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By Jon Machota
4h ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Thursday night looked similar to what the Cowboys have put on display since Thanksgiving. They played well enough to win, yet nothing close to what they showed against the Vikings on Nov. 20. That 40-3 beatdown at Minnesota was a message to the rest of the NFL that Dallas is a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
The visiting Cowboys were two-touchdown favorites entering Thursday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans. Dallas took care of business, winning 27-13 and improving to 12-4. This is the first Cowboys team since 1995 to win 12 or more games in back-to-back seasons.
But like the previous five games, it was nowhere near the complete performance the team showed it was capable of against the Vikings.
“This was a game we needed to get and we got it done,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “So, whether we don’t get any style points, that’s OK. But we’re still at 12 wins.”
On paper, Tennessee was no match for Dallas. The Titans, who have now lost six in a row, elected to give journeyman quarterback Joshua Dobbs his first career start after signing him from Detroit’s practice squad just eight days ago. Tennessee also did not have standout RB Derrick Henry, DT Jeffery Simmons, LB Bud Dupree and LB Zach Cunningham.
However, the Titans found themselves down only 17-13 entering the fourth quarter.
“Obviously, there are things to clean up and they feel much better to clean up when you got the win,” Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said. “This is the NFL and I say it time and time again, give the other guys credit. These guys get paid to do their jobs, whether their starters are out or not. Now you have got a bunch of young guys that are trying to make the most of their opportunity. They are trying to step up and show, ‘I can play in this league,’ and that is what this league is right now, full of a bunch of young players. You don’t have the old veterans impacting this league all the way throughout the roster. You have got guys that are waiting on their opportunity and they are good.
“A win is a win, and we are going to take it and get better from the mistakes and we are going to make sure that we are improving. A road win, short week, you have got to take them all. Style points and all that, that’s for y’all who think games are won on paper.”
Despite missing five games with a thumb injury, Prescott took over the NFL lead in interceptions by throwing two more on Thursday. Both came late in the second quarter as the Cowboys finished the first half with three consecutive turnovers. Both interceptions were hauled in by Titans All-Pro safety Kevin Byard. Prescott’s 14 picks are also a new career high. The first one was clearly not his fault. He hit TE Peyton Hendershot with an accurate throw that the rookie just bobbled up into the air. The second one was a poor decision by Prescott, who has now thrown seven interceptions in his past four games.
“I mean, yes, it is frustrating,” Prescott said, “but there’s nothing I can do about it in the same sense. I mean, yeah, it might be frustrating, but I’d say a minute after I’ve sat down on the sideline, I’ve got it out of my head. I have said the words I’ve needed to say to myself and just have moved on at that point. So yeah, it is frustrating, whether it’s off your guys’ hands or whether I throw it behind the receiver and the cornerback makes the play, they are all frustrating and somehow they have got to stop.”
Prescott said he doesn’t worry about the turnovers being an issue that could carry on into the playoffs. What gives him confidence that they can improve their consistency over the next few weeks, if their season goes that far?
“It will go that far,” Prescott responded. “If you’ve been watching us, we have won these games, sure, other than the overtime unfortunate interception return. We are getting better. Even when bad plays happen we are able to move on. I have no hesitation, no doubt in the men that we have in this locker room.”
The Cowboys are 5-1 since their statement win over the Vikings. If the Eagles lose Sunday against the Saints and again next week against the Giants, and Dallas wins next week at Washington, the Cowboys would win the NFC East for the second consecutive season. If the Eagles win Sunday or next week, or the Cowboys lose at Washington, the Eagles will win the division and Dallas will be the No. 5 seed in the playoffs, likely meaning three road wins are needed to reach the Super Bowl.
https://theathletic.com/4044560/2022/12/29/nfl-playoff-picture-updates-week-17/
The biggest concern coming out of Thursday night’s game is the health of center Tyler Biadasz. He exited in the second half with a right ankle injury. He needed to be taken on a cart to the locker room and then left the stadium in a walking boot. Left Guard Connor McGovern moved over to play center. Left tackle Tyler Smith slid over to left guard and veteran swing tackle Jason Peters stepped in at left tackle. That will likely remain their starting offensive line if Biadasz is lost for an extended period of time. The Cowboys have been reluctant to play the 40-year-old Peters for a full game, but they might not have another choice.
Dallas didn’t have much of a run game against one of the league’s better run defenses. Tony Pollard was held out with a thigh injury. Ezekiel Elliott extended his rushing TD streak to nine consecutive games, but he rushed for only 37 yards on 19 carries. Undrafted rookie free agent Malik Davis led the team with 39 yards on 10 carries.
The secondary appeared to have some communication issues on Dobbs’ lone TD pass, a seven-yarder to Robert Woods. Dobbs threw for 232 yards, one touchdown and one interception while completing passes of 30, 33 and 39 yards. The Cowboys’ defense added two takeaways, giving them a league-best 32. CB Nahshon Wright recorded his first career interception and DE/LB Micah Parsons recovered a fumble forced by DE Dante Fowler. Parsons played the entire game with a club cast over his left hand because of a laceration. He is not expected to need the cast much longer.
“I didn’t really think it was holding me back,” Parsons said. “I feel like I was getting some good rushes. I was doing my thing.”
T.Y. Hilton caught four passes for 50 yards Thursday. (Andrew Nelles / USA Today)
Dallas received impressive performances in the passing game from wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and T.Y. Hilton and tight end Dalton Schultz, who had two touchdown catches. Lamb had a game-high 100 yards on 11 receptions. Playing in his second game since signing with the Cowboys, Hilton hauled in four of his five targets for 50 yards.
“I’m a playmaker, that’s what I do,” Hilton said. “I just make plays, especially on third down, that’s the money down. … If you’re going to double CeeDee, let’s go. If you’re going to double me, well, let’s go CeeDee. You got to pick and choose your battles.”
As Lamb was finishing his postgame interview in the visitors locker room at Nissan Stadium, he mentioned that the key to getting Dallas back to playing its best football is consistency and eliminating self-inflicted wounds. He was then asked if there has been a point in the season where he felt like it all clicked?
“For sure, the Vikings (game),” Lamb said. “We get back to that, we’ll be straight.”
DE DeMarcus Lawrence, who played one of his best games of the season against the Titans, said he doesn’t think it’s realistic for the Cowboys to play the way they did against the Vikings every week.
“Once y’all see a game like Minnesota, you think that’s how every game is supposed to be,” he said. “Me personally, I wish, but it’s not. We have to be able to fight through adversity and make sure you come out with a W.”
The Cowboys ended a stretch of three games in 12 days by doing just that Thursday night. They now get a few days of rest before preparing to play Washington in their regular-season finale.
“This wasn’t a clean performance,” McCarthy said. “We recognize that. I’m not disputing that at all. I do know my football team. I know they came out of a hard victory on Sunday and it took them a little longer to get their bodies back. But that’s what Thursday Night Football is. It’s a tough battle. It’s a tough challenge when you have to go on the road and all those things. But most importantly, we answered the bell and got it done.”
