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Dallas Cowboys

NFL Sunday Night Football: Preview

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Minnesota Vikings (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Cowboys -5.5, Total 48.5
Series Rewind: The Cowboys have won five of the past six meetings with Minnesota, including a 40-3 road victory in 2022 in the most recent matchup.

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Dallas faces long playoff odds and the Chicago win today eliminated Minnesota. Dallas has been receiving help from the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles, who have lost three straight games to keep Dallas in the mix in the division race. The Cowboys have won three of their past four games as they ride the arm of Dak Prescott, the NFL leader with 3,637 passing yards. He also is tied for second with 26 passing touchdowns. Prescott has outputs of 354, 320 and 376 yards over the past three games. Standout receiver CeeDee Lamb (865 receiving yards) hasn’t cleared concussion protocol but should do so by Sunday night. Cowboys running back Javonte Williams has career highs of 1,022 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season with the club. The Vikings staved off elimination last weekend with a 31-0 shellacking of the Washington Commanders.  J.J. McCarthy threw a career-high three touchdown passes against Washington and didn’t throw an interception for the first time in his seven NFL starts. Star receiver Justin Jefferson had just two catches for 11 yards against the Commanders one week after having two receptions for 4 yards in a 26-0 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

–Field Level Media

TL Thanksgiving Notebook | 2025

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

RYE, NY – It is wise to give “Thanks and Eat Pie” while giving special thanks and praise to others on this Thanksgiving Week of 2025. Let us first salute the two most important groups for every sports fan on Thanksgiving Day – the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. A special thank-you to all the people who work behind the scenes every Thanksgiving Day since time can be told, no matter if they’re the chain gang for the Lions-Cowboys, the “guys” in the trucks, the talented women – corporate-remote production-sideline reporters-statisticians-graphics-play-by-play and anchors – thank you all.

This season, the Green Bay Packers travel to nearby Detroit to face the divisional rival Lions in the early game (1:00pm EST) while the Kansas City Chiefs will have a relatively short flight to Dallas to play the vaunted Cowboys at AT & T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Post Thanksgiving Day dinner, this year’s night game will feature the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the Baltimore Ravens in a game that looked great on the schedule before Cincy QB Joe Burrow had surgery to aide his turf toe injury. Burrow will not be back for Thanksgiving.

We’ll watch anyway and snacks await.

HERE NOW, THE THANKS: First, let’s give thanks to the NFL Red Zone, and its seven hours of uninterrupted coverage of the NFL, it’s Oct-o-Box, its “witching hour(s), “ “when wins become losses and losses become wins.” … Let’s also give thanks to NFL RedZone play-by-play man Scott Hanson, a gift from heaven. … While we’re at it, thanks go out to Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Jim Nantz & Tony Romo, Kenny Albert and an RIP to the“Goose,“ as in Tony Siragusa who was taken in 2022, far too soon and too young (age 55). (Thanks to Goose-the-band, too, with a reminder December 12th is Goosemas in Providence, Rhode Island).

Thanks for Penny (Lane) and (Mighty) Max, our two pups. There’s nothing like an hour of toy chasing and scampering around the house with two pups playing tug-of-war and chase the ball.
Mighty Max (left) and Penny (Lane) (right), exhausted after play time

Thanks for the Road Not Taken.

Thanks for all of New England. Great place. Chatham, Mass wins. Osterville gets the Silver. Head south to New York/Long Island’s Montauk Point for the Bronze.

See if you can enjoy Horse Racing at Saratoga Race Course next summer.Belmont Park is great and is under construction for total renovation. It’s tough to top Del Mar.

Brand new Blue Jeans are nice.

I love a good segue. Layla to Behind Blue Eyes is the best I’ve ever connected. Try it. Crossfade at about nine seconds.

Do you know Jack Straw from Wichita? We can share what we got of yours ‘cause we done shared all of mine. Bruce Hornsby says: “Runnin’ down by the Lakeshore, She did love the sound of a summer storm. It played on the lake like a Mandolin.”

Thanks to Stevie, Elton, Billy, Bruce Hornsby and The Professor.

Madison Square Garden and Fenway Park are still my favorite places to be, and my home – a place where I truly know my soul has a place to rest.

I love the smell of freshly cut green grass. They smell like … Victory.

I can’t stand when my nice, fresh, green grass turns to brown dust in August, only to return again in late September. With that fact, there is hope for the Spring of 2026. “Green grass and high tides forever,” said the Outlaws, “Castles of stone, souls and glory.”

Let’s step back towards NYC and The Garden (and Felt Forum); I liked Golden Gloves Boxing and hope we can return it to its glory days.

I‘m really liking the NBA Basketball School concept and we’ve bought in for NBA Basketball School – Türkiye, starting in Istanbul in January.

How about “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens or bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens?”

Is thanks in order as “67” is all the rage? – (Including, Dictionary.com Word of the Year) – Maybe so, but did you know that in all of the NFL’S retired uniform numbers, there’s not one “67,” in the bunch, so it’s not a favorite. Meanwhile, “27” is a fave and thank you Darryl Sittler, the Toronto Maple Leafs great.

For those who have HBO Max and tuned into The Pitt for its first season, you’re good. For those who did not, there will be a re-launch of the acclaimed television series when The Pitt airs on TNT. The Emmy-award winning medical drama will air on TNT starting December 1, 2025, at 9 PM ET. The first season will be re-broadcast uncensored, with three back-to-back episodes airing each Monday through December 29. This TNT version leads up to the premiere of Season 2 of the series to be broadcast on HBO this January.

The Pitt lead actor Noah Wyle won his first Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Drama for his role as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch on the HBO Max medical drama and it came 26 years after his last nomination for his work on the medical drama, ER. Here’s my personal list of the best 10pm dramas on TV:

  • The West Wing
  • The Wire
  • Homeland
  • The Sopranos
  • House of Cards (which got far too ridiculous as it evolved)

Honorable Mention: Goes to: M*A*S*H, Breaking Bad, Cheers, Seinfeld, Murder One, Law & Order:Take Your Pick, but Mariska Hargitay gets the nod for the Special Victims episodes.

Sorry, I Missed: Mad Men, Succession, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office.

I’m thankful for Ken Burns and his documentary currently airing on PBS. Burns’ latest documentary, The American Revolution, is a monumental six-part, 12-hour miniseries that premiered on PBS (WGBH- TV in Boston) on November 16, 2025 and has been running nightly.

Burns and his team spent nearly a decade on this series drawing from first-person accounts, scholarly interviews, and innovative visuals – many debunking or delving deeper beneath the surface of recognized and accepted teachings of the ultra-complicated war.

There is no better narrator for a documentary than Peter Coyote. He has been the anchor for the best of the best Burns docs.

The series begins in the 1760s, with the French and Indian War’s fallout sparking colonial resentment toward British taxes and policies. It traces the escalation through key flashpoints like the Boston Massacre, the Declaration of Independence, Valley Forge’s horrors, and Yorktown’s triumph, ending with the fragile birth of a republic. The depth of involvement by the French and Spanish, along with the all-fronts wars on-going in Europe (at the same time) paint the picture of England’s place in world history, nevermind the domestic in-fighting between patriots, loyalists, Native Americans and slaves.

It proves to be far more complicated that Lin Manuel-Miranda’s quick and clean version depicted in Hamilton the Musical.

I think I liked the Broadway version the best.

Burns has produced 30 documentary series, including the current epic on the American Revolution. I’ll list a few of my personal favorites or recommendations (as the word favorite doesn’t fit many of the topics Burns explains):

  1. The Viet Nam War
  2. Baseball
  3. The Civil War
  4. The National Parks
  5. Congress
  6. Jackie Robinson
  7. Country Music

RECENT INVESTMENTS – MUST-GIVE THANKS FOR THE BUCKS: Back by popular demand are the amazing (but not profitable) investments made by Digital Sports Desk Enterprises this past year.

  • We sunk a cash investment into the next craze in Satellite Radio: Superficial XM
  • Things didn’t go well for our Fantasy Sports/Gambling app: Combine Kings
  • There’s a new sport for SPEED RACERS: Invest with us in NASBUGGY
  • Media is Hot, Hot, Hot! MSNBC is MSNow, so invest in MSFOX television
  • With the success of the Peacock Network and their work in sports, the competition is investing in a similar effort to delve into the action. Let us dig deep for:
    • Ostrich Network – Politicians appear with their heads in the sand
    • Ravens Network – No, not the Baltimore football team, but the second coming of Sesame Street, a la “Count” the Ravens, nevermore.
    • The Pelican Network – How about 24/7 NBA New Orleans Pelican basketball? With summers covered by a non-stop loop of The Pelican Brief. (That’s the John Grisham thriller novel starring Julia Roberts in the motion picture).

IMPRESSED or NOT: Since I’m honestly impressed, I will also give thanks to/for:

  • College basketball’s No. 1 ranked Houston Cougars and coach Kelvin Sampson
  • College basketball’s Purdue and Alabama teams, too. They’re both good.
  • Grown men in baseball uniforms jumping up and down on a November night after winning the World Series
  • Tears for Fears
  • Tailgating
  • The Boston Marathon and the 11:00am Red Sox game at Fenway
  • Dave Roberts, Dan Campbell, Mark Daigneault, Mike Vrabel and Paul Maurice
  • Al Arbour, Gil Hodges, Red Holzman and Weeb Ewbank
  • Lou Carnesseca, Kevin Loughery, Dickie McGuire and Joe Lapchick
  • John Kresse and Bob McKillop
  • Bob Lanier, Dikembe Mutombo, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Walton
  • Jerry West
  • Arnold Palmer and an ice cold Arnold Palmer (on a hot summer day)
  • Rory McIlroy, rolling in a 25-foot putt or driving the ball 325+
  • David Bowie, Duran Duran, Jerry Garcia and Simple Minds
  • Derek Trucks, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Brian May
  • Traeger Grills (Super Smoke), Grilled/Smoked/Roasted Chicken Breast
  • Well done BBQ Burgers and Grilled Corn, Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli
  • Pizza

LET’S GIVE THANKS FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE: Important things?

  • The right to vote
  • Rights for women’s health issues
  • Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to peacefully assemble
  • The right for an American with a passport to travel the world while abiding by the laws of the country they chose to visit

THANKS AGAIN: To my guys, Brian McIntyre, Matt Winick – former NBA colleagues, now simply friends for life. Helen Wong, too. (It’s so great, as she’s teaching in the NYC public school system now).

Nowadays, I have a love/hate relationship with my old stomping grounds of New York City. I love and miss the West Village and the Upper West Side. Less so for Midtown and the UES. Even less for Queens.

The love is being there for the annual Big East basketball tournament at The Garden.

The hate is having to drive, so I often take the train (Amtrak) or drive to Westchester and take the Metro North into Manhattan. On Thanksgiving Day morning, I can do the drive in 2 hours, 45 minutes – three hours max. One day last month, it took nearly seven hours. Blah.

THANKS AGAIN: For my fireplace and a full cord of hardwood.

I really like my Bose Sound bar, Spotify play lists, my CDs, and some good, old vinyl.

I do sound tests with Steely Dan’s aja and Stevie Nicks’ Stand Back. There are others.

If you can get the drapes to move on the beats of the bass drum, you win.

Alan Parsons and Todd Rundgren get some airplay in the house. For those interested, Parsons hails from Willisden (Middlesex), a town five miles west/NW of Charing Cross (London) while Rundgren hails from Upper Darby, PA – not far from Philly.

ELO-Over and Out!
ELO at TD Garden (Photo by T. Peter Lyons)

We enjoyed fare-thee-well tours by The Who and ELO with Jeff Lynne’s “Over and Out” concerts (2024-25). I couldn’t believe Roger and Pete could pull it off one last time, but that they did on a great summer night at Fenway Park. as far as ELO, I was not surprised at all. They were note for note – fabulous.

The Who-The Song is Over!
Roger Daltrey of The Who at Fenway Park (photo by T. Peter Lyons)

Switching gears once again, I’m quite happy with Turner’s coverage of the Big East, but the jury’s still out on St. John’s for a run through the conference and into March Madness. They need to improve on the defensive end in a big way, and it would be great to see someone – anyone – start drilling a few 3s.

Purdue, (previously mentioned) Houston, UConn, Arizona and Alabama look pretty good. It’s a very long way to go until the various conference tournaments come around, but we’ll all rejoice in the Thanksgiving and Christmas college hoop tourneys (and one-offs) coming this week.

In college football, I’ll be shocked – SHOCKED – if any team in the land can give Ohio State a run. Single game playoffs can do that, though, I guess.

If you can’t sing a lick, a great Karaoke song to pick is “Lonely Days” by The Bee Gees. Look up the lyrics and you’ll get what I’m saying. Plus, it’s an all-time great sing-along.

A really bad choice would be “I’ve Seen All Good People” by YES and you should think twice before choosing “American Pie” by Don MacLean.

Let’s give thanks to Rolling Stones drummer, the late Charlie Watts, and his great hi-hat cymbals in the ballad, “Angie.” (which segues quite nicely into “No Sugar Tonight” by The Guess Who.

There’s always room for thanks for my special Williams-Sonomo Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving Day (and sandwiches thereafter). You’ll never look at Cranberry Sauce the same way again, especially that old Ocean Spray – right out of the can – style that has the imprints of the tin can on the sides.

NFL Capsules: 4pm (ET) Games

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Cleveland Browns (2-8) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Raiders -3.5, Total 36.5
Series Rewind: This is the second straight season these teams will face off. Las Vegas won 20-16 last year, has won the last five and holds an 18-10 lead in the all-time series.

There are no real stakes for this matchup between two teams who have stopped considering the playoffs weeks ago and have a combined touchdown deficit of minus-21 this season. But on the Cleveland side, there’s some intrigue as Shedeur Sanders is set to make his first career start with Dillon Gabriel still in concussion protocol. Sanders, the Colorado standout who fell into the fifth round of this year’s draft, will be the Browns’ 42nd different starting QB since they returned to Cleveland in 1999. No Browns rookie QB has won his debut since 1995. Sanders completed 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception replacing Gabriel last week vs. Baltimore. Las Vegas’ offense continues to sputter with Geno Smith at the helm. The Raiders converted just 3 of 12 third downs on Monday vs. Dallas and are 7-of-27 on third-down conversions over the last two games. Smith is tied for the NFL lead with 13 interceptions, more than his 12 interceptions. But Las Vegas continues to flash some promising skill-position talent. Ashton Jeanty had just seven rushing yards last week, but had six catches and ranks third among rookies with 717 scrimmage yards this season. Second-year tight end Brock Bowers had seven catches vs. the Cowboys to reach 151 for his career, tied for the second-fastest player to reach 150 catches (24 games).

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) at Arizona Cardinals (3-7)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Jaguars -2.5, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: Jacksonville and Arizona have played just six times in the Jaguars’ first 30 seasons. Jacksonville won the first two games, but the Cardinals have won the four since, last coming away with a 31-19 road win in 2021.

With a 19-point blown lead vs. Houston followed by a 35-6 beatdown of the Los Angeles Chargers the last two weeks, you never really know what you’re going to get with this year’s Jaguars team. And yet, Jacksonville sits in playoff position as the No. 7 seed, a half-game ahead of the division-rival Texans, entering Sunday’s game at Arizona. The run game has been the Jaguars’ bread and butter when things have been going well under first-year head coach Liam Coen and that was certainly the case last week when Jacksonville ran for 192 yards and three scores against a stingy Chargers defense. Rookie RB Bhayshul Tuten, who led the team in rushing yards (74) for the first time, left the Los Angeles game late with an ankle injury and has been limited in practice. So have leading RB Travis Etienne (shoulder) and lead receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle), who has missed the last two games. For Arizona, even a career-high 452 passing yards from Jacoby Brissett last week couldn’t stop their extended skid. The Cardinals have lost seven of their last eight games since a 2-0 start and are 3 1/2 games back from the third-place 49ers in the NFC West. Brissett did that without leading receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix surgery), who will be out again this week. Brissett has certainly revitalized the Arizona passing game with 1,570 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in five starts since replacing Kyler Murray, who is out at least two more games. But it hasn’t translated into wins.

Atlanta Falcons (3-7) at New Orleans Saints (2-8)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Saints -1.5, Total 39.5
Series Rewind: New Orleans has prevailed in 11 of the last 15 meetings. The teams face each other again in Week 18.

Veteran Kirk Cousins is back as the starter after Michael Penix Jr. was lost to a season-ending left ACL injury during last week’s 30-27 overtime loss against the Carolina Panthers. The 37-year-old Cousins has mostly been a highly paid spectator while firing just 52 passes this season. He tied for the NFL lead with 16 interceptions in 14 games last season before losing the job to Penix. The Falcons have lost five straight games and coach Raheem Morris said the offense will be tweaked to fit Cousins’ style. Star running back Bijan Robinson had 104 yards against the Panthers for his third 100-yard rushing effort of the season. Top receiver Drake Lewis (810 receiving yards) will sit out with a knee injury. New Orleans is coming off a bye and knocked off the host Panthers 17-7 in Week 10. Tyler Shough, a second-round rookie, stood out in his second career start by passing for 282 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 70.4% of his passes and wasn’t intercepted, two facts that surely pleased coach Kellen Moore, one of the most efficient college quarterbacks ever during his playing career at Boise State. The New Orleans defenses will aim for a repeat showing after limiting the Panthers to 102 yards through the air and 175 total. Linebacker Demario Davis has a team-best 91 tackles.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) at Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Eagles -3.5, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: The Eagles have won the last three clashes, including 24-20 in this year’s season opener, but would need to sweep the next 13 regular-season meetings to erase the Cowboys’ 71-58 lead in the heated rivalry.

The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott is a sparkling 21-2 at home against NFC East opponents in his career, a .913 percentage that is the highest at home by any QB against his division since the 1970 merger. His last loss in Arlington in a divisional game was on Nov. 19, 2017 against the Eagles. Standout wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens face an Eagles secondary that has allowed only two touchdown passes during their four-game winning streak. Lamb had an uncharacteristic bout of drops in the Week 1 loss at Philadelphia, including on a potential game-winning drive late in the game. Philadelphia has compiled the best road winning percentage (.718) with a 28-11 record since Nick Sirianni became the coach in 2021, including nine wins in their last 11 away games. Jalen Hurts has thrown one interception in his last 16 regular-season starts and the Eagles have turned the ball over a league-low four times this season. Hurts had two rushing TDs against the Cowboys in the season opener, which came before Dallas acquired DT Quinnen Williams. Williams gives Dallas another big body between the tackles to resist the rugby-scrum quarterback sneak play. He had 1.5 sacks and five QB pressures at Las Vegas in his Cowboys’ debut last week. The Eagles have an X-factor on their side: They are 5-0 in their Kelly green throwback jerseys since bringing them back in 2023.

NFL: Monday Night Football Preview

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Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – 8:15pm EST

DALLAS – (Staff Report) – In the Week 9 Monday Night Football matchup, the Dallas Cowboys will host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Both teams are looking to turn their seasons around, and this game features a high-powered Cowboys offense going against a struggling Cowboys defense.
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Team Opponent Time (ET) Channel Location
Dallas Cowboys Arizona Cardinals 8:15 p.m. ABC/ESPN AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Team Status and Key Players
Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1)
  • Strengths: The Cowboys have one of the most explosive and productive passing offenses in the league, led by quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver George Pickens, with a formidable supporting cast. The offense ranks second in points per game and yards per game. Running back Javonte Williams has also been a touchdown machine this season.
  • Weaknesses: The Dallas defense has been a major liability, ranking second-to-last in both points and yards allowed. This has resulted in several high-scoring games for the Cowboys this season.
  • Outlook: Despite a lethal passing game, the Cowboys are currently outside the playoff picture in the NFC. They will need their offense to outscore opponents, and their defense to make some key stops, to turn their season around.
Arizona Cardinals (2-5)
  • Quarterback: Starting quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) is not expected to play, with Jacoby Brissett slated to start in his place.
  • Injuries: Running back Trey Benson is also dealing with an injury.
  • Challenges: The Cardinals’ offense has been inconsistent, and they are currently on a five-game losing streak. They have struggled on the road this season.
  • Opportunities: The Cardinals have a favorable matchup against the Cowboys’ vulnerable secondary, which could allow their offense to find a rhythm.
Matchup Insights
  • Offensive Battle: With the Cowboys boasting a top-tier offense and a subpar defense, this game has the makings of a high-scoring shootout.
  • Kyler Murray’s Absence: The Cardinals will be without their starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, for the third straight game. Jacoby Brissett will start for Arizona.
  • History: The Cardinals have had success against the Cowboys recently, winning seven of the last eight matchups between the two teams.
  • Betting: The Cowboys are favored in this contest. The game has a high total points line, indicating an expectation of a lot of scoring.
Bottom Line
This game will be a battle of opposing forces. The Cowboys’ explosive offense will face a Cardinals defense that is coming off a bye week. The outcome will likely hinge on whether Dallas’s offense can overcome its defensive deficiencies and whether Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals’ offense can exploit the Cowboys’ porous defense.

NFL: Eagles Prep for New Banner

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PHILADELPHIA – (Wire Service Report) – The Philadelphia Eagles have the Lombardi Trophy, while the Dallas Cowboys once again own the headlines — for better or worse.

The 2025 NFL season kick offs Thursday when the host Eagles raise their Super Bowl LIX banner before entertaining their NFC East foes, currently the subject of derision for trading away one of the best defenders in the game.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and his locker-room leaders refuse to discuss the possibility of a repeat.

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“We’re not talking anything about a title or anything. We’re talking about the Dallas Cowboys,” Sirianni said. “How do we put ourselves in the best position to win this football game … and how do you continue to get better as the year goes on? That’s your habits. That’s all we’re thinking about.”

Yet the Week 1 spotlight will shine less on the champs and more on their opponents.

Dallas owner Jerry Jones ended a contract standoff with sack master Micah Parsons by trading him to the Green Bay Packers a week before the season opener. The Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark and the Packers’ next two first-round draft picks, but they surrendered an All-Pro pass-rusher entering his prime.

Jones defended his decision, envisioning a world in which Parsons nets future stars for Dallas the same way the Herschel Walker trade did early in Jones’ tenure.

“Our fans, as well as my mirror, are saying, ‘Come on, let’s change something up. Let’s do something a little different here,’” Jones said.

But those draft picks won’t help this season, and fans in fact were incensed that Parsons was traded. Not even franchise quarterback Dak Prescott tried to spin the move too positively.

“I’m not going to say we’re better,” Prescott said. “We’ve got to go out there and prove it. We’d have to prove it even if (Parsons) was on this team, so I’m not going to say that by any means.”

The Cowboys’ defense already was behind the 8-ball after allowing 27.5 points per game last year, second-worst in the league (at 17.8 ppg, the Eagles were second-best). Rookie defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku will join Clark and journeymen Dante Fowler Jr. and Solomon Thomas in a remade defensive front.

Dallas traded for mercurial receiver George Pickens to line up opposite CeeDee Lamb, but the run game will be another question mark. Rico Dowdle left in free agency after a 1,000-yard season, and the Cowboys will balance vets Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue out of the backfield.

They’ll all have to come together under a new coach in Brian Schottenheimer after the team moved on from Mike McCarthy. Promoted from offensive coordinator, the career assistant gets his first crack as a head coach.

“Nothing’s changed. My goals haven’t changed. Our team goals haven’t changed,” Schottenheimer said after the Parsons trade. “I hit the players on that … after I talked about the tough couple of days for all the guys. It doesn’t change. The standard is the standard.”

The Eagles won’t look much different from the team that routed the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in February. Saquon Barkley will try to replicate the ninth 2,000-yard rushing season in league history, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith still lead the receiving corps and the defense remains chock-full of former Georgia Bulldogs.

Whatever his critics say, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jalen Hurts can call himself a Super Bowl champion as well. He threw for just 2,903 yards and 18 touchdowns in 15 starts last year, but had his fourth straight year with double-digit rushing touchdowns (14). No one will benefit more from the owners voting down attempts to ban the “tush push” play last spring.

Hurts’ relationship with Sirianni, which appeared strained 12 months ago, has grown “day by day,” per the quarterback.

“We obviously, both of us, love to work, love hard work, have a ton of grit to ourselves,” Hurts said this week. “We’re passionate about that. We express that through our work. So I think it’s been able to grow and evolve.”

The Eagles may not have three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson (back) for the opener as he missed practice Monday. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee (right thumb) also missed practice, while linebacker Joshua Uche (groin) and rookie safety Andrew Mukuba (hamstring) were limited.

The only Dallas player to miss practice Monday was defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey (back). Star cornerback Trevon Diggs and left tackle Tyler Guyton, both dealing with knee injuries, were full participants.

–Field Level Media

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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