Tag: 2024 Week 15

Vegas doesn’t think the Cowboys will beat the Buccaneers in Week 16

The Cowboys are home underdogs against the Buccaneers. In related shocking news, water is wet. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys find themselves two games under .500 yet again. It’s been a tale of two seasons for America’s Team this season. In recent years, the club is used to being dominant at home and average on the road, leading to 12-win seasons. In 2024 they’re now used to being dominated at home and are surprisingly good on the road.

Sunday’s victory in Carolina improved their travel record to 5-2 on the season. Unfortunately the club is just 1-6 at AT&T Stadium and until recently they weren’t very competitive in those contests. Mix it all together and there aren’t many reasons for the Vegas sharps to have much confidence in the Cowboys earning their second home win since December 2023. The Cowboys open as 45-point underdogs in Week 16 when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to BetMGM.

Any fan feeling super comfortable about things can wager on the money line, which sits at +165 for a Dallas home win, and -200 to bet on Baker Mayfield’s Bucs winning outright.

The over/under is set to 48.5.

Dallas could be eliminated from playoff contention by the time they take the field on Sunday night. If the Washington Commanders win their noon kickoff against the NFC East leading Philadelphia Eagles, then Dallas’ hopes are dashed.

That win would give the Eagles the NFC East title.

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Cowboys declaw Panthers, defense and Dowdle dominate as Dallas defiantly remains in playoff chase

Despite Dallas’ victory, they inch closer to their inevitable elimination from playoff contention.

The Dallas Cowboys have no interest in laying down their weapons. Despite suffering two more season-ending injuries to defensive starters in the last week, the group came out and proved why Mike Zimmer was hired during the offseason. With a complicated system, it was predicted by those in the know that it was going to take some time for the players to realize its potential, but glimpses continue to peak through a miserable, lost 2024 season.

The Dallas defense harassed and bullied little Bryce Young throughout the Week 15 contest, sacking the diminutive QB six times and forcing him into four turnovers. With Rio Dowdle turning in another career performance, there was no need to lean on an inaccurate Cooper Rush. Dallas cruised to a 30-14 victory for their third win in their last four games.

Unfortunately though, that heartbreaking loss last week against the Cincinnati Bengals put them on disaster’s edge and with Washington escaping New Orleans with a last-second 20-19 win, Dallas inches closer to elimination from the 2024 playoff chase.

The victory improved Dallas to 6-8 on the season, and 5-2 on the road, but the disaster that has been the team at AT&T Stadium this year along with a ridiculously long major injury list will eventually be too much to overcome.

The Cowboys’ negative magic number was two, where a loss plus a victory by the Commanders eliminated them from the playoff hunt they somehow had clawed themselves back in to with back-to-back wins over Washington and New York to close November. Now that is reduced to just one.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb does something only Michael Irvin had done before

The Cowboys’ star receiver was rewarded with a huge contract before the year and continues to prove his worth, bailing out his QB on his way to a score.

After a ridiculously slow star to the passing game, Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb has come to the rescue. On the third play of the game, Lamb caught a slant out of 22 personnel and took it downfield for 30 yards, only an illegal formation penalty brought the play back. If it had stood, that would’ve given Lamb over 1,000 receiving yards on the season.

The first quarter expired with QB Cooper Rush struggling to even look downfield and early in the second quarter he had just 12 passing yards as Dallas had the ball for the third time. Despite Rush’s off-target throws, though, Lamb’s immense talent allowed him to corral a couple off-target passes and surpass the milestone. After entering the game with 973 receiving yards, it’s now Lamb’s fourth-straight 1,000-yard season.

He’s only the second Cowboys receiver to accomplish the feat, joining Michael Irvin who did it five straight years from 1991 through 1995.

Lamb put a cherry on top of the drive catching a back-shoulder fade in the right side of the end zone for a touchdown to give Dallas a 7-0 lead.

Is Rico Dowdle playing today? Injury news update for Cowboys running back

Here’s the latest status for the Cowboys’ Rico Dowdle for Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers.

The Dallas Cowboys take the field in an early game on Sunday, hoping to avoid another losing streak. After winning two in a row, their Monday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals has been followed by the continuous 2024 theme of catastrophic injuries. Now set to take on the Carolina Panthers, the club is going to need as many warm bodies as possible as Bryce Young has turned things around for their offense.

Dallas, with their passing game struggling, needs to lean heavily on their run game. After two straight 100-yard performances, it may have been concerning for fans to see that RB Rico Dowdle was listed on this week’s injury report with a knee issue.

Fortunately for Dallas, Dowdle’s inclusion in the daily report seems precautionary. He was a full participant throughout the week, including Friday’s walkthrough, so it seems the ailment will not preclude him from suiting up, as he did not carry an injury designation. He should play as long as the knee doesn’t flare up in pregame warmups.

The fifth-year running back enters Week 15 as one of the hottest RBs in the league. The Cowboys efforts to feed Dowdle has finally taken hold, even though they failed to capitalize on his glorious ways, limited him to just 18 carries last week despite averaging over seven yards a tote.

Dowdle will have to contend with the defensive schemes of Panthers DC and Mike McCarthy replacement candidate Ejiro Evero.

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

Here’s the latest status for the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb for Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers.

The Dallas Cowboys return to action on Sunday, hoping to avoid starting another losing streak. After winning two in a row, their Monday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals has been followed by the continuous 2024 theme of catastrophic injuries. The hobbled, mangled crew will take on the Carolina Panthers, their third-straight sub-.500 opponent. Right now both teams are hovering around top-10 selections, but that doesn’t mean this contest won’t have plenty of intriguing action.

In fact, the two defenses in play mean there’s likely going to be a chance for a high-scoring affair and to participate, Dallas is in need of their No. 1 receiver, CeeDee Lamb.

Fortunately for Dallas, Lamb’s limited status the first two days of practice over his lingering shoulder injury seems precautionary. Lamb was a full participant in Friday’s walkthrough and the ailment does not seem to preclude him from suiting up, as he did not carry an injury designation this week. He should play as long as the shoulder isn’t re-injured.

The fifth-year wideout enters Week 15 third in the NFL in receptions with 85, gaining 973 yards and scoring five touchdowns. The Cowboys efforts to keep Lamb involved in the offense through the second half failed again, as after a torrid start and going tit for tat with Ja’Marr Chase, Dallas watched Chase get target after target to expand his NFL leading receptions total to 93.

Lamb will have to contend with the defensive schemes of Panthers DC and Mike McCarthy replacement candidate Ejiro Evero.

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 15 of the NFL football schedule has arrived, with every NFL team taking the field this weekend, after six clubs closed out the bye slate last weekend. The last four weeks is a sprint to the playof starting gate and Sunday has 13 games to consume. Will the Dallas Cowboys be playing football today?

The Cowboys’ last-ditch effort to turn around a disastrous season failed last week, falling to the Cincinnati Bengals. The team’s negative magic number is now one, a loss or a victory by Washington officially ends Dallas’ campaign. And they will find out early on Sunday as both teams have games against NFC South opponents in the early window.

After a completely off track schedule where Dallas played three games in 10 days and then had 11 days off before their next contest, early Sunday games will suffice. Here’s a look at Dallas’ 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. L, 34-10
12 Nov. 24 @ Washington Commanders Noon W, 34-26
13 Nov. 28 vs New York Giants (Thanksgiving) 3:30 p.m. W, 27-20
14 Dec. 9 vs Cincinnati Bengals (MNF) 7:15 p.m. L, 27-20
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

For a look at how the rest of the season could play out for Dallas, check out this list of predictions.

Rico Dowdle was always answer at RB, why didn’t the Cowboys know it sooner?

Dowdle is an underrated NFL running back, likely because his own team hasn’t valued him properly until recently. | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys aren’t mathematically eliminated from the NFL playoffs, but they go into their Week 15 game against the Carolina Panthers needing a miracle to get there. Miracles don’t seem to exist in the 2024 season for Dallas, though. They found a way to lose against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the lowly, three-win Panthers are favored for the first time in their last 33 games.

Dallas is in the final stretch of a lousy season that saw their quarterback and many of their young and up and coming stars lost to injuries. They need to keep an eye on the future for these games, even as they refuse to relent on a doomed playoff pursuit. Although not an assured part of the long-term vision originally, Rico Dowdle has recently shown he could be one of those guys.

Many will wonder why it took so long for Dowdle to find himself in the role of lead back. It might have been coach’s belief in a committee, the front office wanting Ezekiel Elliott to get touches, or worrying about Dowdle’s workload because of his injury history.

He was only given more than 12 attempts once in his first nine games, even though he has been a top-10 rusher in success rate and averaged 4.3 yards per attempt. Still, for the first 11 weeks, he couldn’t even get 50% of the carries.

Starting with the game against the Washington Commanders, Dowdle has taken 70% of the carries and produced. He went from averaging 10 attempts and 40 yards per game, to 19 carries for 109 yard averages.

He ran for more than 40 yards over expected (RYOE) against both the New York Giants and Cincinnati.  Comparing him to Detroit Lions first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs in the last three weeks, Dowdle has more yards rushing, yards after contact, forced missed tackles, and has one less run for 10 or more yards.

Only three running backs on the season have a 54% success rate or better and more than 4.5 yards per carry. Dowdle is one; the others are Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. If extrapolated over 17 contests, Dowdle would have rushed for 1,853 yards on 323 attempts and scored six times.

With his next matchup is against the Panthers, the team with the worst rushing defense in the NFL, Dowdle has an opportunity to extend his string of superb performances even further.

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast.

Cowboys vs Panthers final injury report: 3 from Dallas ruled out, Trevon Diggs still suffering

A look at the game designations and what ails each competitor for the Cowboys-Panthers Week 15 tilt. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Perhaps trying not to suffer any last-minute injuries as has happened on more than one occasion this season, the Dallas Cowboys conducted a walk-through on Friday as opposed to a full-on padded practice. The club is reeling, losing players left and right. It’s provided a convenient cover for a season that was headed off the rails even before the ailments began to pile up, which makes the fact that they have won or been competitive for the last month despite not having their franchise quarterback and losing others along the way.

The latest is linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who not only will miss Week 15, but the rest of 2024 and likely all of 2025 with a significant explosion of his knee. He’s not the only player set to miss the action against the Carolina Panthers, either.

Center Cooper Beebe has been ruled out with concussion symptoms and six members of the Dallas defense have been given questionable game statuses. Here’s a look at the final injury report for Week 15.

Dallas Cowboys

OUT

OC Cooper Beebe, Concussion
LB DeMarvion Overshown, Knee
Safety Juanyeh Thomas, Knee

QUESTIONABLE

LB Buddy Johnson, Illness
LB Eric Kendricks, Shoulder
LB Nick Vigil, Foot
CB Trevon Diggs, Knee
ST CJ Goodwin, Hamstring
CB Jourdan Lewis, Hamstring

NO DESIGNATION

WR CeeDee Lamb, Shoulder
CB DaRon Bland, Foot
RB Rico Dowdle, Knee
OT Tyler Guton, Ankle
DE Marshawn Kneeland, Knee
OG Tyler Smith, Ankle
DT Mazi Smith, Back

Carolina Panthers

OUT

LB Trevin Wallace, Shoulder

QUESTIONABLE

RB Raheem Blackshear, Chest
OLB Jadeveon Clowney, Knee
CB Jaycee Horn, Groin
LB Josey Jewell, Hamstring
Safety Nick Scott, Hamstring

Full Participation – Thursday

WR Jalen Coker, Quad
CB Caleb Farley, Shoulder
Safety Lonnie Johnson, Neck
LB DJ Wonnum, Knee

Cowboys vs Panthers Week 15 injury report: Beebe’s concussion, Lamb, Diggs hobbled

A look at who was able to participate in practice on Thursday, ahead of Cowboys-Panters, and to what degree. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season has been dead in the water for quite some time. After winning two games in a row and going on a minibreak, reality set back in the worst way on Monday night. Already without their leader, QB Dak Prescott, and playing game after game missing crucial starpower, the nail for the coffin was placed at Jerry Jones’ feet when the team lost youthful, inspirational lineback DeMarvion Overshown.

His knee injury, which wipes out his 2025 season and threatens his career, was the precursor to the gut punch of losing in spectacular end-of-game fashion to the Cincinnati Bengals. But there are four games left on the schedule. And there’s 1/1000th of a percent chance Dallas can run the table and have lighting strike “fifty-leven” (look it up, Ying Yang Twin) times to get them in the playoffs.

Until that point, the Cowboys will soldier on, and as such here’s the Week 15 injury report from Thursday.

Dallas Cowboys

Did Not Participate – Thursday

OC Cooper Beebe, Concussion
LB Buddy Johnson, Illness
LB Eric Kendricks, Shoulder
LB DeMarvion Overshown, Knee
Safety Juanyeh Thomas, Knee
LB Nick Vigil, Foot

Limited – Thursday

CB Trevon Diggs, Knee
ST CJ Goodwin, Hamstring
WR CeeDee Lamb, Shoulder
CB Jourdan Lewis, Hamstring

Full Participation – Thursday

CB Daon Bland, Foot
RB Rico Dowdle, Knee
OT Tyler Guton, Ankle
DE Marshawn Kneeland, Knee
OG Tyler Smith, Ankle

Carolina Panthers

Did Not Participate – Thursday

OT Taylor Moton, Rest
LB Trevin Wallace, Shoulder

Limited – Thursday

RB Raheem Blackshear, Chest
CB Jaycee Horn, Groin
LB Josey Jewell, Hamstring
Safety Lonnie Johnson, Neck
LB DJ Wonnum, Knee

Full Participation – Thursday

WR Jalen Coker, Quad
CB Caleb Farley, Shoulder
Safety Nick Scott, Hamstring