FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys already have misplaced to each groups from final season’s NFC championship recreation.
With 9 video games to move, they are left with keeping up hope they can move that deep in the playoffs for the first time since the 1995 season.
Dallas (5-3) is 2 losses at the back of NFC East-leading Philadelphia after the Eagles’ 28-23 victory Sunday. That’s the place the Cowboys completed final season, which despatched them on the street in the playoffs in but any other failed strive to get previous the divisional spherical.
“What is it, November?” trainer Mike McCarthy mentioned. “A lot of football left, in my opinion.”
There used to be development for Dallas.
The Cowboys had been on the Philadelphia 6-yard line in the ultimate minute of a recreation that used to be tight maximum of the approach. The 42-10 loss final month to San Francisco, which misplaced to the Eagles in the NFC championship recreation final season, used to be determined earlier than the fourth quarter.
“We were inches away,” Prescott mentioned. “We are getting better. I can promise you that, and we are going to continue to get better. We are getting better and we’re OK. We’re damn sure OK.”
The Cowboys do get any other shot at the Eagles at house in high time on Dec. 10. That ends a five-game stretch with 4 at house, beginning Sunday in opposition to any other NFC East rival, the New York Giants (2-7).
The simplest street recreation is at one-win Carolina, this means that it might behoove Dallas to win all 4 going into the Philadelphia recreation to have any hope of overtaking the Eagles and staying at house to get started the playoffs.
Then once more, considered one of the causes for the two-loss hole is the Cowboys misplaced in Arizona, the simplest victory for the Cardinals this season.
“Run our own race, run our race,” Prescott mentioned, repeating considered one of his issues for this season. “When we start checking tickers and worry about who these guys got, what they’ve got going on, we’re getting out of our lane, and probably not taking care of things we need to be focused on. I know Mike’s got the same message of, ‘Run our race.’”
WHAT’S WORKING
Prescott’s passing recreation is rounding into form after a middling get started to the season.
The 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year’s 2nd consecutive 300-yard recreation — and primary two of the season — coincided with 3 immediately 100-yard receiving video games for CeeDee Lamb.
After a sub-80 passer ranking in 3 of the first 5 video games, Prescott has 3 consecutive triple-digit showings, with 8 touchdowns, one interception and a 71% finishing touch price.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Tony Pollard’s first yr as the lead again after the offseason unencumber of Ezekiel Elliott and trainer Mike McCarthy’s mentioned need to run extra in his play-calling debut with Dallas have no longer been a bonanza for the operating recreation.
Pollard is averaging lower than 4 yards in line with elevate after being above 5 each and every of the previous two seasons as a complementary again to Elliott, a two-time speeding champion. The Cowboys are heart of the pack in speeding offense after completing in the most sensible 10 the previous two seasons.
STOCK UP
The Cowboys could not have dreamed the kicking recreation can be this sturdy after transferring on from Brett Maher, who ignored 4 consecutive additional issues in the wild-card win at Tampa Bay final season.
Brandon Aubrey, a 28-year-old rookie from the USFL and previous Major League Soccer prospect, has set an NFL list with 19 consecutive made box objectives to get started his occupation. The record-breaker used to be a 51-yarder in opposition to the Eagles.
STOCK DOWN
The Cowboys in spite of everything are taking part in with the offensive line they concept they would have going all the long ago to coaching camp final yr. Because of accidents, it did not occur till Week 5 this season.
Now the query is concord, as a result of Prescott has been sacked a minimum of thrice in 5 consecutive video games, the longest such stretch of his occupation.
A neck harm to LT Tyron Smith brought about a one-game interruption for that projected beginning 5, and now the Cowboys have to see how RT Terence Steele bounces again from a woeful appearing in opposition to the Eagles. He used to be a large reason why for Philadelphia’s 5 sacks, together with Josh Sweat’s important 11-yarder in the ultimate minute.
INJURIES
Dallas is watching for the go back of LB Leighton Vander Esch after his newest neck harm. He will likely be eligible to come off injured reserve quickly, however that does not imply he’s going to be again on the box instantly.
KEY NUMBER
8 — The collection of 100-yard video games for Lamb in the previous 14 video games going again to final season, together with the playoffs. He has blossomed into the No. 1 receiver the Cowboys concept they came across when he fell to them at No. 17 in the first spherical of the 2020 draft. Lamb has set a occupation prime in yards receiving each and every of the previous two video games.
NEXT STEPS
The subsequent 3 video games are in opposition to groups lately with shedding data (Giants, Carolina, Washington). Dallas most definitely wishes a sweep as a result of the following 5 are in opposition to groups lately with profitable data (Seattle, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Miami and Detroit).
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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