Tag: 2024 Week 16

Final Stats, best pics from Cowboys’ big win over Bucs despite elimination

The Cowboys have won four of their last five games, winning over the Bucs in one of their hardest-hitting performances of 2024. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys knew they weren’t making it to the playoffs this season, but they didn’t play like it. Eliminated earlier in the afternoon when Washington pulled out a last-second win over Philadelphia, the Cowboys had no inclination of mailing things in.

With no incentive to playing down-roster guys just to help the organization, lame-duck coach Mike McCarthy’s troops put their best foot forward, dominating the still-playoff hopeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys’ defense used relentless pressure on QB Baker Mayfield and unyielding hitting on ball carriers to bully their way to a double-digit lead in the third quarter.

Despite letting the Bucs make the game close and have a last chance to win, the Cowboys beared down and left AT&T with their second home win of the season, 26-24. Despite being eliminated from the playoffs, Dallas kept their hope of finishing above .500 alive and improved to 7-8.

Cooper Rush played his best game of the season, throwing for 292 yards and only having one egregious head scratcher of a throw. He focused his attention on CeeDee Lamb in the first half as the wide receiver crossed the 100-catch threshold with 100 yards through two quarters.

The defense, led by Micah Parsons and a turnover-focused secondary, corralled one of the league’s hottest offenses. Corners Jourdan Lewis and DaRon Bland made huge fourth-quarter plays, ripping balls away from ball carriers to thwart both a touchdown and a game extender with time running out.

Dallas will now prepare for their rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. Here’s a look at the stats and some great captures from the wonderful photographers of USA Today Images and Getty Images.

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

Here’s the latest status for the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb for Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Dallas Cowboys return to action on Sunday night, hoping they have something to play for. After winning their third game in four attempts last week, Dallas has inched closer to .500 and want to improve to 7-8 with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The hobbled, mangled crew currently still has a chance to make the playoffs, but that ends with any loss in their final three games or any win by Washington. The Commanders take on the NFC East leading Philadelphia in the early window of games. If the Eagles win, the Cowboys game still means something towards this pursuit.

To accomplish a victory in the NBC-aired contest, Dallas is in need of their No. 1 receiver, CeeDee Lamb.

Fortunately for Dallas, Lamb’s limited status from Wednesday’s practice over his lingering shoulder injury seems precautionary. Lamb was a full participant in Thursday and Friday’s work confirms things have not gotten worse, and the ailment does not seem to preclude him from suiting up. He should play as long as nothing wild happens during pre-game warmups.

The fifth-year wideout enters Week 16 third in the NFL in receptions with 94, already surpassing the millenium yardage mark with 1,089. Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase has already run away with Lamb’s receiving yardage crown from 2023, with the Cowboys’ passing game dearly missing Dak Prescott for the majority of the season. Perhaps Lamb will be catching passes from both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance in this contest.

Is Mike Evans playing today? Injury news update for Buccaneers wide receiver

Here’s the latest status for the Buccaneers Mike Evans against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have enjoyed one of the most accomplished wide receiver runs in NFL history. From the get go, Mike Evans has been the go to for the NFC South squad. The Galveston, TX native and Texas A&M alum had no issues acclimating himself to the NFL all the way back in 2014, gaining 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie campaign.

He’s achieved the mark every season since, an incredible 11-year run that’s put him in strong contention to one day earn a bust in Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in canton. This year, however, has been a bit of a struggle as injuries have robbed him of significant playing time for just the second time in his career.

Evans has only appeared in 11 of the Bucs 14 games so far this year, meaning he can max out at 14 games if he’s able to make it through the final three games on the schedule. Chasing the playoffs, the 8-6 Bucs need him more than ever as they’ve already lost his counterpart, Chris Godwin, for the year.

Evans appeared on this week’s injury report after missing practice on Wednesday. The question is, will he be able to play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16?

The answer appears to be yes, as Evans sat out strictly for rest purposes. He has completely put his midseason injury woes behind him and has appeared in Tampa Bay’s last four games with great results.

In Week 15 he caught nine passes for 159 yards, both season highs, to help the Bucs throttle the Los Angeles Chargers, 40-17. It put him within striking distance of 1,000 yards once again, as he now has 749 on the season with three contests to go.

With Trevon Diggs out for this game, Dallas will have to rely on DaRon Bland and Caelon Carson to try and corral the 6-foot-5, 231-pound terror on the boundary.

Is Trey Lance playing today? Update for Cowboys backup QB

Here’s the latest narrative surrounding Lance’s shot to play in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys 2024 season has been a total mess from the get go. It may effectively be put out of its misery on Sunday, and possibly before Dallas even takes the field. Part of Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys could be officially eliminated from the playoffs if Washington can beat Philadelphia earlier in the day. If so, then the direction of who should see the field in the final three weeks should change.

And that could impact whether or not Trey Lance sees the field on Sunday night.

The offseason was a maddening experience for the fanbase, as the club failed to not only avoid signing any impact free agents from the outside, but also failed to bring back many of their own. With contract extensions looming over their biggest stars in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, the coaching staff were all on lame duck status.

All in all, it forced several fans to be lose interest in the brand. One thing that united fans, though, especially under the looming 2025 of Prescott (at the time) was whether or not Lance had what it took to be the next franchise quarterback. Acquired towards the end of the 2023 offseason, Lance didn’t play that year, so no one really knew what to expect from the former No. 3 overall pick the Cowboys traded a 2024 fourth-round pick for.

As head coach Mike McCarthy avoids playing his stars in the preseason, Lance got plenty of snaps in the exhibitions and acquitted himself relatively well until the final performance when he bombed. He really hasn’t been seen since, which in a lost season where Prescott has been out with injury has frustrated fans even more.

Nothing crystalized this animosity more than in Week 11, when in a blowout loss to the Houston Texans where Cooper Rush struggled mightily, McCarthy refused to let Lance get snaps.

Now, with elimination right around the corner, the subject returns. In the last month or so, owner Jerry Jones has hinted that McCarthy might not be five-and-done as the head coach. Don’t believe it.

McCarthy and his staff are likely goners and as such, have no vested interest in playing guys so the front office and the next coaching staff has a better understanding of what they may have.

Lance is a free agent, as is current starter Cooper Rush, in 2025. Rush’s ceiling is obvious; the offense is ridiculously dumbed down due to his arm talent limitations and lack of athleticism. Lance offers upside in that regard, with nowhere near the polish or experience Rush brings to the table.

If the season is officially over before they take the field, fans hope Lance is given a shot to show what he can do.

Is Trevon Diggs playing today? Injury news update for Cowboys CB

Here’s the latest status for the Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs for Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs has had a rough couple of seasons. This 2024 season has been particularly trying, as he returned from missing almost all of 2023 due to an ACL tear suffered prior to Week 3. After an extensive rehabilitation process, the 2021 All-Pro was able to return for the first part of this season. However, as is often the case with speed-dependent positions, returning to top form after an ACL injury was a bit elusive.

Diggs was decent, but he wasn’t what fans remembered from the 2020 through 2022 years. The frustration of his and the team’s sluggish start boiled over after a loss to the San Francisco 49ers, when he came out the locker room to confront a media member for a derogatory tweet made during the contest. It was a bad look that eventually Diggs made amends for, but that was a precursor to more problems.

Diggs suffered a calf tear prior to Week 9 and though he played a strong Week 11 game against Philadelphia, he missed the following two contests just when secondary mate DaRon Bland returned from offseason foot surgery. Diggs would return in Week 14, but it appears that is the last action he will see for some time.

Diggs has now been placed on IR for a knee injury that will require surgery. It is a significant surgery in which they will use a bone graft to help repair the cartilage in the knee that had the torn ACL and it could cause him to miss most or all of the 2025 season as well.

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 16 of the NFL football schedule is underway, with every NFL team taking the field this weekend. Sunday and Monday are going to have a decidely NFC feel, however, as three games are already in the books and they were all AFC matchups.

The early and late windows are highlighted by NFC on NFC violence and both night games feature two NFC teams as well. Will the Dallas Cowboys be in one of those matchups today?

The Cowboys’ last-ditch effort to turn around is still on life support after a win over the Carolina Panthers, 30-14. 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 the Philadelphia Eagles will look to clinch the division with a win over Washington. If they can’t, and the Commanders win, Dallas will be officially eliminated before they take the field for Sunday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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 W,  30-14
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

Time for Cowboys to test WRs Jalen Brooks and Jonathan Mingo

It’s time for the Cowboys to see what they have in Jonathan Mingo and Jalen Brooks

The 2024 postseason is still technically in play but for all intents and purposes the Cowboys seem to understand their fate. With less than a one percent chance of advancing, the Cowboys front office knows it’s more about next season than this season.

The team is nobly taking it each game at a time. Players and coaches don’t have the luxury of shifting focus onto next year because for them there might not be a next year.  It’s why talks of tanking earlier in the year were shot down the moment they began percolating.

But there’s a difference between winning at all costs and losing on purpose and that’s an area the Cowboys should be residing in today. With just three games remaining on Dallas’ schedule, it’s important the Cowboys learn what they can about a few young players who, up to this point, look like major question marks heading into the offseason.

Receivers Jalen Brooks and Jonathan Mingo are two of such players who deserve an extra look these last three games. As things stand now, WR is one of the Cowboys biggest needs heading into 2025. Brandin Cooks is set to leave in free agency and Jalen Tolbert has been too inconsistent to be responsibly trusted as a top option.

It’s safe to say the Cowboys need two WRs this offseason to fill top four spots on the depth chart, and one of those spots needs to be WR2. Based on what we’ve seen (and haven’t seen) of Brooks and Mingo, it’s unlikely either are the No. 2 option Dallas so desperately needs. But maybe one can be a WR3 or WR4?

Tolbert, fresh off possibly the best catch of career in Week 15, is a player fans have been excited about for some time. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound pass catcher from South Carolina flashed potential since joining the Cowboys as a draft pick in 2023. He’s a top special teams player with a killer instinct and someone who can handle the physical demands of playing the x spot on offense.

Mingo, acquired in a midseason trade this season, is another player with the ability to play snaps as an x. At 6-foot-2, 220-pounds he has the size the Cowboys love, but with only two catches for a total of 10 yards since joining Dallas, he’s extremely green and unproven.

Either player has the potential to be that WR3 or WR4 the Cowboys need, just like either player could bust out and never break the top four on the depth chart at all. The point is the Cowboys don’t know either way and it would go a long way in their planning for 2025 if they had an idea which direction these two are trending.

Mike McCarthy and staff are clearly playing for wins each and every week. With expiring deals, they have no interest in the long-term health of the team. Therefore, this is not something the front office could push if McCarthy thought it would be detrimental to winning.

Though if all things are equal, making a concentrated effort to get answers from a couple of the Cowboys’ biggest question marks is something the front office would seemingly appreciate.

At this point Tolbert probably is what he is. He’s a shifty playmaker who’s good for a nice play or two each week but also someone who’s going to get bullied off the ball and who’s liable to disappear for long stretches. Handing some of his snaps to Brooks and/or Mingo wouldn’t exactly be seppuku to the offense. It could be win-win.

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