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Making sense of the Cowboys’ penalty problems popping up again
Penalties have been a big talking point for the Dallas Cowboys as of late.
The Dallas Cowboys may have gotten the win this week, handling the Carolina Panthers with relative ease, but one of the more concerning trends of the last few years popped up again: penalties. The Cowboys were flagged 14 times and gave up 99 yards in penalties, though it didn’t really impact the game itself.
Still, penalties have been a common gripe in Dallas. It’s often been attributed to Mike McCarthy, mostly because the head coach spoke so often about wanting to cut down on penalties during and shortly after the 2021 season. However, as we broke down earlier this year, penalties were not a problem for McCarthy in Green Bay, while they have generally been a recurring issue for the Cowboys over the last decade and a half regardless of coach.
When things kicked off against Carolina, the Cowboys were ninth in total penalties called against them. That may not sound great, but Dallas has been top five in penalties each of the last three seasons, so ninth is making real progress. After the game, though, the Cowboys moved back up to fourth. That’s a big climb, but 14 penalties in one game will do that.
With three weeks left to go in the season, Dallas has the fourth-best net penalty standing at +13. That means that, on the whole, opponents have been called for 13 more penalties than the Cowboys. The three teams ahead of them are the Vikings, Steelers, and Rams, all led by head coaches who are in the running for Coach of the Year honors.
Just as important, the Cowboys are fourth in net penalty yards at +137. They’re behind the Vikings, Steelers, and Bills here. Penalty yardage numbers can be skewed because of the different types of penalties – a couple really long pass interference penalties can completely corrupt this data – but it’s still important to pay attention to since it tracks the actual yardage impact.
That doesn’t change the fact that the Cowboys played a sloppy game against the Panthers, where they drew nearly double the amount of flags. Some of that may be attributed to the defense looking to pad their stats, as Greg Olsen explained on the broadcast, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating to watch.
Big Blue View
Shut it down? New York Giants’ WR Malik Nabers has milestones to pursue
Rookie won’t let variety of injuries keep him off the field
Don’t try telling New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers that with the team at a hopeless 2-12 he should protect his battered body by shutting it down for the team’s final three games.
Nabers doesn’t want to hear it.
First of all, it has been clear throughout a season that has seen Nabers play through groin and other injuries, only being sidelined by a concussion, that the young man loves to play. He isn’t going to let injuries or the poor performance of the team stop him.
Secondly, there are franchise receiving records within his reach. Nabers isn’t afraid to admit he wants them.
It’s easy to think Nabers is being selfish, concerning himself with records. I can’t see it that way. He loves the game. He loves to play. He wants to be as productive as possible. I give Nabers, and Brian Burns, on the other side of the ball all the credit in the world for continuing to do as much as they can when neither is anywhere near 100% physically.
Big Blue View
The New York Giants know who their starting QB will be vs. Atlanta Falcons
Drew Lock will be the starting quarterback for the New York Giants on Sunday vs. the Atlanta Falcons. Head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Wednesday that Lock, recovered enough from heel and left elbow injuries to practice, will return to the starting role.
Lock had started the previous two games prior to missing Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Tommy DeVito, in the concussion protocol after leaving the game vs. Baltimore just before halftime, “has a chance” to be the backup quarterback. If DeVito does not clear the protocol in time, Tim Boyle would be the No. 2 quarterback.
NFL.com
Cowboys’ Jerry Jones: Trading Micah Parsons has ‘never been uttered in this organization’
Jones batted down the speculation of trading Parsons during his weekly radio spot on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday.
“That’s never been uttered in this organization that we don’t have a future with Micah Parsons,” Jones said.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that the Cowboys plan to evaluate their top-heavy spending after giving contracts to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
“Obviously we’re totally all-in on Dak and CeeDee, but after that, then you still shape things, including Micah,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones told Rapoport. But Micah’s a great player. You don’t do well in this league letting guys like Micah, usually, leave the house.”
The stage is set for another offseason littered with discussions about a big-time Cowboys player getting paid. The question is how much between $30 million and $40 million Parsons will cost Dallas. Nick Bosa currently sits atop the edge-rusher market at $34 million annually.
Pro Football Focus
2024 NFL offensive line rankings ahead of Week 16
1. Philadelphia Eagles (No change)
Projected Week 16 starters:
- LT Jordan Mailata
- LG Landon Dickerson
- C Cam Jurgens
- RG Mekhi Becton
- RT Lane Johnson
Landon Dickerson exited Philadelphia’s Week 15 game against Pittsburgh and was replaced by Tyler Steen at left guard. Steen earned a 30.7 PFF overall grade on his 49 snaps against the Steelers, which was the lowest on Philadelphia’s offensive line.
Right guard Mekhi Becton allowed three sacks over his first four games of the season but has not given up any in his past nine games.
Best player: Jordan Mailata
Mailata’s 83.4 PFF pass-blocking grade against Pittsburgh ranked sixth among left tackles in Week 15.
7. Washington Commanders (No change)
Projected Week 16 starters:
- LT Brandon Coleman
- LG Nick Allegretti
- C Tyler Biadasz
- RG Sam Cosmi
- RT Cornelius Lucas
The Commanders‘ offensive line played well in pass protection in the team’s win at New Orleans. The unit gave up just 10 pressures — including one sack — on 46 pass plays, leading to a ninth-ranked 88.0 PFF pass-blocking efficiency this week.
Center Tyler Biadasz didn’t suit up for the Commanders due to an illness. He was replaced by Michael Deiter, whose 51.7 PFF overall grade was the lowest among the team’s offensive linemen.
Best player: Sam Cosmi
Cosmi surrendered four pressures against New Orleans — his worst output in a game this season.
25. Dallas Cowboys (Up 1)
Projected Week 16 starters:
- LT Tyler Guyton
- LG Tyler Smith
- C Brock Hoffman
- RG Chuma Edoga
- RT Terence Steele
The Cowboys‘ offensive line, although hit by a wave of injuries, played well in pass protection against the Panthers. The unit allowed just three pressures — and no sacks — on 29 pass plays against Carolina, leading to a second-ranked 94.8 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating.
While rookie Tyler Guyton did not start against the Panthers, his play was encouraging once he entered the game due to an injury. Guyton allowed just one pressure on 23 plays, leading to an 81.2 PFF pass-blocking grade. That mark ranked eighth among left tackles in Week 15.
Best player: Tyler Smith
Smith earned an 86.1 PFF pass-blocking grade against Carolina, which ranked third among guards this week.
29. New York Giants (Up 2)
Projected Week 16 starters:
Despite the team’s overall woes, New York’s offensive line played well in pass protection in a loss to the Ravens. The unit gave up just eight pressures — including one sack — on 42 pass plays, leading to an eighth-ranked 89.3 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating.
Right tackle Evan Neal has allowed pressure on 5.7% of pass plays this season, which would be by far the best rate of his career. His previous best was 10.1% as a rookie in 2022.
Best player: Greg Van Roten
Van Roten is one of 19 guards to have earned PFF run-blocking and pass-blocking grades above 66.0 this season.
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Pro Football Focus
2024 NFL quarterback rankings ahead of Week 16
In this quarterback rankings breakdown, we’ve evaluated the top performers based on PFF passing grades. Using insights from Premium Stats, we’ll also present a variety of key grades beyond passing grade, including grades under pressure, from a clean pocket, against the blitz and more.
Ranking the best NFL rookies after Week 15
Here are the highest-graded first-year players after 15 weeks of action.
1. QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
PFF Grade: 88.3
Daniels delivered another strong performance as the Commanders defeated New Orleans on Sunday afternoon, completing 25 of his 31 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. This season, he has a turnover-worthy play rate of just 1.5%.
2. EDGE Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 85.1
Verse continued his impressive rookie campaign in the Rams’ Thursday Night Football win over the 49ers, bringing his total pressures to 64 on the season. He has earned an 82.2 PFF pass-rushing grade through 15 weeks, and his 18.7% pass-rush win rate ranks seventh among all NFL edge defenders.
3. TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
PFF Grade: 84.3
Bowers earned the lowest single-game grade of his career on Monday night against the Falcons, with the 13th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft averaging just 0.76 yards per route run. That shouldn’t diminish what has been an incredible season so far, though, with Bowers earning an 87.3 receiving grade through 15 weeks.
Over the Cap
Kirk Cousins Contract Breakdown
Following a string a bad play the Falcons are going to move starting QB Kirk Cousins to the bench in favor of rookie Michael Penix, Jr.. Cousins signed a very questionable $46 million per year contract with the Falcons as a free agent that contained $100 million in guarantees despite coming off an Achilles injury the prior season. Now the contract looks like it will hang over the Falcons and tie up their salary cap for the next two years. Here is a look at the Falcons options with the contract.
Cousins counts for $40 million against the Falcons salary cap in 2025. Because the Falcons frontloaded his contract with $62.5 million being paid in 2024, his salary in 2025 is only $27.5 million. That salary is already fully guaranteed and is owed to Cousins whether cut or not. The cost to cut Cousins on the cap would be gigantic- $65 million in 2025.
The Falcons could choose to use the post June 1 designation option and cut Cousins right at the start oif the 2025 league year. This is similar to what the Broncos did with Russell Wilson this past season. If the Falcons did this Cousins’ cap hit would remain $40 million in 2025 and the team would then defer $25 million to 2026.
The difficulty with the first scenario for the Falcons is that in many ways they walked themselves back into a salary cap mess with various signings to try to compete for the NFC South. They are one of just six teams that projects to be over the cap in 2025 and upping Cousins’ cap charge by $25 million really compounds their issues with their cap. They have a few players who could be released for cap savings but they would likely be forced to double down on more players in 2025 and further complicate their flexibility in 2026.
If Cousins is on the Falcons roster in 2025 as a backup he will earn a $10 million guarantee on his 2026 salary. That would bring the cost of cutting Cousins in 2026 up to $35 million from $25 million. That doesn’t seem like a smart choice either.
The Falcons agreed to a no trade clause when they signed Cousins. Most QB needy teams are bad teams and it is possible that Cousins would not want to go to those teams.
Looking at the financials and the team’s salary cap situation the move that makes the most sense is the post June 1 release next year.