Tag: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Cowboys vs Eagles Inactives, Captaing: No Lane Johnson, Sean Lee back

The inactives and captains for Week 8’s Sunday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles

The Dallas Cowboys injury situation has been catastrophic in 2020. Still, they did receive a fair bit of positive news on that front this week with the return of linebacker Sean Lee who was activated from injured reserve and Zack Martin who practiced all week after recovering from a concussion that kept him out of last Sunday’s game.

The two veterans, something Dallas has sorely needed in 2020, are active and ready to go against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football. There are no surprise inactives for the matchup tonight as there’s not many tough choices that need to be made. However, rookie defensive end Bradlee Anae returns to active duty after the team traded Everson Griffen earlier in the week.

The team’s rotating cast of captains honors goes to linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, running back and kick return Tony Pollard and kicker Greg Zuerlein.

The Eagles are missing some key pieces offensively, missing right tackle Lane Johnson who was ruled out earlier in the day with an ankle injury. They’re also without running back Miles Sanders and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

It hasn’t mattered who has lined up at running back for opponents of the Dallas defense to date, but Boston Scott will assume the lion’s share of those duties. First-round draft pick wide receiver Jalen Reagor will be active for the first time since Week 2 after having surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right thumb.

 

Enemy Intel: Cowboys-Eagles Q&A dives into ‘SNF’ matchup for Week 8

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are set to square off for bragging rights as the best team in the NFL’s worst division. The leader of the NFC East is going to have just three wins at the midway point of the season. That is, if the two …

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are set to square off for bragging rights as the best team in the NFL’s worst division. The leader of the NFC East is going to have just three wins at the midway point of the season. That is, if the two combatants can avoid tying each other, which isn’t out of the question.

Dallas will trot out Ben DiNucci in his first start, while the Eagles are getting many of their players back from injuries. The “Sunday Night Football” matchup is normally a hotly contested one, but it’s tough for either side to generate much excitement. Still, the Eagles are favored by nine points and should run away with the division. Can the Cowboys sidetrack those plans? We went toe-to-toe with Eagles Wire managing editor Glenn Erby to get the latest on the Philadelphia franchise.

Cowboys’ Jerry Jones reluctant to trade stars: ‘Got a lot of tread on the tire’

The Cowboys owner wouldn’t admit to shopping any marquee players prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline, saying Sunday’s game won’t change that.

The week has seen far more turnover than anyone expected for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys after just seven games. One of the popular summer picks to be atop the NFC standings come season’s end, the team has crash-landed to the bottom tier of squads in nearly every outlet’s power rankings.

The 2-5 record, the crippling injuries to so many key starters, the soft and porous defensive play, the questions about scheme complexity, the chronically slow starts to games, the accusations of coaching cluelessness, the perceived lack of heart from players, the jettisoning of three veteran free agents… it all hints at surprisingly desperate times in Dallas.

And that has led many to wonder if it will spur Jerry Jones to ramp up his wheeling and dealing, perhaps shopping a marquee player in return for future draft picks that might help build a winning roster for 2021 and beyond.

Not ready to call the current season a lost cause, though, Jones maintained his high hopes for the Cowboys currently wearing the star during a radio interview Friday.

“I’m going to give you the canned answer: We’re always looking to improve,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan when asked about any potential midseason trades. “On the other hand, I feel very strongly that we’ve got a core of really outstanding players [with]in the NFL, And it hasn’t been a month ago, or six weeks ago, that that was getting unanimous thought around the NFL. We’ve got some outstanding players. We’ve got a lot of tread on the tire left on most of those key players.”

Outside analysts and pundits have been playing fantasy-GM all week, putting together what-if trade packages for Cowboys players who would arguably draw interest and very attractive offers from other teams. Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and even Ezekiel Elliott have been put on the media’s hypothetical trading block in recent days.

But Jones is unwavering in his allegiance to his high-profile players, most of whom he has rewarded with lucrative deals to keep them in Dallas.

“Ten percent of the players get two-thirds of the money,” he reminded the radio audience. “So my point is, you’d better have good players getting that money in terms of just that aspect of it- just financial- apart from what’s inside them. And boy, I love what’s inside [DeMarcus] Lawrence. I love what’s inside our linebacker Jaylon Smith. And man, do I like what’s inside [La’el] Collins and Tyron Smith and [Zack] Martin. And so when you put where we’re expending our dollars, talent-wise, or what’s inside them, and the tread they’ve got left on the tire, I love our core base.”

But as Cowboys fans have seen play out on the field this season, it can all change on any given snap of the ball. If Dallas loses to the Eagles on Sunday and drops to 2-6 (with the undefeated Steelers on deck), being mathematically eliminated from postseason consideration is suddenly not that far off. Then it unquestionably becomes about next year.

And with the league trade deadline looming on Tuesday, it’s do-or-die time if Jones were to try to parlay a current player into a future draft choice.

So what if a dominant player has a lights-out game that sends his trade stock soaring? What if a guy who’s struggling puts just enough highlights together to increase his value for some in-the-market contender? What if the Cowboys lose another playmaker to injury and further sink the club’s season?

In other words, will the outcome of Sunday’s meeting with Philadelphia stamp the ticket out of town for any current Cowboys players?

“I just haven’t given that a thought. If you’re talking about a phone call during the game,” Jones speculated, “or you’re talking about something that I see evaluating a player, no, I don’t see that game doing that. I don’t see injury circumstance there dictating that.”

But, still. Not actively looking to deal a player doesn’t mean Jones wouldn’t listen to an offer. To that end, the owner notes that he’s already fulfilled his civic duty of voting in Tuesday’s election, in part so he can give his undivided attention to another owner should his phone ring on the trade deadline.

Making a change to the coaching staff- as has also been theorized in print and over the airwaves this week- is apparently off the table. Jones went on to double down on his choice of Mike McCarthy, saying that the challenges of the 2020 season have made him even more sure of the staff he has in place.

“Had I known that we were going to be having the season we’re having,” Jones offered, “had I known that we were really going to take this dip that we’re having relative to where we planned to be, then I really would have been excited about hiring Mike McCarthy and putting this group of coaches together. I’ve got my man and I’ve got the way to handle through these tough times.”

Jones says he’s going to play the cards the Cowboys have. Whether that’s just a bluff… or leads to folding early and looking ahead to anteing up for a new hand next year remains to be seen.

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McCarthy hints at Lee’s return for Cowboys: ‘I like the way Sean has practiced”

The Cowboys head coach suggests veteran linebacker is close to making his 2020 debut, even if it’s not as a starter against Philadelphia.

For Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys, the work week always includes Saturday. So while the media may try to use his Friday virtual press conference as a last check-in on the team’s plans heading into gameday, the coach knows it’s way too early to make any ironclad guarantees about who’s in or who’s out 48 whole hours ahead of time.

That’s especially important for players coming back from injury, as the team’s Saturday practice session is often the deciding factor in whether or not they suit up on Sunday. The Cowboys and their fans know that linebacker Sean Lee is close to making his return to the field, but McCarthy wasn’t ready to pencil him into the lineup for Sunday night’s showdown with Philadelphia quite yet.

“We’ll see,” McCarthy told reporters from The Star in Frisco during a group call. “We’ll take the full week of preparation for any of the guys that are coming back. But I like the way Sean has practiced.”

Lee has yet to make his 2020 debut, having started the season on injured reserve due to a core injury. It was later revealed that surgeons actually had to reattach his abdominal muscles to his pelvic bone during a September procedure.

Despite how insanely traumatic that sounds (and ignoring how long it would likely take the average Joe to recover just to the point of being able to shuffle out to the mailbox), the 11-year veteran could very realistically be playing professional full-speed tackle football again on November 1.

McCarthy allowed for the possibility of subbing Lee into Sunday night’s contest, even if he’s not quite ready to get the start.

“I think, just like anything, you look at all your scenarios,” McCarthy admitted. “But until he’s been cleared by the medical staff, we can’t really entertain that decision. But that’s definitely an option.”

The Cowboys and their defense are ranked dead last in the league in rushing yards allowed and points allowed, so getting the two-time Pro Bowler they call “The General” back in the mix would be a big plus.

Even if it’s with a limited workload.

Lee still has one more day at the office to show he’s ready for the assignment.

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Cowboys’ DiNucci ready to start if needed: ‘This team drafted me for a reason’

The seventh-round draft pick saw his first NFL action in relief of Andy Dalton; he may find himself starting on Sunday versus Philadelphia.

It wasn’t how the 23-year-old rookie imagined he’d start his NFL career. In a rivalry game, on the road, down by 19 points with 21 minutes to play, with no advance notice, Ben DiNucci got the call to start throwing as medical personnel were still tending to fallen quarterback Andy Dalton.

“Very unfortunate that that had to happen for me to get in the game,” DiNucci told reporters afterward, “but no time for get nervous or any of that. [I] Put my helmet on, started warming up. My job, if I’m in there, is to do the same thing as Andy or Dak or whoever else is in there. So, no time to waste. Just have to try to pick up where they left off.”

The seventh-round draft pick got off to a rocky start when he and running back Ezekiel Elliott missed their connection on a lateral on first down. Elliott recovered the loose ball, and on second down, DiNucci delivered a 32-yard strike to wide receiver Amari Cooper for his first attempt and completion as a pro.

“First one was a bad pitch by me,” DiNucci recounted. “Ball’s a little wet; I’m not going to stand up here and make excuses. But yeah, first pitch was a little bad. The one I hit to Coop there on the sideline, they were playing Cover-2. Just kind of hit a hole shot in there to him. Heck of a play by him, got us started with a big gain. Big momentum for us; unfortunate that we weren’t able to put points on the board the rest of the day.”

DiNucci ended his debut going just 2-for-3 and tallying 39 passing yards as the Cowboys were unable to get anything started against Washington in a brutal 25-3 loss. In fact, the rookie took more sacks- three- than he had completions, thanks to the porous play of the Cowboys’ makeshift offensive line.

A far cry from where DiNucci was this time last year. Exactly 365 days prior to his first Cowboys action, DiNucci was leading the James Madison Dukes to a convincing win over 4-4 Towson.

“If you would have told me a year ago that this is where I was going to be in a year, I think I would say, ‘No way.” You’d have to pinch me. But here we are. It’s 2020. No one really knows what to expect the next day, let alone a week down the road. So here we are.”

And that’s how DiNucci found himself staring down the barrel of an oncoming Chase Young train on his very first snap. Welcome to the league, rookie.

“I think the biggest thing is, guys are just bigger than what I’m used to,” DiNucci explained. “Coming from James Madison- FCS school- you don’t see guys like Chase Young every day. But the bottom line is, football is football. It’s the same game that I’ve been playing since I’ve been in seventh grade. I couldn’t do anything else except go out there with a smile. I got in the huddle and said, ‘Let’s go. Let’s have some fun. We’ve got nothing to lose. It’s raining, there’s no one in the stands. Let’s try to create our own energy here and try to find some positives from this day and go put points on the board.'”

The offense wasn’t able to make that happen on Sunday, but DiNucci may get his next chance sooner than expected. With Andy Dalton undergoing concussion protocol and very much uncertain for the team’s Week 8 showdown with Philadelphia, DiNucci may get his first start Sunday during primetime at Lincoln Financial Field.

That’s how he’s going to prepare, at least.

“Haven’t really thought that far down the road yet,” DiNucci said after the game. “But if that’s how this thing is going to go- I’m not sure how all the protocols work and stuff of that nature- but if my number’s called, shoot, I’ll be the first one in the building tomorrow and the last one to leave. I’ve got to prepare like I have been for the last two months. Nothing changes. I’ve learned more from sitting in a room with Dak and Andy the last two months than I have playing the last eight years.”

DiNucci was able to give media members an unofficial status report on Dalton shortly after Sunday’s game went final.

“He was in the locker room. I think he’s all right. He doesn’t really remember what happened [on the hit by Washington linebacker Jon Bostic]… But he’s in good spirits.”

Tony Romo got next to no notice before replacing Drew Bledsoe in a 2006 game. Dak Prescott ascended to the starting job only after injuries sidelined Romo and Kellen Moore. Andy Dalton found himself warming up in a hurry just two weeks ago when Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury.

DiNucci could well become the latest Cowboys backup quarterback to be thrown into the proverbial fire. And the rookie looks to be the next to uphold the tradition of seizing the moment.

“This team drafted me for a reason, and Coach McCarthy brought me here for a reason. So if my number’s called in the future, I’m going to make sure that I do everything I can to keep this show on the road and make sure that other guys in the locker room have got as much faith in me as No. 4 and No. 14.”

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Eagles blogger provides fair, level-headed evaluation of Prescott-Wentz debate

It’s a debate as old as their pro careers, but one Philadelphia writer got a surprising answer when he asked which quarterback is better.

Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz will be inextricably linked for the duration of their NFL careers, whether they and their respective fanbases like it or not. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health. In deep playoff runs and terrible midseason slumps. ‘Til retirement do us part. Prescott-versus-Wentz is this generation’s Coke-or-Pepsi.

It’s natural to pit the two quarterbacks against one another head-to-head; they were drafted the same year- by bitter division rivals, no less- and handed the starter’s reins as rookies. And while one was drafted higher, has more impressive physical attributes, and owns a Super Bowl ring… the other has been on the field for every game of his tenure, has shown more dramatic improvement as a pro, and owns better statistics in nearly every meaningful category.

No matter how passionately you state your case, the other side has a valid argument of their own. It’s an evergreen debate but that didn’t stop Benjamin Solak from trying. The senior draft analyst from The Draft Network also happens to be the deputy editor of the Eagles blog Bleeding Green Nation, and he took it upon himself to step away from his personal fandom to do a comprehensive deep dive into the two rival passers in an attempt to answer the ultimate question: which quarterback is better?

It’s an exhaustive and intelligent breakdown that covers everything from the two players’ pocket management skills to their accuracy, arm strength, and anticipation. And for each, Solak provides a cut-up of game tape to highlight the argument.

As a Dallas fan, it’s easy to read portions of the piece and feel vindicated, seeing a well-established member of the Eagles media cast Prescott in such a glowing light. For example, the Mississippi State product is praised for his superior pocket presence: “Prescott is safer with the football largely because he’s able to get out of dangerous situations with more consistency,” Solak writes. “Prescott has a big edge over Wentz in generating big plays and avoiding negative plays, because of his ability to manage a typical NFL pocket.”

It must be difficult for Solak’s regular readers to stomach some of the superlatives and praise he reserves for No. 4 (as evidenced in the comment section – warning your skin will corrode), causing them to possibly wonder where the writer’s loyalty lies.

But by the same token, there are sections where Wentz is clearly the hero.

In dissecting what happens when each passer has to improvise briefly and then make a throw late: “Consider how the hitches Prescott must take limit his ability to make these throws on time and accurately. This is an issue that, again, Prescott has done admirably well to address, but still remains on his film. That is in direct contrast with Wentz, who has a government-registered rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder, and is accordingly capable of making such throws late.”

The Cowboys faithful are sure to roll their eyes as they scroll through such passages, suspecting that the writer is obviously predisposed to favor No. 11 and mentally starting to compile a list of “yeah-buts” for the comment section.

In the end, though, Solak confesses that it’s just too difficult to definitively state which quarterback is better:

“I really don’t know. I hate to disappoint you, but I really don’t. I thought Dak was better by a hair before I started, and now that I’m done, I think Wentz might be better by a hair. Perhaps if I watched another 20 games, I’d flip back the other way.”

Solak goes on to sum up what, in particular, each of the pair happens to be better at:

“Dak Prescott is a quality starting quarterback in the NFL with a high-ceiling/high-floor projection. Prescott wins with a quick release, great pre-snap recognition, and excellent movement skills to manage the pocket and minimize pressure while presenting a threat to break and run at any time. Prescott’s best throws are vertical throws that are either layered between zones or placed against man coverage to maximize a strong downfield receiving corps. The Cowboys have done well to build a strong group of route runners around Prescott to account for his unwillingness to throw to covered receivers with anticipation, and utilize the play-action game well to create vertical stretches that Prescott can read without resetting his feet, which is often the source of his inaccuracy. Prescott may never be a pinpoint passer, but he’s a clear long-term starter with admirable intangible traits.

“Carson Wentz is a quality starting quarterback in the NFL with a high-ceiling/low-floor projection due to his injury history. Wentz is an elite quarterback in terms of ball velocity, which allows him to make a wide variety of throws both in rhythm and on the move. Wentz’s ability to create explosive plays by throwing deep or into tight windows was capped last season by a milquetoast offense and poor receiving options, and he showed a concerning lack of poise and pocket presence when working under such conditions. The Eagles have failed to pair Wentz with the premier deep speed and strong catchers that a passer of his velocity and aggressiveness warrants, and have accordingly shoved him into the mold of a nickel-and-dime rhythm passer that he can fill, though it doesn’t maximize his tools. Wentz’s pre-snap determination and unwillingness to give up on a play will always lead to painful moments, but the trade-off is truly elite flashes in scramble drills and under pressure. A healthy Wentz provides a high floor to his offense, but more is needed around him for his development to continue in a positive direction.”

For fans of both the Cowboys and Eagles, Prescott-versus-Wentz will continue to be a barroom debate that only fuels the current chapter of one of the best rivalries in football. This exquisite deep dive is a must read for fans of either team, or good football in general.

It’s a rivalry that’s set to be renewed on November 1 in Philadelphia and then again with Round 2, scheduled for two days after Christmas in Arlington.

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Prescott, Wentz and Sunday’s tale of 2 quarterbacks

The Cowboys are who we thought they were. Sunday evening’s 17-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a re-run of the same 2019 episode; a team led by a quarterback and coach who haven’t found a way to get it done during big games. The Eagles played …

The Cowboys are who we thought they were. Sunday evening’s 17-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a re-run of the same 2019 episode; a team led by a quarterback and coach who haven’t found a way to get it done during big games.

The Eagles played like a shot fighter who still possessed the heart of a champion. Philadelphia entered the game with numerous key injuries and more went down throughout the game. Both starting cornerbacks, Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby, left the game due to injuries, though Mills would return. Zach Ertz and Fletcher Cox also left the game for a short period due to injury. The Eagles adopted a next-man mentality and find ways to make plays.

Philadelphia scored on their first two drives, securing a 10-0 early lead as the Cowboys started flat. Their first two drives were three and outs and QB Dak Prescott and his wide receivers never quite developed a rhythm. Ezekiel Elliott never became a factor. The Pro Bowler finished with 13 carries for 47 yards. Philadelphia loaded the box with seven to eight men and dared Prescott to beat them with his injured shoulder.

The Cowboys’ loss felt shocking. It’s almost as if they weren’t prepared or didn’t want to win ugly. The loss doesn’t eliminated the Cowboys from contention, but does Dallas really deserve a playoff spot after this season’s turmoil? One could also say that about the Eagles; however, there’s been no team with more key injuries.

America’s Game of The Week was a defining moment for both franchises. Beyond a NFC East lead (a playoff clinch for the Cowboys if they won), the outcome changes the narratives circulating around two underperforming teams and their quarterbacks.

Both 2016-drafted quarterbacks, Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz  have received their fair share of praise and criticism, especially in recent weeks. They might be the two most scrutinized play callers in the NFL, 1A and 1B.

Prescott’s statistics are amazing. His passing yards, passing yards per game, passing touchdowns, and quarterback rating are all among top five in the league. That’s extremely impressive, however he hasn’t shown he can win the games he needs to be regarded as elite as his numbers would indicate.

Despite the Cowboys appearing to be an offensive juggernaut as the number one offense in the NFL, the team entered Sunday’s game, 7-7. Prescott, the leader of the team, needed a win to stave-off more criticism and solidify his future with the team.

Wentz, on the other hand, hasn’t quite been the quarterback that graced television screens during the Eagles’ 2017-2018 Super Bowl season. Before the season-ending leg injury, fans and pundits remember his MVP performances. Furthermore, there’s the two Nick Foles’ magical playoff runs during consecutive seasons. Foles’ ability to lead the Eagles to heights Wentz didn’t was an indirect indictment on Wentz’ leadership.

In the words of Jay-Z on Grammy Freestyle “Hov got flow though he’s no Big and Pac, but he’s close. How I’m ‘posed to win, they got me fightin’ ghosts.”

Wentz has been and still is fighting ghosts, of both his pre-injury self and Foles.

His statistics and team performances would indicate he’s a middle-in-the pack quarterback who was paid too early and too much. Sunday’s game was a prove-it-ground to silent naysayers. Similarly to Prescott, a loss magnifies the pressure and the noises in his heads become louder and louder. The stakes for both quarterbacks were higher than a divisional bout for the NFC East title.

Wentz delivered a career defining performance. Devoid of his top three wide receiver weapons, Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, and Nelson Algholar, starting running back and right tackle, Jordan Howard and Lane Johnson, and losing his absolutely his favorite target for some series, Zach Ertz, he made play after play to win the game. He elevated back-ups and practice players to carry his depleted team to a win. Wentz finished 31/40 for 319 yards and one touchdown.

Unfortunately for Prescott, his performance was a bit of a letdown. Yes, Prescott was injured. Yes, the receivers dropped six passes including a Michael Gallup dropped catch that may have been a game-tying touchdown. Despite all of that, Prescott’s performance was still a letdown. He finished 25 of 44 passing for 265 yards and no touchdowns.

From the opening drive he very was inaccurate. The ball placement and velocity was very inconsistent. Too hard. Too high. Too behind. Too low. Too far. A lot of too much that resulted in too little.

It’s likely this contributed to drop passes. Wide receiver is a rhythmic position where they tend to adjust catches to how the quarterback is delivering the ball. When Prescott isn’t placing the ball how they expect it or used to, routine catches become increasingly difficult. Ironically, Wentz and his receivers struggled with this exact problem earlier in the year.

Here are some examples of Prescott and his wide receiver miscues:

There was a low bullet pass to Amari Cooper that Cooper point blanked dropped. Of course Cooper should have caught the pass, but Prescott also could have taken a little off of the throw. Another example was an underneath throw to Gallup. If Prescott hits Gallup in stride, it’s a big gain. The throw is behind Gallup. Gallup then has to break while going full speed to adjust to the inaccurate pass, contributing the dropped pass. Lastly, there’s the over throw to Tavon Austin. If Prescott delivers the pass where Austin wants it, he struts into the end zone for a touchdown.

Prescott’s mediocre performance hindered what the Cowboys wanted to do. The Eagles dared Prescott to beat them, and he failed to take advantage of a subpar secondary. The lost isn’t completely on Prescott, but he deserves a huge slice of the humble pie the Eagles served.

Prescott had more to lose than to gain. If the Cowboys won, well the Eagles were injury riddled and the Cowboys had a more talented roster. If the Cowboys lose, it’s domino effect of Cowboys’ criticism and the last and most important piece to fall is Prescott as he hasn’t yet to be truly handed the keys to franchise. Seriously, how does Jerry Jones write a blank to Prescott after another subpar performance and distraught loss in a big game? In defense of Prescott, how does he take less than Jared Goff? Let the ongoing negotiations begin. A franchise tag could be in play.

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‘Talent without a direction’, accidental tears sum up Cowboys’ state

Players and ownership expressed everything Cowboys fans have felt on Sunday, from frustration to hope to the expectation of a teary ending.

Emotions ran the gamut after Sunday’s 17-9 letdown at the hands of a severely-depleted Eagles squad. With the loss, Dallas relinquished control over their own postseason odds and now need a win over Washington as well as a Giants upset of Philadelphia on the final day of the regular season in order to sneak into the playoffs. Mathematically speaking, the Cowboys have a 28% chance of that scenario playing out, according to FPI, via ESPN.

Everything from sadness to swearing, from gobsmacked disbelief to philosophical musings, from veiled shots at the coaching staff to even a tear-filled eye and gallows humor about more crying to come: all the things Cowboys fans have felt over the course of the 2019 season? Dallas players and management expressed the same before even leaving Lincoln Financial Field.

Immediately following the loss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sounded a lot like the Cowboys faithful when he reflected on a roller-coaster season that still- especially after last week’s dismantling of the Rams- held more than a glimmer of hope of a storybook ending.

“We’ve had times this year- a lot- when we didn’t play as well as we wanted to play,” Jones told reporters in the tunnel, “but we had in mind stepping back up here and getting on a run and having some good things happen. This is a disappointing setback for that locker room and for all of us. And I know it is for the fans.”

A somber Jones cut his remarks unusually short, reportedly beating a hasty retreat to his waiting car.

Jarrett Bell of USA Today caught up with Jones, though, and captured more of the owner’s thoughts.

“It leaves, from my perspective, a lot to consider here,” Jones told Bell from his luxury SUV. “This was a little bit of a surprise. I didn’t see the Chicago Bears game coming (a 31-24 loss in Week 14), and this one was a surprise. I thought we were prepared to play. I thought we could play better out here. I’m disappointed.”

“I understand how we could come up here against a Philadelphia team that’s talented at several positions,” Jones added. “I understand how we could get into a spot to get it to this degree of importance,” Jones said. “But we shouldn’t have been here. You ought to be able to take a game like this and not let it impact you from being able to get into tournament. We just needed to come here and play well, and we didn’t.”

Cowboys fans are especially disappointed, given the talent level across the Dallas roster. Take, for example, the rushing attack. Running back Ezekiel Elliott and three of his offensive linemen were just named to the 2020 Pro Bowl. That’s four of eleven- 36% of a starting offense- considered to be the best in the NFC at their respective positions. Last week, Elliott and backfield partner Tony Pollard combined for 263 ground yards versus Los Angeles. In a win-and-in game, though, Elliott gained 47 rushing yards; Pollard netted zero.

Sunday’s performance left many shaking their heads at how the supposedly better team lost so thoroughly to a seemingly inferior opponent.

“[Expletive.] How can you say we’re a better team if we didn’t go out there and beat them?” Elliott asked at his visitors’ room locker. “When it was time to do it in crunch time? When we needed one win to solidify the division? And we couldn’t do it? I wouldn’t say that. You can’t just say that we’re a better team because we may have better players on our roster. I do believe we’re a better team, but the team that goes out there and plays best is the one that’s going to win. That’s what happened tonight.”

Wideout Amari Cooper, a three-time Pro Bowler coming off a personal performance he termed “terrible” where he and quarterback Dak Prescott missed on 8 of 12 attempts, agreed.

“It’s not what people believe,” Cooper offered to media members. “It’s about what actually happens, and tonight we lost. So it doesn’t matter if people believe we’re the better team. You have to go out there and actually win the game.”

“We didn’t get it done,” Prescott said from the podium after the game. “We’re too talented of a team and individuals to not make the plays. Starting with myself. It’s disappointing, it’s frustrating, but we all take responsibility. And as I said, it begins with me. We’re too talented. We just didn’t execute the way that we’re capable of doing. And they did.”

On the defensive side, the leaders of the Cowboys’ woefully underachieving unit also tried to put the season in perspective. The self-proclaimed Hot Boyz have done a lot of talking all year long. But as the harsh reality of a wasted season seemed to set in, the evaluations almost bordered on the poetic.

“We wanted it bad, but we came up short,” linebacker Jaylon Smith remarked in postgame interviews, “In defeat, you must learn.”

“Talent without a direction is nothing at all,” edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence said after Sunday’s loss. “It’s all about us making sure we don’t lose sight of our direction and bringing that talent all together. A lot of people out here want to split us up, and you want to talk about the wins and the losses and all that. But it comes down to us staying together and being the brotherhood that we say we are and just getting the job done.”

I thought we were prepared.

Too talented to not make the plays.

We shouldn’t have been here.

You can’t say we’re the better team just because we have better players.

Talent without a direction.

A lot to consider.

Nobody said the word “coach,” but it sure sounds like coaching is what they’re talking about.

A sizable contingent of Cowboys Nation feels as though coach Jason Garrett overstayed his welcome several seasons ago. Just two playoff wins over his decade-long tenure in Dallas has exhausted the patience of many. Calls for change have grown to a nearly-deafening volume as this season has fallen well short of expectations. But Jones has stuck with Garrett, out of an extreme sense of loyalty or desperately not wanting to rebuild from scratch or even more desperately wanting to be proven right about his hand-chosen coaching prodigy.

Even in the moments after Sunday’s devastating loss, Jones wasn’t ready to say it’s over.

“Right now and frankly, I really haven’t been thinking of that aspect of the Cowboys over this last month,” Jones insisted to Bell. “I know it’s a topic. That hasn’t been a focus. Everybody’s been asking, but it hasn’t been a focus of mine because I should and always have, at 50,000 feet, should be conscious of what’s going on in coaching – not only in the NFL, but in all areas of football.”

It hasn’t been a focus, perhaps, because the erstwhile businessman knows he can change gears from buying to selling in a heartbeat.

Bell writes:

“‘It’s not hard for me to go in two areas, regarding coaching,’ Jones said, alluding to considering candidates on the NFL and college levels, ‘whether it be coordinators, position coaches, or for that matter, head coaches. Generally, my radar is turned on. It’s not hard for me to get into thinking about coaching.'”

But the players on Jones’s payroll aren’t there yet, at least outwardly. When asked about the potential end of the postseason dream also bringing changes to the team’s leadership and staff, Elliott shook off the question.

“We’ve got to focus on finishing this season,” Elliott told reporters. “I mean, we’ve still got football left, still can make it in the playoffs. I think that’s inappropriate to even talk about.”

So the jabs and hints and insinuations come more subtly, for now. But everyone around this Cowboys team undoubtedly feels the same disappointment, the same sense of impending finality, no matter how brave a face they put on.

Prescott gave perhaps the most telling quote of the night, even though it came purely by accident. While taking questions during his postgame press conference, the fourth-year passer kept brushing at something in the corner of one eye. He squinted and tried to remove the temporary blockage with a finger.

“I got something in my eye.”

He turned away and apologized for the obvious awkwardness of the moment.

“Trust me, I’m not crying yet. Yet.”

The room laughed.

It was the kind of laugh that Cowboys fans surely recognize, the kind that comes when the once-promising season has clearly turned into a lost cause, and the end of the suffering is mercifully in sight.

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Amari Cooper says Garrett’s rotation ‘took me out’ on Cowboys’ key play

The leading wide receiver of the Dallas Cowboys was on the sideline for the biggest play of the season, and the given reasons don’t add up.

Few who know what they’re talking about when it come to football personnel doubt that the 2019 Cowboys are loaded with talent. It’s what set the bar so high coming into this season. It’s what made the team the favorite in so many games. It’s what has kept the experts picking the team to eventually turn it around against seemingly overmatched opponents. It’s what makes the current 7-8 record and sudden status as a postseason outsider so surprising.

And it’s the Cowboys’ embarrassment of riches at skill positions that makes their personnel package for the most important play of their year downright staggering. With the Week 16 game, a season sweep of the Eagles, and a playoff berth all hanging in the balance but within reach, top wideout Amari Cooper and nine-year veteran Randall Cobb were not on the field. Questions about why were met with answers that don’t quite add up… and may help seal the fate of head coach Jason Garrett.

Despite another slow start and playing from behind all afternoon, Dallas was still- perhaps inexplicably- in a position to steal a win in Philadelphia on Sunday and claim the NFC East throne. Quarterback Dak Prescott had led the offense 69 yards and were set up inside the Eagles’ 20 at the two-minute warning. After that break, Prescott was sacked for a loss of four yards. Next, Prescott and Cooper were unable to connect on a third-down deep shot to the end zone.

The following play represented the Cowboys’ last best chance. From shotgun formation on 4th and 8, Dallas lined up with running back Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield, receivers Michael Gallup and Tavon Austin split wide, and tight ends Jason Witten and Blake Jarwin working midfield.

Amari Cooper, the squad’s leading receiver with 75 receptions, 8 touchdown catches, and 1,097 yards on the season, was standing on the sideline.

“Coach just took me out,” Cooper told reporters after the game. “I had just ran a deep ball. Took me out.”

Prescott’s final throw went to Gallup in the end zone. The second-year Colorado State product made a leaping try, but Philadelphia cornerback Sidney Jones knocked the ball away. Replay officials reviewed the play for possible pass interference, as Jones had seemingly hooked one of Gallup’s arms, but the play stood without a penalty.

Gallup played well, hauling in five catches for 98 yards on the day and passing 1,000 yards on the season. He’s been a bright spot in a frustrating season, but on this critical play, he was the clear-cut number-one option for the Eagles’ secondary to cover. It left many to wonder why Cooper, a three-time Pro Bowler reportedly in line for a massive contract extension, and Cobb, specifically brought in for 2019 to be a legitimate threat from the slot, weren’t also in the huddle.

“We had an opportunity outside to [Michael Gallup],” Garrett said of the play call in his postgame press conference. “We had different routes going inside so the ball can go any of five places on that play based on the coverage they get. Obviously in those two-minute situations, those guys ran a lot of plays in a row. Each of those guys, particularly Randall, came up big at different times. We had a great matchup outside, but unfortunately we weren’t able to cash in on it.”

Cooper had just four catches in this game on 12 targets. A high quantity of drops led to some speculation that Cooper had been benched for poor play, much like cornerback Chidobe Awuzie had been earlier in the game.

Cooper is the league leader in dropped balls since 2015, according to Pro Football Focus, but Dallas knew what he was when they traded for him. Occasional drops are nothing new for Cooper. Nor is his baffling tendency to disappear in road games (although the rest of the world is just now figuring this out). No, even for the Cowboys coaching staff, the deciding play of the season would be an uncharacteristically odd time to suddenly yank Cooper for habits he’s had his entire career.

“On my behalf, I know I didn’t play my best game at all,” Cooper told the media. “It was terrible.”

The Alabama alum has been dealing with some nagging lower-body injuries this season; was there something physical limiting him on Sunday that took him off the field on that key fourth down?

“I’m good,” Cooper said afterward. “My body’s okay. You know, you have nicks and bruises at this point of the season, but in terms of anything limiting me? Nah.”

Garrett confirmed Cooper’s health status when asked. “He wasn’t [hurt]. We were rotating Tavon in there. Had a couple good opportunities with Tavon, and unfortunately, we weren’t able to cash in on them.”

Austin has made a handful of important plays for Dallas this season, none bigger than Week 15’s 59-yard touchdown versus the Rams, his only score of 2019. But with just 12 catches and 176 total receiving yards on the year, his presence over Cooper or even Cobb on the play that could have won the division is puzzling, even for a team that says it wants to attack with multiple players and in different ways.

If Cooper was on the sideline because he was winded (or because the team was stuck in hurry-up mode), why not call a timeout before the 4th-down play? The Cowboys still had all three of them at that point. A stoppage might have allowed the team time to work up a higher-percentage play, and it certainly would have given the twenty-five-year-old time to sufficiently catch his breath for one more route.

But Garrett kept the timeouts in his pocket, saving them for the defensive stand that started when the Eagles took over on downs. The Cowboys did stop the clock three times, but it only prolonged the inevitable. Dallas lost the game, control of the NFC East is no longer in their hands, and the playoffs are a long shot. Garrett’s job is in serious doubt, and he’ll be answering more questions about apparently sticking with some mysterious “rotation” instead of having his best players on the field at the most important moment.

“It’s very disappointing,” Cooper said of being held out. “Obviously, you want to be out there, try to make a play for the team.”

Cooper even seemed to have a play in mind that he felt would have worked against the Eagles defensive backs.

“Just the way they were playing, we could have ran more deep routes. I feel like the ‘go’ ball was a good route to run tonight, but we didn’t really get to it.”

Except they did get to it. It’s the route Cooper ran on third down, on the incompletion right before he reported to the sideline, according to Cooper himself.

“I had a ‘go’ ball on the play before, and I was taken out.”

Whether the main weapon of the team’s receiving corps was sidelined on the biggest play of the year because he needed a breather or because of too many drops or because it was hurry-up time or because that’s just the way the rotation happened to go in that moment, it’s one of many, many, many things that will leave an awful taste in the mouths of everyone associated with the club in 2019.

It simply makes no sense. And, like almost everything else about this Cowboys season, the more it’s dissected and picked apart and analyzed, the less sense it makes.

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Cowboys best effort tried and found wanting, lose stinker to Eagles, 17-9

The Dallas Cowboys’ offense is a darling of the analytical community. They are a top team in several advanced statistical categories from numerous outlets. Yet, with their season on the line, facing a familiar opponent who they ran roughshod over …

The Dallas Cowboys’ offense is a darling of the analytical community. They are a top team in several advanced statistical categories from numerous outlets. Yet, with their season on the line, facing a familiar opponent who they ran roughshod over earlier in the season, couldn’t manage to reach the end zone a single time. The wideouts dropped passes, the quarterback overshot wide open receivers, the coaching staff made questionable decisions and the running backs faltered.

In the end, the wounded, limping and on life-support Philadelphia Eagles emerged as the better team, clearly, and virtually locked up the NFC East for 2019. Dallas fell, 17-9 in a game that likely marked the end of the Jason Garrett era.

Both teams entered the contest with 7-7 records. The Eagles were missing their top three receivers and had a banged up secondary, with their top two corners – who weren’t very good – leaving the game as well. It didn’t matter. The Cowboys, with Dak Prescott struggling in his accuracy and having his targets drop six passes when they were remotely catchable, was not able to catch fire.

The game plan hardly called for Dallas to attack the Eagles weakness, another example of poor game planning that has befuddled those who watch this team week in, week out.

It was a miserable performance all around for the Cowboys, from offense to defense to the punt game, mixing a concoction that was no easier to swallow this week than the previous times Dallas served a similar glass to a national television audience in previous games this season.

Now 7-8, Dallas needs the Eagles to lose to the New York Giants next week while the Cowboys look to sweep the Washington Redskins in Week 17. Both now have to happen for the Cowboys to serve as what will likely be sacrificial lambs to the second-place NFC West finisher.

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