Dallas, TX
Five takeaways from Cowboys-Panthers: Behind dominant defense, Dallas avoids elimination
CHARLOTTE — It’s still hard to fathom a scenario that has the Cowboys making the playoffs.
But they’re not done yet.
The Cowboys’ 30-14 victory over Carolina at Bank of America Stadium allowed the team to avoid elimination. Is it simply a case of delaying the inevitable?
Probably. But the Cowboys did show something by bouncing back six days after what could have been a demoralizing loss to Cincinnati.
Dallas now finds itself with three wins in the last four games and a date next Sunday night at AT&T Stadium against Tampa Bay.
Lamb sets himself apart
CeeDee Lamb did something no Cowboys receiver has done before him.
The latest in a storied line of No. 88s became the first player in franchise history to accrue more than 1,000 yards receiving in four of his first five seasons. Lamb surpassed that total in the first half of Sunday’s game and kept going.
Lamb finished the afternoon with nine catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. He had 105 yards receiving in the first two quarters, allowing him to pass the 100-yard mark for only the second time this season.
The only other game this season that Lamb broke the 100 barrier came in late October when he had 13 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to San Francisco.
Coming in bunches
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer likes to say that turnovers come in bunches.
That’s been the case of late.
A defense that forced little to nothing early in the season is making up for lost time. The Cowboys forced four turnovers Sunday, giving them 14 in their last seven games. Rookie Marist Liufau, filling in for the injured DeMarvion Overshown, forced one fumble while defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa did another. Corner Jourdan Lewis tipped a pass that linebacker Eric Kendricks picked off. In the fourth quarter, defensive back Israel Mukuamu added an interception.
The fumble Odighizuwa forced on Carolina’s first play in the second half helped break the game open for Dallas. The Cowboys scored a touchdown five plays later to take a 17-7 lead that a limited Panthers team was in no position to challenge.
High water mark
Cooper Rush has been efficient through the years when he’s stepped in for Dak Prescott.
But the offense hasn’t been particularly explosive.
That changed — kinda — against the Panthers. The 30 points Rush generated on offense is the most the Cowboys have scored with him as a starter. It broke the 25 points Dallas had with Rush a couple of years ago.
And yes, the Cowboys did beat Washington 34-26 earlier this season with Rush at quarterback, but the final was inflated by two special teams touchdowns.
That 27-20 win over the New York Giants on Thanksgiving? The Cowboys had a defensive touchdown to reach that total.
Dowdle hits his stride
Rico Dowdle finished with 25 carries for 149 yards in Sunday’s victory.
That should come as no surprise. The Panthers entered the day as the league’s worst rushing defense, allowing an average of 170.1 yards on the ground.
But what Dowdle did was no aberration. He’s now rushed for 100 or more yards in three consecutive games.
The last Cowboys running back to do that was Ezekiel Elliott in 2019.
Missing in action
The Cowboys’ Pro Bowl nucleus took a hit this weekend with the news that corner Trevon Diggs will undergo season-ending surgery.
Diggs will become the fifth Pro Bowl player who will wind up on injured reserve this season, joining Dak Prescott, Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence and DaRon Bland. While Micah Parsons wasn’t placed on the list, he did miss four games earlier this season with a high ankle sprain.
There’s one moving part here. Lawrence had hoped to return after Thanksgiving, but his 21-day window has yet to be activated.
Let’s say he doesn’t come back. That means that when the season ends, the Cowboys will have missed 47 starts from their Pro Bowl nucleus.
Assuming no one else goes down.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
The Dallas Cowboys’ search for their 10th head coach in franchise history may be coming to a conclusion in the coming days.
Thus far, Dallas has interviewed four candidates to replace Mike McCarthy, with Kellen Moore, Brian Schottenheimer, Robert Saleh, and Leslie Frazier each completing their meetings with the team over the last few days.
MORE: Cowboys, Brian Schottenheimer momentum is building & fans aren’t happy
However, there is one notable omission from that list – Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. And if you ask legendary college football head coach Nick Saban, Sanders is the man for the job.
“Me and Deion… I want him to get that job,” Saban told The Pivot podcast in a recent appearance. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Deion Sanders. First, he’s a great person, and he’s done a great job of marketing the program to create a lot of national interest.
MORE: Coach Prime, Colorado at odds over ‘additional money’ amid NFL interest?
“He’s always been successful, whether it was at Jackson State, high school, or now in Colorado. His teams have always been well coached.”
To his credit, Saban does have a point.
In just two years with Colorado, Sanders has turned the Buffaloes from one of the worst programs in the nation, into a fringe Big 12 title and College Football Playoff contender.
MORE: Ridiculous Cowboys NFL Draft trade floated amid Deion Sanders buzz
Before that, he also led Jackson State to a 27-6 record in three seasons, winning two SWAC conference titles in that time. He also was a two-time SWAC Coach of the Year and took home the SI Sportsman of the Year Award in 2023.
Of course, the NFL is a differnet animal than the college game whether it is as a player or a coach. Saban knows that as well as anyone.
That said, if someone with Saban’s credentials believes Sanders is ready for the NFL stage, particularly one as big as the Cowboys, we might want to listen.
— Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI —
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The Dallas Cowboys head coaching search is heating up, but Cowboys Nation is giving a lukewarm response to the moves.
Dallas’ search for a new head coach started with a bang when the team was linked to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado Buffaloes rockstar coach Deion Sanders, but it has since returned candidates that aren’t moving the needle.
In recent days, the Cowboys have interviewed former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who is now leading the Philadelphia Eagles offense, and Leslie Frazier, along with a solid choice in Robert Saleh.
MORE: Cowboys, Jerry Jones have ‘love & respect’ for darkhorse HC candidate
And the latest interviewee is leaving fans even more unimpressed.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Cowboys are set to interview offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
Rapoport said, “Well-respected in the building, Schottenheimer has been an OC for more than a decade. Intriguing option to take the next step.”
MORE: Jerry Jones’ plan for next Dallas Cowboys head coach becoming clearer
A Schottenheimer hire would be incredibly underwhelming for Dallas and Cowboys Nation, but he brings something that Jerry Jones values: familiarity.
Jerry Jones could also influence Schottenheimer to have Jason Witten added to the staff as a head coach-in-waiting, which was reportedly his plan with Mike McCarthy before contract negotiations stalled.
So, buckle up Cowboys fans, cause the team could be heading towards more of the same.
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DALLAS – After an overtime victory in Chicago last night, the Carolina Hurricanes seek to pick up a third win in a row as they visit the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
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When: Tuesday, January 21
Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPN+, Hulu
Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App
Odds at Time of Publishing, via Fanatics Sportsbook: Canes +105
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Canes Record: 28-16-3 (59 Points, 2nd – Metropolitan Division)
Canes Last Game: 4-3 Win (OT) over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, Jan. 20
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Stars Record: 29-16-1 (59 Points, 3rd – Central Division)
Stars Last Game: 4-1 Win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, Jan. 19
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