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Five takeaways from Cowboys-Panthers: Behind dominant defense, Dallas avoids elimination

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Cowboys Team Doctor Played Role in Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Debacle

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Cowboys Team Doctor Played Role in Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Debacle


The Dallas Cowboys were initially in the mix for Las Vegas Raiders superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby ahead of NFL free agency, and were believed to be one of the finalists in trade talks. However, he was ultimately traded to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks.

Now, the NFL world has been turned on its head with the Ravens deciding to pull out of the trade agreement with Las Vegas.

On Tuesday night, NFL insider Adam Schefter was among the experts discussing what went wrong between the Raiders and Ravens, revealing that Cowboys team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper, one of the premier knee specialists, played a role in the Ravens’ evaluation of Crosby.

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Schefter discussed how Dr. Cooper was among the doctors who reviewed scans on Crosby’s knee, which ultimately spooked the Ravens and triggered the end of the deal.

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Dallas Cowboys team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper on the sidelines before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

“The Baltimore Ravens essentially failed him on their physical, and my understanding is there were multiple doctors that reviewed his MRI scans,” Schefter said. “There were doctors that examined him, including Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys doctor that performed surgery on Patrick Mahomes and Malik Nabers.

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“Many teams and players rely on Dr. Cooper’s expertise, and Dr. Cooper was one of the doctors who reviewed the images where the Ravens then felt compelled to back out of this trade.”

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It’s hard not to connect the dots that Dr. Cooper’s involvement in the medical review of Crosby led to the team deciding against re-engaging in trade discussions. Though that could change, currently, the Cowboys are expected to move forward with Pro Bowl EDGE Rashan Gary, who the team agreed to acquire from the Green Bay Packers for a 2027 fourth-round pick on the first day of legal tampering.

It will be interesting to continue monitoring the situation and its fallout, which has left the Raiders in a terrible position.

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby on the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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But, with the Raiders now forced to re-examine the money they committed to free agents on Wednesday evening, they may have to pull out of one of their own agreements, which could open the door for the Cowboys to reopen their pursuit of a linebacker like Nakobe Dean or Quay Walker.

The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET, so get your popcorn ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride.

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Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Dead, Opening Perfect Cowboys Opportunity

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Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Dead, Opening Perfect Cowboys Opportunity


Dallas Cowboys Nation’s hopes of landing superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby were dashed last weekend when it was announced that he was being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. However, less than 24 hours before the new year, the trade has fallen apart.

On Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that the Ravens have backed out of the trade.

“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby,” the statement read. “We will have no further comment at this time.”

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The news sends a major ripple for the league, with the Crosby sweepstakes once again open. Before his trade to the Ravens, the Cowboys were considered one of the teams closely monitoring the situation and a team that made a legitimate offer for Crosby.

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby leaves the field following a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

At this time, there is no word on why the trade between Las Vegas and Baltimore fell through. When the trade was first reported, the Raiders were set to receive a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick from the Ravens.

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Now, his future is in limbo. Before he was traded to the Ravens, it was believed that the Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams were the top candidates to land him. In fact, the Cowboys were “considered runner-ups” in the sweepstakes.

Dallas’ Original Trade Offer

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby reacts during the second half at SoFi Stadium. | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

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According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys initially offered the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and an unnamed veteran player.

“Dallas kept a hard line throughout. The franchise wasn’t willing to part with two first-round picks, hoping its 12th pick in April’s draft, plus a future second-rounder, would be enough to entice Las Vegas. Dallas was also willing to package a veteran player to sweeten the deal, but Vegas wasn’t interested in that. The Raiders prioritized picks,” Fowler wrote.

Last season, Crosby recorded 73 total tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 20 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.

We’ll have to see if Dallas ends up being his new home, now that the team has a second chance to make something special happen, but there will be some serious competition. The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET.

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Dallas weather: Severe storms bring hail and tornado threats | See timing

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Dallas weather: Severe storms bring hail and tornado threats | See timing


Severe thunderstorms are forecast to return to North Texas late Tuesday, bringing threats of damaging hail, high winds and localized flooding. While the primary concerns are wind and hail, a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.

Tuesday Forecast

Scattered showers and storms are expected to develop as a dryline to the west moves into the region. Storm conditions are expected to intensify as the day progresses.

The greatest concerns remain damaging winds and large hail. The leading edge of the storm front will likely be the most intense, with the potential for straight-line winds and brief spin-up tornadoes.

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LIVE Radar: Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas Storms: Timing and Impact

The highest potential for severe weather in the Metroplex is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., though lingering activity could continue until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately if a warning is issued for their area.

7-Day Forecast

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A final round of storms is expected Wednesday, primarily between noon and 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. These storms carry a threat of half-dollar-sized hail and damaging winds. 

Behind this system, North Texas will dry out and briefly cool off. Sunny skies return Thursday with a high in the mid-60s. Temperatures will then warm into the upper 70s on Friday before a sunny weekend with highs in the low 80s.

The Source: Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service and FOX 4 forecasters.

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