Titans sitting players, Sam Williams cleared after crash, Micah’s new move
When the 2022 schedule came out, Week 17’s clash between the Titans and Cowboys figured to have massive implications in both conferences. But now the Cowboys are already in the playoffs, and Tennessee’s fortunes won’t change win or lose. While the Titans might rest a lot of their team, the Cowboys will continue to ride their momentum from Christmas Eve into the new year. Injury updates show who’s trending toward suiting up, including rookie Sam Williams, who had a terrifyingly close call just days ago.
Elsewhere, we’ve got more on Dallas’s big win over Philadelphia: a breakdown and alternate angle of T.Y. Hilton’s game-changing moment, a nuts-and-bolts look at how a play that the Jaguars used against Dallas may have turned the tide for the Cowboys, Micah Parsons’s new move that may look familiar to fans of a certain age, and inside big games from both Dak Prescott and DaRon Bland.
CeeDee Lamb climbs the Cowboys record books, the lack of curtains at AT&T Stadium may have cost Michael Gallup a touchdown, and a deep dive into the playoff scenarios that could still play out for the Cowboys. Here’s the News and Notes.
Tennessee Titans’ Mike Vrabel explains why resting players vs. Cowboys is a good choice. :: Tennessean
The Titans are already on a losing streak of five games and may not feel as motivated to end that streak when they face the Cowboys. Win or lose in Week 17, the AFC South will end up being decided by the Tennessee-Jacksonville tilt in the season finale. Many players are injured and there is nothing to gain from winning in such a short time, Titans coach Mike Vrabel almost admitted that many of his players would be sitting Thursday night.
Week 17 Injury Report: Henry and RBs Pollard miss Cowboys–Titans practices – Cowboys Wire
Leighton Vander Esch’s neck injury kept him out of Monday’s walkthrough. Tony Pollard was unable to attend due to a thigh problem. Jayron Kerse, Jayron Kaarse and DeMarcus Lawrence were all limited. Zack Martin and Dorance Armstrong were considered full participants. Ryan Tannehill, Bud Dupree and Amani Hooker were the Titans’ 11 players who didn’t practice.
T.Y. T.Y.
Hilton’s first catch as a Cowboy- and his only grab Saturday- was a 3rd-and-30 improbability that proves that maybe the entire league had given up on the 10-year veteran prematurely. “I can still play,” he said. “If you think I can’t play, then that’s on you.” If first impressions can be believed, his addition could be a massive upgrade entering the playoffs.
Cowboys’ 3rd-down efficiency proves decisive: Cowboys’ prowess in the Clutch
The Cowboys are converting third downs at a higher rate than anyone, and they’re producing bigger plays than anyone in the process. Since Dak Prescott returned to the center, the offense has been extremely proficient on third down.
Hilton gets goosebumps from Prescott’s red beam dot at the end-zone angle – Cowboys Wire
Sure, Prescott’s throw and Hilton’s catch were plenty impressive when you saw it from your couch Saturday. But you’ll have a whole new appreciation for the ridiculous play when you see the head-on video as shot from the end zone by Fox photojournalist Chris Hanks.
Check out Kellen Moore’s sneaky run that allowed Cowboys to win the Eagles game – Cowboys Wire
Hilton’s heroics aside, the real play of the game may have been a 4th-and-1 run in the third quarter. The Cowboys broke out a play they’d never run before… and likely stole from Jacksonville after getting beaten with it the week prior. An in-depth breakdown shows the unique formation and unusual presnap motion that convinced the Eagles to take the plunge. Dak Prescott made a fake sneak into a flawless ball flip and Ezekiel Elliott took care of the rest. This 22-yard pickup helped to launch a Dallas comeback.
Sam Williams: “I could’ve gone” – The Mothership
Life flashed before the rookie’s eyes just a few days before Christmas when another motorist sideswiped his Corvette. “It could’ve been worse,” Williams said of the wreck that totaled his car and left him concussed. “I was thinking about my son a lot, and his mom. I could’ve been gone that fast, without seeing them to say goodbye. I was going home to them — like five or six minutes from my house.” Still bruised from the collision and the deployment of his airbag, Williams has been cleared to return to practice ahead of Thursday night’s game.
Cowboys CB DaRon Bland says the team mindset was crucial in key play against Eagles: Cowboys Wire
The fifth-round rookie didn’t get a single defensive snap in five of his first six games. But he’s made up for lost time and now leads the team in interceptions. “Any time the ball is in the air,” he said, “I think it’s mine.” But he credits his teammates for giving him the confidence to play like a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
Micah Parsons is not your average Bubba: His latest move dates back to the 1970s: Yardbarker
Brian Baldinger has noticed a new move Parsons appears to have added in his pass-rushing toolbox. The linebacker employed a momentary stutter-step on several Week 16 plays that caused real problems for the Eagles’ Jordan Mailata. Baldinger noted that Lions great Bubba Baker used the same technique in the late ’70s and early ’80s with great effectiveness. Parsons laughed at the Twitter commotion and chided Baldinger about revealing his secret.
“Is this really happening?” Dak Prescott shakes off ghost of early pick-six in Cowboys win
Prescott chased a defender to the end zone, causing deja vu yet again. But proving the coaching staff’s assessment that the man never blinks, Prescott rallied himself and the offense for a sensational game that saw him notch a season high in passing yards en route to a key divisional win.
CeeDee Lamb: The most yards in one season since Dez Bryant: Inside the Star
Lamb had 1,207 yards receiving on Saturday night. That’s good for the 12th-best single season ever for a Cowboys receiver. This should dispel any doubts about Lamb’s ability to post true WR1 numbers. Lamb still has two games to play and has a good chance of reaching No. 3.
After the sun appeared to block a Dallas TD, Cowboys fans crushed their stadium and crushed them.
Michael Gallup seemed to lose a likely touchdown grab in the glare of the sun shining directly through AT&T Stadium’s famous end zone windows. Yes, there was much discussion among fans about the need for curtains at this billion-dollar venue. The photos are beautiful.
Cowboys-Eagles coverage and awards : Cowboys Wire
Cowboys win top Wild Card, Here’s How to Put Playoff Pressure on Eagles : Cowboys Wire
Dallas is no worse than the 5th seed. But there’s still a chance at the NFC East title, and it’s even possible the Cowboys could end up the No. The conference’s No. 1 seed. Granted, there’s just a 0.8% chance of all seven necessary planets aligning properly, but the way this season has gone around the league, crazier things have happened.
Report: Cowboys’ DC Dan Quinn in Denver being considered for Broncos fire Chief of Staff Nathaniel Hackett. Cowboys Wire
Quinn was a finalist for the Denver job when it was open in January, and his old friend George Paton will remain the Broncos’ GM. It’s thought that the ownership wants a coach who has familiarity with quarterback Russell Wilson. Quinn is familiar with Wilson from their Super Bowl runs in Seattle. Quinn could bring Brian Schottenhemier (the Seahawks OC between 2018 and 2020) to sweeten the deal.