them was against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving. Clowney logged a season-high six tackles and he also had two sacks in the win. On Christmas day, Clowney registered another fine performance with 1.5 sacks and he also put up season highs in tackles for loss (3) and quarterback hits (3).

The Cowboys bringing back Clowney makes sense in several ways. For one, his price tag won’t be high due to being in the league so long, and that fits right into the Cowboys usual frugal spending habits. Veteran leadership is important on any roster, and with a young and promising player like Donovan Ezeiruaku in the same room, Clowney’s knowledge can be beneficial for him and the team as a whole. Plus, as documented, Clowney is still able to be productive at his age, and no team can have too many pass rushers, especially ones that can also help against the run like he was able to do this season.

After the Cowboys beat the Commanders last week, Clowney talked about what lies ahead for him. Not only does he plan to keep playing next year, but returning to Dallas is something he’d be interested in.

Oh yeah, [I’d re-sign in Dallas] if they’re willing to bring me back, but, yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m definitely gonna play.

Dallas brining back Clowney makes sense for one more reason. Outside of Ezeiruaku and veteran James Houston, the Cowboys won’t have any other edge rushers under contract in 2026. Of course, they will look to add one in free agency and certainly the NFL draft, but Dallas needs bodies off the edge, and Clowney is one they can retain for cheap.

Clowney also mentioned that he plans to sign with a team earlier next year and he wants to go to training camp, which is something aging veterans like to avoid. Time will tell how things play out, but Clowney coming back for another season in Dallas would help out a defense that desperately needs it.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...clowney-free-agent-re-sign-2026-stephen-jones