The Dallas Cowboys threw a wrench into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South division title hopes on Sunday thanks to clutch plays from the defense when it mattered the most.
Crucial Buccaneers drives were stopped dead in its tracks. In the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield was intercepted in the end zone by Jourdan Lewis. Then, as the Buccaneers tried to final some last-minute gusto, saw running back Rachaad White get stripped by DaRon Bland.
The two fourth quarter turnovers helped Dallas solidify a 26-24 win.
Cooper Rush was 26-of-35 with 292 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. CeeDee Lamb had seven catches for 105 yards. But the story of the game was the defense.
Mayfield was sacked four times to go along with the interception and White’s fumble. He had 304 passing yards and two touchdown passes but struggled to find a consistent rhythm.
Chauncey Golston, Micah Parsons, Donovan Wilson and Linval Joseph each had a sack.
The Cowboys were only held to three points in the second half but did enough to crush Tampa Bay’s hopes when it mattered the most.
Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention before the game started but they were determined enough to make it more difficult for Tampa Bay to win the NFC South.
The Buccaneers fell to 8-7 and are behind the Falcons despite having the same record. Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay twice this season.
With two games left in the regular season, the Buccaneers have the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints left on the schedule.
Longtime Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones often finds himself in front of a microphone. The billionaire typically does not shy away from sharing his thoughts on the football team he owns, but at times he will delve into other subjects.
Jones' latest routine appearance on Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan turned out to be rather unusual. At one point during the discussion, Jones revealed he enjoys consuming raccoons and squirrels.
Carolina Panthers rookie Xavier Legette's name seemed to be used as the launching point for the conversation about cuisine preferences. Jones then brought up his past experiences with the aforementioned raccoons and squirrels.
"I've eaten a lot of raccoon," Jones said seemingly in a nod to Legette's dietary preferences. "Yes, the answer is yes. I've eaten it hunting, and I've actually had it served by my mom at the table away from hunting. ... It's not uncommon at all."
Jones also recalled times when squirrels would spark family conversations about who would be able to eat certain parts of the animal.
"One of my favorites is squirrel," Jones continued. "It's wonderful, and my mother could do a great job of [preparing] it. We all had our favorite pieces. ... My mom and I would even ask for the brain in a squirrel. Delicious. Seriously."
The Cowboys enter Week 16 with a 6-8 record. Dallas hosts the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 22.
"It’s funny, nobody’s ever asked me that. Right off the bat if somebody asked me, I’d say Cowboys," Archie said in a video posted to TikTok last week.
However, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback walked back his comments about wanting Arch to play for the Cowboys on Wednesday after causing a stir on social media.
"That is something that kind of got out of hand, and I have a sports bar in New Orleans, and I was just being nice to a patron. I told him I hoped Arch would play three years of college football, and he said ‘and then maybe to the Cowboys?’ I said that’d be fine with me. I didn’t know that he was going to put that on TikTok or whatever that, I don’t what TikTok is. I didn’t know it was go viral as they say," Archie told Sports Illustrated on Wednesday.
Archie’s answer came as a surprise as Eli, his son, spent his entire career with the New York Giants, one of the Cowboys’ biggest rivals.
Additionally, the Cowboys signed Dak Prescott to a four-year, $240 million contract extension that keeps Prescott under team control through 2028. So, even if Archie got his wish, it would seem unlikely that Arch would start right away for Dallas.
Arch stepped in and started three games this season when Quinn Ewers got hurt and missed time with an oblique injury.
In addition to those three starts, Manning has appeared in seven games this season for Texas. He has completed 67.8% of his passes while throwing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns to two interceptions.
Manning has also shown an ability to run, rushing for 100 yards and four touchdowns this season. Even since Ewers has returned, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will substitute in Manning for a couple of plays that involve the quarterback running.
Manning is not eligible for the NFL Draft until 2026, but the talent he has shown in limited action has fans clamoring for Manning to quarterback their favorite team.
The next time fans might see Manning on the field is when the Longhorns play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs on Dec. 21.
New Cincinnati Bengals kicker Cade York made headlines before his debut with the team on Monday, when he revealed that his girlfriend, Zoe Dale, was a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys.
York, who took the place of an injured Evan McPherson, told reporters Friday that despite her allegiance to the Cowboys, Dale would be cheering for him.
That is exactly what she did when he made his first extra point attempt at AT&T Stadium on Monday night.
Late in the first quarter, York lined up for his first extra point of the game that would tie the score at 7-7. With a successful kick, ESPN’s broadcast captured Dale’s heartwarming reaction.
York, 23, said last week that he got the call from the Bengals a day after his girlfriend was baptized.
"I was like ‘Well, Zoe, I will see you at home no matter what.’ So yeah, it’s pretty cool."
York was 2-2 on field goals and 3-3 on extra kicks.
A botched blocked punt gave the ball back to the Bengals late in the fourth quarter, and Joe Burrow’s 40-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase gave the Bengals a much-needed win over the Cowboys after losing three straight.
"We needed a break," Burrow said after the game. "We haven’t got many this year, but it was nice to get that one and nice to come out of this with a win."
The Cincinnati Bengals have had some crushing defeats this season, but something finally went their way to cash a 27-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on "Monday Night Football."
The Bengals snapped a three-game losing streak, moving to 5-8 on the season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ win streak of two games comes to a halt and they are also 5-8 on the year.
At the two-minute warning, the Bengals were in their own zone after a potential game-winning drive went awry. Facing fourth-and-27, they had no choice but to punt, and things got much worse when Cal Adomitis blocked the punt which should’ve given the Cowboys perfect field position to take the lead late in the game.
Then, that big Bengals break came for Zac Taylor’s squad.
Amani Oruwariye thought it was smart to try and recover the bouncing ball as it was making its way downfield, but he was unable to field it cleanly.
Since it touched Oruwariye, the Bengals could recover and regain possession, and that’s exactly what happened as Maema Njongmeta fell on the ball at the Cincinnati 43-yard line to give Joe Burrow and his crew another shot at taking the lead.
Just three plays later, Burrow found ol’ reliable, Ja’Marr Chase, on a short pass where he made a Cowboys' cornerback miss, and he was off to the races for a 40-yard touchdown to make it 27-20 after the extra point.
That capped another "Monday Night Football" highlight reel for Chase, who finished the game with 177 yards on 14 catches with two touchdowns, which also included the first for the Bengals on the night.
Cooper Rush and the Cowboys did have enough time to move downfield for a potential game-tying drive. But on fourth-and-7 near midfield, Rush overshot Jake Ferguson and the ball hit the turf, sealing Dallas’ fate as a loss.
CeeDee Lamb, who scored the game’s first touchdown and had 93 yards on six catches, was jumping up and down because he was wide open in the middle of the field. Rush didn’t see him, and thus the result.
Burrow’s night was another spectacular one, as he went 33-for-44 for 369 yards with three touchdowns – the other a catch-and-run by running back Chase Brown in the first half – as well as an interception.
For the Cowboys, a positive trend continued for Rico Dowdle despite the loss, as the young running back rushed for a game-high 131 yards on just 18 carries. Since taking over the lead role in the backfield, Dowdle has really turned it on late in the season.
Both of these teams might not be in playoff position with four games remaining, but a primetime thriller was seen at AT&T Stadium where the Bengals finally tasted victory again.
The new Cincinnati Bengals kicker will be sharing the sideline with his girlfriend this upcoming Monday night.
Cade York was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday after veteran Evan McPherson was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury. York, who played alongside Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase at LSU when the Tigers won the national championship in 2019, will make his debut for the team on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys.
However, there is another familiar face he will share the field with.
"My girlfriend is actually a cheerleader for the Cowboys," York told reporters in the locker room on Thursday.
"She got baptized this Sunday. So it was awesome getting to do that, and all her teammates got to come watch and, literally, the next day I get a call that I’m going to work out for the Bengals, and they’re playing on Monday.
"I was like ‘Well, Zoe, I will see you at home no matter what.’ So yeah, it’s pretty cool."
According to her Instagram, Zoe Dale has been a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader since July 2023.
"I am so unbelievably humbled to announce that I am a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader," she wrote in a post at the time. "Thank you to everyone who has helped, encouraged, and supported me during this journey. I am blessed to be a part of such a prestigious organization that withholds such iconic history.
"Without the support of my family, friends, and the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this by myself. I am ever so grateful for what God has provided and the women he has brought into my life. Thank you for the countless prayers, thoughts, and love during this process."
York, who last played this season for the Washington Commanders in Week 1, said despite her allegiance to the Cowboys organization, "She’s gonna be cheering for me."
"She’s already told me second quarter and fourth quarter is when she’s on the visitor side. I’ll have to sneak her a couple of smiles," York added with a smile.
York, 23, was traded to the Commanders in August but cut after missing two field goals in Washington’s season opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott may be locked in for the future after signing a lucrative extension this past offseason, but with five games remaining on the schedule, head coach Mike McCarthy's future in "Jerry's World" remains to be seen.
If it were up to Prescott, McCarthy would return in 2025.
Prescott isn't able to run McCarthy's offense on gameday after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury, a main reason why Dallas isn't going to replicate another 12-5 season for the fourth straight season.
But he believes in McCarthy's leadership, enough so that he basically endorsed owner Jerry Jones extending his contract following the 2024 regular season.
"Your coach seems like he's playing on his last contract and [I'm] almost feeling helpless like I can't help him in this situation, especially a guy you believe in so much and you believe in being your head coach," Prescott told Yahoo Sports. "Control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can."
As the Cowboys' season was spiraling out of control before ripping off back-to-back wins, most recently against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day, McCarthy's tenure as head coach in Dallas appeared all but done.
However, Jones did say last week that it wouldn't be "crazy" to think McCarthy could return for his sixth season and even more after that.
It's something Prescott loved to hear.
"I believe in him wholeheartedly," Prescott explained. "I don't want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously, but I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to said it."
The main argument for McCarthy staying is three straight 12-5 seasons before this rollercoaster year, two of which resulted in NFC East division titles. He also has a Super Bowl under his belt from coaching the Green Bay Packers, led by then-quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
However, Cowboys fans know their rosters have been good enough for more than just a playoff berth — they want that elusive Super Bowl appearance, let alone the Vince Lombardi Trophy, that hasn't come since 1995.
The Cowboys were upset by the Packers at AT&T Stadium to end their playoff run last season, leaving much up for question with Prescott and McCarthy heading into the 2024 season on their last year of their deals.
But, much like those Packers, momentum to finish a season can be a difference maker, especially in a league where everyone is playing for that next contract no matter the team's record.
It's improbable, but does McCarthy keeping the Cowboys in the playoff conversation until the final week of the season show that he can battle through adversity? Jones did say this week that he's "steady as a rock," and there are winnable games left on the schedule.
It starts with the Cincinnati Bengals at home on "Monday Night Football" in Week 14 followed by the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and ending in Week 18 with the Washington Commanders.
McCarthy knows what's at stake, but his franchise quarterback is going to bat for him even if he can't be under center the rest of the way in 2024.
Darwin Vander Esch, the father of former Dallas Cowboys star Leighton Vander Esch, was arrested over the weekend on domestic violence-related charges, according to online records.
The 61-year-old was arrested just after midnight Sunday after law enforcement in Idaho received a report of an alleged domestic battery.
Darwin Vander Esch was arrested for felony attempted strangulation, misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor intentional destruction of a telecommunication device, according to online records from the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office,
The circumstances of the alleged incident were not immediately clear.
Earlier this year, Leighton Vander Esch announced his retirement from the NFL after a series of neck injuries.
The 28-year-old linebacker sustained a season-ending neck injury during the team’s Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last season. It was the third time in six seasons he played in 10 games or fewer.
"I realize that I am no longer able to adhere to the unwavering standard of excellence that professional football demands. I say this with a heavy heart: I am medically retiring from the NFL. I love the game of football so much, but my body won't cooperate any longer," he said at the time.
"I cherished every moment of my NFL career, and it has been such a blessing to play the game for as long as I have played. This year, things may look a little different for me, but the sole focus is being a great husband and father for my loving family."
The Cowboys selected Vander Esch with the No. 19 overall pick of the 2018 draft, but, in his second season, he had a nerve issue in his neck that cost him the final few weeks of the season. The 2020 season was also derailed because of a similar issue, but he was able to return that year.
In 2023, he sustained another neck injury before managing to return for the playoffs.
Mike McCarthy's job security has been a topic of conversation all season long.
The Dallas Cowboys' struggles this season have appeared to amplify the noise surrounding the head coach. The Cowboys did manage to upset the Washington Commanders in Week 12 before following up that performance with a 27-20 win over the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day.
McCarthy is in the last year of his contract, and it remains unclear whether longtime team owner Jerry Jones would opt to bring him or any members of the current coaching staff back. However, in the midst of the uncertainty and criticism, NFL icon Tom Brady voiced his support of McCarthy.
"Oh, I think Coach McCarthy is a great coach. His 18th season as a head coach," Brady said on Thursday. The seven-time Super Bowl winner also lauded McCarthy's leadership and play-calling skills.
"He's a leader of men. But not only as a play-caller, he’s a developer of players, of talent, of quarterbacks."
McCarthy helped lead the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl title, and Brady pointed out the coach's "championship DNA."
"He’s got a very consistent personality to him. He won in Green Bay. He’s got a championship DNA. I think he’s one of the better coaches in the NFL, absolutely."
Victories over Washington and New York improved the Cowboys' record to 5-7. While the Cowboys are not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the team has a challenging road ahead.
Dak Prescott will not be returning to the lineup until next season due to a hamstring injury. Star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb sustained a shoulder injury during Dallas' win over the Giants on Thursday and is listed as questionable ahead of next week's game.
While running back Rico Dowdle finished the Thanksgiving Day game with 112 yards on the ground, the Cowboys overall rushing production remains an issue.
During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, Jones was asked if offering McCarthy a contract extension was something that he would consider questionable.
"I don't think that's crazy at all. That's not crazy," Jones said. "Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach. ... Mike McCarthy has been there, done that. He's got great ideas. So the bottom line is, in no place in my body language or anything else, have you seen an indication about what we're going to be doing relative to this staff at the end of this year. And we shouldn't. We've got a lot of football left."
No matter who starts at quarterback for the New York Giants, it isn't going to go well.
"Big Blue" fell to their NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, 27-20.
The Giants marched down the field on their first drive of the game, going 13 plays and 70 yards to go up 7-3 early. However, after allowing another field goal, Drew Lock threw a pick-six on the first play of his next drive.
The G-Men then punted on three of their next four drives as the Cowboys took a 13-10 lead into the locker room.
The Giants got the ball to begin the second half, but on just the third play, Lock lost a fumble, and Dallas took advantage. Six plays later, after narrowly escaping a turnover of their own, Cooper Rush found Brandin Cooks for a score. New York then went three-and-out, and it was a nine-play touchdown drive for the Cowboys with Rico Dowdle finding the end zone to go up 27-10 late in the third.
New York kicked a field goal early in the fourth, and after keeping Dallas off the scoreboard, Lock ran for a touchdown with a little more than two minutes to go. However, the Giants couldn't get the ball back, and the Cowboys kneed out the clock to win the game.
Lock got the start after Tommy DeVito, who started last week despite Lock originally being the season-long backup after Daniel Jones’ release, was ruled inactive due to a forearm injury. He was 21-for-32 for 178 yards with a pick and a fumble, but he was also the team's leading rusher with 57 yards.
Dallas’ victory came at a cost as CeeDee Lamb left the game with a shoulder injury. He had two catches for 39 yards.
Malik Nabers also made history. He now has the most catches (75) in a player’s first 10 games in the league ever, beating former Giant Odell Beckham Jr.'s record of 71. He finished with eight catches for 69 yards.
This marked the third time in as many games the Giants had a different starting quarterback, a far cry from Eli Manning starting every game for nearly 13 years.
Dallas has now won 20 of their last 24 games against the Giants and each of their last eight. (The Cowboys also beat the Giants on Thanksgiving two years ago.) Dowdle ran for 112 yards on his 22 carries, one of which was a score.
The Giants are now 2-10 as they continue to trend toward owning the first overall pick. The Cowboys, meanwhile, improved to 5-7 and have won two in a row.
New York hosts the Saints next Sunday, while the Cowboys stay home as the Cincinnati Bengals come to town.
Thanksgiving Day wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a full slate of NFL games.
The football tradition returns with the main course: the Detroit Lions, who host the Chicago Bears on Thursday afternoon. The Lions have played every year dating back to 1934 and hope to pick up their first Turkey Day win in nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, who have been playing on Thanksgiving Day since 1966, return to take on their NFC East rival, the New York Giants. The Green Bay Packers close out the day against the Miami Dolphins, who put a stamp on the holiday last season when they defeated the New York Jets to win the league’s first-ever Black Friday game.
For an extra serving of football, the NFL has scheduled another Black Friday matchup, this time between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Read below for more on this year’s Thanksgiving schedule.
The Lions open Thursday’s slate with a game against the Bears at home in what will be the organization’s 85th game on Thanksgiving Day since 1934. The Lions are 0-3 against the Bears in their last three meet-ups on the big day, and they haven’t won a Thanksgiving Day game since 2016. But this year could be different.
Detroit is 10-1, having won every single game since their Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Bears are hoping to tap into their previous luck and end their five-game slide.
With injuries plaguing the Lions this week, the player to watch will be star running back David Montgomery as he faces his former team. The Bears, who have lost three of their last five games on the final play, won’t have room for error if they want to stop the Lions’ stellar run game.
The Cowboys host the struggling Giants at home on Thursday, but it’s not the home-field advantage fans are expecting to see.
Despite winning 14 of their last 15 matchups, the Cowboys are 0-5 this season at AT&T Stadium, and a win in what will be the organization’s 57th Thanksgiving Day game could be exactly what they need to keep building momentum after snapping a five-game losing streak with a win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
The Giants enter Thursday’s matchup with more questions surrounding the quarterback position even after releasing Daniel Jones last week. Fan-favorite Tommy DeVito walked away from his first start this season with a sore throwing arm. He is questionable for Thursday, while Drew Lock readies for what could be his first start this season.
When: Thanksgiving Day, 4:30 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium
Where to watch: FOX
The Packers headline Thursday’s slate with a prime-time match up against the Dolphins in what could be freezing temps. The weather forecast for Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field is expected to be in the 30s with lows in the mid-20s, but the cold weather comes amid a hot streak for Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Big wins over the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders saw Tagovailoa throw seven touchdown passes without an interception, and now the team is in the hunt for its fourth straight win and a spot in the playoffs.
But the Packers have won their last three matchups against the Dolphins and are looking to make it four with their second consecutive Thanksgiving game. Green Bay is 4-0 against AFC teams this season.
Dallas Cowboys fans who will be in attendance for the team's Thanksgiving game against the New York Giants are choosing to spend dinner time of their holiday watching two of the league's worst teams.
They'll be there, some leaving their families at home, to support the most disappointing Cowboys team since 2020. And the organization will be feeding fans a specially curated Thanksgiving spread that includes burgers and egg rolls loaded with gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
"Think Thanksgiving egg roll style," Stadium Chef Heather Fuller told FOX 4 in November 2023. "It’s got everything some of these other items have. It’s just in egg roll form, and then you dip it in the gravy and eat it. So, it’s something fun, something different and something very unique. So, we’re excited to be able to roll that out this year."
The egg roll is making a return to the team's Thanksgiving lineup this year, but this year it will also include macaroni and cheese and other ingredients, according to KDAF 23.
The team is also offering a pie stuffed with turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce and a sandwich that includes smoked turkey, mac and cheese, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce and gravy.
To top it all off, the team will be serving chicken nuggets in the shape of stars.
But it might not all go down as easily for fans as they watch their team take the field during a forgettable season.
The fans won't be watching star quarterback Dak Prescott and will have to settle for backup Cooper Rush as they look to improve on a 4-7 start to the season.
Prescott underwent season-ending surgery, and Rush helped Dallas win its fourth game of the season against Washington Sunday. The Cowboys still need one more win to avoid their worst record in a season since 1989.
Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million contract — the most lucrative in NFL history — hours before the season opener against the Cleveland Browns Sept. 8. The team previously made wide receiver CeeDee Lamb the league's highest-paid player at the position with a new contract ahead of the season.
Despite all that money spent on offense, Prescott, statistically, was off to one of his worst starts passing. With eight interceptions in eight games, Prescott recorded the worst passer rating and second-worst interception percentage of his career in a single season.
And as the team has faltered, many around the NFL and sports media have used the Cowboys' failure as a springboard for comedy.
Former Broncos Super Bowl champion and current ESPN host Shannon Sharpe blasted the Cowboys in an episode of the "Nightcap" podcast.
"I would’ve left the stadium with a bag over my head. Ain’t no way you’ll see me leaving the stadium when I got beat like that. After I’ve gotten beat like that every game. … And you do this?" Sharpe said.
"It’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to the fans who pay their hard-earned money. But you know what, it couldn’t happen to a better franchise. Because all that owner do is run his mouth and talk about what they’re gonna do. … And all their players do, because they take it from the owner, is run their mouth — and they ain’t won dog crap. None of them."
Legendary former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning piled on during a bit while hosting the Country Music Awards recently.
Manning and CMA co-hosts Lainey Wilson and Luke Bryan made a reference to "Cowboys Cry Too," Kelsea Ballerini's hit song with Noah Kahan.
"But enough about Jerry Jones," Manning said.
The Cowboys have won their last two games on Thanksgiving and will be facing a Giants team that is 2-9 and could be in line to play its third quarterback of the season, Drew Lock.
Speculation has swirled around Mike McCarthy's job security all season long.
The Dallas Cowboys struggles this season have appeared to amplify the noise surrounding the head coach. The Cowboys did manage to upset the Washington Commanders this past Sunday, but the team's overall record sits at 4-7. Dallas is still projected to land a top-12 draft pick.
McCarthy is in the last year of his contract, and it remains unclear whether longtime team owner Jerry Jones would opt to bring him or any members of the current coaching staff back. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, Jones was asked if offering McCarthy a contract extension was something that he would consider questionable.
"I don't think that's crazy at all. That's not crazy," Jones said. "Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach. ... Mike McCarthy has been there, done that. He's got great ideas. So the bottom line is, in no place in my body language or anything else, have you seen an indication about what we're going to be doing relative to this staff at the end of this year. And we shouldn't. We've got a lot of football left."
McCarthy dismissed questions about Jones' comments, citing preparations for the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the New York Giants.
"I really haven't talked about it all year and definitely not going to start on a short week and an important division game," he said. "But I'm not going to throw away positive vibes, either. So keep them coming. It's all good. But, yeah, that's not something I'm really focused on."
The Cowboys lost quarterback Dak Prescott to injury earlier this month, but Jones pointed out some reasons for optimism. Dallas wide receiver Brandin Cooks and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will soon be eligible to return from injured reserve. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Zack Martin and tight end Jake Ferguson are expected to return soon.
The Cowboys are in third place in the NFC East standings.
Dallas has not been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. However, clinching a wild-card spot seems unlikely. Regardless, one thing Dallas will not be doing is tanking games down the stretch for the sake of better NFL Draft positioning.
"I just think the game is too important. The win is too important," Jones said. "You look at a coach and, boy, a coach is sitting there, don't think they don't add up their wins and losses during their career, and they don't like to have a loss on there if they can just ask for it. And so my point is, for all of us, a win is a very satisfying thing under any circumstance, and it helps you build. And so there's a lot of ambiguity with those draft picks. As you know, I've had draft picks that were extraordinarily high that didn't work. I've had them low that knocked it out of the park. And so you've got to weigh what happens when you get the picks and the odds of you knocking one out of the park there as well, as opposed to winning a game."
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders, 34-26, on Sunday in their Week 12 NFC East battle. And that’s probably the easiest way to describe what occurred in the game
The score was 3-3 at halftime and Dallas took a 10-9 lead with 4:40 left in the third quarter when Cooper Rush found Jalen Tolbert for a 6-yard touchdown. It seemed like it was going to be a defensive battle with no real scoring going on for either team.
The Cowboys took a 20-9 lead over the Commanders after Rush found tight end Luke Schoonmaker for a 22-yard touchdown. It seemed like it was enough for the Cowboys to close out the game as there was only 5:16 left.
Jayden Daniels sparked a roaring comeback. He found Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to three.
Dallas struck back with a special teams play. Austin Seibert kicked the ball down the field. Returner KaVontae Turpin fumbled the ball initially, picked it up, made a spin move and then was gone. He galloped 99 yards for the score and the Cowboys had a 10-point lead.
The Commanders drove down the field in six plays to set up Seibert for a 51-yard field goal. Dallas went three-and-out on its next possession. But inexplicably made a bad mistake on defense.
Daniels found wide receiver Terry McLaurin and the veteran found space around Cowboys defenders and took the ball into the end zone. One play, 86 yards. Washington could have tied the game but Seibert missed the point-after attempt. The Commanders were down 27-26.
Seibert tried the onside kick to recover it, but the ball bounced to Dallas player Juanyeh Thomas, who for some reason returned the ball 43 yards for a touchdown. It gave the Commanders one final drive. It would have been an even bigger calamity if Daniels found similar magic as he did against the Chicago Bears.
Luckily, for the Cowboys, Daniels’ Hail Mary attempt was batted down and the Cowboys picked up the win.
The two teams combined for 31 points in the fourth quarter.
Rush was solid enough to get the win for the Cowboys. He was 24-of-32 with 247 passing yards and two touchdown passes. Schoonmaker had three catches for 55 yards. Tolbert had two catches for 22 yards.
CeeDee Lamb led Dallas with 10 catches for 67 yards.
The Commanders had three turnovers. Daniels had two interceptions – one to Chauncey Golston and the other to Israel Mukuamu. Commanders tight end John Bates also fumbled.
The rookie quarterback was 25-of-38 with 275 yards and two touchdown passes. He also led the team with 74 rushing yards and had a rushing touchdown.
McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards.
Dallas improved to 4-7 on the season and Washington fell to 7-5.
With Dak Prescott out for the season, the Dallas Cowboys have been starting Cooper Rush, leaving fans begging for Dallas to sign the new free agent.
And fans briefly thought they had their wish.
For a few moments after Jones was released, he oddly had his own player profile page included on the Dallas Cowboys' roster on the team's official website.
Perhaps it was a bug because the issue was resolved quickly. But the Cowboys have not responded to a request for comment about why it happened in the first place.
Nonetheless, many still want to see the Cowboys do the unthinkable, especially considering the two NFC East rivals play on Thanksgiving.
Added NFL Network's Michael Florio, "Daniel Jones clears waivers, signs with the Cowboys and we get Dimes vs Cutlets on Thanksgiving Who says no?"
Giants team owner John Mara said the parties mutually agreed to let Jones go.
"Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way. His handling of this situation yesterday exemplifies just that. We are all disappointed in how things have worked out. We hold Daniel in high regard and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future," Mara said in a statement.
"There have been some great times, but of course we all wish there had been more of those. I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. Nobody wanted to win more games worse than me, and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation," Jones said Thursday after his final practice as a Giant.
"Of course, this season has been disappointing for all and, of course, I wish I could have done more. I'm 100% accountable for my part. I did not play well enough consistently enough to help the team get results."
Jones, less than two years after signing a four-year, $160 million deal, leaves the Giants with a 24-44-1 record in the regular season and 1-1 record in the playoffs.
Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterback Dak Prescott admitted just how bad his team's failed season has made him feel about himself.
Prescott told The Dallas Morning News this week he couldn't hold back the emotion or the tears when he sat down and realized just how bad his team really is.
"The other day, after the game, I guess, it all just hit me," Prescott said of the experience shortly after his team was blown out by the Houston Texans Monday night. "Boom, right. A couple of tears came down.
"This is going to hurt. It's going to suck at times. You just have to understand this is one of the moments that it does. I don't want anything right now other than to let it suck. It's understanding and being able to voice that, 'Yeah, I'm blessed to be where I'm at.'"
The 31-year-old, two-time NFL playoff game winner has been out for the season since injuring a hamstring in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. Prescott says nearly all the tendons connecting his hamstring to his pelvis tore off, and there is only one left.
"It started to lift off the bone even more," Prescott said. "That one was doing all the work, and now it was compromised. Hell, I had a week of not even playing football, just walking and normal movement and that was tearing it."
Prescott underwent season-ending surgery, which was announced by owner Jerry Jones Nov. 12. In Prescott's absence, backup quarterback Cooper Rush has only made things worse for the spiraling Cowboys. The team is on pace for its worst season in 35 years.
They have just three wins. And if they don't win at least two of their last seven games, it will be their worst winning percentage in a season since their one-win campaign in 1989.
The team's 3-7 start is its worst since 2020, and Prescott, statistically, was off to one of his worst starts as a passer. With eight interceptions in eight games, Prescott recorded the worst passer rating and second-worst interception percentage of his career in a single season.
And it all started right after Prescott signed the most lucrative contract in NFL history. His representatives announced he agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract just hours before the season opener against the Cleveland Browns Sept. 8.
Now, many around the NFL and sports media have used the Cowboys failure as a springboard for comedy.
Former Broncos Super Bowl Champion and current ESPN host Shannon Sharpe blasted the Cowboys on his latest episode of the "Nightcap" podcast.
"I would’ve left the stadium with a bag over my head. Ain’t no way you’ll see me leaving the stadium when I got beat like that. After I’ve gotten beat like that every game. … And you do this?" Sharpe said.
"It’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to the fans who pay their hard-earned money. But you know what, it couldn’t happen to a better franchise. Because all that owner do is run his mouth and talk about what they’re gonna do. … And all their players do, because they take it from the owner, is run their mouth — and they ain’t won dog crap. None of them."
Legendary NFL quarterback Peyton Manning was one of the most prominent figures to weigh in. During a bit hosting the Country Music Awards Wednesday night, Manning joked that Prescott isn't the only Cowboy to cry this year, pointing to owner Jerry Jones.
Manning and CMA co-hosts Lainey Wilson and Luke Bryan made a reference to "Cowboys Cry Too," Kelsea Ballerini's hit song with Noah Kahan.
"But enough about Jerry Jones," Manning said.
ESPN star Stephen A. Smith said Tuesday he had President Biden on his mind when he watched the Dallas Cowboys owner talk to reporters after the team's loss to the Houston Texans.
Smith added that the Cowboys have been so bad this year, he can't celebrate it as effusively as he normally might. They're so bad it makes him "sad," he said. Smith said players like Micah Parsons look like they are about to "see a therapist" because they're "depressed."
"I’m getting very, very worried about Jerry Jones because the only thing that’s worse than the team’s play is his press conferences, or whatever you want to call it, when he is in front of the reporters, where he says one thing after another after another," Smith said. "I find myself thinking about Joe Biden before he backed out of running for re-election."
Even Cowboys Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman suggested head coach Mike McCarthy will be gone after this year.
"Mike McCarthy’s a good football coach," Aikman said during ESPN's broadcast of the Cowboys' loss to the Houston Texans Monday night. "He’s proven that at Green Bay. He’s proven it here. You win 12 games three years in a row, you’re doing something right. But he didn’t get a contract extension after he had done that. It’s hard to imagine him getting one now."
But even with all the bad press and losing, Prescott still says this year has been "one of the best" of his life off the field because he hasn't let the team's failures bring down his spirits.
"Off the field, it's been some of the most joyous times I ever could have imagined, dreamed of. Having a child, getting engaged, starting a family. But, then, on the football field, it's probably been as tough of a season as I've ever had. I'd probably say the toughest."
The Dallas Cowboys may finish with their worst season in 35 years.
They have just three wins. And if they don't win at least two of their last seven games, it will be their worst winning percentage in a season since their one-win campaign in 1989.
Their 3-7 start is their worst since 2020, star quarterback Dak Prescott is out for the year after signing the biggest contract in league history and reports are surfacing that head coach Mike McCarthy is bound to be fired.
It's a time of mockery and spiteful celebration in many circles of football fans across the country. One pocket of those fans took the stage during the Country Music Awards (CMAs) on Wednesday night.
Manning finished his career with a 3-2 record against the Cowboys. In his final victory against "America's Team," Manning outdueled Dallas quarterback Tony Romo in a 51-48 thriller, throwing for over 400 yards and four touchdowns.
Manning isn't the only legendary quarterback to shade the Cowboys this week.
Dallas Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman suggested McCarthy will be gone after this year.
"Mike McCarthy’s a good football coach," Aikman said during ESPN's broadcast of the Cowboys' loss to the Houston Texans on Monday night. "He’s proven that at Green Bay. He’s proven it here. You win 12 games three years in a row, you’re doing something right. But he didn’t get a contract extension after he had done that. It’s hard to imagine him getting one now."
Another retired Cowboys fan favorite ripped his former team and the current coach after the Houston loss.
"I’m the [Cowboys] to the heart. If I’m the Cowboys, I’d fire everyone after this season," Dallas great Dez Bryant posted on X during the 34-10 loss to Houston. "There’s young, hungry talent in the upcoming draft."
Jones was asked whether McCarthy was losing the team’s confidence, but he dismissed those concerns.
"That ‘losing the team’ stuff, that’s so overblown," Jones said, via ESPN. "These guys are so— first of all, they’re natural competitors. Secondly, they’re so proud of the fact that they are professional and disappointed in maybe the way they executed the play, but that’s not anything that’s brother or first cousin to give up.
"Everybody’s certainly disappointed, but that’s a big difference in not knowing that you got to put the foot in front of the other to go."
Struggling NFL teams looking to poach their next head coach from the college football circuit can count Colorado’s Deion Sanders out after the Buffaloes head coach addressed the recent speculation linking him to one of his former teams at a press conference on Tuesday.
Only two NFL teams have called it quits with their respective head coaches this season, but Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has found himself in the hot seat following their fifth-straight loss to the Houston Texans on Monday night.
Sanders' name has recently been floated — Cowboys great Michael Irvin was the latest to suggest the move on X, but Sanders shut down those rumors this week.
"I’m happy where I am, man. I’m good," he told reporters during his weekly press conference ahead of Colorado’s game against Kansas on Saturday.
"I’ve got a kickstand down. You know what a kickstand is? A lot of people in here are not of age, they don’t know what a kickstand is. It means I’m resting, I’m good, I’m happy, I’m excited, I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here. I truly do. Next question."
Despite their struggles, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones essentially ruled out firing McCarthy midseason when he spoke to reporters on Monday.
"I've made a change early and on a coach with Chan Gailey [when he went 18-14 in 1998 and 1999 combined], and I've always regretted that. I've made a change during the season (with Wade Phillips in 2010), and I've regretted that," Jones said, via CBS Sports. "That's the music I'm listening to."
Monday’s loss marked Dallas' longest losing streak since a seven-game slide in 2015. They are 0-5 at home for the first time since 1989, and they become the first team in NFL history to trail by at least 20 points in six straight home games.
McCarthy might be safe until the end of the season, but if the Cowboys can’t turn it around, his future in Dallas could be in trouble.
Trey Lance was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, when he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers to potentially be the future of the franchise.
The 49ers moved up from the No. 12 slot to the third pick in a trade with the Miami Dolphins to draft Lance. However, the moving and shaking did not turn out the way the 49ers had hoped – at least in Lance’s case. He started four games for San Francisco and was 2-2.
Lance suffered a few injuries, and Brock Purdy eventually emerged as the team’s starting quarterback. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 and has sat as the third string quarterback behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.
Even with Prescott finished for the 2024 season and Rush not performing well, team owner Jerry Jones said he does not want to see Lance in the game.
"I thought Rush actually had improvement last night from the game before. He didn’t have far to go to get improvement, but I did think he had improvement," Jones said in an interview on 105.3 The Fan.
"And frankly, there were times in that ballgame that I thought it was really coming to it. And we know that we’ve got limited time to work with these quarterbacks at this particular time, and I would look for us to stay with the experience."
Jones added that he does not think the Cowboys missed when they traded a mid-round pick for him and said he thought Lance has "improved dramatically" since the trade, according to Yahoo Sports.
"You’ve got to get out there, and you’ve got to play. We have thought it was just too important for us to have him at rookie quarterback in these last two ballgames, because we need to win to that degree and give ourselves every chance we can."
Lance has 818 passing yards and five touchdown passes in nine total games. He made an appearance with the Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was 4-of-6 for 21 yards and threw an interception.
Deion Sanders has turned the University of Colorado football team around, and his next stop could be the NFL.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Coach Prime went to Colorado and improved the Buffaloes from one to four wins. This season, the Buffaloes control their own destiny to get into the College Football Playoff.
With several NFL head coaching jobs expected to be open, Sanders could be a hot commodity, and one of those vacancies could be in Dallas, where Sanders played for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys now have a lost season with Dak Prescott out, and it's becoming a matter of when, not if, Jerry Jones will let head coach Mike McCarthy go.
Cowboys legend Michael Irvin seemed to imply he was doing some matchmaking over the weekend.
"I spent Friday night with Jerry Jones. I spent Saturday with x.com/DeionSanders. I spent Sunday with the lord PRAYING for ???? ????? (GUEST WHAT) Now after what the @dallascowboys look like on Monday Night Football. I must work harder!!!!!" Irvin posted on X earlier Tuesday.
Irvin was spotted with Jones at AT&T Stadium during the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight. Sanders' Colorado squad then faced Texas Tech in Lubbock, a short flight from Dallas.
While appearing on "The Herd" Tuesday, Irvin was asked if Sanders would have interest in coaching the Cowboys if they drafted his son, Shedeur.
"I believe 100%. And I can tell you, good sources have told me that. Great sources have told me that. That's all I can say without violating anything else," Irvin said.
It would be surprising if the Cowboys were to make that pick. They just signed Prescott to a four-year extension that goes into effect next year. And as bad as they are right now, they would have to "hurdle" plenty teams for the top pick. Sanders is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick.
But that's not stopping Irvin from doing some recruiting.
