Last month, Giants co-owner John Mara said he doesn’t anticipate making any major changes during or after the 2024 season.
Sunday’s outcome will test his resolve. For multiple reasons. Beyond the embarrassing 30-7 home loss to the Buccaneers, multiple players called the team “soft” and questioned the effort of the team. Then, Mara got to watch former Giants running back Saquon Barkley have the best game of his career, rushing for 255 yards and adding another 47 receiving to go over 300 yards from scrimmage.
The fact that the Giants play on Thursday makes it very hard to make a change this week. However, if the Giants fail to show up on Thursday against the Cowboys, Mara might have no choice but to alter his anticipation — either when the regular season ends or on Black Friday.
However it plays out, G.M. Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll have to be wondering how things will play out. And whether one or both will be out based on how the team plays on Thursday in Dallas.
Commanders running back Austin Ekeler returned a kickoff late in the loss to the Cowboys. He returned it 38 yards before Nick Vigil and Damone Clark converged on Ekeler with nine seconds left.
Ekeler took a hard hit and appeared to be knocked out briefly.
His teammates immediately signaled to the sideline for team medical personnel.
Coach Dan Quinn said after the game that Ekeler has a concussion.
The Commanders lost running back Brian Robinson earlier in the game with an ankle injury. Robinson tried to come back but left again and didn’t return.
Ekeler rushed for 22 yards on nine carries and Robinson 13 yards on five carries. They combined for three catches for 13 yards.
The Cowboys played their best game of the season, outdueling their former defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, and the former Cowboys he took with him to Washington.
Dallas upset Washington 34-26 to end a five-game losing streak as the Cowboys improved to 4-7 and the Commanders fell to 7-5.
A game that was tied 3-3 at halftime ended as one of the best finishes in the NFL this season with 30 points in the final 3:02.
The Commanders closed to within 20-17 with 3:02 remaining on Jayden Daniels’ 4-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz followed by Daniels’ run to the end zone on the 2-point try. But a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by KaVontae Turpin with 2:49 left appeared to ice it for the Cowboys.
The Commanders, though, got a 51-yard field goal from Austin Seibert with 1:40 left, drawing them within 27-20, and they then got the ball back with 33 seconds left. One play and 12 seconds later, the game was within a PAT of being tied.
Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin went 86 yards through the Dallas defense for an unlikely touchdown. Seibert, though, missed the extra point, his second of the day along with a missed field goal.
The Commanders, trailing by one, tried an onside kick and Juanyeh Thomas returned it 43 yards for a Cowboys touchdown. That kept the Commanders’ comeback hopes alive.
Instead of the Cowboys ending the game in victory formation if Thomas had slid down, Dallas had to kickoff.
It allowed Daniels a chance for a second Hail Mary this season, but his pass fell short of the end zone and Israel Mukuamu intercepted it to end it.
The Cowboys returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, missed a field goal, had a field goal blocked and had a punt blocked.
Cooper Rush went 24-of-32 for 247 yards and two touchdowns, and Rico Dowdle rushed for 86 yards on 19 carries. CeeDee Lamb caught 10 passes for 67 yards.
Micah Parsons had two of the Cowboys’ four sacks of Daniels, who was 25-of-38 for 275 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. McLaurin caught five passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.
The Cowboys had not scored a third-quarter touchdown this season. They have Sunday, taking a 10-9 lead on the Commanders.
Cooper Rush threw a 6-yard touchdown to Jalen Tolbert with 4:40 left in the period. Brandon Aubrey, who missed a field goal and had a field goal blocked in the first half, made the PAT to give the Cowboys the one-point advantage.
Commanders defensive back Noah Igbinoghene, a former Cowboy, was called for defensive pass interference on Tolbert two plays before the touchdown. The 24-yard penalty set up Tolbert’s touchdown catch after a Trey Lance run lost 3 yards.
Rush is 17-of-21 for 173 yards with a touchdown.
The Commanders list right tackle Andrew Wylie (head) as questionable to return, and running back Brian Robinson, who returned briefly from an ankle injury, is questionable again.
The Cowboys and Commanders combined for no touchdowns and three missed kicks in the first half. They have combined for a touchdown and another missed kick in the second half.
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels ran for a 17-yard touchdown on the Commanders’ first drive of the second half. It completed a 10-play, 60-yard drive after Brandon Aubrey’s kickoff landed short of the landing zone to start the second half.
Austin Seibert, who went 1-for-2 on field goals in the first half, was wide left on the extra point.
Daniels is 11-of-18 for 77 yards and an interception and leads the team in rushing with six carries for 51 yards. It was his fifth rushing touchdown of his rookie season.
The Commanders and Cowboys are tied 3-3 at halftime in one of the uglier first halves of this NFL season so far.
The Cowboys have outgained the Commanders 176 to 113. Their only points came on a 46-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal with three seconds left in the half.
Aubrey had a 35-yard try blocked by Commanders defensive back Quan Martin and had a 42-yarder miss off the right upright.
Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle lost a fumble on another possession, and the Cowboys had a punt blocked.
The Cowboys had possessions end at the Washington 17, 24, 48 and 28.
Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush is 14-of-18 for 133 yards, with Jalen Brooks catching a 41-yarder and CeeDee Lamb making seven receptions for 40.
Austin Seibert kicked a 41-yard field goal for the Commanders but missed on a 51-yarder.
Jayden Daniels threw an interception to Chauncey Golston and is only 9-of-16 for 57 yards. He is the Commanders’ leading rusher with three carries for 25 yards. Noah Brown has three catches for 27 yards.
Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. was injured on the team’s first play from scrimmage.
Robinson was twisted around on a tackle by Cowboys defender Osa Odighizuwa for a 2-yard loss. His right leg got caught underneath him.
Robinson stayed down for a while before walking off under his own power. He sat on the bench briefly before jogging to the X-ray room.
The Commanders list him as questionable to return with an ankle injury.
The Commanders lead 3-0 after a 41-yard Austin Seibert field goal with 9:01 remaining in the first quarter. It completed a seven-play, 17-yard drive that stalled at the Cowboys 23.
The Cowboys reached the Washington 17 on their first possession, but Brandon Aubrey’s 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Commanders defensive back Quan Martin. It’s the second time in two weeks the Cowboys missed a field goal, with Aubrey now having missed three this season.
UPDATE 1:35 P.M. ET: Robinson has returned to the game.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
The Cowboys will be without both of their starting guards in Washington on Sunday.
Left guard Tyler Smith was ruled out when the team handed in its list of inactive players 90 minutes before Sunday’s game against the Commanders kicked off. Smith missed two practices this week with ankle and knee injuries before returning for a limited practice on Friday
Right guard Zack Martin was downgraded to out on Saturday. He has ankle and shoulder injuries. T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman will likely get the start at guards for Dallas.
Cowboys at Commanders
Cowboys: G Zack Martin, G Tyler Smith, CB Trevon Diggs, CB Caelen Carson, RB Deuce Vaughn, TE Jake Ferguson, DE Tyrus Wheat
Commanders: CB Emmanuel Forbes, QB Jeff Driskel, CB Marshon Lattimore, LB Dominique Hampton, G Chris Paul
Buccaneers at Giants
Buccaneers: T Tristan Wirfs, DB Tykee Smith, CB Tyrek Funderburk, LB Jose Ramirez, TE Devin Culp, DL Earnest Brown
Giants: S Anthony Johnson, CB Tre Hawkins III, G Jake Kubas, DL Jordon Riley, QB Tim Boyle
Chiefs at Panthers
Chiefs: OL C.J. Hanson, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, T Ethan Driskell, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, DE Cameron Thomas
Panthers: WR Jalen Coker, S Jammie Robinson, CB Shemar Bartholomew, LB Thomas Incoom, LB DJ Johnson, OL Jarrett Kingston, DT Jaden Crumedy
Patriots at Dolphins
Patriots: QB Joe Milton, WR K.J. Osborn, DT Jaquelin Roy, G Tyrese Robinson, DE Deatrich Wise, LB Titus Leo
Dolphins: RB Jeff Wilson, CB Ethan Bonner, CB Kendall Fuller, LB Mohamed Kamara, OL Andrew Meyer, TE Jack Stoll, WR Dee Eskridge
Titans at Texans
Titans: RB Tyjae Spears, CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, OL Leroy Watson, TE David Martin-Robinson
Texans: DT Foley Fatukasi, T Blake Fisher, LB Jamal Hill, DE Jerry Hughes, CB Jeff Okudah, WR Steven Sims
Lions at Colts
Lions: CB Terrion Arnold, G Kayode Awosika, DT Brodric Martin, T Giovanni Manu, OL Colby Sorsdal, LB Al-Quadin Muhammed
Colts: QB Sam Ehlinger, WR Anthony Gould, S Darren Hall, DE Isaiah Land, TE Will Mallory, T Bernhard Raimann
Vikings at Bears
Vikings: TE Josh Oliver, CB Dwight McGlothern, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, OL Dan Feeney, OL Walter Rouse, QB Brett Rypien
Bears: WR Tyler Scott, S Elijah Hicks, DB Ameer Speed, OL Ryan Bates, T Kiran Amegadjie, DE Dominique Robinson
The Cowboys won’t have several key players when they take on Washington on Sunday.
The team announced Saturday that it has downgraded cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and right guard Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder) to out. Neither made the trip to Washington.
Diggs was questionable after popping up on the injury report Thursday, and Martin was doubtful.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) will miss a seventh game as the Cowboys did not activate him from injured reserve. He made nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in the first four games.
The Cowboys also announced they placed safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) on season-ending injured reserve and waived defensive end KJ Henry.
They activated swing tackle Chuma Edoga and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland from injured reserve back to the 53-player roster, so both players will return Sunday.
Dallas elevated tight end Princeton Fant and cornerback Kemon Hall from the practice squad.
The Cowboys previously ruled out tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion).
Sometimes, transparency doesn’t show up at all. Sometimes, it just takes a little while.
In conjunction with our effort to understand the failure to penalize Browns quarterback Jameis Winston for intentional grounding on Thursday night in Cleveland, we’ve inadvertently finagled an admission from the league that the rule wasn’t properly applied in Week 3, during the Baltimore-Dallas game.
Second quarter. Cowboys have the ball on their own seven, facing third and 10. Quarterback Dak Prescott drops back into the end zone. As he’s about to be sacked for a safety, he throws the ball to offensive lineman Tyler Smith.
The Cowboys weren’t penalized for intentional grounding, even though Smith wasn’t an eligible receiver on the play. The officials called Smith for illegal touching, and the Ravens were told after the fact that the illegal touch essentially nullified intentional grounding.
“They said that it’s not intentional grounding because somebody caught it, even though it’s an illegal receiver that caught it, which is a penalty,” coach John Harbaugh told reporters during the week after the game. “So basically they get rewarded for having a penalty there, you know? That’s kind of probably not what they want by the rule. So we’ll see. Maybe it’s a loophole in the rule. I’m not sure. Something they’ll probably look at. But because a receiver caught it, you can’t call intentional grounding. Even though it’s an illegal receiver and there’s no eligible receiver in the area. Which would constitute grounding. So . . . that’s what he explained to me.”
The issue came up again because, at first blush, that same loophole seemed to save Winston from a grounding call. He threw the ball to an ineligible receiver, who was called for illegal touching.
That’s why we posted this tweet at the time; we thought the ruling from Ravens-Cowboys was being applied again. But then the conversation shifted to the question of whether Winston was hit while he was throwing, whether the hit significantly affected the throw, whether the throw was being made in the direction of an eligible receiver before Winston was hit.
All the league had to say, in order to short-circuit the entire conversation, was that illegal touching supersedes intentional grounding. Like it did in the Ravens-Cowboys game.
So we asked whether that same twist was applied in Steelers-Browns. Said the league: “In the Baltimore-Dallas game, there was not judged to be an eligible receiver in the area. It was an incorrect application of the rule, as caught by an ineligible player or not, that would be intentional grounding if there was no eligible receiver in the area.”
Bottom line? There’s no ineligible-receiver loophole for intentional grounding. Even if there was nine weeks ago in Dallas, that’s not how the grounding rule is supposed to be interpreted.
