Blogging The Boys - Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 2022 NFL Week 16Dallas Cowboys, all the time...since 2005.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47663/Picture_4.png2023-12-21T06:00:00-06:00http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/rss/stream/232822292023-12-21T06:00:00-06:002023-12-21T06:00:00-06:00Cowboys news: Heading to Miami looking to fix road woes
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<img alt="NFL: Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MnGvSAZtSgYnG6MeG3EVItzmKOs=/0x0:3983x2655/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72985614/usa_today_13398734.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Here is your Thursday morning news for the Dallas Cowboys.</p> <h3 id="Bqzdae"><a href="https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/lists/learned-cowboys-bills-week-15/">Momentum Dependent: What we learned about the Cowboys in Week 15 - Reid Hanson, USA Today</a></h3>
<p id="7M7sot">Taking what Dallas learned from last week and beginning to look forward.</p>
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<p id="HunOHt">In a game which was eerily similar to the Week 5 disaster in San Francisco, things got ugly fast in Buffalo and all of the Cowboys’ presumed strategy flew right out the window the moment the first punch landed. Dallas played timidly on both sides of the ball. The game plan was a mess; game management was nonexistent. The offensive line couldn’t protect the QB, the QB couldn’t find the WRs, the defense couldn’t tackle, run fits weren’t filled, foolish penalties ruled the day, and effort was shamefully absent.</p>
<p id="fmxptn">The Bills scored touchdowns on three of their first four drives and at no point did it appear Dallas was up to the task. The game would end with a score of 31-10 but to those who watched, it likely felt far, far worse.</p>
<p id="3WntI3"><strong>These are the Cowboys</strong></p>
<p id="sFNlNz">Despite all the hopes and prayers of Cowboys Nation, the Cowboys didn’t suddenly alter their DNA over the bye week this season.</p>
<p id="KbWZzJ">But prior to Week 15, it seemed like they might have. Dallas had gone 7-1 since the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> game. Dak Prescott was performing better than arguably any other QB in the league and the Cowboys were adapting and progressing on both sides of the ball. They had <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> candidates at nearly every position group, and they remained relatively healthy throughout their roster. They had a record setting rookie kicker and looked to be elite in all three phases of the game.</p>
<p id="5BiA3H">Then the Buffalo game came.</p>
<p id="CEpQOJ">Their stretch of excellent football came to an end. The good times were now bookended with two absolute beatdowns. Were the Cowboys frauds? Did they lose their mojo? Was their 7-1 stretch just an illusion or were those two nasty losses the illusion?</p>
<p id="vuKUQa">How about all of the above.</p>
<p id="listicle-0">Next week in Miami they could just as easily post a championship-level performance as they could post another dumpster fire. They’re unpredictable because no one knows how they’re going to respond.</p>
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<h3 id="Xhwchf"><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-miami-dolphins-jerry-jones-zack-martin-injury-update">Zack Martin Injury Status Updated by Cowboys - Timm Hamm, Sports Illustrated</a></h3>
<p id="2z39gK">A healthy Zack Martin would help the Cowboys to get back on track.</p>
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<p id="0djsUu">Right guard Zack Martin went down in the game and was unable to return with what was later described as a quad injury. How bad is it and will he miss time?</p>
<p id="z8NcLS"><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dan-quinn-dallas-cowboys-defense-fix-coach-micah-parsons-miami-dolphins-preview-mostert-tyreek">Cowboys</a> owner Jerry Jones doesn’t think it’s a huge issue but thinks they’ll have to monitor it.</p>
<p id="b0Rg8W">“I know what a quad bruise is. We’ll see how he gets his strength there,” Jones <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TThPzGRzxF0">told 105.3 The Fan</a> in Dallas. “A bruise does two things there: not only are they painful to work with, but they can also take the strength out of that area, too. So, got to get that back.”</p>
<p id="AgHIOv">That supports the words of Martin himself, who said after the game, ”I’m hoping this week, treat it and get it ready to go on Sunday. I feel good about that.”</p>
<p id="3Zug2c">The team is expected to hold a walkthrough on Wednesday and have a full practice on Thursday ahead of another road matchup against an AFC East team, this time in Miami. </p>
<p id="tMslLb">If Martin is unable to go against the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> on Sunday, the team will turn to undrafted rookie T.J. Bass. Bass filled in for Martin in Buffalo and offensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer lauded his effort.</p>
<p id="F2LL4G">“He did a nice job [against Buffalo],” Jerry said. [Bass] battled. That’s kind of what he has done all year long.”</p>
<p id="UkfDNI">The best-case scenario is for Martin to play. In his absence, the Cowboys gained a season-low 195 total yards against the Bills.</p>
<p id="LPfYSo">The task won’t be any easier on Sunday as the <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/podcasts/philadelphia-eagles-admit-not-all-in-are-playoff-bound-dallas-cowboys-listening-fish-podcast">Dallas</a> offense will face a Dolphins run defense that ranks. No. 4 in the NFL allowing just 90.4 yards per game, and a passing defense that ranks No. 10 allowing just 203.1 yards per contest.</p>
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<h3 id="ZwI9e5"><a href="https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/nick-at-nite-dallas-can-erase-three-major-concerns-in-miami">Nick at Nite: Dallas can erase three major concerns in Miami - Nick Harris, DallasCowboys.com</a></h3>
<p id="01eJBe">It’s imperative that the Cowboys put together a <em>quality</em> win on the road.</p>
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<p id="zD9yEw">Number one, playing on the road. Goodness, when can this team put together a road performance – just one – that is similar to what its done at home all year? Aside from the season-opening win in New York, there isn’t a road performance that I would put above any seven of the home wins in terms of playing a complete game and not leaving any meat on the bone.</p>
<p id="93EwWE">“It’s a gap, and that’s part of my message,” head coach Mike McCarthy said postgame. “We play so well at home. There’s just too big of a gap on our road games. We’re conscious of it, and we’ve got a long flight home to think about it, and to talk about it. We’ve got to move on to Miami in the morning, and get this one corrected but, yes, we’ve gotta be better.”</p>
<p id="2ncvyV">Number two, limiting a powerful rushing attack. We saw Dallas have its worst run defense performance since 2012 when the Cowboys defense allowed 266 yards including 179 from James Cook alone. The absence of Johnathan Hankins was felt in a big way, but Cook’s production also saw him break contain on multiple occasions and get around the edges for massive gains.</p>
<p id="eYcuEH">This week, that challenge only stiffens with Miami bringing the two-headed running back monster of Raheem Mostert and Devon Achane to the field to power the league’s fourth-best rushing offense. It will take a “Herculean effort” – in the words of Jerry Jones – if Hankins cannot return to limit the versatile and dangerous rushing attack that the Dolphins can bring to the table.</p>
<p id="KFpmgY">Number three, dealing with speed. When the schedule dropped, it was very clear that the Miami game would give the Dallas defense a ton of fits with the multitude of speed weapons the Dolphins have.</p>
<p id="nb5L01">NFL’s Next Gen Stats has a tool that tracks on-field speed, and the highest on-field, in-play speeds get tracked throughout the season. Of the top ten fastest on-field speeds this year, the Dolphins have six of them from three different players: Tyreek Hill, Devon Achane and Raheem Mostert. That fails to include Jaylen Waddle and the team’s lead returner Braxton Berrios who each have speed that could make them the fastest players on roughly half of all NFL teams.</p>
<p id="HrqHA5">The Dallas defense has had major struggles with speed all season. The fastest on-field ball-carrier all season came on DK Metcalf’s 73-yard touchdown reception against the Cowboys in week 13 when he reached a top speed of 22.23 mph. You can also think back to when Rondale Moore had his way in week three, Keenan Allen finding consistent separation in week six, Devonta Smith getting loose for a touchdown in week nine and Curtis Samuel posting a 100-yard day in week 12.</p>
<p id="tuZM0n">The list is extensive, yet the Cowboys have not seen one individual speed weapon that can stack up with the third or fourth-fastest weapon that the Dolphins have. A win in that game that sees the defense keep Tyreek Hill underneath and Raheem Mostert and Devon Achane away from big running lanes would be a ginormous step in the right direction in that area.</p>
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<h3 id="LkWCYY"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/three-things-cowboys-must-do-to-reach-nfc-championship-game-for-first-time-since-1995/">Three things Cowboys must do to reach NFC Championship Game for first time since 1995 - Garrett Podell</a></h3>
<p id="s5FnQu">Here’s how Dallas can make this year be the one that’s <em>different</em>.</p>
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<p id="Q3Ygs7"><strong>Secure NFC East crown, ensuring at least two playoff home games</strong></p>
<p id="kfwyFI">If the regular season ended today, the Cowboys and <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/PHI/philadelphia-eagles/">Eagles</a> would be down to tiebreaker No. 5 for the division title. That tiebreaker is strength of victory — the combined won-lost-tied percentage of all of the teams a franchise has defeated. Philadelphia currently has the edge with a .493 strength of victory to the Cowboys’ .379. </p>
<p id="XmA1CL">Fortunately for Dallas, they play the AFC East-leading Dolphins and NFC North-leading Lions in each of their next two games. Should they win out, including a second win against the Commanders, a team they beat 45-10 on Thanksgiving, that standing has the potential to flip. The Eagles play the 5-9 <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NYG/new-york-giants/">New York Giants</a> twice with a matchup against the 3-11 <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/ARI/arizona-cardinals/">Arizona Cardinals</a> in the middle of those two against the G-Men. Winning the division is a necessity given the Cowboys are 3-4 on the road and 7-0 at home this season. </p>
<p id="ZDySQ0"><strong>Shore up tackling issues</strong></p>
<p id="VgJtKu">The Cowboys entered Week 15 with an 8.3% missed tackle rate, the lowest in the NFL. Following their debacle of a defeat in Buffalo that included a whopping 17 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, that percentage jumped to 9.3%, pushing their rank to second place behind the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NE/new-england-patriots/">New England Patriots</a>’ 8.9% rate for the entire season. </p>
<p id="CszQ8A">Those missed tackles, most of which occurred on the edge of the line of scrimmage according to defensive coordinator <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI-rhUmQjUo&ab_channel=DallasCowboys">Dan Quinn on Monday</a>, played a massive role in the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/BUF/buffalo-bills/">Bills</a>’ 49 carries going for 266 rushing yards, an average of 5.4 yards a rush and three touchdowns.</p>
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<p id="4ZmHsy">Here is the Cowboys’ first Week 16 injury report.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cowboys LT Tyron Smith usually appears on the Wednesday injury report as missing practice for non-injury/rest. He’s listed this week with back issue. Smith played all 57 offensive snaps Sunday vs. Bills; no apparent reason for concern. Lengthy report otherwise as expected. <a href="https://t.co/eWDEN7sJC3">pic.twitter.com/eWDEN7sJC3</a></p>— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/GehlkenNFL/status/1737619460696187237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2023</a>
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<h2 id="0k55f9">Blogging The Boys Podcast Network and YouTube Channel</h2>
<p id="VWj3Zg">We offer a different show every single day on the Blogging The Boys podcast network, and on weekdays we offer two different shows every single day.</p>
<ul>
<li id="W2XNeB"><em>Monday: 1st and 10 with Tony Catalina & Aidan Davis</em></li>
<li id="EiSqs5"><em>Monday: Hidden Yardage with Mark Lane and Sean Martin</em></li>
<li id="EEBTQi"><em>Tuesday: The Writer’s Block with Brandon Loree, David Howman, Brandon Clements and Chris Halling</em></li>
<li id="8nIWPW"><em>Tuesday: BTB Roundtable with various BTB Staffers</em></li>
<li id="8fKnAx"><em>Wednesday: NFC East Mixtape with RJ Ochoa and Brandon Lee Gowton</em></li>
<li id="FvOp5f"><em>Wednesday: Talkin’ The Star with Connor Livesay and Joey Ickes</em></li>
<li id="4ofQqS"><em>Thursday: The Ocho with RJ Ochoa</em></li>
<li id="rA2RA0"><em>Thursday: Ryled Up with Roy White and Tom Ryle</em></li>
<li id="sHtQFc"><em>Friday: Girls Talkin’ Boys with Kelsey Charles and Meg Murray</em></li>
<li id="kQWRFn"><em>Friday: The Star Seminar with Danny Phantom and Rabblerousr</em></li>
<li id="vkCVZ8"><em>Saturday: The World’s Team with Meg Murray and Paul Stewart</em></li>
</ul>
<p id="BDeZeK">We also offer live shows every weekday afternoon on the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@sbnbloggingtheboys"><strong> Blogging The Boys YouTube Channel</strong></a>.</p>
<p id="nBW8pu">The Blogging The Boys podcast network is available on all major podcast platforms.</p>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2023/12/21/24010413/dallas-cowboys-news-miami-dolphins-road-game-problems-bills-zack-martin-nfc-playoffsTCDeckard2023-12-20T06:00:00-06:002023-12-20T06:00:00-06:00Cowboys news: Dallas has a chance to steal the NFC East from the Eagles
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<img alt="Miami Dolphins v&nbsp;Dallas Cowboys" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F33Me3WMcivOLfkqasG9Renyr0o=/0x0:2858x1905/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72981615/1177540382.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Here’s your Wednesday morning news around the Dallas Cowboys. </p> <h3 id="dOnCtM"><a href="https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/path-to-nfc-east-crown-present-after-eagles-loss">Path to NFC East crown present after Eagles loss - Nick Harris, Dallascowboys.com</a></h3>
<p id="ZopvnD">The Cowboys winning the division is still a possibility.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="EIpjiW">The two results have the Eagles and Cowboys tied once again at the top of the division, this time at 10-4 with three games to go.</p>
<p id="0caJ1g">“It was marvelous,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said about the Eagles loss on Monday night. “I watched every bit of it. I was about to doze (off) and then when they made those two plays at the end … I couldn’t sleep until 4 this morning because of the impact it can have on our year and our season.”</p>
<p id="rBVwOa">The remaining schedules for both teams will see the Cowboys travel to Miami before coming home to face Detroit and going back on the road to face Washington, while the Eagles will host the Giants and Cardinals before a rematch with the Giants in New York.</p>
<p id="SpOXM6">For the Cowboys to win the NFC East, they will need the Eagles to lose one of their final three games while also either winning out or only losing one game to Detroit or Miami. A loss to Washington would almost certainly write Dallas in as the five seed in the NFC.</p>
<p id="i81KDT">If both teams win out, the fifth tiebreaker rule would be enacted after the two teams would have the same head-to-head record, same division record, same record against common opponents and same conference record. That tiebreaker would look at the win percentage of all teams that each team has beaten, which gives the edge to Philadelphia as of Week 16. It’s not a given that the Eagles would win that tiebreaker at season’s end, but it is highly likely.</p>
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<h3 id="vX0qvY"><a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2023/12/18/can-cowboys-silence-a-narrative-of-late-season-futility-dolphins-are-their-next-big-test/">Can Cowboys silence a narrative of late-season futility? Dolphins are their next big test - Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News</a></h3>
<p id="pD1dSv">Dallas has shown to be a dominant team in December under Mike McCarthy.</p>
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<p id="xogw9A"><a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/person/42b8d41d-12ba-faf4-70ab-25b1422894fb/">Mike McCarthy</a> said he’s not someone to “burn the tape.” It’s a football expression derived from a poor performance on the field and how quickly you move on from it.</p>
<p id="YfGeso">McCarthy’s Cowboys <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2023/12/17/cowboys-embarrassing-no-show-in-buffalo-opens-the-door-for-a-new-unwelcome-nemesis/">were beaten 31-10 by the Bills on Sunday</a>, and the head coach wanted his team to remember what happened in film reviews, but also to move on.</p>
<p id="q4CPbU">It’s hard to forget what occurred in Orchard Park, N.Y., to <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2023/12/17/forget-the-officiating-cowboys-defense-has-no-excuse-for-atrocious-performance-vs-bills/">a Cowboys team that was outplayed in all areas. </a>More important, that loss represented the possibility of this season spiraling out of control if some of the problems this Cowboys team holds aren’t solved.</p>
<p id="EWI5Sc">Yes, <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2023/12/17/cowboys-clinch-playoff-spot-thanks-to-early-sunday-results-around-the-nfl/">the Cowboys are in the postseason for the third consecutive year</a>, but a faulty finish might translate into an early playoff exit.</p>
<p id="EFhxF0">“Hey, this gauntlet of games is laid out nice for us and this is an example of it,” McCarthy said Monday. “None of us feel good about what happened in Buffalo yesterday. That’s not who we are, as far as how we believe in our team.”</p>
<p id="PnnepT">The Cowboys fell to 3-4 on the road with two more contests away from AT&T Stadium remaining. The Week 16 opponent is the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a>, 6-1 at home and <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2023/12/18/with-so-much-on-the-line-can-cowboys-change-road-fortunes-against-the-dolphins/">averaging a nifty 35.8 points per game in South Florida.</a> As it stands, the Cowboys <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2023/10/22/nfc-playoff-race-where-do-cowboys-stand-after-wins-by-eagles-giants/">are slated to become the No. 5 seed in the postseason</a> with an expected road game against the No. 4 seed, most likely the winner of the NFC South.</p>
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<h3 id="fvei5J"><a href="https://www.profootballnetwork.com/how-loss-can-propel-dallas-cowboys-victory-against-miami-dolphins-2023/">How Can Sunday’s Loss Can Propel the Dallas Cowboys to Victory Against the Miami Dolphins? - Jess Nevarez, Pro Football Network</a></h3>
<p id="AA1dg0">The <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> are historically great coming off losses.</p>
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<p id="CpxSaL"><strong>How Can the Cowboys Win?</strong></p>
<p id="VgrTXf">The Cowboys need to overcome their self-inflicted wounds — especially in the <a href="https://www.profootballnetwork.com/lessons-learned-dallas-cowboys-sam-williams-costly-special-teams-penalty/">form of penalties</a>. They currently lead the <a href="https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl/">NFL</a> in total penalties, which has been an issue in all their losses this season.</p>
<p id="ti9DG0">The run defense has also been a recurring issue for the team, posing a solid run threat. Although there is no timeline for DT Johnathan Hankins’ return, DLs Mazi Smith and Carl Davis Jr. will likely have to step in once again.</p>
<p id="xGmAyf">With 12 missed tackles against the Bills, all eyes will be on how well the Cowboys’ defense completes tackles in Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.</p>
<p id="o3LZLS">As for the offense, QB Dak Prescott has played lights out in the second half of the season. But after only having 134 passing yards in this game, how can the offense find its spark again? Will the team be able to establish the run and pick up where they left off before the Miami game?</p>
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<h3 id="ZxpjAT"><a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39140316/how-brandon-aubrey-went-mls-soccer-cowboys-kicker-usfl-nfl-record">How Brandon Aubrey went from pro soccer to Cowboys kicker - Todd Archer, ESPN</a></h3>
<p id="ziGQAd">The incredible story of Brandon Aubrey.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="3jYLCf">When they were strangers brought together by a common friend and the thought that one day they would be <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/dal/dallas-cowboys">Dallas Cowboys</a> teammates was unfathomable, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/2577417/dak-prescott">Dak Prescott</a> was doing his best to distract <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3953687/brandon-aubrey">Brandon Aubrey</a>.</p>
<p id="L252t2">This was about a year into Aubrey’s journey to the NFL — when dreaming of playing for his hometown team, making the first 31 field goal attempts of his career and becoming the league’s scoring leader as a rookie seemed outlandish.</p>
<p id="mDi9YJ">Heck, just months earlier in 2019, Aubrey was kicking side by side with middle and high schoolers.</p>
<p id="QNzkoU">Prescott shot a text to Aubrey’s kicking coach, Brian Egan, a friend and teammate at Mississippi State, asking what Egan was doing. Egan was at the Warren Sports Complex in Frisco, Texas, working out a couple of his kickers, including Aubrey. It’s 7 miles away from The Star, but galaxies away from the NFL.</p>
<p id="JTxNJu">The Cowboys quarterback told Egan he was coming over.</p>
<p id="utp9xr">“At the time, neither of them knew [Prescott was coming],” Egan said. “They knew me and him had a relationship from being good friends in college, but this was a surprise treat for the boys. It did put a little extra pressure on them, like, ‘Let’s see what they can do.’”</p>
<p id="wvkhOz">Soon, Prescott set up a kicking competition and was barking instructions. The winner would get $200.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 id="3aBjpq"><strong>Blogging The Boys Podcast Network and YouTube Channel</strong></h2>
<p id="lUr7Zi">We offer a different show every single day on the Blogging The Boys podcast network, and on weekdays we offer two different shows every single day.</p>
<ul>
<li id="0unSYU"><em>Monday: 1st and 10 with Tony Catalina & Aidan Davis</em></li>
<li id="3KW5Dw"><em>Monday: Hidden Yardage with Mark Lane and Sean Martin</em></li>
<li id="cF9fO1"><em>Tuesday: The Writer’s Block with Brandon Loree, David Howman, Brandon Clements and Chris Halling</em></li>
<li id="sYLxY2"><em>Tuesday: BTB Roundtable with various BTB Staffers</em></li>
<li id="pL4WcA"><em>Wednesday: NFC East Mixtape with RJ Ochoa and Brandon Lee Gowton</em></li>
<li id="gE1diK"><em>Wednesday: Talkin’ The Star with Connor Livesay and Joey Ickes</em></li>
<li id="JibkfK"><em>Thursday: The Ocho with RJ Ochoa</em></li>
<li id="Xp0bIy"><em>Thursday: Ryled Up with Roy White and Tom Ryle</em></li>
<li id="9IVP9n"><em>Friday: Girls Talkin’ Boys with Kelsey Charles and Meg Murray</em></li>
<li id="LyPyjL"><em>Friday: The Star Seminar with Danny Phantom and Rabblerousr</em></li>
<li id="1XLwMp"><em>Saturday: The World’s Team with Meg Murray and Paul Stewart</em></li>
</ul>
<p id="pjmYTj">We also offer live shows every weekday afternoon on the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@sbnbloggingtheboys"><strong> Blogging The Boys YouTube Channel</strong></a>.</p>
<p id="69kS1e">The Blogging The Boys podcast network is available on all major podcast platforms.</p>
<p id="JroOTK"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blogging-the-boys-for-dallas-cowboys-fans/id1169821159"><strong>Subscribe here on Apple devices</strong></a>.</p>
<p id="JNvp2k"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3xz5DmRtIGDYws8tv15c6v"><strong>Subscribe here if you are a Spotify user</strong></a>.</p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2023/12/20/24008601/dallas-cowboys-news-nfc-east-philadelphia-eagles-division-playoffs-dak-prescott-brandon-aubreyBrandon_Loree2022-12-28T12:30:00-06:002022-12-28T12:30:00-06:00Film Finds: CeeDee Lamb leaves James Bradberry in the dust, Mike McCarthy’s guts turn the tide
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<img alt="NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sllTpeBmh7xn52KV0ZmWwmwR2NE=/0x0:6868x4579/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71800334/usa_today_19678911.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A closer look at the film of the Cowboys vs. Eagles game highlights CeeDee Lamb’s route running and Mike McCarthy’s aggressiveness </p> <p id="JCxGZH">With a Christmas Eve win over the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a>, the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> put all their fans in the holiday spirit and gave them the gift of hope. Fans are hopeful that the Cowboys can still contend for an NFC East title and potentially a first-round bye in the playoffs. The defense forced several turnovers and Dak Prescott was superb from the pocket. The team can sing a happy tune as they make their way to Music City to face the <a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Tennessee Titans</a> this Thursday. Before that, let’s take one last look at last week’s film against the Eagles. </p>
<h3 id="8czLUo"> Lamb breaks down Bradberry</h3>
<p id="Fk6LOh">After the Eagles had scored to take a 34-27 lead, the Cowboys needed to answer back with just under ten minutes left in regulation. The following drive didn’t get off to a great start but thanks to a Prescott dime to T.Y. Hilton for 52 yards, Dallas was set up in the red zone. CeeDee Lamb was a thorn in the Eagles’ side for most of the first half but came up huge once again to bring the game to a tie. </p>
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<p id="nx4xVJ">When the Cowboys broke the huddle, they were in trips set to left with three receivers to that side. As seen in the photo, CeeDee Lamb has been motioned to the opposite side of the formation. To counter the Dallas personnel, the Eagles are playing five defensive backs and one linebacker. Upfront, they have three down linemen with Josh Sweat lined up wide to the open side of the formation and Brandon Graham to the closed side. </p>
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<p id="eA0aDn">Eagles’ safety Marcus Epps (#22) does try to somewhat disguise the coverage before the snap, but as you see, the Eagles settle into a Cover 4. To the right of the formation, Brandon Graham takes the flat receiver Tony Pollard, and T.J. Edwards takes the middle receiver, Dalton Schultz. </p>
<p id="xSvmqN">The first part of this play is about Prescott and how fast he processes the information he sees. As Prescott drops back, he focuses his attention on Dalton Schultz in the middle of the field. As soon as he sees that’s tightly contested, he quickly looks to the outside to CeeDee Lamb. Once Prescott knows Lamb has created the space he needs, he fires a dart to the outside. </p>
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<p id="7It3n2">Granted the above image is from the game broadcast and not the all-22. However, this route deserves to be viewed in this quality, so you can see how Lamb caught James Bradberry in 4K. Coming off the line, Lamb takes a wide stem toward the sideline. Bradberry is expecting Lamb to take his route inside and thinks that Lamb is going to stick his right foot in the ground to slant across the end zone. </p>
<p id="2Wff72">Instead, Lamb catches Bradberry flat-footed and makes a break towards the back pile-on. Prescott delivers the throw on time in the perfect spot and the Cowboys tie the game. Dak’s split-second play recognition and CeeDee Lamb’s sudden quickness made this play happen. Over the last few weeks, the chemistry between the two has been a work of art. </p>
<h3 id="B8Rx89">McCarthy’s gamble pays off</h3>
<p id="tmSNbT"><strong> </strong>If there’s one thing we know about Mike McCarthy, it’s that he’s not the conservative type. He’s high stakes, high rewards. He’s willing to throw caution to the wind if it means the benefits are far too great to pass up. Given the last coaching regime, you love to see it. The confidence in his players is evident and, Ezekiel Elliott pun intended, his team feeds off it. </p>
<p id="kApPsc">Take this play for example. The Cowboys are trailing by ten midway through the third quarter. McCarthy knows if he gives the Eagles back the ball, any points they score could be insurmountable. With nerves of steel and stones of platinum, McCarthy goes for it on 4th and 1 from his team’s 34-yard line. </p>
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<p id="3ToWur">The Cowboys are lined up in a singleback set with three tight ends. (# 89 Peyton Hendershot not pictured) Take notice of where Elliott is lined up and how close he is to the line of scrimmage. The Eagles are loading up both sides of the A-gap, with Fletcher Cox and Linval Joseph shaded over both sides of the center Tyler Biadasz. Javon Hargrave is in the B-gap between the left tackle and left guard. </p>
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<p id="M2wQe7">As Hendershot comes down in motion and lines up behind Dak Prescott, Josh Sweat (#94) shifts over from the C-gap to the B-gap. Linebacker T.J. Edwards is coming downhill before the snap. With Hendershot motioning in behind Prescott, the Eagles are convinced this is a QB sneak, and Hendershot is there to push Prescott forward for the line to gain. They thought wrong.</p>
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<p id="FLR7PX">As the Eagles’ defensive line and Edwards crash down as expected, Tyron Smith and Jake Ferguson are able to double team on the outside linebacker Kyzir White (#43), before Ferguson gets to the second level, and with a little help from Hendershot, serves up a pancake to Reed Blankenship. Finally, Sean McKeon creates a nice hole with his block of James Bradberry as Elliott breaks loose for a 22-yard gain. </p>
<h3 id="fhMrSS"> Wise beyond his years</h3>
<p id="OszSYL">Time and time again, DaRon Bland’s at the right place at the right time. His interception of Gardner Minshew was his fourth in the last games and was integral to the Cowboys’ win on Christmas Eve. Having just blown a 10-point second-half lead, the Eagles had their sights on a long drive to win the game in the closing minutes. Bland’s interception led to the Cowboys scoring a field goal on the next drive and held the lead for good afterward. </p>
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<p id="bgIYp4">The Eagles are facing a 3rd and 4. If they can pick this first down up, things could get dicey for the Cowboys. Philadelphia is in a bunch set to the right of the formation. Meanwhile, Quez Watkins is to the left outside the numbers, and A.J. Brown is in the slot on that side. </p>
<p id="oWYAMa">The Cowboys are in a man underneath defense with Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson as the deep half safeties. Trevon Diggs has Brown in the slot, and Nashon Wright has Devonta Smith at the bottom of the formation. This leaves Daron Bland alone in off-coverage with Watkins. </p>
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<p id="7S0ysn">You can look at this several times over and there’s nothing that tells you this play should have resulted in an interception. The Eagles called the perfect play against this coverage and should have been pitch and catch. Minshew was protected by the offensive line and given a clean pocket to throw from. </p>
<p id="mgcKBh">Bland’s smarts and understanding of the situation are what put him in the spot to make this interception. Bland, in off coverage, identified the route. As soon Watkins plants his foot in the ground, Bland is driving on the route and with his eyes on Minshew about to release the ball. </p>
<p id="8FvDiB">This is just a great individual play by a player that’s hungry. Hungry for an opportunity to get on the field as a fifth-round pick and hungry to make a play. Bland wanted that ball more than Quez Watkins did, ripping the ball away from him as he fell to the ground and the Cowboys’ defense knew it right away.</p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/28/23528670/cowboys-film-review-eagles-ceedee-lamb-james-bradberry-mike-mccarthyLP Cruz2022-12-27T19:00:00-06:002022-12-27T19:00:00-06:00Dallas Cowboys roster power rankings Week 16: Bye Eagles Bye
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<p>The Dallas Cowboys are a resiliant bunch this season. These ten players are the embodiment of the word.</p> <p id="B0tgOU">The <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> just beat the best team in the NFL. Even with Jalen Hurts being out of the lineup with a shoulder injury, Gardner Minshew is a quality backup who has been in the offense for two seasons.</p>
<p id="cLnTW5">It was a back-and-forth game, with the Cowboys being down ten points twice. When it came time for Dak Prescott to make a play and be at his best, he answered the call. Prescott’s name is on the Week 16 top ten roster power ranking list, along with nine others.</p>
<h3 id="nUYLNo"><strong>10. Nahshon Wright, CB</strong></h3>
<p id="tKrEOO">As for figuring out what cornerback would be playing opposite Trevon Diggs, Nahshon Wright seems to be the guy moving forward. There is still a lot left to improve, but he has shown to have football intelligence.</p>
<p id="PQXOn7">When the Eagles needed a touchdown on their final drive, Wright tackled a receiver moving him backwards out of bounds to keep the clock running. That was probably emphasized this week after Jayron Kearse couldn’t keep Evan Engram in bounds. He also pushed a receiver out of the endzone while they were trying to make the catch. Those moments show growth at the NFL level.</p>
<p id="1i0zP9">For what it’s worth,<a href="https://premium.pff.com/nfl/games/2022/16/dallas-cowboys/defense"> Wright had the highest Pro Football Focus grade in coverage</a> among all Dallas defenders and was the highest-graded defender, with a minimum of ten snaps. </p>
<h3 id="mVqiE7"><strong>9. Micah Parsons, DE/LB</strong></h3>
<p id="8Nzij0">Even though Micah Parsons has registered just one sack in three weeks, he, once again, played on a week where he was sick and had limited practice reps. Parsons was going up against Jordan Mailata, one of the best left tackles in the league. </p>
<p id="nwlqzK">Brian Baldinger had another “Baldy’s Breakdown” where he highlighted the moves Parsons was putting on the Eagles’ offensive line with success. Minshew was just quick to get rid of the ball.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/dallascowboys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallascowboys</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MicahhParsons11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MicahhParsons11</a> working on this new “Bubba Baker Freeze/Hesitation” move. Trying moves that worked for Big Bubba back in the 70’s & 80’s. This is going to present some problems <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BaldysBreakdowns?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BaldysBreakdowns</a> <a href="https://t.co/IJ2PlQwT8B">pic.twitter.com/IJ2PlQwT8B</a></p>— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1607237182401712128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2022</a>
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<p id="7KZ6qY">Parsons won a few times and put the heat on Minshew when it mattered. He had eight total pressures, which ties his third-highest total of the season.</p>
<h3 id="7NHT9V"><strong>8. Tony Pollard, RB</strong></h3>
<p id="6Q2jJo">After being nominated for his first-ever <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a>, Tony Pollard had a rough day running the ball. However, like against the Vikings, he was a dual-threat back as a wide receiver.</p>
<p id="tyBZXO">A five-yard swing pass could be explosive when it goes to Pollard. He gave the Eagles’ linebackers problems all game and presented a total mismatch. Whenever Dak Prescott needed to throw a quick pass to avoid pressure or check it down, he was looking for Pollard.</p>
<p id="t24xHr">Credit to Kellen Moore for finding ways to keep his playmakers involved when something isn’t working. Pollard finished with six catches for 61 yards. </p>
<h3 id="m50LUP"><strong>7. Michael Gallup, WR</strong></h3>
<p id="r09GZh">In last week’s BTB Mailbag, a question was asked about why Michael Gallup wasn’t involved more in the offense. I spoke about how it’s not about Gallup’s talent as a receiver, he just needs to get involved early and build up confidence during a game.</p>
<p id="S5rnPl">Moore was true to his word about getting Gallup more touches because Prescott was targeting him early in the game. On the third down play that should have been a sack against the Cowboys, Gallup returned towards Prescott, giving his quarterback an easy throw in a tough situation.</p>
<p id="Gtz4Us">Besides the end zone throw on third down that was in the sun, Gallup had a few signature sideline catches to go along with his great touchdown catch, which tied the game at 27.</p>
<h3 id="Lmz4oq"><strong>6. T.Y. Hilton, WR</strong></h3>
<p id="fZv5Vj">T.Y. Hilton might not be the receiver Cowboys fans were expecting to be brought in, but he made his debut memorable. Hilton was on the field for 12 offensive snaps but probably had the two biggest moments in the game.</p>
<p id="uNOg2m">The first one was when the Cowboys decided to go for it on 4th and 8, and Prescott’s pass was intended for Hilton, but Darius Slay got called for illegal contact that extended the drive. The offense continued down the field and scored to make it 14-10 Dallas. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">On 3rd & 30, Dak Prescott found T.Y. Hilton for his first reception as a Cowboy for a 49-yard gain.<br><br>Prescott's pass traveled 62.1 yards in the air, the longest completion of his career.<br><br> Completion Probability: 22.5%<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHIvsDAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHIvsDAL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DallasCowboys?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DallasCowboys</a> <a href="https://t.co/rKEynfP0fv">pic.twitter.com/rKEynfP0fv</a></p>— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) <a href="https://twitter.com/NextGenStats/status/1606801938951335939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2022</a>
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<p id="QICZqH">With only ten days of working together, it looks like Prescott completely trusts Hilton. The play of the game has to be his third-down catch for 52 yards. That was precisely the reason why he was brought to Dallas. His speed and experience made him the perfect player in that situation. According to Next Gen Stats, the pass had a completion probability of 22.5 percent.</p>
<h3 id="9I3WV0"><strong>5. DaRon Bland, CB</strong></h3>
<p id="QmWHJr">As a backhanded compliment to DaRon Bland, it’s easy to forget he is still a rookie with how he’s been playing. That’s a credit to the work Bland put in the offseason to come through when the Cowboys have needed him most.</p>
<p id="sgauoB">On Saturday, Bland showed the ability to play inside cornerback and outside, which is big moving forward. He has helped stabilize the position after the injuries to Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown. While Dan Quinn continues to tinker with the rotation, at least he knows Bland can bring versatility.</p>
<p id="pS4Epm">Jayron Kearse reminded the media on Monday that Bland has five interceptions in just six starts this season, one away from the NFL lead. He would also be Kearse’s choice for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and it’s getting harder to argue against his point. </p>
<h3 id="RsBvxQ"><strong>4. Brett Maher, K</strong></h3>
<p id="ld1nqh">After being relatively silent for a few weeks, Brett Maher was Mr. Automatic going 8-for-8 in total field goal attempts and adding 16 points to the board. We live in a world now where Maher lines up for a 44-yard attempt, and you can focus on something else because you can trust him to deliver. </p>
<p id="Wkq7Vj">Maher snubbed from the Pro Bowl as he leads the NFL with 128 points after his performance on Saturday. He is<a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/16486/brett-maher"> tied for eighth </a>in league with a field goal percentage of 90%, the best of his career.</p>
<h3 id="Zj0ruO"><strong>3. Jayron Kearse, S</strong></h3>
<p id="9k9CuW">After the loss to the Jaguars, Jayron Kearse stood at his locker and spoke about how 34 points in the NFL should be a win all day. Kearse just had to look in the mirror because he stepped up and answered many questions. He took every question and was left with finding answers for a struggling defense.</p>
<p id="zKArl4">Kearse finished the game with three tackles, one interception, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery. Both turnovers from Kearse led to 14 points for the Cowboys. The definition of a leader is knowing that things can always be better. On Monday, Kearse talked about how his performance on Saturday could be cleaned up and improved upon. He also mentioned there was an interception left on the field.</p>
<p id="m7HnGO">Kearse is a little hard on himself because, without his takeaways, Dallas loses the game. He continues to be the leader the defense needs to rally around.</p>
<h3 id="buW86M"><strong>2. CeeDee Lamb, WR</strong></h3>
<p id="6nK5Cf">It feels good putting the No.1 wide receiver debate to rest. CeeDee Lamb has turned himself into one of the top ten players at his position. He currently has 1,207 yards receiving, eight touchdowns, and averaging 13.3 yards per catch.</p>
<p id="9UmOBY">A crazy stat line compares Lamb’s production in the past five games to the five games before that. Lamb’s had 33 receptions, 456 yards, and three touchdowns in the previous five matchups. Five games before that, he had 30 receptions, 410 yards, and three touchdowns. Lamb has a new nickname—Mr. Consistent.</p>
<p id="5B2Q4h">Both he and Prescott now have a clear connection that needed to be worked out during the season. All of their communication issues seem to be solved, and the offense will need to keep creating opportunities for Lamb if they want to go deep into the playoffs. </p>
<h3 id="L7UmMO"><strong>1. Dak Prescott, QB</strong></h3>
<p id="jmKbKY">When the Cowboys needed to do the impossible, Dak Prescott played his best game of the season. He is turning into his old self, when his play put him in the MVP conversation. Prescott’s not at that point now, but his play has vastly improved compared to his first game back against the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>.</p>
<p id="f9gRei">Prescott has put together back-to-back starts where he looks like a top-five quarterback, carrying all the momentum he needs heading into the playoffs. No. 4 completed 27 of 35 passes for 347 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and 41 yards rushing.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This angle and throw is actually nuts. Can’t get over it.<br> <a href="https://t.co/zwBUYadtHN">pic.twitter.com/zwBUYadtHN</a></p>— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tony_Catalina/status/1607558032459984896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a>
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<p id="Kr53cE">Next Gen Stats gave Prescott a <a href="https://twitter.com/NextGenStats/status/1606810002790174720">season-high 91 passing score in Week 16</a>. He also completed all 24 of his passes against zone coverage for 300 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the only player to earn a perfect 99 NGS passing score vs zone in a game since 2018.</p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/27/23528157/dallas-cowboys-roster-power-rankings-week-16-eaglesBrandon_Loree2022-12-27T17:30:00-06:002022-12-27T17:30:00-06:00Grading the Cowboys victory over the Eagles
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<p>Time to hand out the grades on this week’s Cowboys report card.</p> <p id="hmG9Y2">It’s not how you start, but it’s how you finish. This was the case on Christmas Eve as the Cowboys put themselves in a 10-0 hole courtesy of a bad throw by Dak Prescott. This bad throw happened on the fifth offensive play of what appeared to be a solid opening drive when Eagles defender Josh Sweat made one heck of a play on the ball and returned it for a touchdown. Being down 10, this isn’t exactly how coach McCarthy and company drew things up heading into this game. </p>
<p id="Yk7jbh">The good news was the offense responded in a big way. The problem was the defense wasn’t up to the elite level of play that they had spent most of the season playing. In fact, over the last few weeks the defense is showing plenty of cracks. The injuries at cornerback are taking their toll, and the defensive line isn’t producing the sacks they once were. Fortunately for Dallas, they have a very consistent special teams, and they showed up again in the Cowboys 40-34 victory of the Eagles.</p>
<p id="H9fOdE">Let’s check the grades. </p>
<h3 id="GIypUi"><strong>Dak Prescott put on quite the performance against a one-loss Eagles squad</strong></h3>
<h3 id="kBGhKL"><strong>Grade: B</strong></h3>
<p id="sAqtrL">Aside from the one errant throw early in the game for a pick-six, Prescott played very well against a very good Eagles defense. Dak would once again be very accurate with the ball as he completed just over 77% of his pass attempts. In addition to his high completion percentage, Prescott would throw for his first 300 yard game on the year (347 yards). He would also throw three touchdowns in this game as well. </p>
<p id="Ugezsq">On the receiving end of a good portion of those Dak Prescott throws, CeeDee Lamb would once again have another great game. Lamb caught 10 balls for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He is having a career year as he has eclipsed 1,200 receiving yards. He nearly has 100 grabs on the year as well. </p>
<p id="ExLrSH">The ground game was slowed to just 115 total yards on 31 attempts. Running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard combined for just 74 yards on the afternoon. Interestingly enough, quarterback Dak Prescott was the most effective rusher on the day as he totaled 41 yards on just six carries. As you can see by the numbers, the passing game was needed in a much bigger way. This came about as a result of the stout defensive line of the Eagles. Dallas would exploit the Eagles secondary, which was one of the reasons they won on Saturday.</p>
<h3 id="oeVEqF"><strong>The secondary bent, but didn’t break as they came up big when it was needed most</strong></h3>
<h3 id="296z3C"><strong>Grade: C</strong></h3>
<p id="4EuAzE">With the Cowboys defense trending in the wrong direction in recent weeks, they would only give up 87 total rushing yards against the Eagles. Philadelphia only managed to average three yards a carry, as the defense stuffed the run all game long. With the Dallas defense stopping the run, the Eagles would would turn to a familiar trio of pass catchers to exploit a very shaky Cowboys secondary that has been riddled by the injury bug. </p>
<p id="xMJj8P">Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew would throw for 355 yards in the game, with 283 of those yards going to the trio of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert. Going off of those numbers alone, the Cowboys got torched by the Eagles’ terrific trio. The secondary, however, would have a say in things as they managed to grab two interceptions in the game. In addition to the two picks, Minshew would only complete 60% of his 40 attempts. </p>
<p id="jj9CaD">When things got dicey at the end of the game, the secondary did just enough to prevent the Eagles from winning the game. It wasn’t a good performance by the secondary, but they were good enough when needed. There is still much work left to do on defense, but at the end of the day a win is a win.</p>
<h3 id="81IgqP"><strong>In a high scoring affair, the special teams unit did their job</strong></h3>
<h3 id="7qAKgS"><strong>Grade: A</strong></h3>
<p id="xVPtHA">For the majority of the game, this unit was featured mostly on kickoffs and field goals/extra-points. In both of these areas, they did a quality job and didn’t give away any unnecessary points. Kicker Brett Maher would make all four of his extra points and all four of his field goal attempts in Week 16. Another solid outing for Maher, in what has been a career year for him. </p>
<p id="EYQ4Y4">Speaking of solid outings, the 2021 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> punter Bryan Anger only had one boot in the game. This boot went for 57 yards. There isn’t anything too noteworthy about his play this past week, but when he was called upon he did his job. </p>
<p id="PAJJFz">Speaking of doing their job, return specialist KaVontae Turpin did his this past weekend. Turpin, nearly scored on a kickoff as he returned it 56 yards. Unfortunately, even if Turpin would’ve scored it wouldn’t have mattered as it was called back due to a hold by Nahshon Wright. Aside from the one flashy returned that was nullified, Turpin returned one more kick for 31 yards. </p>
<p id="k98buG">Another quality performance from this unit as a whole. They have been the most consistent unit on this team, and will be counted on to continue this quality of play come playoff time. </p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/27/23526967/grading-cowboys-victory-over-eagles-dak-prescott-brett-maherBrandon.Clements2022-12-27T08:00:00-06:002022-12-27T08:00:00-06:00Crunching Cowboys stats: A decidedly mixed bag against the Eagles
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<img alt="Philadelphia Eagles v Dallas Cowboys" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZbHc2q4o_saIWhZzfNX-QN8ryIk=/0x0:5011x3341/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71795932/1452247023.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>It was Jayron on the spot twice against the Eagles. | Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The numbers reflect how close a thing it was when the Cowboys played the Eagles.</p> <p id="aAlVUQ">The <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> got a thrilling win over the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> to assure they would be no worse than the fifth seed in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-playoffs">NFL playoffs</a>. The game was a study in contrasts and the numbers reflect it. Here are some things that stand out.</p>
<h3 id="tDK88x">Turnovers</h3>
<p id="tAbyfS">This may be the single most important stat of the game. The Cowboys won the turnover battle four to one. Given that it would wind up a one-score margin, and that Dallas converted all four takeaways into points, it is hard to imagine how they could have gotten the victory without winning this category. </p>
<p id="dzgtOr">Conventional wisdom says that takeaways are one of the least consistent things for defenses to produce, but it has to be noted that only one of the four was a clear miscue by the Eagles. The others were definitely forced, and the two interceptions by Jayron Kearse and DaRon Bland exhibited some impressive athletic prowess in stealing passes that were on target. The defenders just fought harder and more or less took the ball away from the intended receivers. Kearse would also get one of the fumble recoveries as he continues to be one of the key contributors on defense.</p>
<p id="ADaAOk">The Dak Prescott interception that would be their lone giveaway was definitely an unforced error and instantly put the team in a 10-0 hole. But there was almost another disastrous turnover that could easily have flipped the outcome of the game. Dallas was trailing 34-27 in the fourth quarter when Dak Prescott was sacked nine yards behind the line of scrimmage and the ball came loose. Philadelphia players were all around, but Tyler Biadasz would not be denied and wrestled the ball back. That prevented setting the Eagles up inside the Cowboys’ 40. Two plays later Prescott would make the throw of the game to T.Y. Hilton to set up a game-tying touchdown. The turnover that didn’t happen was just as important as the ones that did.</p>
<h3 id="7dTFqQ">Sack problems</h3>
<p id="CnLNXY">The pass rush did not get home again, coming up empty not only in sacks but also in quarterback hits. The Cowboys have had only one sack in the past three games. This is now alarming. Through the first twelve games of the season, they were the most potent pass rush in the league. This is an absolute plunge off a cliff. They are getting a lot of pressure, and against Gardner Minshew it was crucial on the final, failed Philadelphia possession when, trailing by six, they failed to complete three passes in a row from the Dallas 19 after having to spike the ball on first down to stop the clock. That turned the ball over on downs for a final kneel down to end things.</p>
<p id="ekCpIQ">That formula may work for the final two games when they are expected to face Malik Willis and either Taylor Heinicke or Carson Wentz. It is much less likely to be effective in the playoffs when they could be facing Tom Brady and eventually Jalen Hurts. The offensive lines are not going to be any easier to deal with in the postseason, either. They need to find a way to get to the quarterback in the last two regular-season games. Hopefully Sam Williams will be back soon after his car accident to add a little juice.</p>
<p id="uko366">The flip side is that Prescott, who normally is exceptional at avoiding pressure, was brought down six times by the Philadelphia pass rush. That is one of the best groups in the league and they are likely to be an obstacle again as early as the divisional round of the playoffs, assuming the Cowboys get that far. They need to get the protection sorted and Prescott must also be better about avoiding the rush and safely getting rid of the ball.</p>
<h3 id="YVsoPu">Dak’s best game of the year</h3>
<p id="f2nMvo">Despite his getting brought down so many times, this was the first time he exceeded 300 yards passing all year, totaling 347 including three touchdowns. Even with his six sacks, the net passing yardage was still 304. He had the obvious blunder on the pick-six at the beginning of the game, but was nearly flawless the rest of the way. He completed 16 of 18 passes in the first half and threw that perfect 52-yard strike to Hilton to convert on third and 30. This was a clear example of stepping up when the team needed every last bit of effort to get the win. If he can keep playing at this level in the postseason, it should be a much more successful run than we have become accustomed to.</p>
<h3 id="sE40iH">The receivers came through</h3>
<p id="dAEPt6">In many games this season, there has been a problem here. While CeeDee Lamb has emerged as the clear WR1, now with 1,207 yards to put him eighth overall in the league plus eight touchdowns, there have been too many games where he was almost all the team had. Defenses often would focus on covering him and the rest of Prescott’s targets did not always step up. Well, this game they did. Tony Pollard was very effective out of the backfield, including a rare-for-Dallas successful screen pass, with 61 yards. Dalton Schultz had a solid game with 43 yards, and Jake Ferguson tossed in a very strong reception for 24 yards that was almost all after the catch. Michael Gallup added four grabs for 36 yards including a great toe=tapping touchdown, and should have had a second score if the route did not take him to the one spot on the field where he had to look directly into the sun. The bizarre refusal to use the curtains they have for other events continues to come back and bite the team right in the butt.</p>
<p id="71VgmP">But that one reception by Hilton has implications far beyond how instrumental it was in helping save this game. He clearly demonstrated that he is that one thing the team has lacked, a true deep threat that can force defenses to cover him, opening up the middle of the field. He only had twelve offensive snaps in the game. That will surely go up as he gets more practice with Prescott and the offensive system. Don’t forget that he kept another drive alive by drawing an illegal contact flag on fourth down. Based on an admittedly small sample size, he appears to be exactly what the team needs and hoped to get when they signed him for the stretch run and the playoffs. He can change the entire nature of the passing game and how opponents have to respond. Making this kind of acquisition so late in the season is rare for the Cowboys. Hopefully this might change the thinking at the top of the organizational chart.</p>
<h3 id="uklJk4">But about the run...</h3>
<p id="bzNwAw">These numbers are not good. Ezekiel Elliott only had 55 yards and Tony Pollard just 19. The rushing game was particularly ineffective on first down, <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/26/23526068/seven-cowboys-lessons-learned-eagles-dak-prescott-brett-maher">as discussed in an earlier post</a>. Only Prescott was consistently effective running the ball, and those were mostly when he pulled the ball down and took the green space the defense gave him.</p>
<p id="0FKQFA">As the ownership and coaches have repeatedly stated, the intent is for the run to drive the offense. Many times this season they have done exactly that, but it certainly did not come through on Christmas Eve. Philadelphia was ready over and over, penetrating and stopping the backs for little gain or even negative yards. </p>
<p id="iMmSqC">The Eagles have one of the best defenses in the league. They could well be faced again in the playoffs, and the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> are another defense that could play havoc against the run. This is a definite problem that the team has to avoid the rest of the way.</p>
<h3 id="m8OMDb">The cornerback room may be coming together - emphasis on “may be”</h3>
<p id="zwrCcC">Following the debacle against the <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>, who have become a playoff contender in the AFC, Dallas faced a problem at cornerback. Kelvin Joseph had to be pulled in that game. The team was forced to turn to Nahshon Wright to carry most of the load this game. He came through in notable fashion, leading the team in tackles including one for a loss and credited with two passes broken up. </p>
<p id="ELSlQs">Wright is the second depth corner to be pressed into service following injury. He stepped in for Anthony Brown. Earlier in the year, rookie DaRon Bland had to replace Jourdan Lewis, and all he has done is tie the team record for interceptions by a first-year player, including that impressive pick of Minshew. </p>
<p id="fz57b3">But there is a reason for saying may be. Trevon Diggs has been the best cornerback on the team, but he was beaten badly twice in this game. They appeared to be bad misreads on his part. He was the weak link in this game. That is hopefully a one-time glitch. </p>
<h3 id="OVHr45">Money Maher</h3>
<p id="lUak7n">Four for four on field goals. Four for four on extra points. We don’t have to say anything more. I apologize once more for questioning the signing of Brett Maher.</p>
<p id="sxrOiB"></p>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/27/23526901/dallas-cowboys-stats-philadelphia-eagles-turnovers-sacksTom Ryle2022-12-26T19:30:00-06:002022-12-26T19:30:00-06:002022 Cowboys rookie report: Tyler Smith soars against the Eagles
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<figcaption>Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Plus, DaRon continues to be anything but Bland for the Cowboys.</p> <p id="IxTjXm">The Cowboys responded to their crushing overtime loss to the Jaguars with a thrilling victory over the hated Eagles, splitting the season series and keeping hope alive in their pursuit of the NFC East crown. It was an encouraging response from this team, and it was perhaps more encouraging the way several rookies were so integral in this game. Let’s take a look. </p>
<h1 id="WkYkWw"><strong>OL Tyler Smith</strong></h1>
<p id="pRgY37">Tyler Smith easily had his best performance of his young career on Sunday. Smith had his hands full with a ferocious Eagles pass rush that was eager to exploit his weaknesses in pass protection, as they did back in Week 5 when Smith surrendered a then-career high four pressures. </p>
<p id="hKZE7d">So it was a really positive development that Smith not only refused to give up a sack, but not a single Eagles rusher even recorded a pressure against the rookie. That’s just the third time all season that Smith has produced a goose egg in both pressures and sacks; all three instances have come in the last month. </p>
<p id="4QKF0V">That Smith has been making such great strides in pass protection, and now doing so against one of the premier pass rushing units in the league, is a big deal. Smith has been consistently dominant in run blocking, but he’s starting to round into shape as a true blindside protector as well. </p>
<h1 id="xR2PpN"><strong>EDGE Sam Williams</strong></h1>
<p id="t7gu6p">Sam Williams was inactive for this game after suffering a concussion caused by a car accident earlier in the week. </p>
<h1 id="A6GauZ"><strong>WR Jalen Tolbert</strong></h1>
<p id="mTl1zQ">Jalen Tolbert was inactive for this game. </p>
<h1 id="atWRd6"><strong>TE Jake Ferguson</strong></h1>
<p id="dLzvRg">Jake Ferguson returned to the field after missing last week’s game with a concussion. He wasn’t thrown right back into the fire, playing just 15 snaps, but Ferguson did still produce a highlight play. He caught his only target on a quick pass that the rookie then took upfield for 24 yards, flashing his yards after the catch ability. </p>
<p id="eKTLa0">Ferguson will see more usage going forward, and this was more of a ramp-up game for him after the concussion, but it was a nice reminder of the extra element he adds to this offense despite not playing a surplus of snaps. </p>
<h1 id="9AiZ1x"><strong>OT Matt Waletzko</strong></h1>
<p id="mcJOSH">Matt Waletzko is on the injured reserve.</p>
<h1 id="sR3aq3"><strong>CB DaRon Bland</strong></h1>
<p id="rEbFDX">DaRon Bland has come on strong in recent weeks, and he’s rapidly grown up before our very eyes. His nine targets on Sunday were once again the most of any Cowboys defender, and most of them came against DeVonta Smith. Bland struggled somewhat against Smith, who had a spectacular day all around, but Bland excelled in all his other matchups, and flashed with his big boy takeaway late in the game. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DaRon Bland took it away from him for the INT! <br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHIvsDAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHIvsDAL</a> on FOX<br> : Stream on NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/Gd75wOq015">https://t.co/Gd75wOq015</a> <a href="https://t.co/UK3UFzb4bW">pic.twitter.com/UK3UFzb4bW</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1606803682506731520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2022</a>
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<p id="DFB3dX">Another development for Bland in this game was the rookie apparently being elevated to CB2 after Kelvin Joseph’s struggles last week got him benched. Bland remained in the slot on the majority of nickel packages, with Nahshon Wright playing opposite Trevon Diggs. However, when the Cowboys went to base formations, Bland was playing outside. He logged 23 snaps as an outside corner in this one; Bland had 24 total snaps on the outside in the last four games. </p>
<p id="yoaFaV">It’s hard to argue with that after how well Bland has been lately. The versatility to play both inside and outside is also a testament to how valuable he’s become for Dallas. This rookie is making a very strong argument as the Cowboys’ best in this class, which is really saying something. </p>
<h1 id="OdJr7w"><strong>LB Damone Clark</strong></h1>
<p id="BTBjS3">Damone Clark had a fairly quiet night despite seeing a lot of action. He played on 69% of the defensive snaps and finished with four tackles. He didn’t get fooled on misdirection plays like he did last week against Jacksonville, so that was a step in the right direction. And something that got lost in all the madness of Philadelphia never punting was the fact that their vaunted rushing attack averaged just three yards a carry and totaled 87 yards. </p>
<p id="8hr6tn">Clark was a big part of the Dallas defense getting brutalized in the run game a week ago, so it was encouraging to see him improve on some of his mental mistakes while the team as a whole played well against the run. The next step for Clark is to become <em>the </em>reason the defense makes those stops. </p>
<h1 id="EeKWH0"><strong>LB Devin Harper</strong></h1>
<p id="bReZOB">Devin Harper is on the injured reserve.</p>
<h1 id="koD0Hv"><strong>TE Peyton Hendershot</strong></h1>
<p id="Yb1ez4">With Jake Ferguson returning, that once again meant less snaps for Peyton Hendershot. He was in on just eight offensive snaps and was blocking on six of them. Hendershot didn’t receive a single target, so he’ll still be riding high from his touchdown a week ago. But Hendershot’s blocking efforts were part of a big day on the ground for Dallas, who totaled 115 rushing yards. </p>
<h1 id="tgNVty"><strong>S Markquese Bell</strong></h1>
<p id="FT05B2">Markquese Bell was inactive for this game. </p>
<h1 id="ZW99yL"><strong>RB Malik Davis</strong></h1>
<p id="o6T8jP">Malik Davis continued his usual role, logging 17 snaps on special teams throughout the game. </p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/26/23526401/2022-cowboys-rookie-report-tyler-smith-soars-against-the-eagles-daron-bland-jake-fergusonDavid Howman2022-12-26T17:30:00-06:002022-12-26T17:30:00-06:00The McCarthy Chronicles: Cowboys left with plenty of questions despite the win
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<img alt="NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ivg4exvXfKEojVyHRF7fICql5R0=/0x0:4898x3265/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71794809/usa_today_19679017.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Mike McCarthy nearly blew this one, and here is how.</p> <p id="9gNbId">The first order of business is to reiterate that we should never complain about winning, and especially not against a bitter rival like the Eagles. Winning games is hard in the NFL - just ask the reigning <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> champion Rams - so getting a W is always worthy of celebration no matter how big the margin or who the opponent was. </p>
<p id="qgMdSJ">That said, there is a difference between complaining and analyzing a game, and closer analysis of the Cowboys’ win over the Eagles offers plenty to be concerned about moving forward. And perhaps the most concerning part is how much of it has to do with the coaching. </p>
<p id="jI5Dj4">Mike McCarthy received plenty of praise for much of the season, as the Cowboys survived with Dak Prescott injured and then went on a roll once he came back. McCarthy is now the first Cowboys coach this century to go to the playoffs in consecutive seasons, and Dallas is 7-2 since Prescott returned from injury with both losses coming in overtime. So what’s the problem?</p>
<p id="3nXqx6">Well, it’s the way those two losses occurred. Both the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> and Jaguars were down by at least two touchdowns in the second half, and the Cowboys - <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/29/23482605/mike-mccarthy-cowboys-giants-win-dak-prescott">who had seemingly developed a killer instinct under McCarthy this year</a> - allowed them to claw their way back into it and force overtime, where entire games can be changed in just one play. </p>
<p id="he1CNC">Also prompting concerns about this team were their performances against two of the worst teams in the league, the Colts and <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a>. We all forget about the Colts game because of a dominant 33-0 fourth quarter, but Dallas was leading by just two points heading into that final frame. And, of course, the Cowboys needed a 98-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes to beat the Texans, who just upset a Ryan Tannehill-less Titans team and is still in possession of the worst record in the NFL. </p>
<p id="lQWYzA">All of these things reared their heads again on Sunday. The Dallas defense, which has been elite for most of the year but has struggled in recent games, was utterly abused by Gardner Minshew, who was making his first start all season. Minshew threw for 355 yards and - pending <em>Monday Night Football</em> results - ranked third in EPA/play and fourth in CPOE among all quarterbacks in Week 16. Dan Quinn and this defense had no answer for Minshew, and the Eagles punter never even saw the field. </p>
<p id="RRbD8g">The defense did get some breaks in the form of four takeaways, which was the only way they were able to get Minshew and that offense off the field. But the final takeaway - a fumble forced by Carlos Watkins - felt all too similar to Micah Parsons’ fumble recovery a week ago against the Jaguars. Both were instances of the defense making a play that should’ve iced the game. And both instances saw the Cowboys coaches fail to do that. </p>
<p id="2HFVmV">This time, the fumble gave Dallas the ball at the Philadelphia 21. Holding a 37-34 lead with two minutes and seven seconds left in the game, the Cowboys really just needed to get two first downs in order to seal the win. Furthermore, a touchdown would put it out of reach entirely. </p>
<p id="xJzIN5">On the first play of the drive, Prescott ended up keeping the ball on an option play and running for 16 yards to get it into a goal-to-go situation. However, Prescott went out of bounds, stopping the clock, before the two minute warning had hit. On the very next play, a play-action pass that was well defended, Prescott took a sack instead of throwing it away. Both of these were <em><strong>big</strong></em> mental mistakes by Prescott, but also another example of Kellen Moore struggling with situational play-calling. On first and goal with one second until the two minute warning, just run the ball. But because Prescott took the sack, now it was second and goal from 14 yards out instead of just five. </p>
<p id="6NEFES">Another run from Prescott brought up fourth and goal at the Eagles seven-yard line. This was perhaps the most obvious go-for-it situation that any team playing with a lead can ever have. If Dallas goes for it and gets the touchdown, the game is effectively over. If they go for it and <em>don’t </em>get it, then an Eagles offense that had turned it over on their last two drives now has to start in the shadow of their own goalpost and drive down the field with roughly 100 seconds remaining and just one timeout. It was an obvious decision, and it was backed up by the analytics: </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">---> PHI (34) @ DAL (37) <---<br>DAL has 4th & 8 at the PHI 8<br><br>Recommendation (STRONG): Go for it (+2.1 WP)<br>Actual play: B.Maher 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-M.Overton, Holder-B.Anger. <a href="https://t.co/BDVLzJjDpY">pic.twitter.com/BDVLzJjDpY</a></p>— 4th down decision bot (@ben_bot_baldwin) <a href="https://twitter.com/ben_bot_baldwin/status/1606806883074990081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2022</a>
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<p id="qC1BIn">Analytics aside, though, this is just the kind of decision that a team with a killer instinct makes. McCarthy has often talked about wanting his team to be the ones who refuse to let opponents hang around longer than they should. He’s failed to do that in four of the last six games, and he failed to do so again in this one. </p>
<p id="w9TMkW">In fact, the Eagles were able to move the ball inside the red zone without even having to use their one remaining timeout before they came up short on fourth down. They were just 19 yards away from winning the game by one point. That final drive wouldn’t have even mattered if McCarthy lets his offense bury the Eagles on fourth and goal. </p>
<p id="dSnfRA">He’s lucky that it worked out this time, but McCarthy has embraced a concerning trend towards scared coaching lately. He’s also stood by while Moore continues to make errors in the most critical situations and Quinn is unable to stop the bleeding on defense. This is the time of year where you want to be playing your best football, but for McCarthy and the Cowboys, they’re left with more questions than answers. </p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/26/23526693/cowboys-mike-mccarthy-chronicles-questions-despite-eagles-win-dak-prescottDavid Howman