Tag: 2022 Week 18

Cowboys gave Week 18 a bit of the preseason treatment

By the coaching staff’s own admission, the Cowboys weren’t solely focused on winning in Washington but wanted to things for the playoffs

The Cowboys wanted to win in Washington on Sunday. The NFC East-leading Eagles had not yet locked up the division and Dallas still had a shot at the crown if they could claim a “W” amidst a Philadelphia loss.

While they wanted to win their regular season finale, they were not singularly focused on the endeavor. The Cowboys had other goals in mind that made the game part regular season and part preseason.

The most obvious omissions were on offense when coordinator Kellen Moore avoided shifts, motion, play-action and just about any wrinkle that would give the play an advantage. It was a departure from the norm and understandably led to a paltry six-point effort.

Defensively, it wasn’t quite as obvious, but by Dan Quinn’s own admission, other goals are sometimes in mind for game planning.

Quinn was testing players in different roles and different situations much like he would test in the preseason. Instead of making an all-out effort to stop the opponent at hand, it sounds as if he was testing players and ideas to build the best possible gameplan for the postseason.

It extends beyond Golston and the defensive line. The primary area of concern has been, and continues to be, the cornerback position. Ever since Anthony Brown was lost to a season-ending injury in Week 13, the Cowboys have been in disarray opposite Trevon Diggs. Quinn ended the season mixing and matching his way to solutions.

At face value, no one appeared to be the answer at cornerback. Both Nahshon Wright and Trayvon Mullens struggled. On one play alone, Wright allowed a reception short and then got beat deep with the run after the catch. Mullens was so averse to looking back for the ball he got darted on his nameplate deep down the sideline.

But much like preseason evaluation, coaches are less concerned with the end result and more focused on certain qualities and/or deficiencies to prepare them for when things count the most.

“I felt it was really important to go through different people, different combinations,” Quinn said. “So I feel very comfortable where we’re at , certainly not going to disclose that today.”

The Cowboys wanted to win on Sunday but they didn’t treat it as a must-win. Going forward, all games for Dallas are must-win which is why the Cowboys coaching staff was busy finding answers and are careful today they don’t tip their hand to Tampa.

History suggests Cowboys will bounce back in big way from Week 18

The Dallas Cowboys have an impressive track record of bouncing back after tough losses this season. | From @ReidDHanson

The Dallas Cowboys lost their regular season finale in spectacular fashion. It took total failure in all three phases of the game to produce their 26-6 loss to the Commanders. The loss sends them into the postseason on a low note and casts a cloud of doubt over an otherwise impressive 12-5 season.

Postgame, everyone said the right things. They recognized the failure, took accountability, and admitted they needed to better. But is it as easy as just flipping a switch like CeeDee Lamb suggested? What does recent history suggest as to how the Cowboys will respond?

Add not-so-special teams to growing list of Cowboys concerns

The Cowboys troubles on offense and defense are getting most of the headlines but their special teams have been poor as well. | From @ReidDHanson

Coming off a 26-6 loss to Washington, the Dallas Cowboys enter the postseason with a growing list of concerns. Not only is their offense flat and their defense vulnerable, but their special teams are playing a pretty not-so-special brand of football.

While the issues on offense and defense can be excused as flukes or one-offs, the problems on special teams are more of a trend. Despite employing a Pro Bowl returner, a top-five punter (in average annual salary) and a top-10 kicker (by field goal percentage), the Cowboys special teams have struggled this season.

The unit led by John “Bones” Fassel has given up more high-profile plays than produced, and is coming off arguably their worst effort of the season in the Week 18 loss to Washington.

In the first half alone, Dallas saw their punter botch the snap and turn the ball over inside the red zone, their Pro-Bowl returner fumble a punt in his own red zone and they saw their always-reliable kicker inexplicably miss an extra point.

The specifics of the failure may appear to be outliers, but the overall issues on special teams are a trend. On the season, the Cowboys have a -2.71 EPA on special teams. That tells us cumulatively, Dallas special teams have done more harm than good and the Cowboys reside on the wrong side of average.

John Fassel’s unit has produced a negative EPA in 11 of the Cowboys 17 games this season, indicating they are more liability than asset heading into the postseason.

Luckily, the Cowboys special teams unit has the talent to be elite.

Bryan Anger’s fumble was a true outlier and something fans should not expect to see again anytime soon. Brett Maher has been as reliable as they come. He’s No. 8 in field goal percentage and kicks one of the most accurate deep balls in the NFL. Turpin has game breaking speed that can break free at any time on a punt or on a kick. Even coverage specialist, C.J. Goodwin, is at the top of his profession.

Dallas special teams are talented; they just aren’t playing like it. The Cowboys must get a handle on all three phases of the game before their Monday night showdown against the Buccaneers in the wild-card round. Special teams is no exception.

Good, Bad, Ugly: Cowboys embarrassed in 26-6 loss to Commanders

The Cowboys played one of their worst games of the season in the embarrassing 26-6 loss. Finding the good was detective worthy. | From @BenGrimaldi

Well, that certainly wasn’t the way they planned it. Almost every aspect of the Dallas Cowboys’ 26-6 loss to the Washington Commanders was as ugly as it gets.

The regular season finale was supposed to be a game where the team fought for the right to possibly earn the top seed in the conference. If anything was shown in the embarrassing loss, it was that these Cowboys weren’t ready to be the division’s best team, let alone the NFC’s top dog.

Ron Rivera’s Commanders were a team starting a first-snaps rookie quarterback and losers of three straight Yet they dominated Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys. It was a mistake-prone game by the Cowboys from the coin toss to the final whistle, and the worst performance by Dallas in the McCarthy era.

This wasn’t a game that can’t be explained as the Cowboys looked nothing like the 12-win team from this season, instead playing like a team that was ready for the next seven months off. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from a disappointing Week 18 performance.

Cowboys rookie CB DaRon Bland questionable to return with chest injury

The Cowboys defense took another hit in Washington, with their rising rookie questionable to return to the contest. | From @CDBurnett7

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With the game’s result unimportant, the Cowboys suffered a scare with safety Jayron Kearse who took a tough call and was evaluated in the medical tent. Soon after, rookie cornerback DaRon Bland was announced as questionable to return with a chest injury.

Bland was a fifth-round pick and was thrust into a starting role when injuries ended Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis’ seasons. He’s been nothing short of a star in the spot with five interceptions and strong run support to boot. Dallas will desperately need him for the wild card round especially with the revolving door at the outside corner spot across from Trevon Diggs.

Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse heads to medical tent in second half

During the second half in Washington, the Cowboys star safety went to the medical tent after a hard fall. | From @CDBurnett7

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While the Cowboys have played poorly and are down 13-6 in Washington, the results across the NFC make the game inconsequential even if the optics are bad. Late in the third quarter, Dallas elected to keep a majority of starters on the field.

On a 20-yard gain by Jahan Dotson, safety Jayron Kearse was the one to bring him down and went down hard on his back, hitting his helmet on the turf and he was slow to get up. After trainers took the field to check on him, he was easily able to reach the sideline but was taken to the medical tent for further evaluation.

The hard hit to the turf likely led to the evaluation and it’s safe to assume Kearse won’t return even if he’s okay. For now, the Cowboys are keeping their starters on the field in a pointless spot.

WATCH: Prescott finds rhythm, Lamb for TD to break ice

In the waning moments of the first half, Prescott and the hurry-up offense finally found rhythm to chop into the deficit. | From @CDBurnett7

In the tune-up for the playoffs, the Cowboys came out with their starters and laid an egg in the first half. Two blunders on special teams and a pick-six from quarterback Dak Prescott amongst other mistakes set Dallas in a 13-0 deficit. Nonetheless, misses from Washington kicker Joey Slye kept it close.

Taking over with 2:37 left in the first half, Prescott found some rhythm for the first time in the game. Up to that point, he was 2-for-9 passing for 14 yards and an interception. The drive got started with back-to-back throws to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for a first down, his first two catches of the game.

Working against a conservative Commanders defense, the hurry-up offense kept the Cowboys from cooling down and they marched right down the field. After converting a fourth-down, Dallas had 10 seconds and no timeouts to score from the 15-yard line. Prescott orchestrated pre-snap motion to go five-wide and delivered a touchdown strike to Lamb to get on the board.

On the must-have drive, Prescott was 7-for-12 for 66 yards and the touchdown to calm things down in Washington. Heading into the postseason, momentum is king and the Cowboys need an abundance of it to make up for the ugly first half as their No. 1 seed hopes continue to fade. The Commanders will receive to start the second half as Dallas elected to receive at kickoff.

 

Cowboys RB Tony Pollard eclipses 1,000 rushing yards for season

Pollard’s magical season now has a huge milestone, eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards and becoming the 9th in club history to reach the mark. | From @CDBurnett7

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Coming into the 2022 season, the Dallas running back room was one of the most promising and the momentum of Tony Pollard was palpable. 17 games later, Pollard is the home run hitter for the Cowboys offense and now he’s eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the season early in the second quarter.

He is the 9th player in club history to reach the mark and this is the 31st time in franchise history.

In a crucial contract year, Pollard is forcing the Cowboys’ hand and he’ll have a big payday coming, whether it’s from Dallas or another suitor. On the season, Pollard has 1,003 rushing yards, 371 passing yards with 12 total touchdowns and counting. If the Cowboys are to right the ship in this 14-0 deficit and make a playoff run, Pollard is one of the catalysts and the 1,000 yard milestone is long overdue.

WATCH: Hooker INT temporarily silences knocking Commanders

While the offense is struggling, the Dallas defense is playing stingy and Malik Hooker is the latest example. | From @CDBurnett7

The Cowboys regular season finale was a nightmare in the first quarter. A pair of butterfingered mistakes on special teams gave the Commanders a 7-0 lead and early in the second quarter, they were knocking again.

On 2nd-and-goal at the Dallas 5-yard line, Washington quarterback Sam Howell made a rookie mistake. He stared down his receiver in the corner of the endzone and three Cowboys defenders saw it coming. Safety Malik Hooker was the beneficiary and made the interception for a touchback to stabilize the game in FedEx Field.

Although the team is down, the Cowboys defense has played stingy and kept it close on the road. That didn’t save them much though, as quarterback Dak Prescott threw a pick-six on the ensuing drive and it’s suddenly a 13-0 deficit.

Cowboys not resting as QB3 among Week 18 inactives vs Commanders

Dallas isn’t resting in their regular season finale; they are close to full strength while the Commanders have all but waved the white flag. | From @CDBurnett7

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While some teams are taking a cautious approach to to the regular season finale, the Dallas Cowboys appear to be going all out to end on a high note. Dallas appears prepared to keep quarterback Dak Prescott in for at least a substantial part of the game, as they did not activate QB3 Will Grier for the contest.

That said, they’re taking a patient approach with linebacker Leighton Vander-Esch and center Tyler Biadasz. Both are expected to return for the playoffs alongside defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who will come off IR.

Wide receiver KaVontae Turpin missed practice this week with an illness, but he’s taking the field as a captain in Week 18. The Pro Bowl returner will have another shot to take back a kick for a score after being inches away on multiple occasions.

On the other side, the eliminated Commanders are waving the white flag in their season finale. Multiple starters are out, including running back Brian Robinson Jr. and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. While all quarterbacks are healthy, Sam Howell gets the nod for Washington. Here’s a look at the full list of inactives for Cowboys-Commanders.