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Cowboys News: Elliott’s ineffectiveness, Lawrence’s ‘electric’ return, Parsons has no time for… Cheetos???

Todd Brock
·6 min read

The Cowboys’ 27-17 win over the Saints wasn’t pretty, by any means. The offense is still in a rut, with a limping workhorse, and a quarterback who’s trying to do too much. Amari Cooper came back and compared himself to Michael Jordan, and Mike McCarthy looks to return soon from his own bout with COVID.

The defense, however, put on a show. Four interceptions, including a house call from one of the big men in the middle. Micah Parsons continues to put together a season for the ages, but he’s got no time for personal accolades… or cheese-flavored corn puffs. He has, however, spawned a catchy new name for his position. And DeMarcus Lawrence made up for 10 weeks of inactivity with a performance that was “electric.” We’re recapping everything from Week 13… and looking ahead to a few of the teams who could be in the bidding for MIchael Gallup’s services. That’s all ahead in News and Notes.

Ezekiel Elliott injury: Cowboys' mismanagement of All-Pro's knee ailment is unsettling, dangerous :: CBS Sports

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Elliott’s obvious knee injury is being aggravated greatly by the Cowboys’ refusal to rest him for at least a game as well as an offensive gameplan that continues to lean on him as if nothing is physically wrong. The two-time rushing champ won’t come right out and blame his injury for downward-trending numbers, and the mini-bye will give him some much-needed rest, but it’s fair to say that Elliott shouldn’t even have been on the field in New Orleans.

Pollard's big run camouflages continuing woes with Cowboys run game :: Cowboys Wire

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It took a while Thursday, but Pollard finally bounced a toss play to the outside for a 58-yard score. It was his seventh straight game with at least one play of over 19 yards. But banking on one lucky break from your pinball player in a running attack that otherwise seems stuck in neutral is no way to roll into the postseason warmup. Up until that play 40-plus minutes in, Dallas had run just 12 rushing plays for 53 yards.

McCarthy hopeful to return 'sooner than later' :: The Mothership

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The head coach watched his team win in New Orleans isolating in a hotel room. “It was brutal just not to be a part of it,” McCarthy said. “…I just hope there’s no one next door, that’s for sure. That’d probably be a good story.” Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn assumed sideline duties for the Week 13 game, but McCarthy will be able to return to the team facility once he has two negative COVID tests.

No Cheetos: Micah Parsons remains hungry for Cowboys' success despite stellar rookie season :: Cowboys Wire

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Defensive Rookie of the Month. Defensive Rookie of the Year. Defensive Player of the Year. All well and good, but what the Cowboys linebacker really wants is bigger. “Super Bowl. Playoffs. You’ve got five games left,” Parsons said. “There’s stuff to be done within those five games. I don’t think it’s time for me to sit on my couch smiling and eating Cheetos just yet.”

Dan Quinn expected DeMarcus Lawrence to 'look rusty' in return to Cowboys D: 'He did not' :: NFL.com

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The $100 million pass rusher missed the past 10 games due to a foot injury. His defensive coordinator/substitute head coach was impressed with what Lawrence showed in his 37 snaps. “Now I’m hopeful we can keep stacking weeks and weeks as we’re building,” Quinn said, “and his play time will increase.”

DeMarcus Lawrence: It was electric to be back out there :: ProFootballTalk

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Lawrence knocked down two passes, had a quarterback hit, and recorded three tackles in his return. “It was electric,” Lawrence said in his postgame press conference. “Just to play with the guys, at the level they’re playing with, and to be out there and have a little impact on the game, is amazing. I’m just glad to be back.” Neville Gallimore and Randy Gregory are expected to rejoin the Dallas defense soon, too.

'Every fat guy's dream:' Cowboys DT Carlos Watkins shows hands, wheels on impressive pick-six :: Cowboys Wire

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“He was a good basketball player coming up out of Charlotte,” Quinn told reporters after the win. Once the 305-pound Watkins snatched the pass out of the air, he went looking for the fast break. “It’s definitely an early Christmas present. It’s every fat guy’s dream, to get a pick and make it to the end zone.” Watkins even stiff-armed Saints quarterback Taysom Hill on the way to his first professional score, but was too out of breath once he got there to do any sort of touchdown dance.

Can the Cowboys' offense regain its rhythm? :: The Mothership

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“I mean, a win is a win. It means a lot,” said Dak Prescott. But the quarterback also knows his unit needs to be better when it comes to complementary football. The Cowboys punted seven times, and five of them came after a three-and-out. Only six rushing attempts went for more than three yards. Miscommunication haunted QB and receivers, usually on key plays or long-shot opportunities. “I’ve got to stay disciplined, just playing it play by play and not try to put the dagger in them and knock them out of the game.”

Cowboys’ Amari Cooper compares return to Michael Jordan’s ‘Flu Game’ :: AL.com

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The veteran wideout wasn’t 100%, but he was back out there for 34% of the offense’s snaps in his return from a bout with COVID. “It was tough,” Cooper said. “Jordan played with the flu. That’s how I looked at it. But it was a restriction of not being able to play with what I had, so it was tough, knowing that I could have physically gone out there and played, but the restrictions didn’t allow me to do so.” Cooper ended the night with 2 catches for 41 yards.

3 teams who could steal free agent Michael Gallup from the Cowboys :: The Landry Hat

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He just returned to the Cowboys lineup, but Gallup is still in a contract year and expected to be courted heavily by other teams come the offseason. The 25-year-old could be looking at some serious big-money offers; suitors could reasonably include the Patriots, the Colts, and the Raiders.

Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints: We will take the win, but it wasn’t pretty to look at :: Blogging the Boys

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Sure, a win is a win. But there are elephants in the room that can’t be swept under the rug. Off the three takeaways that Carlos Watkins didn’t just take to the house himself, the supposedly elite Dallas offense converted them into three total points. Too many three-and-outs. A frustrating compulsion to continually ram the ball right up the middle whether it’s working or not. Maybe Kellen Moore isn’t ready to graduate past his current job after all.

Parsons draws comparison to Barry Sanders, gets new positional nickname in process :: Michael Gehlken (Twitter)

Cowboys-Saints game coverage :: Cowboys Wire

Whether you missed it live or just want to experience your favorite moments again, here’s a quick rundown of the highlights from Thursday night’s win.

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