Cowboys confront limited 7 days once again, still alive in NFC East race

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — A further limited week for the Dallas Cowboys, an additional possibility to hold alive their prospects of catching NFL-major Philadelphia in the NFC East.

The Cowboys (11-4) check out Tennessee on Thursday evening, which implies the 1 victory required by the Eagles to dethrone the defending division champs are not able to happen right until three times later.

“For me, it is about be concerned about what you can handle,” quarterback Dak Prescott explained right after a 40-34 victory in excess of the Eagles on Saturday that delayed Philadelphia clinching the NFC’s best seed at the very least 1 additional 7 days.

“Obviously, I want the title and that would be great, but it would be obtaining into distractions that really don’t truly fork out us just about anything forward.”

Dallas is about to complete its next extend of three games in 12 days this period. The Cowboys almost often get the first due to the fact they participate in on Thanksgiving just about every year.

This second stretch has been various.

Dallas blew a 17-place lead in the 2nd 50 percent and missing at Jacksonville on Dec. 18 but clinched a playoff spot in any case a couple of hrs afterwards when the New York Giants beat Washington.

Six days immediately after that, the Cowboys rallied from 10-stage deficits in each 50 % to beat the Eagles and split the period collection. Dallas would hold the tiebreaker with a 2- complete if the Eagles shed their very last two games.

Now, it is a 5-working day turnaround to deal with the Titans (7-8), who are in the strange place of playing a meaningless 2nd-to-last activity prior to a finale versus Jacksonville with a playoff location on the line.

“If it was not there, if it was there, we nevertheless have to preserve our foot on the pedal,” protection Jayron Kearse claimed of chasing the Eagles. “We have a full other period in a few months. You want to go into that postseason with momentum.”

What is Functioning

The link amongst Prescott and No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb is the best it has been in their three seasons jointly.

Lamb has 4 100-property video games in the past 7 soon after obtaining to triple digits in a half for the initial time in his job in opposition to the Eagles. Lamb concluded with 10 catches, one particular off his job greatest, for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Tale continues

Pro Soccer Corridor of Famer Bob Hayes is the only Dallas receiver with additional 100-garden game titles in his initial three seasons with 13. Lamb has 9.

WHAT Needs Assist

As a result of Week 14, the Cowboys had the second-finest move defense in the league at 182 yards per match. Trevor Lawrence threw for 318 yards in the Jaguars’ 40-34 additional time time in Week 15 just before Gardner Minshew had 355 yards passing filling in for the hurt Jalen Hurts for Philadelphia.

Section of the difficulty is the go rush. Dallas was major the league in sacks right before the existing 3-week extend with just a single sack.

Stock UP

WR T.Y. Hilton’s to start with catch in his Dallas debut was a 52-yarder on third-and-30 when the Cowboys trailed by a landing halfway via the fourth quarter from the Eagles. It sparked a 13- end.

Hilton went unsigned immediately after a 10-calendar year operate in Indianapolis ahead of agreeing to a deal with the Cowboys much less than two weeks just before his to start with match.

The 33-yr-previous performed 12 snaps versus the Eagles. That variety figures to go up, probably considerably.

Inventory DOWN

CB Trevon Diggs’ streak of online games devoid of a pass breakup is at a profession-worst five right after the next consecutive 300-garden working day surrendered by the Dallas secondary.

Very last year’s NFL interceptions chief with 11 has been stuck on 3 this time due to the fact Week 7, and he appeared to accept a subpar demonstrating against the Eagles by tweeting “bad ball on my part” following the activity.

Accidents

Rookie DE Sam Williams has been cleared to return from a concussion just after rising reasonably unscathed from a terrifying automobile crash Thursday and lacking the Philadelphia sport. Williams’ Corvette was seriously harmed following a further car or truck collided with his.

“My to start with issue was like, ‘Thank you, God,’ simply because it could have been worse,” Williams stated Monday in the locker area. “I was contemplating about my son and his mom. I could have been long gone like that fast devoid of viewing them and stating goodbye or just about anything.”

Important Variety

800 — Tony Pollard (988 yards dashing) and Ezekiel Elliott (829) are the 1st pair of Dallas backs to surpass the 800-property mark since Calvin Hill (942) and Walt Garrison (818) in 1969.

Subsequent Methods

The destiny of the finale from Washington on Jan. 8 will be made the decision by the Philadelphia-New Orleans outcome on New Year’s Working day. If the NFC East race is above, there is certainly a sturdy prospect the Cowboys will be locked in to the fifth seed and a highway wild-card recreation in opposition to the NFC South winner.

Even if Dallas will not have everything to enjoy for, there’s a chance Washington will be in the playoff hunt. That would make for some intriguing choices with the Cowboys and some of their starters.

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