Cowboys lose 2 rookies to season-ending injuries

The Dallas Cowboys saw two promising rookies go down for the season with knee injuries in the second preseason game

The Dallas Cowboys took a big hit in their second preseason game, a 22-14 loss in Seattle to the Seahawks. Two promising rookies suffered torn ACLs and will now miss their inaugural NFL seasons.

The bigger loss is linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. The No. 90 overall pick from Texas, Overshown had been playing well throughout training camp, per Cowboys Wire,

The third-round draft pick out of Texas had been “climbing the charts,” according to Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and was expected to be a major contributor to the Dallas defense this year.

Later in the game, the Cowboys lost tight end John Stephens. An undrafted rookie from Louisiana, the 6-5, 215-pound Stephens was converting from being a college wide receiver and was outshining some vets already.

Here’s hoping for a successful surgery and full recovery for Overshown and Stephens. Hopefully we will see them in Dallas in 2024.

Draft reaction: Dallas Cowboys select LB DeMarvion Overshown No. 90 overall

Draft reaction: Dallas Cowboys select Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown No. 90 overall

The Dallas Cowboys added yet another athletic piece to their linebacking unit by adding the versatile linebacker from Texas DeMarvion Overshown in the third round.

A former defensive back for the Longhorns, Overshown made the transition to the linebacker position during the 2020 season and did not look back. His skillset as a former defensive back shines through in his agility and athletic ability to roam sideline to sideline, and he made the most of this transition. During his senior season Overshown put on a clinic wracking up 67 tackles, 23 quarterback pressures, three sacks, and giving up a quarterback rating of 93.7 when thrown at. Overshown’s ability to play man coverage with tight ends and move sideline to sideline will serve him well in a varied defense at the next level.

Overshown likely will not be the starter to open the season with veterans Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark manning the linebacker positions ahead of him, but given that the Cowboys linebackers have missed time, Overhsown could be forced into action early. There is also a shot that Dallas moves on from one of their starters going into next season, which would leave Overshown with plenty of opportunity moving forward.

Rookie stat projections: Dallas Cowboys

Projecting the rookie stat contributions from the Dallas Cowboys draft class of 2023

With the NFL draft over and rookie camps underway, it is a good time to evaluate the draft picks and see what kind of impacts the projected contributors will make.

Let’s take a look at the Dallas Cowboys draft picks and project some stats for the early role players:

Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Prediction Game Preview

Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers NFL Playoffs NFC Divisional Round game preview and breakdown for the game on Sunday, January 22

Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers NFL Playoffs Divisional Round prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch, Sunday, January 22


Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Prediction Game Preview

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Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers How To Watch

Date: Sunday, January 22
Game Time: 6:30 ET
Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Dallas Cowboys (12-5), San Francisco 49ers (13-4)
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NFL Expert Picks Playoffs Divisional Round
Mock Draft: First 23 Picks, Draft Order
NFL Draft Underclassmen Position Rankings
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Why Dallas Cowboys Will Win the NFC Divisional Round

Dallas’s problem has been that it’s Dallas. It hasn’t found a big moment over the last 27ish years it hasn’t been able to gag away, but …

Dallas is the better team.

Oh sure, the San Francisco defense is No. 1 in the NFL – helped by not beating anyone with an attack like Dallas is bringing – and the offense ripped through Seattle last week like it wasn’t there, but yeah, overall Dallas has the talent, ability, schemes, and upside to really and truly be considered the better team.

It got sort of lost by all those blinded by the idea that Tom Brady is so good he could make up for how bad Tampa Bay was that Dallas might have been the best team in the NFL when everything was rolling.

There was the meltdown at Jacksonville late, but over the second half of the season when this thing was moving, forget it.

Minnesota got annihilated on its home field. Philadelphia gave up 40 points helped by a Cowboy defense that took it away four times.  Even when Dak Prescott was banged up the Cowboys managed to find ways to win.

There was the strange opener against Tampa Bay, the strange Week 18 game that no one got up for, a reasonable Sunday night loss at Philadelphia, and two overtime losses that could’ve and should’ve gone the other way. That’s it for the gaffes.

The Cowboys won six times – counting two against the Giants – against teams that made the playoffs, they’ve been tested time and again in the toughest division in football, and it comes into this now as the underdog. That’s a very, very good thing.

San Francisco? Yeah, it blew out Seattle last week. Whoop-dee-doo.

Of course the 49ers are terrific, but again, they haven’t dealt with an offense this good since getting rim-rocked by Kansas City back in Week 7. It tore through a good Washington defense is Week 16, but that’s been about it for the nasty Ds they faced.

However …

Why San Francisco 49ers Will Win
Cowboys vs 49ers Prediction, What’s Going to Happen

NEXT: Why San Francisco 49ers Will Win the NFC Divisional Round

NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Predictions: 5 Best Picks Against The Spread

5 best NFL Playoffs predictions and picks against the spread and point totals for the Divisional Round games.

5 best predictions for the Divisional Round round of the NFL Playoffs. What appear to be the best bets and picks?


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The Wild Card round is the buffet of various carbs and fillers. The Divisional Round has the prime rib and crab legs.

This is it. This is everything to the hardcore NFL types. The Super Bowl … your mom watches the Super Bowl. Championship Sunday is big, but this is the weekend we get the best bulk games. Four of them that all take on a life of their own.

I’ll try to find the five best picks against the spread – and point totals – out of them.

As I mentioned for the Wild Card round, with so few games to choose from, the reasonable goal is to bat .600, and I got that last week going 3-2 thanks to the obvious call of Dallas over Tampa Bay and Jacksonville’s easy-peasy walk in the park win – and the over – against the Chargers (yeeeeeeeeeeeeesh).

I overestimated Buffalo, underestimated San Francisco, and I might just do it again – at least with the latter – starting with …

Click on each game for the game preview

5. NFL Playoffs: Dallas at San Francisco

LINE San Francisco -4
ATS PICK Dallas

Warning, I’m going to underestimate the guy yet again – it hasn’t been working well for me.

No, the definition of insanity is NOT doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same result. However, picking against Brock Purdy hasn’t exactly shown sound judgement so far.

The guy has been absolutely magnificent.

If it was, say, Kenny Pickett, or Sam Howell, or even Trey Lance, he’d be hailed as the next big NFL thing. But because he’s Brock Purdy, and because he’s a third-string option, and because he was Mr. Irrelevant – that whole tag and bit annoys me for some reason; does that mean Travon Walker was Mr. Relevant? – it’s hard to fully buy in.

Every NFL quarterback has a clunker at some point, but seriously? 67%, 13 touchdown passes, four picks, unbeaten as a starter in these big games?

This is more about Dallas.

[lawrence-related id=557017]

Going along with the name recognition thing, if this wasn’t Dallas, and if it wasn’t carrying all this baggage and all of these expectation, it might be favored.

The one giant worry I have is time. San Francisco played on Saturday morning, Dallas played on Monday night, and Dallas had to travel. The 49ers are getting close to two days of extra time off. That’s a problem, but I’m going with talent.

Dallas has the combination of offensive firepower and defensive playmaking that the 49ers – and Purdy – haven’t had to deal with yet. I’d like to be getting a little more than four, but I’ll take it.

And I’ll probably pick against Purdy in the NFL Championship, too.

Speaking of digging the underdog on the road …

CFN Experts Picks: Cowboys at 49ers

NEXT: NFL Pick Against the Spread No. 4: Cincinnati at Buffalo

Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Playoffs Wild Card Prediction Game Preview

Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Playoffs NFC Wild Card game preview and breakdown for the game on Monday, January 16

Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Playoffs Wild Card prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch, Monday, January 16


Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Playoffs Wild Card Prediction Game Preview

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Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers How To Watch

Date: Monday, January 16
Game Time: 8:15 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
How To Watch: ESPN/ABC
Record: Dallas Cowboys (12-5), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
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NFL Expert Picks Playoffs Wild Card
Ranking all Bowls | Bowl Grades For Every Team
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Why Dallas Cowboys Will Win the NFC Wild Card

It might sound like a basic question, but …

Is Tampa Bay any good?

It got thrown a cookie as the 8-9 division winner who landed in the fourth spot, but there’s no running game, the defense can get picked on a bit too easily, and the passing game isn’t really all that great even with 12 throwing it more than anyone.

Dallas needs to get out of its own head. More on that in a moment, but as long as the offense takes a deep breath and does what it’s capable of, and as long as the defense can simply win third downs, all should be fine.

But back to the question – is Tampa Bay any good? Short answer, not really.

It has the weapons to get hot for one game, and it’s Tom Brady with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – there will be passing yards. Dallas has the playmakers to keep up.

The Buccaneer ground game is historically awful, the defense doesn’t do enough in the secondary, and for all the offensive talent, the team doesn’t really score.

The 30 against Carolina two weeks ago was an outlier – it’s been a struggle to get past 17, and that’s not getting it done against this Dallas offense.

If this attack finds its groove early, and if Dak Prescott is sharp in the first quarter, forget it. Even with Brady, the Buccaneers can’t keep up.

But …

Why Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Win
Cowboys vs Buccaneers Prediction, What’s Going to Happen

NEXT: Why Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Win the NFC Wild Card

NFL Scoreboard, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 14

NFL predictions, schedule, game previews, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 14 of the 2022 season

NFL predictions, schedule, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 14 of the 2022 season highlighted by Dolphins at Chargers, Eagles at Giants, Vikings at Lions, Jets at Bills


NFL Schedule, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 14

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Results So Far
SU: 65-36-1, ATS: 53-46-3, Point Total: 63-38-1

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams

Prediction: Los Angeles 24, Las Vegas 23
Line: Raiders -6.5, o/u: 42.5
Final Score: Los Angeles Rams 17, Las Vegas 16

Expert Picks Week 14 NFL | Bowls 16-19

Saturday, December 11, 2022

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Prediction: Buffalo 24, New York Jets 17
Line: Buffalo -10, o/u: 43.5
Final Score: Buffalo 20, New York Jets 12

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

Prediction: Cincinnati 26, Cleveland 20
Line: Cincinnati -5.5, o/u: 46.5
Final Score: Cincinnati 23, Cleveland 10

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys

Prediction: Dallas 30, Houston 16
Line: Dallas -17, o/u: 44
Final Score: Dallas 27, Houston 23

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions

Prediction: Minnesota 27, Detroit 24
Line: Detroit -2, o/u: 51.5
Final Score: Detroit 43, Minnesota 23

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

Prediction: Tennessee 24, Jacksonville 17
Line: Tennessee -3.5, o/u: 41
Final Score: Jacksonville 36, Tennessee 22

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Prediction: Philadelphia 26, New York Giants 20
Line: Philadelphia -7, o/u: 45
Final Score: Philadelphia 48, New York Giants 22

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Prediction: Baltimore 16, Pittsburgh 13
Line: Pittsburgh -1.5, o/u: 36.5
Final Score: Baltimore 16, Pittsburgh 14

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

Prediction: Kansas City 27, Denver 16
Line: Kansas City -9.5, o/u: 43.5
Final Score: Kansas City 34, Denver 28

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers

Prediction: San Francisco 23, Tampa Bay 16
Line: San Francisco -3.5, o/u: 37
Final Score: San Francisco 35, Tampa Bay 7

Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks

Prediction: Seattle 26, Carolina 20
Line: Seattle -3.5, o/u: 44.5
Final Score: Carolina 30, Seattle 24

Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers

Prediction: Miami 30, Los Angeles 27
Line: Miami -3.5, o/u: 53.5
Final Score: Los Angeles Chargers 23, Miami 17

Monday, December 12, 2022

New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals

8:15 ESPN
Line: New England -1.5, o/u: 43.5
Final Score: COMING

NFL Teams on Bye: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Washington

Expert Picks Week 14 NFL | Bowls 16-19

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CFN Predictions & Game Previews

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys Prediction Game Preview

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the game on Sunday, December 11

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch, Sunday, December 11


Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys Prediction Game Preview

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Expert Picks: Bowl Games Dec 16-19
NFL Week 14 Expert Picks | 
Bowl Schedule, Predictions
Ranking all 41 Bowls | Quick Analysis on Every Bowl

Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys How To Watch

Date: Sunday, December 11
Game Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Houston Texans (1-10-1), Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
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Why Houston Texans Will Win

How can the Texans possibly slow down the Cowboy machine?

The offense is struggling, but the defense hasn’t been bad on third downs and just enough takeaways are there to keep most games competitive.

The D held the Cleveland O out of the end zone last week, but the other side of the ball was the problem in the 27-14 loss.

There’s no hope without at least two takeaways and a decent day from Dameon Pierce and the ground game. Get physical right away, try controlling the clock, and …

Week 13 CFN NFL Expert Picks

Why Dallas Cowboys Will Win

Yeah, Houston can’t keep up.

The league’s worst offense continues to play around with the quarterback situation, Pierce isn’t getting any room to move, and compounding the problems are lots and lots of turnovers – two or more in each of the last five games.

Dallas has been unstoppable on the ground over the last several weeks, with 150 yards or more in each of the last five games, the turnovers and mistakes are overcome with big plays in the passing game, and …

What’s Going To Happen

You think there’s going to be a letdown against the worst team in the NFL? Dallas isn’t going to take the battle of Texas lightly.

Last week Indianapolis got up 10-7 after the first quarter and was hanging around down 21-19 going into the fourth quarter. The 33-point Cowboy avalanche made things look disastrous, but this week the offense will get out to a hot enough start to not need all the big things late.

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys Prediction, Line

Dallas 30, Houston 16
Line: Dallas -17.5, o/u: 44.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys Must See Rating: 2.5

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Expert Picks: Bowl Games Dec 16-19
NFL Week 14 Expert Picks 
Bowl Schedule, Predictions
Ranking all 41 Bowls | Quick Analysis on Every Bowl

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys Prediction, Game Preview

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 12 game on Thursday, November 24

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 12, Thursday, November 24


New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys Game Preview

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New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys How To Watch

Date: Thursday, November 24
Game Time: 4:30 ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
How To Watch: FOX
Record: New York Giants (7-3), Dallas Cowboys (7-3)
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Why New York Giants Will Win

What did the Giants do wrong the first time around in the 23-16 loss in Week 3?

It was fine, and it could pull it off this time around if the running game keeps working.

The Dallas defense might be the best in the league in points allowed – it just stuffed the high-powered Minnesota attack in a 40-3 win last week – but it can be run on.

Chicago was able to crank up 240 yards on the ground, Green Bay barreled for 207, and the Giants came up with a solid 167. It wasn’t enough, and now it’s time to double down harder on the ground game.

New York is 4-0 when running for over 190 yards and 6-1 when running for over 100. The Dallas game was the outlier, but …

Week 12 CFN NFL Expert Picks

Why Dallas Cowboys Will Win

The defense has kicked it in.

The takeaways are there with eight in the last four games, the offense found something with Tony Pollard becoming the all-around explosive element for the attack, Dak Prescott is looking very, very comfortable.

Yeah, New York will come up with its rushing yards, but it’s not getting the passing game cranked up. As it it’s having a hard enough time getting everything moving through the air, and it’s not going to work this week against the No. 1 pass D in the league.

But …

CFN Week 13 College Football Expert Picks

What’s Going To Happen

Everyone will be looking for the Dallas team that showed up in Minneapolis, but it’ll be New York that takes control right away.

After last week’s rough loss to Detroit, the New York offense will be far more careful with the ball, it’ll get back to grinding it out and not trying to wing it around, and the run defense will be far, far nastier.

It still won’t be enough.

Dallas will start fast, stall for a while, and then pick it up late to make the Thanksgiving crowd very, very happy.

College Football Playoff rankings reaction

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys Prediction Line

Dallas Cowboys 26, New York Giants 20
Line: Dallas -9.5, o/u: 45.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys Must See Rating: 4

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Bowl Projections | Rankings
Schedules For All 131 Teams

NFL Schedule, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 10

NFL predictions, schedule, game previews, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 10 of the 2022 season

NFL predictions, schedule, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 10 of the 2022 season highlighted by Seattle at Tampa Bay, Dallas at Green Bay, Washington at Philadelphia


NFL Schedule, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 10

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Results So Far
SU: 64-36-1, ATS: 52-46-3, Point Total: 62-38-1

Week 10 NFL Expert Picks

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

8:15 Prime Video
Prediction: COMING
Line: Atlanta -3, o/u: 42.5

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

9:30 NFL Network
Prediction: COMING
Line: Tampa Bay -3, o/u: 44.5

Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills

1:00 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: Buffalo -3.5, o/u: 43.5

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears

1:00 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: Chicago -3, o/u: 48.5

Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans

1:00 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: Tennessee -2.5, o/u: 38

Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs

1:00 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: Kansas City -9.5, o/u: 50.5

Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins

1:00 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: Miami -3.5, o/u: 48.5

Houston Texans at New York Giants

1:00 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: New York Giants -5, o/u: 40.5

New Orleans at Pittsburgh Steelers

1:00 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: New Orleans -2.5, o/u: 40

Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders

4:05 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: Las Vegas -6, o/u: 42.5

Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers

4:25 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: Dallas -4.5, o/u: 43

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

4:25 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: Los Angeles Rams -3, o/u: 43.5

Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers

8:20 NBC
Prediction: COMING
Line: San Francisco -7, o/u: 45.5

Monday, November 14, 2022

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles

8:15 ESPN
Prediction: COMING
Line: Philadelphia -11, o/u: 44

Bye Week: Baltimore, Cincinnati, New England, New York Jets

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CFN Predictions & Game Previews