The Dallas Cowboys still have playoff hopes, but barely after a 44-30 loss to Detroit on Dec. 4 that left them 6-6-1 pushed their season to the brink. Would a four-game sweep to get to 10-6-1 give them a chance? Maybe, but not likely.
That will be easier with CeeDee Lamb in the lineup, but he’s in concussion protocol. He does seem to be getting better, though.
His running mate, George Pickens, took some heat for a perceived lack of effort in last week’s game and he’s responded to that. Here’s what Dallas is doing.
CeeDee Lamb injury
After suffering a concussion in the third quarter of Dallas’ loss to Detroit, CeeDee Lamb appears to be trending in the right direction, though he’s still in concussion protocol.
On Dec. 5, Lamb took to Instagram and posted: “Blessed is an understatement. Love ya’ll.”
Coach Brian Schottenheimer added that Lamb “had a good day” on Friday.
George Pickens
Lamb’s counterpart, receiver George Pickens, who is having a superb season, had a poor day Thursday against the Lions. He caught five of the nine passes targeted to him for 37 yards, his lowest output of the season.
Thursday Night Football analyst Richard Sherman, the former Seattle Seahawks star, said Pickens “looked uninterested” and “disengaged” and appeared to “half-ass it”.
Pickens said that had to do with the defense he played against.
“Definitely for myself, personally, I just can’t disappear,” Pickens told reporters at his locker. “But schematically, as a reporter or whatever his job holds — and he played ball — he’s got to kind of understand the type of defense they’re playing as well.”
Dak Prescott
After a two-interception night against Detroit, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott admitted the team’s playoff chances are dim, but that they were going to fight.
“I think guys are pissed off right now,” Prescott told the team’s official website. “I don’t think this is any deflated moment like, ‘Oh, hands are up, we’re done.’ No, no, absolutely not. I think you’re going to get a team that’s pissed, especially as we talk about a team that’s kind of changed since the bye week.”
Prescott went 31 for 47 passing for 376 yards and a touchdown. With the two interceptions, Dallas is now -8 on turnovers for the year.
“You can’t win a game losing that, not in the NFL, and not against a team like that, being minus three in the turnover battle, simple as that,” Prescott said. “We’ve got to stop that. I know I’ve had an interception the last three games or so, then obviously two tonight, who cares whose fault it is?”
Are the Dallas Cowboys out of the playoffs?
Not mathematically, but their odds are slim. For starters, Dallas has to win out to get to 10-6-1. If the Cowboys do, that would mean they win seven of their last eight games, and that’s likely not enough. Basically, Dallas needs several teams in front of them to collapse.
The Cowboys are 6-6-1, and the non-division-leading teams in front of them are the 10-3 Los Angeles Rams/Seattle Seahawks (one of those, or the 49ers, will win the division), the 9-4 Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers, the 8-5 Detroit Lions and the 7-6 Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (one of them will win the division).
So they will need to pass one of those 9-4 teams, which implies either the Bears or 49ers would have to close 1-3 and the Lions would have to close 2-2.
So Dallas fans shouldn’t be planning for the playoffs.
Dallas Cowboys next game
The Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. The 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT kickoff will be televised on NBC.
Dallas Cowboys jersey
The Dallas Cowboys team store has a full selection of jerseys, many discounted for the holidays. Prices range from $75 to $170.
Dallas Cowboys depth chart
This is the Dallas Cowboys’ unofficial depth chart, the team has posted on its website. Not that listing Jaydon Blue as the backup running back, even though he hasn’t played in a month, means this should be treated lightly.
OFFENSE
QB Dak Prescott, Joe Milton
RB Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue
WR CeeDee Lamb, Jonathan Mingo
WR George Pickens, Ryan Flourney
WR KaVone Turpin, Jalen Tolbert
TE Jake Ferbuson, Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford
LT Tyler Guyton, Nate Thomas
LG Tyler Smith, TJ Bass
C Cooper Beebe, Brock Hoffman
RG Tyler Booker, TJ Bass
RT Terence Steele, Hakeem Adeniji, Ajani Cornelius
DEFENSE
DE Donovan Ezeirauku, Jadeveon Clowney, Sam Williams
DT Kenny Clark, Solomon Thomas, Jay Toia
DT Quinnen Williams
DT Osa Odighizuwa, Jay Toia
DE Dante Fowler Jr., James Houston
LB Kenneth Murray Jr., Logan Wilson, Marist Liufau
LB DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James, Damone Clark
CB Kaiir Elam, ShavonRevel Jr., CJ Goodwin
NCB Reddy Steward
CB DaRon Bland, Trikweze Bridges, Caelen Carson
S Donovan Wilson, Alijjah Clark
S Markquese Bell
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Brandon Aubrey
P Bryan Anger
LS Trent Sieg
H Bryan Ander
Dallas Cowboys tickets
Dallas Cowboys tickets
Tickets are available on team sites and Ticketmaster. Dallas Cowboys tickets are available here.
Dallas Cowboys score
The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Detroit Lions 44-30 on Thursday Night Football.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @BrMTbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: CeeDee Lamb injury update as Dallas Cowboys regroup for Vikings
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
