FRISCO, Texas – Sometimes in this NFL you need some help.
Thank you very much, New York Football Giants, beating the Eagles on Thursday night, 34-17, to drop Philadelphia to 4-2, now saddled with a two-game losing streak.
Thank you very much, Chicago Bears, slipping by the Commanders on Monday night, 25-24, for their third consecutive win, a streak started by pummeling the Cowboys, 31-14. Washington is now 3-3, losers of two consecutive games.
What more could the Cowboys have asked for in Week 6 of the NFL season, heading into last Sunday with a 2-2-1 record? With a win over the 2-3 Carolina Panthers, they would have moved their record to 3-2-1, a half-game ahead of the Commanders and but a half game behind the Eagles.
Here we go, right?
Because to me, the NFL helps those who help themselves.
Not so fast, buddy. The Cowboys did nothing in Charlotte, North Carolina, to help themselves, frittering away a golden opportunity by allowing the Panthers to run them right out of Bank of America Stadium, 30-27. Not as bad as the statistics suggest could have been, but not as good as most of us think should have been.
A wasted opportunity. So from a Cowboys' standings standpoint, as you were, 2-3-1, as many losses as the Commanders and one more loss than the Eagles. And who knows with still 11 games to play if that tie worth one-half game will be a benefit or deterrent when all is said and done.
In other words, with the Giants the only team in the NFC East winning in Week 6, the division standings haven't moved the needle. And when looking at the NFC standings, the Cowboys' three-loss total is one more than eight two-loss teams.
So you could say they still have a chance, and as veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark was quick to point out, "This is a week-to-week league."
Even the eternal optimist owner Jerry Jones, who likely has lost many a bet in his oilwell drilling days, remains steadfast over the possibilities still in front of his Cowboys.
"It just reminded me we are still in it," Jerry said Tuesday morning, that even though the Cowboys dropped to three losses, the Eagles and Commanders losses didn't have as huge an impact on their position in the East. "I see so much parity."
Jerry then went a long way to point out the possibility of several players returning from injury, coming to this conclusion:
"We're a long way from being out of the hunt. … I'm encouraged. I'm encouraged."
Let's reassess at the bye week, with upcoming games against Wasington, Denver and Arizona next up.
To see if the Cowboys can help themselves.
- Speaking Of Clark: Jones reminded everyone during his session with the media after participating in the East-West Shrine Bowl press conference of another benefit of trading Micah Parsons to Green Bay. Clark is only charging the Cowboys' 2025 salary cap for $2.3 million. As for the Packers, demonstrating how badly they wanted Parsons, not only did they give the Cowboys two first-round draft choices, but they also had to absorb, because of guaranteed money included in the three-year, $64 million extension signed in 2024, right at $18 million in dead money. And for what the Cowboys received – draft choices, cap space and a veteran defensive tackle – Jones said of Clark, "He's playing as well as anyone on defense."
- Speaking Of Trades: Jerry isn't shying away when being asked about making a potential trade by the Nov. 4 trade deadline. "We've got our eyes wide open for ways to help this defense with our resources," he said. And it's not just draft capital available but remember that trade wiped Parson's guaranteed fifth-year option of $21 million off the Cowboys' salary cap, leaving them currently with roughly $32 million of cap space still available to absorb whatever is left on a player's base salary. The combination of available cap space and draft choices gained allowed Jones to say, "That increases our flexibility to have more ammo to make a trade."
- The Reinforcements: The Cowboys might have listed 10 players limited in practice Wednesday, but at least four of those guys – CeeDee Lamb, KaVontae Turpin, Jack Sanborn and Tyler Booker – were practicing in pads for the first time since injuries had knocked them out of games the past few weeks. And Washington is also listing 10 players not practicing Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game against the Cowboys, but seven of those were for non-injury reasons (rest) since the Commanders played Monday night.
- Roster Decisions: While the Cowboys did make one move, releasing wide receiver Jalen Cropper, they are likely to re-sign him to the practice squad, providing he clears waivers. And while Cropper had been elevated for two of the allowed three games off the practice squad to the game-day roster and then signed to the 53 last week, if signed back to the practice squad he would then restart his elevations with the allowed three. That's then one open spot for potential IR returns if cornerback Caelen Carson or wide receiver Jonathan Mingto are ready. And since both have missed their required four games, along with completing their 21-day return-to-practice window this week, the Cowboys must decide by next Wednesday if those players are ready to bring back to the 53-man roster. If not, they would have to remain on IR for the remainder of the season. Seems Carson is closest to being ready, and there's a chance he might return by Sunday's game.
- Tidbits: Somehow, Cowboys-Commanders doesn't have the same ring to this once bitter rivalry, especially among the fans since free agency sort of diluted any hostility between the players. Because back then, it sure sounded more competitive when it was Cowboys-Redskins Week … While the Commanders did advance to the NFC title game after eliminating Tampa Bay and Detroit in the first two rounds of the 2024 playoffs as a wild-card team, they actually split their two NFC East games with the Cowboys during the regular season. They lost Round 1, 34-26, thanks to a 99-yard Turpin kickoff return for a touchdown, and then after cutting Dallas' lead from 27-17 to only 27-26 after a missed extra point, the Cowboys' Juanyeh Thomas returned their onside-kick attempt 43 yards for a touchdown … And in Round 2 – with both games played without Dak Prescott at quarterback – a Marcus Mariota 5-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLauren with 3 seconds remaining wiped out a Cowboys' 19-16 lead for Washington's 23-19 victory … And to think, the Cowboys have beaten the Commanders in six of their previous eight games … Oh, and get this, Washington has not beaten Dallas in consecutive games at AT&T Stadium since the 2014-15 seasons … Since Prescott became the Cowboys' starting quarterback in 2016, they are 13-5 against Washington with Dak posting an 11-2 record during those nine seasons, and the Cowboys going 2-3 without him … And if history means anything, Dak has thrown 27 touchdown passes against Washington, the second most against any opponent only to the 31 against the Giants.
So a little bit of real life for this week's final word, maybe from all of us, wishing Brian Schottenheimer a happy 52nd birthday on Thursday. Somewhat of a birthday week around here, with Jerry turning 83 on Monday and Will McClay 59, also. Can vouch that birthdays during the regular season are usually pretty low key, not like some folks who take their birthdays off from work.
Schotty, any big doings planned for Thursday? Though beware with that many players and coaches, trainers, equipment guys, scouts and front office folks around, better have your head on a swivel since boys are known to be boys.
"I'm sure we'll have a little celebration this weekend with family coming to town, as we always do," Schotty said. "On the flip side, I get an out-of-jail-free card when it's my wife's (Gemmi) birthday in November because it's football season, and so … well, no, I use my mom, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, they kind of go, you need to be thinking about this wherever you are because she's going to want something really nice this year.
"But honestly, you know I celebrate everybody's birthday. I announce it to the team. We had a couple of birthdays today, actually. Jerry's was Monday, Will McClay, born on the same day (Oct. 13). I don't know if you guys knew that. Will Britt, one of the guys here in analytics, it's his birthday. But my birthday, I'm a little bit more low-key when it comes to my birthday.
"Especially when I'm 52. What's to celebrate? I'm old."
Come on coach, party on! You don't even know what old is.
