Dallas, TX

The undeniable truths about the 8-3 Dallas Cowboys

Published

1 year ago

November 27, 2023

The undeniable truths about the 8-3 Dallas Cowboys

(Editor’s note: This is excerpted from Mike Sando’s Pick Six of Nov. 27, 2023.)

Jerry Jones’ over-the-top ownership antics make the Dallas Cowboys inviting targets. We’ve heard plenty about the team’s easy schedule (Dallas has not defeated a team that has a winning record, after collecting five such victories last season). The giant gap between Jones’ in-season bluster and the Cowboys’ recent postseason record justifies skepticism.

With those qualifiers out of the way, let’s hit those undeniable truths:

• Dallas ranks No. 1 in defensive EPA per play since Dan Quinn became defensive coordinator in 2021. The team ranked 23rd the year before Quinn arrived. That’s a huge improvement and a leading reason Dallas ranks third behind the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in winning percentage over that span.

• Dallas has scored 15 touchdowns on defense since Quinn arrived. That is one more than the Cowboys managed in the eight seasons before Quinn arrived. It is five more defensive touchdowns than any other team has scored since 2021 (New England has 10). It is triple the league average since then.

• The Cowboys’ defense over the past three seasons ranks fourth in EPA per play even if we remove all defensive touchdowns across the league over that span. Yes, those big plays carry outsized value, but Dallas has a top-five statistical defense under Quinn even without a big boost from that component. This jibes with the team’s No. 4 ranking since 2020 in defensive success rate, which is the percentage of plays that reduced the opponent’s chances for scoring.

• Quarterback Dak Prescott’s current six-game stretch is the best of his career within a season for passer rating (122.6), touchdown passes (18), adjusted yards per pass attempt (10.2) and net adjusted yards per pass attempt (9.2), per Pro Football Reference. Prescott, in his first season with coach Mike McCarthy handling play-calling, has started the first 11 games of a season for the first time since 2019.

• Dallas is averaging 27.0 offensive points per game, its best figure through the first 11 games of a season since 2007. Having a strong defense can enable scoring by creating short fields, but with Dallas scoring so many touchdowns on defense, including a record five pick-sixes for cornerback Daron Bland, the Cowboys’ average starting field position is merely good (12th), not elite.

None of this suggests the Cowboys are likely to beat the Eagles or 49ers in a playoff game. It’s notable that Dallas ranks only 23rd in rushing defense success rate, which could matter more in playoff games against those NFC powers. The Dallas offense likely will need to play well enough to build leads so that Quinn can leverage the Cowboys’ big advantage in pass-rushing.

The Cowboys can worry about that in January. Right now, they are producing as well on both sides of the ball as they have in a long time.

(Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

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Dallas, TX

‘Longest six days of my life’: Kiwis stranded in US airport without food, clothing

Published

12 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

‘Longest six days of my life’: Kiwis stranded in US airport without food, clothing

Still image taken from video of stranded passengers waiting for help in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, United States, on Saturday, 11 January, 2025. Photo / Carina Fischer

“Everyone went crazy in the plane. It was bonkers. Everyone was yelling, and at the end, the pilot made the announcement and everyone started chanting ‘new crew, new crew’,” Ruhlman.

“I have to go to work. I’m obviously not going to be able to work on Monday. I was supposed to arrive in Auckland on Friday morning,” Ruhlman said.

Carina Fischer, of Remuera, described the scene in the terminal as “a nightmare”.

Fischer said: “Everyone is crying. Kids are screaming.”

She said a relative had helped her buy a hotel room, but she had been washing her clothes in the sink and drying them with a hairdryer.

She was also worried about her child who has ADHD, saying he was without his medication as well.

She claimed American Airlines was “not helpful, not helpful at all”.

Ruhlman echoed that sentiment: “They literally don’t care that they ruined people’s holidays and so many plans – and sanity.”

She said a group of passengers were planning to write to the airline’s chief executive asking for compensation.

“I’m so tired and still in my same clothes as Wednesday. It’s Monday …”

American Airlines was approached for comment on Saturday, but had yet to respond by Monday morning.

The flight, American Airlines 55, was due to leave the US on Wednesday, but after several false starts, the passengers were still waiting in the terminal on Saturday morning. Photo / Carina Fischer

Another passenger, Sarah Botwright was due to be in New Zealand for a holiday to see her friend, said she had to be home in Ohio and she would likely have to cancel her whole trip to Godzone.

“My luggage will be going to New Zealand regardless of whether I go or not, though,” she said.

“It’s just insane,” she said of the situation.

Local daily paper the Dallas Morning News reported more than 600 flights to and from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field had been cancelled as of 5pm Friday (12pm, Saturday, NZ).

More than 800 flights were also delayed. American Airlines flights were the most impacted by the delays, the Dallas Morning News said.

The paper said the delays were due to a snowstorm in North Texas on Thursday which left a dumping of snow and icy conditions.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas visits Ottawa after shootout victory

Published

23 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Dallas visits Ottawa after shootout victory

Associated Press

Dallas Stars (27-13-1, in the Central Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (20-18-3, in the Atlantic Division)

Ottawa, Ontario; Sunday, 5 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Stars -138, Senators +117; over/under is 5.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Ottawa Senators host the Dallas Stars after the Stars defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in a shootout.

Ottawa has a 10-7-1 record in home games and a 20-18-3 record overall. The Senators have gone 11-5-2 in games their opponents commit more penalties.

Dallas has an 11-8-0 record in road games and a 27-13-1 record overall. The Stars have gone 13-6-1 in games their opponents commit more penalties.

The matchup Sunday is the second time these teams square off this season. The Stars won 4-2 in the last matchup. Roope Hintz led the Stars with two goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Joshua Norris has scored 14 goals with nine assists for the Senators. Ridly Greig has four goals and one assist over the past 10 games.

Jason Robertson has 10 goals and 24 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has four goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 4-5-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.6 assists, 4.4 penalties and 10.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.

Stars: 8-1-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.6 assists, 2.4 penalties and 4.8 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.

INJURIES: Senators: None listed.

Stars: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Dallas, TX

Hundreds of volunteers clean up the community for MLK Fest Dallas 2025

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Hundreds of volunteers clean up the community for MLK Fest Dallas 2025

CBS News Texas

Live

DALLAS — Volunteers laced up their sneakers and beautified Dallas’ Fair Park neighborhood Saturday morning as part of the MLK Fest Dallas 2025, which aims to reduce blight and promote public art.

Volunteers started off at the MLK Community Center and were assigned to clean up one of eight zones in South Dallas. People mowed grass, renovated homes, and painted a mural.

“It brings community together. A good friend of mine says community and unity are common unity, so we love all of it. We just want to be able to revitalize this place and give the community a sense of pride or ownership and give that back to all,” said Paul Franklin, community outreach director with the Walls Project.

Hundreds of volunteers braved the cold and came together for the large-scale community cleanup. The event brought together people from non-profits, churches, and businesses. The event aims to clean up blight while honoring the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

“This is just another part of how our community celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, to exemplify how important that is and how that connects us all to each other,” said Shawna Nesbitt, vice president of UT Southwestern Medical Center.

UT Southwestern Medical Center had about 160 volunteers who signed up. One of their projects included painting a mail room and bike rack at an apartment complex. Volunteers also picked up trash, cleared weeds, and spoke with those experiencing homelessness.

“I’m going to speak to the people that we see that are possibly unsheltered in tents and inform them of the center here at Fair Park that just recently opened the shelter,” said Jeremy Connally, an owner with the Epiphany Foundation.

The day ends with a block party at the MLK Community Center and a gala at the Renaissance Center.

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