Notable headlines surrounding America’s team.
This is the Cowboys offense’s best chance without Dak Prescott- Reid Hanson, Cowboys Wire
The Cowboys must lean on Rush’s strengths over the back stretch of the season.
In situations such as this it will be tempting for the Cowboys to take shots down the field. That’s not only unnecessary, but it asks Rush to succeed in an area of personal weakness. Based on FTN Data shown by Doug Analytics, Rush has thrown catchable deep balls on less than 30 percent of his attempts this season. He’s also bottom three in attempts and catchability percentage.
PFF tracking shows Rush has attempted 16 passes of 20 or more yards and completed just four of them for a 25 percent completion rate. One of those passes qualified as a big-time throw and one pass qualified as a turnover worthy throw. It’s arguably the biggest inefficiency in his game, making the case for McCarthy to avoid deep passes with Rush at the helm.
Even in the 10–19-yard range Rush has struggled in 2024. His completion percentage sits at just 40 percent and this intermediate range grades as his poorest on the field with him throwing three times as many turnover worthy throws than big time throws.
For as much as the Cowboys running game and defense have struggled in 2024, they are areas Dallas simply has to lean on in order to win games. Combined with a dink and dunk passing attack that plays inside the numbers, the Cowboys are best positioned to win games behind Rush at QB.
Week 14 Injury Report: Cowboys hope to have All-Pro return tomorrow – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star
Dallas might finally get to see the Diggs-Bland combo in 2024.
Questionable:
CB Trevon Diggs (Knee)
T Tyler Guyton (Ankle/Knee)
Let’s be honest here, Trevon Diggs needs to play in this football game if they want any chance at winning.
DaRon Bland is not enough against Joe Burrow, Chase and that group. Cinicy defense is awful, but that side of the ball is scoring 35 plus a game.
It has been a tough season for the Cowboys secondary with Diggs and top cornerbacks DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, and Caelen Carson all dealing with injuries this season.
Mike McCarthy hinted Diggs could suit up on Monday night after the progress he has made throughout the week.
“He’s making progress. He had a good day today,” McCarthy said, adding, “I thought it was clearly one of our best practices of the year.”
Diggs is going to be needed in this matchup, and he has not step foot on the field since Bland has returned, so it would be nice to see both All-Pros on the field at the same time, and this would be the perfect time for it to happen.
Gut Feeling: Predictions for Cowboys-Bengals- Staff, DallasCowboys.com
What will happen on Monday night?
Patrik: This is a tough one to call. On one hand, the Bengals’ defense is abhorrent and that is not an exaggeration. That unit is statistically one of the worst not only this season, but in the history of the league and most certainly over the past five NFL seasons. On the other hand, Joe Burrow and his band of unmerry men are torching scoreboards, and you have to defend every blade of grass against them. Even if Trevon Diggs returns to finally form the trio with DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis, the task is tall. If he doesn’t, it becomes that much more daunting. That means the name of this game, for the Cowboys, will to control time of possession with an offensive rushing attack (hi, Rico) and to play off of that to neutralize the only weapon the Bengals have defensively (Trey Hendrickson) and Burrow’s onslaught by keeping him on the sideline. Do that, and you eek out a third consecutive win. Don’t do it and you’ll get 50 points dropped on your head, and this Cowboys’ offense isn’t one that’s shown it can win that kind of a shootout. My prediction will be based on one thing and one thing only: the Cowboys’ hammering at them with Dowdle and sacking Burrow at least three times. If they don’t, it’s gonna get ugly. 24-21, Cowboys
Micah Parsons is latest Cowboys star to publicly endorse Mike McCarthy- Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated
Players continue to back McCarthy.
Parsons says McCarthy deserves a “fair chance” to coach a season that isn’t marred by injuries.
“I think I would like a fair shot with everyone back — players, coaches — because the injuries kind of struck of what this season could really be,” Parsons said, per Todd Archer of ESPN. “The injuries have been terrible. And, you know, it really sucks. Seeing Zack [Martin], D-Law [DeMarcus Lawrence] not having the year I know he planned to have. He had such a great start. It really sucks.”
While Parsons shared his thoughts on McCarthy, he made it clear that the decision is ultimately up to Jerry Jones.
“In terms of coaching, man, Coach Mike, me and his relationship has always been really good,” Parsons added. “He always took real good care of me. I just don’t know how the how the business side of it’s going to go, you know? [Owner and general manager Jerry Jones] has his own mindset about who he wants to coach. This is his team. I’m kind of just, like, a pawn in this business.”