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Dallas won 27-23 at Indianapolis on Sunday when rookie safety Caleb Downs intercepted a pass with 35 seconds left, The Guardian reported, moving the Cowboys to 4-5. Dak Prescott threw for 335 yards and CeeDee Lamb caught 10 passes for 195 yards. The cost may be at running back, where Tyler Goodson is out with ACL and MCL sprains in his knee, and tight end Jake Ferguson is also listed out. Prescott has 2,381 passing yards this season, Lamb has 904 receiving yards, and George Pickens has 533 and is listed questionable. The Cowboys lost 30-33 to Arizona on 1 November before the win, and beat Philadelphia 38-21 on 26 October. Javonte Williams has 629 rushing yards, and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is listed questionable. San Francisco visit AT&T Stadium on Sunday at 4:25 pm ET.
The standard for a Dallas comeback is whether it survives the next hard week. The Cowboys rallied to beat Indianapolis 27-23 on Sunday 8 November, and the Guardian credited Dak Prescott's 335 passing yards and a late score from Javonte Williams. The record is 4-5. Tyler Goodson will miss multiple weeks with a knee sprain, per his coach, and George Pickens and Jake Ferguson are out. The next opponent is the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers, who visit AT&T Stadium on Sunday 15 November at 4:25 pm ET. The test is whether an offense that scores freely can do it again with two of its main targets on the sideline. George Pickens and Jake Ferguson are also out, which leaves CeeDee Lamb as the receiver San Francisco must plan around.
Dallas rallied late to win 27-23 at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday 8 November, and The Guardian's roundup headlined it as the Cowboys stunning the Colts with a late comeback, which moves them to 4-5. The win left damage behind. Tight end Jake Ferguson hurt his knee during the game, P.J. Locke suffered a concussion, and receiver George Pickens, who has a hamstring injury, was inactive. Before that, Dallas had lost 30-33 at home to Arizona on 1 November. The Cowboys now return to AT&T Stadium, where San Francisco visit on Sunday 15 November at 4:25 PM ET, and the first job this week is finding out how many of the injured can play, since the reports give no timetable for any of them.
Dallas lost 33-30 at home to Arizona on 1 November, and The Guardian's weekend roundup listed the Cowboys among the teams that suffered late collapses. Today, Sunday, the 3-5 Cowboys visit the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium at 1 pm ET. The deadline question is at receiver. CBS Sports asks whether Dallas should trade George Pickens, noting he received only four targets in the loss to Arizona. Pickens is questionable today with a hamstring injury. Receiver KaVontae Turpin is out with a rib injury, and tight end Jake Ferguson is questionable with an ankle injury. Linebacker Marist Liufau was activated from injured reserve on Saturday and is questionable. Safeties P.J. Locke and Caleb Downs carry no designation after concussions, which steadies the back end for a defence that has to finish games.
Dallas lost a game they had in hand. Arizona beat the Cowboys 33-30 in overtime at AT&T Stadium on 1 November, and The Guardian reports Chad Ryland kicked the winning 42-yard field goal after missing a point after touchdown with six seconds left in regulation. The record is now 3-5-0, a hard number for a fanbase that watched its team win 38-21 in Philadelphia a week earlier. Dak Prescott did not hide from it. Asked about the offence's identity, he said, in comments reported by CBS Sports: "Are we proud of it? I don't know." It is a blunt line from a quarterback at midseason. Sunday brings the next chance, at the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, with a 1:00 pm ET kickoff on 8 November. KaVontae Turpin has been ruled out with a rib injury. George Pickens is questionable with a hamstring problem.
Cowboys supporters left AT&T Stadium on Sunday having watched Arizona beat Dallas for a fifth straight time, 33-30 in overtime, and by midweek the frustration had reached the quarterback. Dak Prescott told CBS Sports he did not know whether the team is proud of its offensive identity, a blunt line as Dallas reaches the middle of its season at 3-5. The same outlet reported that Cowboys stars rejected trade talk around George Pickens ahead of the NFL deadline, with Prescott praising Pickens as a teammate and CeeDee Lamb explaining how the receiver changes opposing defences. Pickens was limited in Thursday's practice with a hamstring problem, and tight end Jake Ferguson did not practise because of an ankle injury. Dallas travel to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, having scored 219 points and allowed 213 so far this season.
Brian Schottenheimer has a decision to make before Lucas Oil Stadium, and the injury report makes it harder. Seven Cowboys are listed as questionable for Sunday, including Jake Ferguson, whose ankle status Schottenheimer addressed Monday — per Jon Machota of The Athletic, Ferguson has a chance to play. Two safeties, P.J. Locke and Caleb Downs, are in the concussion protocol after the 30-33 home loss to Arizona Cardinals. That is not depth depletion at a secondary position; it is a structural problem against a Colts offense that, even at 20.1 points per game, can exploit a depleted secondary on third down. Bleacher Report has reported trade rumors around George Pickens ahead of Tuesday's deadline, which adds a personnel variable Schottenheimer cannot ignore. Jonathan Bullard's designation to return opens a practice window, but he cannot play until activated — his availability for Sunday remains unresolved. The decision the next Sunday forces: how much of this roster is actually available, and how much of it is still worth building around.
# Cowboys fall to Cardinals in overtime and face Colts with injury concerns
Dallas followed a convincing road victory with another painful defeat, losing 33-30 in overtime to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, November 1. The Cowboys had beaten Philadelphia 38-21 away on October 26, but the Arizona result leaves them 3-5 in the NFC East heading into Sunday's trip to Indianapolis.
CBS Sports' account of Week 8 describes Dallas as having squandered a late lead against Arizona. That is a more specific explanation of the defeat than the three-point final margin alone.
Dallas have scored 219 points and allowed 213 this season, a positive six-point differential despite five losses. Their recent results include a 23-13 defeat at Green Bay on October 18, a 24-16 home loss to Tampa Bay on October 8 and a 34-30 win at Houston on October 4. The 38-21 win over Philadelphia and 33-30 overtime loss to Arizona illustrate how widely the team's outcomes can swing.
Dak Prescott has 2,046 passing yards and 101 rushing yards among the Cowboys' season leaders. Javonte Williams has 528 rushing yards, while CeeDee Lamb has 709 receiving yards and George Pickens 533. Those are season statistics, not individual lines from the Arizona game.
The injury report is extensive. Safeties P.J. Locke and Caleb Downs are questionable and in concussion protocol following the Cardinals game. Linebacker Malachi Lawrence is questionable with an ankle injury, and tight end Jake Ferguson is questionable with an ankle issue. Dee Winters, Luke Schoonmaker and KaVontae Turpin are listed out. None of those statuses should be converted into a confirmed lineup for Indianapolis.
The latest Cowboys injury report also includes Jonathan Bullard (DT, injured reserve) and Marist Liufau (LB, injured reserve).
The Cowboys visit the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, November 8. A 3-5 record leaves little room for repeated setbacks, especially after the latest overtime defeat. Dallas have shown they can score heavily; the immediate challenge is to turn that production into more wins.
The Cowboys host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium today after their best night of the season. Monday's 38-21 away win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field broke a run of two straight defeats, the 13-23 away loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field and the 16-24 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dallas are 3-4, with 189 points scored and 180 allowed.
Dak Prescott leads the offence with 1,851 passing yards, and CeeDee Lamb has 651 receiving yards with George Pickens on 485. Javonte Williams has 472 rushing yards. CBS Sports argued the trade for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has already paid off, writing that in his three games with Dallas he profiles as one of the best at his position.
Arizona are a problem opponent. CBS Sports reported that Lamb has never beaten the Cardinals, who have won eight of the last nine meetings, and quoted him: "They've punched us in the mouth every single time." A home win would bring Dallas back to .500.
Brian Schottenheimer faces a straightforward decision Sunday, but the roster math around it is tighter than the 38-21 final suggests. Two of his linebackers — Marist Liufau and P.J. Locke — are confirmed out, and Dee Winters, Drew Shelton, and KaVontae Turpin carry questionable tags into the week. That is five names with uncertain status against an Arizona Cardinals side allowing 29.7 points per game. The Cardinals present a workable matchup. James Conner is on injured reserve, Carson Beck is questionable at quarterback, and Arizona is 2-5. The decision is where to attack. Javonte Williams ran 25 carries for 155 yards two days ago; the Cardinals' front may not be equipped to stop a team that commits to the ground. Per Dallas News, the Cowboys waived a veteran running back and a rookie tight end this week, clearing a roster spot that may signal an IR activation before Sunday. The specific target of that move is the decision that shapes the week.
Brian Schottenheimer had to decide, on the road against a divisional opponent, whether Javonte Williams could carry the run game as the primary option. Williams answered with 25 carries for 155 yards and a touchdown — a career-high rushing performance, per ESPN — and Dallas scored 18 unanswered points to close out the 38-21 away win over Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. This paper called the Eagles to win Monday night, and it didn't. The decision to commit to the run bought Dak Prescott clean looks; he finished 15-of-27 for 212 yards and three touchdowns, pushing his season passing total to 1,851 yards. CeeDee Lamb added 74 yards and two scores on five receptions. Dallas moves to 3-4. The roster constraint going forward is real: seven players listed out for Monday's game, including Drew Shelton at offensive tackle. Arizona arrives Sunday at AT&T Stadium at 2-5, allowing 29.7 points per game — the decision Schottenheimer faces is whether Williams' workload holds at that volume against a Cardinals front missing Walter Nolen III.
Cowboys fans travelling to Lincoln Financial Field Monday night are walking into a game where the identity of the team they're watching is genuinely unsettled — and the Yahoo Sports report that Dallas is pursuing a $106 million star before the trade deadline is the clearest sign that the front office agrees. The Playbook predicts the Eagles win Monday, and the roster gap is why. Philadelphia arrives banged up — Jalen Hurts is done for the season per Netflix's Tom Pelissero, DeVonta Smith is out with a hamstring injury, and Nolan Smith Jr. is out with a concussion — but Dallas is walking in with four players ruled out of their own: Drew Shelton, Dee Winters, KaVontae Turpin, and Marist Liufau, leaving the linebacker corps and the wide receiver room thinner than they can afford against a division rival. Dak Prescott threw two interceptions in the 13-23 loss at Lambeau Field and has 1,639 passing yards on the season; CeeDee Lamb sits at 577 receiving yards. The pieces are there. The question the trade deadline — fifteen days out — now hangs over is whether they are enough. That $106 million question does not get answered before kickoff.
Brian Schottenheimer faces a roster problem Monday night he cannot fully solve before kickoff. Drew Shelton is out with a hamstring injury, KaVontae Turpin is out with ribs, and Dee Winters is out with a calf issue — three starters unavailable for the trip to Lincoln Financial Field. Marist Liufau is listed as questionable per Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio, so the linebacker depth is genuinely thin. The Cowboys are already a 2-4 team allowing more points than they score; the protection depth chart just got shorter. On balance, expect Philadelphia to win Monday. The Eagles are missing Jalen Hurts for the season per Tom Pelissero of Netflix, and DeVonta Smith is out, but their defense at home against a Dallas offense that per Blogging the Boys (SBN) is averaging under 80 rushing yards per game creates a difficult structural match-up. Dak Prescott threw for 1,639 yards this season but produced two interceptions in the 13-23 away loss to Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field seven days ago. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens carry 577 and 428 receiving yards respectively — the weapons are there, but The Athletic reports Dallas has struggled against the blitz for two weeks running, and Philadelphia's front will test that again. The decision Monday belongs to Schottenheimer: commit to establishing Javonte Williams — 317 rushing yards on the season — or lean on Prescott's arm against a defense that has shown it can exploit hesitation.
Brian Schottenheimer has to get 258 passing yards and two interceptions from Dak Prescott's Lambeau Field performance out of his head before Monday night. The Cowboys are 2-4 and travelling to Lincoln Financial Field as the weaker side on paper — Philadelphia is giving up 22.8 points per game but scoring only 17.7, so neither team's offense is forcing the issue. On balance, the Eagles' home advantage tips this one: expect a Dallas loss.
The injury board complicates the roster picture further. Dee Winters is doubtful with a sprained Achilles. Cobie Durant and KaVontae Turpin are both questionable, with Turpin not practising Thursday due to ribs. Two offensive tackles — Broderick Jones and Drew Shelton — carry the same questionable designation. Schottenheimer may have to make personnel decisions at multiple positions with less than 48 hours of clarity. For Philadelphia, per Tom Pelissero of Netflix, Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve and expected to miss the rest of the season, which changes the Eagles' offensive ceiling considerably. The trade deadline sits 17 days out per the NFL's official calendar. Per Sports Illustrated, there is doubt around Dallas's willingness to move before it. CeeDee Lamb's 577 receiving yards are the Cowboys' clearest offensive weapon; Monday's coverage assignments will tell Schottenheimer whether Philadelphia plans to take that away.