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Dallas Cowboys

NFL Thanksgiving Day in Dallas

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DALLAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – A matchup between teams with a combined six wins through 22 games probably wasn’t what the NFL envisioned when scheduling the New York Giants at the Dallas Cowboys for the second of three Thanksgiving Day games.

No matter the records, the matchup between bitter NFC East rivals always draws national attention — even if both teams are jockeying primarily for draft position.

The Giants (2-9) are expected to start their third different quarterback in as many weeks in an attempt to snap a six-game losing streak, while the Cowboys (4-7) will trot out their own backup signal-caller in search of their first home victory since 2023.

ODDS & TRENDS
The Cowboys are consensus 3.5-point favorites, which the public views as a big opportunity. Dallas has been backed by 83 percent of the spread-line money while its -200 moneyline to win the game outright has drawn 95 percent of the money.

This has also been the second most wagered-on Week 13 game at DraftKings, where the Cowboys’ moneyline has drawn more money this week than every team other than Detroit.

What oddsmakers don’t expect is a high-scoring game between two backup quarterbacks. The low 37.0 total points line at BetRivers has seen the Over draw 65 percent of the money and 77 percent of the total bets.

PROP PICKS
–Giants RB Tyrone Tracy 70+ Rushing Yards (+100 at DraftKings): The rookie has taken over as the primary ballcarrier, and this prop will likely be determined by how long New York remains competitive on Thursday. After logging at least 16 carries in three consecutive games, Tracy was limited to 42 yards on nine carries in a blowout loss to Tampa Bay last Sunday. The Giants must run the ball effectively to stay in the game, and Tracy has at least 66 rushing yards in four of his past seven games.

–Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb Anytime TD (+155 at BetRivers): Lamb has been targeted 118 times this season — 60 more than anyone else on the team. That includes 12 targets last week, when Lamb caught 10 passes but for only 67 yards. He hasn’t scored since last month, however, a trend Dallas will look to break at home against a defense that has allowed 12 passing touchdowns this season.

THE NEWS
Cooper Rush helped the Cowboys return to the win column at Washington before the three-day prep for playing holiday host to the Giants, who have shuffled plans amid another potential quarterback switch.

“The fight has definitely been there,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “But we’re still pretty far down in the valley of adversity right now. We’ve made one step in the right direction, so we’ve still got a lot of climbing to do.”

The playoffs are an afterthought at the moment. Dallas is tied for 12th in the NFC and the Giants are dead last with the final third of the season ahead.

Beating the Commanders 34-26 on Sunday helped the Cowboys exhale, if only briefly, and they will now try to win at home for the first time in six tries.

Last in the NFL in scoring (14.8 points per game) and 28th in passing offense at 187.9 yards per game, the Giants are devoid of highlighter-worthy names on the offensive scouting report. They traveled to Texas on Wednesday without last week’s starting quarterback, Tommy DeVito, who was officially listed as questionable because of a forearm injury.

The last win for the Giants, 29-20 at Seattle, came one week after losing 20-15 to the Cowboys in September. New York is 0-4 against the NFC East including two losses by a combined eight points to the Commanders.

Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers are among those who have been publicly critical of the team’s effort of late.

“When you lose a game like that, there’s frustration,” Daboll said of Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay. “Certainly, you’d like to keep it in house. But you understand them, and I’ve been doing this for a while. There’s conversations that you have to have if comments like that are made. I respect the opinions of the players and of the coaches. We’ll work as hard as we can to get this fixed.”

Extra blockers likely are mandatory to keep Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons from feasting. Parsons had two sacks at Washington, his second game with multiple sacks in three outings since returning from a high-ankle sprain. He had two sacks of Daniel Jones the last time the Giants visited for Thanksgiving in 2022.

Nabers caught 12 passes for 115 yards from Jones in defeat against the Cowboys Week 4. That was before the QB switch. Nabers wasn’t targeted in the first half last week.

Beyond their 0-5 home record, the Cowboys are 2-1 in the NFC East but have been outscored by 98 points on the season. The nine-loss Giants own a minus-89 scoring margin.

Rush was not special at Washington, but he threw a pair of TDs, completed 75 percent of his passes and didn’t throw an interception. He was limited Monday with a knee injury, but .

Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle handled a career-high 19 carries, for a career-best 86 yards last week, erasing his previous best — 12 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown — against the Giants last season. He caught a 15-yard TD pass in the Cowboys’ win over the Giants in September.

New York gave up 156 rushing yards to the Buccaneers, the fifth consecutive game of allowing at least 140.

INJURY REPORT
Banged up in the aftermath, DeVito wasn’t asked to complete a full practice the past three days but did throw a few times Monday and Tuesday. He didn’t practice Wednesday and didn’t accompany the team to Arlington, Texas, leaving Drew Lock to get the call for the Giants if DeVito doesn’t get transportation to Texas and medical clearance by Thursday afternoon.

Giants offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) was ruled out. Evan Neal (hip) was on the long list of injury concerns for the Giants but had no injury designation Wednesday. Eluemunor left last week’s game in the first half and couldn’t return.

The Cowboys are hopeful for the return of key players, including tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion), guard Tyler Smith (ankle/knee) and No. 1 cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) after they sat out Week 12. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is expected to be back for the first time since Week 4, but left guard Zack Martin (shoulder, ankle) won’t play.

Cooks was activated to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, when the Cowboys moved rookie cornerback Caelen Carson (shoulder) and second-year offensive lineman Asim Richards (ankle) to injured reserve. Defensive backs Andrew Booth and Kemon Hall were elevated from the practice squad.

KEY STAT
Dallas was 8-0 at home in the 2023 regular season, then started a streak of six consecutive losses — including the wildcard blowout by the Packers — by an average of 22.3 points.

SERIES HISTORY
The Cowboys are shooting for a season sweep of the Giants for the fourth consecutive season.

THEY SAID IT
–“Blood is in the water now. You’ve got to understand this is the NFL and ball security is job security.” –Tracy, who has three fumbles — losing two — in the past two games.

–“It was great to get some wind under our wings, but this Thursday’s game comes on you so fast. That’s really where my mind is and my heart is, too.” –McCarthy

PREDICTION
The switch to the Lock has the potential to bring the Giants’ offense some much-needed veteran leadership. But he’s playing behind an offensive line that will struggle to protect him and the constant uphill sledding against poor field position will eventually lead to a comfortable Cowboys victory. –Cowboys 27, Giants 17

–Field Level Media

SNF: Big Game for SF v. DAL

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SANTA CLARA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Dallas Cowboys come off their bye week desperately in need of a victory while traveling to face a San Francisco 49ers team dealing with a litany of injuries to their skill position personnel.

One of the NFC’s oldest rivalries closes out Sunday’s action in Week 8 of the NFL’s regular season.

ODDS AND TRENDS
The 49ers (3-4) are consensus 5.0-point favorites at home. That includes at BetRivers, where the 49ers have drawn 64 percent of the spread-line money, while the Cowboys (3-3) have been backed by 53 percent of the total bets.

Dallas’ +180 moneyline has been popular, attracting 61 percent of the money, although the 49ers have garnered 46 percent of the total bets at -225.

The Over/Under total points line has hovered around 47.5 and 48.0 at most books. At BetRivers, the Under has been backed by big wagers with     82 percent of the total money, although 70 percent of the total bets have supported to Over.

SERIES HISTORY
San Francisco has won the past three meetings, including playoff victories to end Dallas’ 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last season’s meeting was one-sided as the 49ers clobbered the Cowboys 42-10 behind four touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, three to George Kittle.

That beatdown might not have been as bad as the one Dallas (3-3) just experienced — a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions before the team’s much-needed bye.

THE NEWS
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a message for his teammates before they all took time off for last week’s bye.

INJURY REPORT
What the Cowboys could really use is seeing star linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) on the field. But they’re both out again Sunday night, and Bland’s replacement in the starting lineup in 2024, Caelen Carson, is questionable with a shoulder injury.

Parsons will miss his third straight game. Bland has yet to play this season.

Cowboys starting linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) is also listed as questionable.

The 49ers are battling a slew of injuries and lost star wideout Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending right knee injury during last Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wideout Deebo Samuel (pneumonia/wrist) played just a few snaps and was later hospitalized and released on Tuesday. Though he sat out Wednesday’s practice, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel might play, but he’s listed as questionable, the same designated the 49ers gave Kittle (foot).

Receiver Jauan Jennings (hip/groin) missed the Kansas City game, was unable to practice all week and is out along with kicker Jake Moody (ankle).

Of course, McCaffrey (Achilles) remains on injured reserve and hasn’t played a down this season.

THEY SAID IT
–“I think we’ve gotta go into these games and say, ‘We’ve gotta step on somebody’s neck. It’s just the simple things: being disciplined, can’t kill each other on red-zone trips. Can’t kill each other on third downs.” –Parsons

–“The guys in the building are really talented, so we have to figure that out. It’s on our vets to pull them along, whether they’re ready or not. … (The injuries) impact you to an extent but you have to have the three-foot mindset and just attack what’s in front of you.” –Kittle

PREDICTION
The Cowboys’ three wins have all come on the road, although the first two came against Cleveland and the New York Giants. Dallas did also secure a solid win at Pittsburgh before getting blown out at home by Detroit. The 49ers due enter the game with a concerning amount of injuries to key personnel, but this is an equally critical game for San Francisco and Dallas simply hasn’t played well against quality teams. –49ers 26, Cowboys 23

–Field Level Media

 

NFL: Cowboys Hit Road (Again)

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MIAMI GARDENS – Dallas looks unbeatable at home. Taking the show on the road is proving to be more than the Cowboys can handle. The Cowboys were thrashed last weekend in Buffalo and look to post a much better performance when they play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday this afternoon in Florida.

 

Dallas (10-4) is perfect in seven home games. That level of play isn’t translating over to the road. Quarterback Dak Prescott is perplexed by the difference in play.

“This next week of preparation and honestly these next couple of weeks are about figuring out what that difference is and trying to close that gap,” Prescott said. “Obviously, we’d love to come out and produce like we do at home but that just hasn’t been the case.

“So we’ve got to find out what those answers are and try to close that gap and we can’t be those two different other teams.”

The Cowboys were pushed all over the field in the 31-10 loss to Buffalo and allowed 266 rushing yards. The nature of the beating disturbed Dallas coach Mike McCarthy.

“That’s the message,” McCarthy said. “We play so well at home, and there’s just too big of a gap on the road, and we’re conscious of it. We got to be better than this.”

Earlier this season, Dallas was pummeled 42-10 by the host San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys’ other road losses are to the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Dolphins (10-4) hold a two-game lead over the Bills in the AFC East, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also is dealing with a narrative he doesn’t like.

Though he has passed for 3,921 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, the narrative is that Tagovailoa is performing better than his abilities due to having talented teammates like wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and running back Raheem Mostert.

“Whether I’m the best, whether I’m the worst, I couldn’t care less. I don’t listen to it,” Tagovailoa said. “At the end of the day, I really don’t care. …

“Yeah, sure. I am only good with Tyreek, you’re right. That is the only time I’m at my best. You’re right, I’m only good when Jaylen is in. I couldn’t care less about it. … I’m only as good as Raheem Mostert allows me to be. That’s what the narrative needs to be. And we’re able to win games and we’re able to go where we want to go as a team. I am the worst football player if that’s what you want. I don’t care.”

Hill missed last weekend’s 30-0 rout of the New York Jets with an ankle injury he sustained during a 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 11. Hill played less than half the game against the Titans and Tagovailoa didn’t have a touchdown pass. He tossed a 60-yard scoring pass to Waddle against the Jets.

Hill leads the NFL with 1,542 yards and also has 97 catches and 12 scoring receptions. He was limited in practice on Friday and listed as questionable, although ESPN reported Saturday that the team was optimistic Hill would play Sunday.

The report said the decision on Hill would be made on Sunday.

Mostert (knee) and fellow running back De’Von Achane (toe) missed practice and their status for Sunday was listed as unknown. Mostert had two touchdowns against the Jets to set the franchise single-season record with 20. He also is 34 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season.

Dolphins guard Robert Hunt (hamstring) is listed as out. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee) does not have an injury designation. Safeties Elijah Campbell (knee) and Jevon Holland (knee), wide receiver Hill (ankle), cornerbacks Xavien Howard (hip) and Cam Smith (hamstring), offensive lineman Austin Jackson (oblique) and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (hamstring) are listed as questionable.

Two eight-time Pro Bowl selections, guard Zack Martin (thigh) and tackle Tyron Smith (back), missed practice earlier in the week for Dallas. Martin was limited in practice on Friday and is questionable, while Smith was downgraded from doubtful to out on Saturday after not practicing this week. On the defensive side, Malik Hooker (ankle) was limited on Friday and is questionable, while defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins (knee, ankle) was ruled out on Friday.

Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb is having a sensational season with 107 receptions for 1,306 yards and eight touchdowns. He needs nine catches to break the single-season franchise record set by Hall of Famer Michael Irvin in 1995.

Dallas had won the past four meetings against the Dolphins, the most recent being a 31-6 home victory in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Cowboys Kick the %#@& Out of Eagles

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DALLAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Surging Dallas QB Dak Prescott threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, Brandon Aubrey converted several extra-long field goals and the Dallas Cowboys got revenge on the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles 33-13 on Sunday night in Arlington, Texas.

Prescott completed 24 of 39 throws to help the Cowboys (10-3) win their fifth straight. They have not lost since the Eagles beat them 28-23 in Philadelphia on Nov. 5. Now the rivals are tied atop the division standings with four games to play.

Tight end Jake Ferguson led Dallas in receiving with five catches for 72 yards. CeeDee Lamb had six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Aubrey hit from 60, 59, 45 and 50 yards, becoming the first kicker in NFL history to make two field goals of 59 yards or longer in one game.

Jalen Hurts finished 18-of-27 passing for 197 yards for the Eagles (10-3), with A.J. Brown accounting for nine catches and 94 yards.

The Eagles lost three fumbles and committed 10 penalties for 95 yards in their second straight loss. In consecutive weeks, the San Francisco 49ers and the Cowboys combined to outscore Philadelphia 75-32.

Dallas opened the game with a methodical 10-play, 75-yard drive. Lamb caught a 13-yard touchdown pass exactly five minutes into the game.

Hurts guided the Eagles to the Dallas 21-yard line, where Donovan Wilson forced and recovered a fumble on a Hurts keeper. On the ensuing drive, Aubrey drilled his 60-yarder for a 10-0 lead that held up at the end of the quarter.

Jake Elliott converted from 52 yards for Philadelphia to cut it to 10-3 before the Cowboys scored touchdowns on their next two drives. First, Rico Dowdle pushed in from the 1-yard line; he was originally ruled short of the goal line before the call was overturned on a challenge.

After Elliott made a 44-yard field goal, the Cowboys sprinted 75 yards in eight plays and 1:28. Prescott hit Brandin Cooks over the top on a 30-yard play to the Eagles’ 1, and from there he connected with Michael Gallup for a touchdown to make it 24-6 at halftime.

Stephon Gilmore stripped Brown of the football and recovered it early in the third quarter.

Philadelphia capitalized on a fumble the other way when Fletcher Cox strip-sacked Prescott and Jalen Carter finished off a 42-yard scoop-and-score.

But Dallas’ next possession culminated in Aubrey’s 59-yard field goal. Aubrey, a rookie who played in the USFL before signing with Dallas, added the 45- and 50-yarders in the fourth quarter and improved to 8-for-8 on field goals 50 yards or longer.

The Eagles got to the red zone one more time, but Markquese Bell caused DeVonta Smith to fumble to prevent them from drawing any closer.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Cowboys Lasso Seahawks, 41-35

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DALLAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes, the last a 12-yarder to tight end Jake Ferguson with 4:37 remaining, as the Dallas Cowboys outlasted the Seattle Seahawks 41-35 Thursday night in Texas.

CeeDee Lamb made 12 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown, Tony Pollard rushed for 68 yards and a score and Brandon Aubrey kicked four field goals for the Cowboys (9-3), who won for the sixth time in their past seven games and beat a team with a winning record for the first time this season.

Dallas’ defense stiffened late, forcing Seattle to turn over the ball on downs on its final three possessions.

Geno Smith threw three touchdown passes to DK Metcalf for the Seahawks (6-6), who lost their third game in a row.

The Cowboys won their 14th consecutive home game dating back to September 2022.

The go-ahead drive came after Seattle was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Cowboys’ 46-yard line with 7:04 remaining.

Prescott, who was 29 of 41 for 299 yards, completed three passes to Lamb on the drive and scampered 8 yards to Seattle’s 7. Following a penalty, one of 19 for 257 yards combined for both teams in the game, Prescott found Ferguson to give Dallas a 38-35 lead.

Aubrey added a 32-yard field goal with 1:43 to go to cap the scoring.

After trailing by 10 early in the game, the Seahawks took a 21-20 halftime lead on a 1-yard TD pass with four seconds left in the second quarter.

Smith scored on a 5-yard run on the opening possession of the second half to put Seattle up 28-20.

Dallas pulled within a point on a 6-yard run by Pollard.

The Cowboys had a chance to take the lead as DaRon Bland intercepted a pass at Seattle’s 38-yard line. But Dallas eschewed a potential go-ahead field goal on fourth-and-2 from the 30 and Prescott’s pass for Lamb fell incomplete.

Smith (23 of 41, 334 yards, one interception) floated a 3-yard TD pass to Metcalf in the back of the end zone with 14:17 remaining to extend Seattle’s lead to 35-27.

Aubrey’s third field goal, from 38 yards, made it 35-30 with 11:23 left.

–Field Level Media

Thanks! Commanders Visit Dallas Today

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DALLAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders enter their NFC East Thanksgiving Day matchup in vastly different mindsets.

While the Cowboys (7-3) are rolling toward their third straight playoff appearance, the Commanders (4-7) are on track for their seventh consecutive non-winning season.

With speculation flying about a potential pink slip for coach Ron Rivera on Black Friday, especially if Washington lays another egg on national TV in Dallas, there’s one overarching storyline entering the game.

Rivera hit perhaps the nadir of his tenure in Washington on Sunday when the Commanders committed six turnovers in a 31-19 loss at home to the lowly New York Giants.

Peppered with questions about his future and the team’s lack of improvement over his four seasons in D.C., Rivera stuck to his one-game-at-a-time mantra Monday.

“What I try to do is just focus in on what’s important today and that’s really just preparing to get ready for Dallas,” Rivera said.

Throughout this season, Rivera has emphasized the development of second-year quarterback Sam Howell and his role as a long-term building block.

But against the Giants, Howell threw three interceptions, including a fluttering pass that Isaiah Simmons returned 54 yards for the game-clinching touchdown with 16 seconds left.

“It’s not like we got outplayed. We just didn’t take care of the football. We were moving the ball up and down the field,” Howell said. “We literally beat ourselves.”

NFL on SNF: San Fran vs Dallas Preview

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Sunday Night Football Preview

49ers (4-0) vs. Cowboys (3-1): Everything is going right for San Francisco, which is one of two undefeated teams still standing along with Philadelphia. Running back Christian McCaffery is coming off a four-touchdown performance (three rushing, one receiving) and leads the NFL with 459 yards on the ground. QB Brock Purdy is still undefeated in the regular season, carrying a 9-0 record into the meeting with Dallas. But if any defense is equipped to contain the 49ers, it’s the Cowboys’. Dallas leads the league with three defensive TDs, holds the best turnover differential (plus-9) and is tied for the fifth-most sacks (14). The Cowboys haven’t been slouches on offense, either, averaging 360 total yards of offense per game and winning by at least 20 points in all three of their victories. While the Niners have eliminated Dallas from the postseason in each of the past two seasons, the Cowboys have taken seven of the last nine regular-season meetings between the teams.

–Field Level Media

RB “Peep-iel” Elliott a Factor for Pats

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DALLAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is concerned longtime Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Will Grier are telling secrets.

As the New England Patriots prepare to travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys on Sunday, Elliott and Grier add tangible value with their knowledge of the inner workings of the Cowboys’ operation.

“Certainly Will knows where a lot of the bones are buried,” Schottenheimer said. “Zeke obviously does as well. Those are thing you talk about, and you think about, ‘OK, let’s adjust this one.’ We certainly have more than one hand signal for most of our core concepts, and sometimes you can use it to your advantage because they think they know what’s coming. And they hear something they think, ‘Oh, hey, it’s this,’ and we’re smart enough to adjust those things.”

Grier was waived in August when the Cowboys made a trade to acquire Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers.

Elliott played 103 career regular-season games in Dallas and was released in the offseason. He’s a close friend of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and has unique insight, despite the team changing offensive coordinators from Kellen Moore to Schottenheimer. But head coach Mike McCarthy has taken over play-calling this season.

The cat-and-mouse game can work both ways.

Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore played for the Patriots from 2017-20 and was a prized pupil of head coach Bill Belichick. Well-traveled wide receiver Brandin Cooks spent the 2017 season in New England.

“Everybody does it, you get a player that’s been somewhere, you talk to him about different things,” Schottenheimer said. “And then you’re very selective about how much you put into it. Excited to see Will, it’ll be great to see him, but I’m sure he is definitely being interrogated and spending a lot of late nights with their defensive coaching staff.”

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien belly-laughed when asked if he interrogated the new practice squad quarterback.

“Interrogating?” O’Brien asked rhetorically Tuesday. “Schotty is a good guy, I’ve known Schotty for a long time. I think that’s the way it is in this league — and it goes both ways. It’s always going to happen. At the end of the day, you’ve got to study the film.

“I’ve never thought in all of my years in the league that any of that was an overriding factor in a win or a loss. I don’t think we’re trying to hold a light over anybody and (asking), ‘Tell me what you did on July 20, 2023.’ We’re not doing that. We’re not interrogating anybody. We’re trying to put together the best game plan we possible can.”

–Field Level Media

NFL Desk: Cowboys Win With Prescott

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DALLAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report by Field Level Media) – Dallas veteran RB Ezekiel Elliott scored on two 1-yard plunges and the Dallas defense forced five second-half turnovers as the Cowboys defeated the visiting Detroit Lions 24-6.

Dak Prescott, playing in his first game since suffering a broken right thumb in the season opener, passed for 207 yards while completing 19 of 25 attempts. He threw his first touchdown pass of the season with less than two minutes remaining.

Elliott gained 57 yards on 15 carries, while Tony Pollard rushed for 83 yards on 12 carries. CeeDee Lamb caught four passes for 70 yards for Dallas (5-2).

The Lions’ Jared Goff passed for 228 yards but fumbled twice and was picked off two times. Jamaal Williams gained 79 yards on 15 carries but committed a pivotal turnover.

The Lions (1-5) led 6-3 at halftime. Michael Badgley put Detroit on the scoreboard with a 40-yard field goal with 3:58 left in the first quarter.

Brett Maher’s 22-yard field goal, which capped a 72-yard Dallas drive, tied it up early in the second. Badgley’s 53-yard field goal put Detroit back on top.

Dallas had a good chance to at least tie the game late in the half, but wide receiver Noah Brown fumbled and the Lions recovered at their own 3-yard line.

Trevon Diggs intercepted Goff to end Detroit’s first possession of the second half. The Cowboys then embarked on a seven-play, 82-yard drive, which included a 28-yard run by Pollard. Elliott capped it off with a 1-yard run.

Detroit saw a 79-yard drive flame out early in the fourth quarter. After his team reached the Dallas 1, Williams fumbled on a hit by Demarcus Lawrence and linebacker Anthony Barr recovered.

Goff was intercepted by cornerback Jourdan Lewis with 8:29 left, leading to Dallas’ clinching touchdown. Prescott hit Brown with two passes on the 54-yard drive, which was capped by Elliott’s second touchdown of the game.

Dallas regained possession two plays after the next kickoff when Goff fumbled on a strip sack by Sam Williams. Prescott found Peyton Hendershot from 2 yards out to complete the scoring.

–Field Level Media

NFL Sports Desk: SNF Marquee Matchup

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PHILADELPHIA – (Staff and Field Level Media Report) – Dallas oft-injured quarterback Dak Prescott participated in individual drills and was more involved in Thursday’s practice than the Dallas Cowboys anticipated, making enough improvement that he’s officially questionable for tonight’s game at Philadelphia.

Lead receiver CeeDee Lamb missed Friday’s practice with a hip injury, but Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones signaled the absence was more precaution than panic.

“He’s just working through a couple things there. Just felt like it was best for him not to practice today. We feel like he’ll get all that sorted out for the game,” Jones said Friday to 105.3 FM in Dallas.

Prescott was upgraded to limited participation Thursday, his first practice in more than four weeks, from being listed as DNP on Wednesday.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said the result of the uptick in throwing is a sore surgically repaired right thumb. That prompted the Cowboys to rest Prescott and keep him out of Friday’s team work. McCarthy said the Cowboys consider Prescott in “regeneration” mode.

Prescott is nearly five weeks removed from fracturing the thumb on his throwing hand in the Sept. 11 opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCarthy said the big picture remains entirely positive with Prescott, who will resume throwing Saturday and before Sunday’s game at Philadelphia.

“The last two days he hit the target. (Friday) will be a recovery day for him,” McCarthy said. “We’re on schedule. He’s getting better.”

Dallas’ Reserve QB Cooper Rush is in line to start his fifth consecutive game since Prescott went down.

The Cowboys (4-1) do expect linebacker Micah Parsons (groin) and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (chest) to be on the field for the NFC East showdown with the Eagles (5-0).

Rush said it’s important to note Prescott hasn’t been on the field, but he has impacted the end result.

“I’ve said before he’s helped tremendously with our room, myself, and everyone else on the sidelines,” Rush said. “He’s bringing energy, that’s just who he is as a person or a leader.”

–Field Level Media