NFL Cowboys News: Pollard’s vanishing act, Steele’s liability, Vander Esch’s rehab status
The Cowboys came up short in their latest measuring-stick game, and there’s plenty of opinions about who’s to blame. We’re diving into the tape to look at who starred and who stumbled in the 28-23 loss. Dak Prescott’s coaches and teammates talk about his stellar game, we find out what Mike McCarthy really thought of Tyron Smith in his return, and Micah Parsons is among the Cowboys already looking forward to the rematch. We’ll also ask what happened to formerly reliable options Tony Pollard and Terence Steele.
Meanwhile, the new power rankings show how the Philly flop affected the Cowboys’ standing, we get an update on Leighton Vander Esch’s rehab status, and the Cowboys’ next opponent is dealt a serious blow at quarterback. Dallas is set to give a look to a blast from the NFL’s past, Prescott is making waves on third downs, and social media had things to say about the officials working the sidelines in Sunday. Here’s the News and Notes.
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Parsons on loss to Eagles: 'We'll see them again' :: The Mothership
“It’s a hard league to win in. You beat yourselves in certain things, and then other factors don’t help,” Micah Parsons observed. “It was a chance we could’ve won; either way you look at it, it was a 50/50 toss-up.” The Cowboys didn’t exactly flunk this test, though, keeping both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to under 70 yards receiving and holding Jalen Hurts to barely 200 passing yards. “I’m not even gonna put fuel on the fire. We’ll see them again in [five] weeks.”
'He's a warrior': Cowboys teammates come to Dak Prescott's defense after gutsy performance in loss :: Cowboys Wire
There’s a portion of the fanbase that still believes Prescott is the problem in Dallas. The quarterback’s teammates would respectfully like a word. “There was multiple times where I was like, ‘That’s Dak [expletive] Prescott, bro.’ He’s a dog,” Parsons said. “I think more people need to put more respect on him; he outplayed everyone today.” Of the game, Prescott said, “We were inches away, on three different plays, from this being a different game or being a different outcome near the end.”
What former Cowboys’ coach Jimmy Johnson said after Dallas lost to Philadelphia :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The former Cowboys coach said of Week 9’s divisional tilt, “It was a great ballgame for the viewer. And for Philadelphia.” Of particular import, he said, were the three Eagles fumbles that were all recovered by Philadelphia, Luke Schoonmaker’s coming up short on a touchdown catch, and Prescott stepping out of bounds on the two-point play. “Just a little bit more, they could’ve kicked a field goal at the very end.”
'Big-game Tony Pollard is not there anymore' :: Rich Eisen Show
The #DallasCowboys were in position to steal a win in Philadelphia on Sunday but there was something missing from their offense:#NFL @AndrewSiciliano @toojiggy pic.twitter.com/DXQ3CJ9QDN
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) November 6, 2023
RT Terence Steele is a glaring problem Cowboys need to address :: Cowboys Wire
The right tackle has been worse than the weakest link along the offensive line; he’s been a liability. By early count, Steele was credited with eight pressures on Sunday, the same number he yielded against San Francisco. To put it another way, top teams have been getting better-than-Parsonsesque performances by whoever lines up over Steele. PFF ranks him in the bottom ten of the league. His issues are understandable given his recent knee injury, but they can no longer be ignored.
McCarthy impressed with Tyron Smith in return; change in practice schedule coming :: Todd Archer
Mike McCarthy on Tyron Smith vs. Philly: That’s the Tyron Smith I remember. That’s the best game I’ve seen Tyron play since I’ve been here in my time here in Dallas." Plan will be limit Smith, who's had stinger issue, in practice during week to make sure he's ready on gameday.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) November 6, 2023
Tyler Smith reacts to 'heartbreaking' loss in Philadelphia :: The Mothership
Smith admitted to playing a part in the offense’s shortcomings down the stretch of Sunday’s game. “They called me for a false start,” he said. “I felt like it was ticky-tack, but I’m not gonna make excuses or anything. It is what it is. That’s just something I gotta be better at and improve upon.” But the second-year man believes the team will learn from the loss. “We didn’t get the result we wanted, but I’m confident that we’re gonna respond the right way. I’m absolutely certain in that.”
Cowboys-Eagles postgame coverage & analysis :: Cowboys Wire
Good, Bad, Ugly: Cowboys’ aggressiveness approach vs Eagles for naught
Twitter reactions to egregious officiating in Cowboys’ loss to Eagles
Eagles TE Dallas Goedert suffers fractured forearm, expected to have surgery and miss around four weeks :: NFL.com
The Eagles tight end was thrown down hard after a third quarter catch along the sideline. If he misses only the four weeks given as a hopeful rehab estimate, he would return for the Week 14 rematch with the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Goedert has missed time in each of his previous four seasons, including being sidelined for four games last season with a shoulder injury.
NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Eagles, Chiefs battle for No. 1 supremacy :: Cowboys Wire
The Eagles stay atop the rankings after dispatching Dallas; Jacksonville and San Francisco have clawed their way into the top five. The Cowboys fall out of the No. 5 spot, tumbling two spots to No. 7 after their loss.
Prescott leading all QBs on third-down production :: Tony Holzman-Escareno
Dak Prescott on 3rd down this season:
• 75.4 comp pct (leads NFL)
• 9.7 pass yds/attempt (leads NFL)
• 118.7 passer rating (leads NFL)#DallasCowboys @dallascowboys @NFLResearch— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) November 6, 2023
Giants QB Daniel Jones out for season; Cowboys set to face Tommy Devito or Matt Barkley in Week 10 :: Cowboys Wire
The Giants have lost their starting quarterback to an ACL tear just days before coming to Arlington for the second part of their annual two-game series with the Cowboys. Barring a surprise addition to their roster, Big Blue will roll with either an undrafted rookie in his first start or a onetime Heisman favorite who joined his 10th NFL team just last week.
Cowboys’ Stephen Jones: Leighton Vander Esch return from IR is still a ‘work in progress’ :: Dallas Morning News
The veteran linebacker, injured Oct. 8, won’t be back in the Cowboys lineup this week, Jones said, “or for that matter, probably in the next couple of weeks.” Others like Markquese Bell, Sam Williams, and the newly-added Rashaan Evans have stepped up in new roles to help cover for his absence.
Cowboys to work out recently reinstated WR Bryant :: Cowboys Wire
After multiple suspensions from the league over its now-outdated substance abuse policy, Martavis Bryant has been reinstated by the league and is set to work out for the Cowboys on Tuesday. The wide receiver hasn’t played an NFL down since 2018, but he has been in the CFL and XFL over the past two years.
NFL Week 10 early odds: Cowboys over two-touchdown favorites vs. Giants, 49ers favored on the road vs. Jaguars :: CBS Sports
Dallas is a huge 15.5-point favorite to complete a sweep of the Giants this season. The early number shows a 39.5 over/under. The Cowboys are a perfect 3-0 against the spread at home this season.
