Tag: 2024 Week 11

McCarthy sends Jerry Jones strong message with this defiant Week 11 decision

Jones has left McCarthy out to dry, so it’s no wonder the sole Week 11 “DNP-Coaches Decision” went the way it did. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys are not a good football team. Their 2024 season is over, and has been for several weeks. Entering Week 11, they had less than a three percent chance of making the playoffs, and after losing to the Houston Texans, 34-10, that now sits at less than one percent. With no healthy pass rushers the majority of the season, one healthy corner the majority of the season, an offensive line in disarray and now no franchise quarterback, the season is a wash.

The problem is, the coaching staff isn’t going to be around next year, so they have no real vested interest in making decisions that benefit the franchise in the long run. That was evident in the fact that head coach Mike McCarthy had Cooper Rush throwing the ball 55 times last night, while Trey Lance sat on the bench getting zero snaps.

The Cowboys’ offense was on the field for 83 snaps. Lance was literally the only active Cowboys player not to see the field on Monday night. 47 of 48 players all saw at least three snaps and 46 of them at least seven.

After the game, McCarthy paid lip service to the “mistake”, saying that’s the one thing he’d second guess himself on.

“I think the one thing I should have done at the end, and I just didn’t do, was put Trey in there. I could’ve gotten him a series. That’s one thing that I would second-guess myself on,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t want to get into putting him in for a play or two, because he’s more than a gadget player in my opinion. We had him prepared to take a series, and frankly there at the end I should’ve gave him that series, and I regret not doing that.” – via ProFootballTalk

Really?

McCarthy wants fans to believe he simply couldn’t figure out how to send Lance onto the field on any of the Cowboys’ final five drives? No. This was a message to owner and GM Jerry Jones that he gets what he asked for in the way the front office approached this season.

The Texans took a 17-point lead with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Dallas offense took 38 snaps from that point forward, and a lifelong coach simply couldn’t figure out that Lance should see the field?

Sorry, not buying it. There’s not much McCarthy can do to show defiance against the machine that will put him out to pasture come January, if not sooner.

Not playing Lance in Week 11 was absolutely one of them.

McCarthy sends Jerry Jones strong message with this defiant Week 11 decision

Jones has left McCarthy out to dry, so it’s no wonder the sole Week 11 “DNP-Coaches Decision” went the way it did. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys are not a good football team. Their 2024 season is over, and has been for several weeks. Entering Week 11, they had less than a three percent chance of making the playoffs, and after losing to the Houston Texans, 34-10, that now sits at less than one percent. With no healthy pass rushers the majority of the season, one healthy corner the majority of the season, an offensive line in disarray and now no franchise quarterback, the season is a wash.

The problem is, the coaching staff isn’t going to be around next year, so they have no real vested interest in making decisions that benefit the franchise in the long run. That was evident in the fact that head coach Mike McCarthy had Cooper Rush throwing the ball 55 times last night, while Trey Lance sat on the bench getting zero snaps.

The Cowboys’ offense was on the field for 83 snaps. Lance was literally the only active Cowboys player not to see the field on Monday night. 47 of 48 players all saw at least three snaps and 46 of them at least seven.

After the game, McCarthy paid lip service to the “mistake”, saying that’s the one thing he’d second guess himself on.

“I think the one thing I should have done at the end, and I just didn’t do, was put Trey in there. I could’ve gotten him a series. That’s one thing that I would second-guess myself on,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t want to get into putting him in for a play or two, because he’s more than a gadget player in my opinion. We had him prepared to take a series, and frankly there at the end I should’ve gave him that series, and I regret not doing that.” – via ProFootballTalk

Really?

McCarthy wants fans to believe he simply couldn’t figure out how to send Lance onto the field on any of the Cowboys’ final five drives? No. This was a message to owner and GM Jerry Jones that he gets what he asked for in the way the front office approached this season.

The Texans took a 17-point lead with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Dallas offense took 38 snaps from that point forward, and a lifelong coach simply couldn’t figure out that Lance should see the field?

Sorry, not buying it. There’s not much McCarthy can do to show defiance against the machine that will put him out to pasture come January, if not sooner.

Not playing Lance in Week 11 was absolutely one of them.

Overmatched Cowboys add more injuries to insulting play in fifth straight loss, 34-10 to Texans

The Cowboys drop to 3-7 on the season as they lose their fifth-straight contest.

The Dallas Cowboys placed QB Dak Prescott on injured reserve prior to Monday night’s contest against the Houston Texans. The Week 11 move was anticipated for the last several weeks, but the fact it took so long to make was a significant admission. There’s no cavalry coming, so the need for the roster spot wasn’t really a pressing issue for the 3-6 Cowboys.

Make that 3-7, as the club was once again in a street fight without any weapons in falling to the Texans 34-10. The club’s fifth straight defeat came with the required number of head scratches and face palms pretty much from the onset of the game. Dallas gave up big plays, turned the ball over and had a myriad of new injuries to keep piling on the miserable season.

Dallas saw three different starting offensive linemen leave the contest with injuries, along with their starting tight end. Jake Ferguson suffered a concussion early on, and then the second half saw Tyler Guyton, Zack Martin and Tyler Smith all get knocked out; the latter two within three plays of each other.

With Cooper Rush continuing to struggle to push the ball downfield on a regular basis, the Dallas defense was once again asked to do something they were incapable of doing. The Houston offense scored on a 77-yard opening play that was called back, but were undaunted with numerous big plays.

CJ Stroud released the ball quickly, often finding his returning star WR Nico Collins, on the way to 257 passing yards. He didn’t throw for a score, but it wasn’t necessary with RB Joe Mixon adding three touchdowns on 109 rushing yards.

In comparison Rush threw for over 300 yards, but Mike McCarhty’s non-existent commitment to the running game saw Dallas rush just 16 times compared to over 50 passing attempts.

The Cowoys offense remains disfunctional as the team lost their sixth straight home game

Twitter, BlueSky react to comical Cowboys-Texans Q1 sequence

A look at the insane opening quarter of the Cowboys-Texans games that had a little bit of everything except for quality play from Dallas. | From @KDDrummondNFL

People watch sports to be entertained and well, this has been entertaining. Not in the “great displays of physical skill” way, nor in the “masterminds being unbelievably creative” way either. No, this is a “oh look, the train is headed right for them” entertainment, and the them is the Dallas Cowboys.

In their Week 11 game against in-state rival Houston, the Cowboys allowed the Texans to score on their opening play of the game, only an illegible man downfield called back Nico Collins’ 77-yard screen score. No worries, RB Joe Mixon scored a few plays later on a 45-yard touchdown.

But that was only the beginning of the silliness. Dallas, stuffed in their own territory, tried a fake punt pass that was completed… 5 yards short of the yard marker. They got a reprieve as Houston looked to pour it on on their own fourth down when CJ Stroud threw an interception. Positives? Of course not, because Cooper Rush sent the ball right back to Houston.

—> HOU (7) @ DAL (0) <—
DAL has 4th & 9 at the DAL 33, Q1 10:41

Recommendation : 🤷 Toss-up (+0.8 WP)
Actual play: 👉 (Punt formation) B.Anger pass short middle to J.Thomas to DAL 37 for 4 yards (J.Metchie).

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— NFL 4th Down Bot (@nfl4th.com) November 18, 2024 at 8:31 PM

lol dog WTF is Fassel on 😂

— EditorinSkeet (@wcwpoet.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 8:31 PM

that fake punt attempt was the epitome of desperation. we’ve known the cowboys are a draft positioning team for a good bit, but now they’re also making decisions like one.

— Saad Yousuf (@saadyousuf126.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 8:33 PM

—> HOU (7) @ DAL (0) <—
HOU has 4th & 3 at the DAL 30, Q1 08:32

Recommendation : 🤷 Toss-up (+0.3 WP)
Actual play: (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass deep middle intended for N.Collins INTERCEPTED by M.Hooker at DAL 12. M.Hook

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— NFL 4th Down Bot (@nfl4th.com) November 18, 2024 at 8:34 PM

I see from the TL that the Cowboys are COMMITTED to the tank

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— Dalton Miller (@daltonbmiller.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 8:32 PM

Is that an INTERCEPTION??????

Malik Hooker did a thing just now and, in the process, bailed out Fassel. #Cowboys

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@voiceofthestar.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 8:33 PM

Dak is all of us

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— Parisa Michelle (@parisamichelle.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 8:41 PM

 

CMON MAN please just play Lance you legit cannot do worse 🤣

— EditorinSkeet (@wcwpoet.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 8:40 PM

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— Dana B (@day-nuh-bee.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 8:39 PM

Bro Cooper Rush sounds so funny with the “Here we go” 🤣
Same energy

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— EditorinSkeet (@wcwpoet.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 8:39 PM

2025 NFL Draft Order: Cowboys in Top 10, unless then win vs Houston

A look at the range of draft positions Dallas could have after MNF in Week 11.

With just one game remaining on the NFL slate of games for Week 11 there are clearly four classes of franchises. There’s a gooey middle of two tiers: teams that are currently in playoff position and teams that have a chance to get their. The top tier, are teams with realistic Super Bowl dreams. Clubs such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings have separated themselves from the pack.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the fourth tier, there’s a gluttony of teams with no realistic shot of postseason glory. Those teams are in a reverse race. Not actively trying to lose, but realistically these teams’ futures are better served by having better draft positioning.

That’s the group the Dallas Cowboys sit in as they prepare to take on the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football.

Currently, after the results of Sunday’s games, Dallas is sitting with the 9th pick in the first round thanks to a 3-6 record. Depending on the results of the contest, that could all change.

With a loss, Dallas stays put at No. 9. The only team with a 3-7 record, the Carolina Panthers, have a much worse Strength of Schedule than Dallas. That’s the tiebreaker when it comes to draft order; not head to head, or conference record or any of the things that matter for playoff tiebreakers.

The Panthers’ SOS currently sits at .489 while Dallas is at .523.

If the Cowboys pull off the home upset and improve to 4-6, they will likely slide down to the No. 13 pick.

There are two teams with 4-7 records (New Orleans, Cincinnati) and another three with 4-6 records. Dallas has a better SOS than Miami (.433) and Tampa Bay (.517), and a worse one than Chicago (.557) thanks to the power of the NFC North this season.

Is CeeDee Lamb playing today? Injury news update for Cowboys wide receiver

Here’s the latest status for the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb for Week 11 against the Houston Texans.

The Dallas Cowboys had an entire laundry list of injured players throughout the week of practice, in preparation for their Monday night matchup with the Houston Texans. Over 1/3rd of their roster appeared on the practice report from Thursday, the first day of the week when MNF participants are forced to reveal the statuses of their players for the upcoming contest.

But it was one injury that appeared, somewhat out of nowhere, on the final practice day that is going to wreak the most havoc on the team’s plans to stop a four-game losing streak. Wideout CeeDee Lamb appeared with a back injury. Lamb has been listed as questionable for the week.

After dealing with a shoulder the week before, Lamb is doing his best to be the solid solider and example setter for the younger ones on the roster.

For what it’s worth, head coach Mike McCarthy minimized the impact of the injury on Saturday, saying he’s optimistic the star wideout will play.

With no Dak Prescott under center, the Cowboys are going to rely heavily on Lamb to be the best player on the field when the offense has the ball. He had a team-high six catches last week, but for a measly 21 yards in the club’s first game without Prescott.

Lamb has played the Texans just once before, in 2022, when he caught five balls for 33 yards.

Is Nico Collins playing today? Injury news update for Texans wide receiver

Here’s the latest status for the Texans Nico Collins against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Houston Texans were all too happy to discover they were mining a diamond in the rough. All it took was the arrival of rookie quarterback CJ Stroud and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik in 2023 to uncover the massive potential of 2021 third-round wideout Nico Collins.

After two pedestrian seasons, Collins turned in an 80-catch, 1,296-receiving yard and eight touchdown campaign in the much ballyhooed third season of his career. The Texans went out and added Stefon Diggs this offseason and the attention he demanded vaulted Collins into a league-leading 113 yard-per-game stratosphere.

But that was before a hamstring injury sidelined Collins for the last five contests. The question is, will he be able to play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11?

The answer appears to be yes, as for the first time in over a month, Collins carries no game designation on the Texans’ final injury report of the week, released on Saturday.

With his expected return, the Texans will be a much more formidable offense for the Cowboys’ secondary to contend with. With Collins in the lineup, Houston averaged 272 passing yards a contest. In the five games without him, they’ve averaged just 165 passing yards per game, and that includes an appalling 55 yards in their Week 7 loss to Green Bay.

Since losing Collins, Slowik has focused on running the ball more, and that was taken to another level when they also lost Stefon Diggs to a torn ACL.

With Collins back, expect Trevon Diggs and Caelen Carson of the Cowboys to have their hands full, along with safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson.

Cowboys schedule: Is Dallas playing today?

Are the Cowboys playing today? Here’s a look at the 2024 schedule; results and the games to come.

Week 11 of the NFL football schedule has arrived, will the Dallas Cowboys be playing football today?

The Cowboys have lost four consecutive football games, cementing the concerns many had about the 2024 version of the franchise. The worst fears about a Mike McCarthy and staff lame-duck year seemingly have come to fruition, with the team being non-competitive as a whole in several games. Will they be able to right the ship on Sunday? No, because they won’t be playing today.

Dallas isn’t on a bye week, however. They simply have a Monday night date with in-state rival Houston. The Texans (6-4) have a relatively comfortable lead in the subpar AFC South division. Meanwhile the 3-6 Cowboys are already four games behind the Philadelphia Eagles, who pummeled them last week 34-6.

Dallas is 0-4 on the season at AT&T Stadium, setting an NFL first by trailing by at least 20 points in each contest. Here’s a look at their schedule so far this year.

TEAM 2024 schedule

Week Date Opponent Time (CT) Result
1 Sep. 8 @ Cleveland Browns 3:25 p.m. W, 33-17
2 Sep. 15 vs New Orleans Saints Noon L, 44–19
3 Sep. 22 vs Baltimore Ravens 3:25 p.m. L, 28-25
4 Sep. 26 @ New York Giants (TNF) 7:15 p.m. W, 20-15
5 Oct. 6 @ Pittsburgh Steelers (SNF) 7:20 p.m. W, 20-17
6 Oct. 13 vs Detroit Lions 3:25 p.m. L, 47-9
7 BYE WEEK
8 Oct. 27 @ San Francisco 49ers (SNF) 7:20 p.m. L, 30-24
9 Nov. 3 @ Atlanta Falcons Noon L, 27-21
10 Nov. 10 vs Philadelphia Eagles 3:25 p.m. L, 34-6
11 Nov. 18 vs Houston Texans (MNF) 7:15 p.m. TBD
12 Nov. 24 @ Washington Commanders Noon TBD
13 Nov. 28 vs New York Giants (Thanksgiving) 3:30 p.m. TBD
14 Dec. 9 vs Cincinnati Bengals (MNF) 7:15 p.m. TBD
15 Dec. 15 @ Carolina Panthers Noon TBD
16 Dec. 22 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF) 7:20 p.m. TBD
17 Dec. 29 @ Philadelphia Eagles 3:25 p.m. TBD
18 Jan. 5 vs Washington Commanders TBD TBD

*prime-time game

Cowboys vs Texans Final Injury Report: CeeDee Lamb in doubt, 2 fringe starters out Week 11

A look at the final injury designations for Week 11, including WRs trending in different directions. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys have had a time of it when it comes to trying to stay healthy for 2024. The entire year has been one injury to a key player after another. So it should be no surprise that on the final day of full practice ahead of Monday night’s battle with the Houston Texans, another key member of the club appears on the injury report.

Saturday saw wideout CeeDee Lamb appear for the first time this week. A back injury is the cause, though head coach Mike McCarthy attempted to downplay its significance. Dallas listed 19 players on the injury report this week, over 35% of their 53-man roster. Meanwhile the Houston Texans are giddy that WR Nico Johnson isn’t listed on their report as it looks like he will play for the first time in five weeks.

Lamb is one of four players Dallas listed as questionable, while the club has ruled out three others and designated one as doubtful with just a 25% chance of seeing the field. That would be FB Hunter Luepke, dealing with a calf injury. Slot corner Jourdan Lewis doesn’t even have a slim chance of playing with his troubled neck; he’s been ruled out.

Here’s a look at the full, final, injury report for both clubs for Week 11.

https://x.com/RalphVacchiano/status/1857892455057596925

 Cowboys

CB DaRon Bland, Foot | OUT
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Did Not Participate

CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday: DNP | Friday, Saturday Full Participant

CB Trevon Diggs, Calf | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Limited

OT Chuma Edoga, Toe | QUESTIONABLE
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Limited

TE Jake Ferguson, Illness | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday: DNP | Friday, Saturday: Full

OT Tyler Guyton, Neck/Shoulder | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Limited

LB Eric Kendricks, Shoulder | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: DNP

WR CeeDee Lamb, Back | QUESTIONABLE
Saturday: Limited

CB Jourdan Lewis, Neck | OUT
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: DNP

FB Hunter Luepke, Calf | | DOUBTFUL
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: DNP

OG Zack Martin, Shoulder | QUESTIONABLE
Thursday: DNP | Friday, Saturday: Limited

LB DeMarvion Overshown, Knee | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Full

LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Full

QB Dak Prescott, Hamstring | OUT
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: DNP

QB Cooper Rush, Neck | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Full

OG Tyler Smith, Knee | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday: Limited | Saturday: Full

Safey Juanyeh Thomas, Concussion | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: DNP

LB Nick Vigil, Foot | QUESTIONABLE
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: DNP

Safety Donovan Wilson, Hip | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Full

 

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1857893760841166999

Houston Texans

OUT

DE Will Anderson, Ankle
DT Folorunsio Fatukasi, Foot
OT Blake Fisher, Concussion

QUESTIONABLE

CB Kamari Lassiter, Concussion
CB Jeff Okudah, Quad

NO DESIGNATION

LB Azeeze Al-Shaair, Knee
WR Nico Collins, Hamstring
LB Jake Hansen, Ankle
QB CJ Stroud, Right Hard
LT Laremy Tunsil, Knee
RB Dameon Pierce, Groin
CB Derek Stingley, Jr, Hip
DE Dylan Horton, Shoulder

Cowboys Coordinator Bowl I goes to Eagles as Commanders fall apart in Q4

Two former Dallas lieutenants met as Cowboys’ rivals on opposite sidelines on Thursday night in a battle for division supremacy.

The Dallas Cowboys have enjoyed a ton of regular season success over the last several years, which makes their 2024 performance extremely disappointing. Sitting at 3-6, their playoff hopes are on life support as Week 11 starts to unfold. Mike McCarthy and his current staff are all on notice they’ll likely be looking elsewhere for employment in 2024.

Their two most recent high-profile coordinators though are enjoying a ton of success this season. Kellen Moore, former OC under both Jason Garrett and McCarthy, is now in charge of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense. Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator from the last three 12-5 Cowboys seasons, is now the head coach in Washington. They former co-workers met up on opposite sidelines Thursday night with Quinn’s Commanders getting the 26-18 victory.

The two teams entered their TNF matchup with a combined 14-5 record, but despite some questionable calls in their favor throughout, Washington fell apart late.

Quinn’s troops entered the fourth quarter with a 10-6 lead, but a dumb fourth-down decision by Quinn gave Moore’s offense the opening it needed to score three rushing touchdowns; his new signature. Washington scored a no-urgency TD with just 28 seconds left to close the gap, but the onside kick attempt failed.

What’s interesting for Cowboys’ fans though is how far each’s former units have plummeted in performance and ranking since each left.

Moore joined Garrett’s staff in his lame-duck 2019 season and moved the Cowboys’ offense from 17th to 6th in scoring. With a 2020 mulligan for Prescott’s broken leg, he also had them ranked 1st and 4th in his other seasons. However playoff disappointment and McCarthy wanting to take over play-calling (to save his job, likely) led to Moore moving on to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.

Initially McCarthy did find success, as the Cowboys returned to the No. 1 scoring offense in 2023. But there was a catch. Quinn’s defense’s were monsters at creating extra opportunities for the offense by being at or near the top of forced turnovers the last three seasons.

Without Quinn in tow, the turnovers have stopped and even before the Cowboys lost Prescott for the season again, their offense was in the bottom third of the NFL in 2024.

Quinn’s defense finished seventh, fifth and fifth in points allowed during his three seasons in Dallas. Jerry Jones was able to convince Quinn to stay in Dallas the last several seasons despite head coaching interviews all over the league, but Quinn finally bolted to land with the division rival Commanders.

Moore was let go along with head coach Brandon Staley and his entire staff in LA and landed in Philadelphia. Both have been cooking in their first seasons elsewhere in the NFC East.