It doesn’t look like Disney-owned channels including ABC and ESPN will be returning to YouTube TV anytime soon. The Walt Disney Co. pulled its channels from YouTube TV as of midnight on Oct. 30 after the two companies failed to reach new terms on their latest carriage agreement. While big sporting events are often where the rubber meets the road on these channel blackouts, YouTube TV subscribers were unable to see any college football games on ABC or ESPN all weekend, and it looks like anyone hoping to watch tonight’s Monday Night Football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys will suffer the same fate: YouTube TV management has officially rebuffed Disney’s request for a 24-hour restoration of its channels in a blog post — ostensibly to offer coverage of Tuesday’s elections — proposing instead that Disney reactivate the feeds for ABC and ESPN while negotiations continue.
YouTube TV had previously stated that if Disney’s channels remain off the platform for an extended period, customers will receive a $20 monthly credit. That’s all fine and good, but if you’re looking to watch tonight’s game or your favorite shows — including Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy and Dancing with the Stars, or Wednesday’s NBA games — you’ll need to seek out alternative viewing methods. And unfortunately for YouTube TV’s negotiating position, there are plenty of options.
One of the cheapest ways to watch ESPN is with a Sling Day Pass — for just $5/day, you can tune into any and all ESPN programming, including Monday Night Football, with no other commitments. If you want a full switch from YouTube TV, there’s Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, or Fubo, where you can watch all the Disney-owned channels. (Remember, unlike a lot of cable plans, you can easily pause or cancel YouTube TV or any of these alternatives, so long as you have month-to-month subscriptions.) If you’re looking for a workaround to watch ESPN, the Disney Channel, ABC and more, here’s are the best options so you won’t miss a moment of sports, news, or entertainment, all pulled from our list of best live TV streaming services to cut cable.
Grab an ESPN bundle so you won’t miss the NFL, NBA or any other games
For $29.99, the ESPN unlimited package includes access to all of ESPN’s linear networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNews and ESPN Deportes, plus access to programming on ABC, ESPN+ content, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX. That means fans will get coverage of more than 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, original programming and more so you won’t miss a single Monday Night Football game or any weekend college football game on ABC or ESPN’s suite of channels. Plus, you can watch your favorite ABC shows the day after they air.
Right now, for a limited time, you can bundle ESPN unlimited with Disney+ and Hulu and pay $29.99/month for 12 months — that’s like getting those other services free for a year. Even if you’re a current subscriber to Disney+, Hulu or even the bundle, you can still upgrade to this great deal.
Hulu’s live TV tier includes access to live TV channels like ESPN, ABC, NBC, Fox, and access to Disney+ and ESPN select. For a limited time, you can get a hefty discount on the service for 3 months. New and eligible returning subscribers (those who have not been Hulu subscribers in the past month) can sign up for Hulu + Live TV (with ads) for $64.99/month for their first three months. This is an especially great value considering that Hulu and Disney+ increased their prices on Oct. 21.
You’ll also enjoy access to unlimited DVR storage, the ability to stream on multiple devices and more. This special rate ends at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Nov. 5.
After the three-month trial period, your subscription will continue at the regular market rate of $89.99, but if you’re looking for an alternative to YouTube TV, now’s the perfect time to take advantage of this deal. (If the YouTube situation is resolved before the weekend is up, you can also just sign up for a 3-day trial of Hulu + Live TV).
Try Fubo free for a week and get $30 your first month
If you’re looking for a stopgap so you won’t miss any major games or shows this weekend, Fubo is offering a free 7-day trial so you can check out everything the platform has to offer, risk-free, and on top of that, you can get $30 off your first month.
Fubo TV gives you access to ESPN, Fox, ABC, CBS, NFL Network, and 100+ more live channels. At $80/month, the live TV streaming service is definitely a big investment but it’s one of the most comprehensive ways to watch live TV including the new NCAA season, the NFL, MLB and more, and still leaves you with major savings compared to a traditional cable package. Fubo subscribers also get 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage.
Try DirecTV free for 5 days, and get $30 off your first month
DirecTV offers loads of great live channels, which means you can watch thousands of live sporting events, live TV and more with a regular subscription. And right now, for a limited time, you can get a $20 bill credit off your first month when you sign up, plus at least $10 more off per month for your first 24 months with a DirecTV Choice, Ultimate or Premier package — that’s over $250 in savings. You can find information on every package here.
Right now you can also get a free 5-day trial to test out the platform.
You may have heard that Sling offers day, weekend and week passes to its streaming programming for as little as $5 per day. That is an option if you’re looking for just some of the ESPN channels (the Sling Orange tier), but ABC isn’t included. (If you’re just looking to catch one of this week’s big games, like Monday Night Football on ESPN, it’s a great short-term solution.) If you want a longer-term solution, you can get both ESPN and ABC with Sling’s Orange and Blue package ($30 a month to start, $61 thereafter), but you’ll need to add on the Sports Extra package for ESPNU, which requires an additional charge.
Get your local Disney/ABC programming for free
Need your local ABC programming? Your station may have its own free local streaming news channel (many do), you can see if The Roku Channel carries your local station’s news, or download your local news station app if it’s a Nexstar channel.
The other alternative — if you’re within the broadcast radius of a local ABC affiliate — is to get an over-the-air antenna. You can plug in your ZIP code at antennaweb.org to see what channels are in your area. This off-brand unit has worked very well in our initial testing — it’s under $30, and the channels are truly free.
What games are on ESPN/ABC this week?
If you’re wondering what games you might miss as a result of the YouTubeTV/Disney blackout, here’s a list of some upcoming sports you may not want to miss:
Monday, Nov. 3
Monday Night Football: Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
Wednesday, Nov. 5
NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
NBA: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Update Nov. 3 2025, 6:36PM ET: This story has been updated to include YouTube TV’s latest response to Disney’s request to restore its channels for just 24 hours.
In exchange, the Cowboys picked up two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Now, halfway through the NFL season, it’s becoming clear that the Packers are real contenders and just need a few more pieces of the puzzle to help them go all the way.
The Packers have two consecutive homes games coming up, and the first is against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. There’s a good chance that the Packers will be 6-1-1 after this weekend, putting them in good position to lead the NFC North. But the Packers have a secondary problem, and if they want to fix it, now is the time.
Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports presented a blockbuster trade pitch that would send another defender away from the Cowboys and reunite him with Parsons in Dallas: Trevon Diggs.
“A team that should at least call: the Green Bay Packers, who may remember which number to dial after a preseason trade for Micah Parsons,” Epstein noted. “Green Bay could use cornerback depth and seems to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender that would have use for a player late in December and into January if not beyond.
“Diggs’ best friend, Parsons, being there, and his college position coach, Derrick Ansley, now Green Bay’s defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach? The Packers may be able to maximize Diggs in ways the Cowboys no longer can.”
The Packers brought on cornerback Nate Hobbs during the offseason, but they benched him last week and played Carrington Valentine instead, so they seemingly don’t have confidence in him.
Diggs’ contract has no guaranteed money left on it, which would make the Packers even more likely to be open to this deal. The Packers and Cowboys have shocked the NFL world once this season, so why not twice?
The NFL’s trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 4, so if they make a move for this season, it will have to be before then.
Here’s everything Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said to the media after the loss:
On what he felt the biggest issue was today
“When you look at it, I’m not just going to start with the defense. I don’t think any of us coached or played well enough. We knew we’d have to come in and own the line of scrimmage. They started up front. You’ve got to give Denver a lot of credit. I think they moved us around pretty good, had some big, explosive runs, and that’s hard. I told the guys, I said, ‘Look, it’s one game. We did not play well, we did not coach well, we’re going to get right back to work tonight, and if you let it bleed over into two and three games, then that means you’re not a competitor because this happens in this league.’”
On the missed opportunities for points
“[There was] a chance for sudden change. We had the turnover right away. We’re down there on the half-yard line. I didn’t see the penalty, but the discipline has to be better. I felt like there was four or five presnap penalties in the first half that definitely hurt us. You come into a tough place to play like this, you have to do a great job of having the discipline, and you’ve got to score touchdowns in the red zone because there’s big momentum gains that happens when you do that. Unfortunately, we did not do that. I thought the guys fought, I thought they battled, but at the end of the day, we did not coach or play well enough today to beat a good football team.”
On if QB Dak Prescott’s felt pressure to score points before halftime when he threw an interception
“I think we all felt it. It was one of those deals when it was hard to get into rhythm a little bit. They played us two-man, and he had a chance to go down the middle on ‘Fergie’ [tight end Jake Ferguson] and it was, I think, the rookie [Broncos cornerback Jahdae] Barron kind of looked back and got it, but I don’t think so. At the end of the day, Dak’s done a great job of trying to say each play is its own. I don’t think that. We have to win the takeover battle. We didn’t do that. We’ve been doing that really, really well. You have the one right before the half, and you have the other one down there late when we’re fighting our butts off trying to get back in it. That’s not who we are, but no, I don’t think they had him pressing or anything like that.”
On the matchups
“We feel like we can play with anybody, no matter how the game goes. We really do. Again, unfortunately, today we did not capitalize. I really do think the first drive that we had, I think we need to come away with seven there. That was disappointing that we didn’t. But again, this is a good football team, I’m talking about us, that did not play very well today. We didn’t coach very well today. I wasn’t very good today. I don’t think ‘Flus’ [Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus] thinks he was very good today. [Cowboys offensive coordinator] Klayton [Adams] doesn’t think he was very good today. We’ll look at it. We’re going to look at it on the plane, and we’ve got the extra day this week to get ready for Arizona, and that’s what we’re going to do. That’s what good teams do. I told the guys that. I said, ‘Good teams, they look at it, they look in the mirror.’ Adversity is a good thing, and no one likes to lose. It’s a humbling league when you come in here, and you play a good football team and you kind of get beat the way we did, but get back to work.”
On being a 3-4-1 team
“I see us every day. I do see us every day, I see what we’re capable of. Here’s the word that’s coming back again, consistency. We’re not very consistent, and we have to be more consistent. Last week, we did a great job stopping the run. Tonight, we didn’t. Therein lies a problem. [The] last couple of games, we’ve been protecting the football, which has given us a chance. Tonight, we didn’t. I think we’re a talented football team. I know we have things to get better at and improve on, but I do think we’re a good football team, and we played a good football team tonight and didn’t play well. So again, I’m going to give them credit, and they deserve it.”
On how to create consistency
“There’s no magic pill. You work, you emphasize practice, you emphasize the things that you need to work on and improve. There’s going to be quite a few of those things. I think penalties. We’ve been actually too consistent having penalties over the last couple games. We need to tighten that up. That’s a discipline thing we need to do a better job of as coaching staff. Again, we’re sitting in this position at 3-4-1, we’ve got one more game before the bye [week], and again, I think that we’ll make a lot of progress over this week and bounce back because if you don’t bounce back in this league, then it goes the other way. You want to have streaks of wins, but you also don’t want to have streaks of losses. We’ll have a hell of a week of practice, and we’ll clean up the things we’ve got to clean up.”
On how to keep the team positive
“Be honest. I said to them, ‘If anybody feels like you coached or played well today, raise your hand,’ and there was not a single hand that went up. I said, ‘OK, I agree with that.’ I said, ‘We have to learn from it. We have to fix it.’ We got beat up a little bit today, and there’s a bunch of moving parts. We’re throwing guys in there on defense a little bit late, and they were attacking a few guys. The biggest thing you do is you be honest. I’m never going to lie to these guys. I’m not. That’s not who I am as a man. I’m going to always hold myself accountable. I’m always going to look at myself first. Like I said, adversity in this league is not a bad thing. The adversity is bad if it affects you and if you begin to point fingers and what about this and that. Our guys won’t do that. Again, we go back to the culture. The culture of this team is great. Those guys played hard. I’m proud of [QB] Joe Milton. Joe Milton went in there, mop-up duty, played well. [Wide receiver] Jalen Tolbert, a guy that’s fighting his butt off for more playing time, makes a great catch. That’s who we are as a football team from a culture standpoint, but we have to play better, we have to execute better, we have to coach better, we have to call better plays. We’ll get started on here in about an hour on the plane.”
On the presnap penalties
“We need to look at it. I want to see the play. I want to see the first one. I don’t know, I think that it’s a lot of places, it’s a tough environment. They’ve got a very good home record here, and we know that. That’s not surprising, but no excuses. We’ve got to look at it and figure it out, but we’re better than five presnap penalties in the first half and very costly penalties in a couple of those areas.”
On if he would consider taking away playing time for committing penalties
“Absolutely. Penalties happen in this league. This crew that did our game today they have a history of calling a lot of penalties. Like I said last week, I was upset about some of the penalties last week, and I went back and I looked at them and they were penalties. We’re off the field on defense on third down and we’re offside. That’s a discipline thing. That’s something that needs to be looked at. Again, when you play on the edge, that’s going to happen from a combative standpoint, but not lining up offside, not false starting on the half-yard line, you can’t do that. You have to be more disciplined now. Again, everything will be evaluated. I can promise you that. Everything will be evaluated, from the penalties to the calls that we made, to players, everything. That’s what we do, and we do that after we win. It’s no different. The process stays the same.”
On if he considered going for it on fourth down on the second drive of the third quarter
“I did. We moved the ball down the opening drive. Ran down, got the touchdown, and we thought about it. That drive was a little bit junkie, if I’m being honest with you. I felt like, OK, let’s try to pin them back. We thought maybe momentum could switch a little bit, but it was discussed. We decided to punt it, and you’ve got to live with those decisions.”
“After visiting with the medical staff, we felt that the best interest of the team and Trevon was to get him back healthy. He missed last game; he was going to miss this game. He’s not through phase one yet of concussion protocol. The knee has been problematic throughout the season, and there’s been games where it’s been like, hey, can he play, can he not? He’s a really good player, and we just want to get him back and get him healthy and be able to help us finish strong, because we feel like this thing’s going to come down to the end of the season because it’s a very competitive league.”
On owner Jerry Jones saying that Diggs needs to get in shape
“You’re limited. There’s certain things you can’t do when you’re limited with that. Trevon’s going to work his butt off to get back. He loves playing the game, and I have no question in my mind that he’ll do everything to get back. Part of the deal is it’s not just us, it’s him, it’s the training staff. There’s a lot of players like that right now, because I haven’t gotten all the injury reports. I’ll get that on the plane, and when I get back in the locker room, but we got pretty beat up today.”
On if a trade will improve the defense
“I think at the end of the day, we have good enough players. I think we did not play well tonight. I know we didn’t get enough pressure on the quarterback. That’s very evident from watching, but we did a good job in some pass protection things offensively. Again, it comes down to owning the line of scrimmage, and we wanted to establish the run, which we struggled a little bit. They certainly owned the line of scrimmage in the run game against our defense and same thing from a pass protection standpoint. When we talk about keys to victory, those are the things we have to do. We have to execute in those areas, and unfortunately, it was not to the standard that we need it to be.”
On if the lack of consistency frustrates him
“I think it frustrates all of us. Again, I said it, and [a reporter] asked the question, ‘Why do you think you’re a good football team?’ I think we have talent. We have weapons. We can score against anybody in the league. We’ve showed people we can play good run defense and we can do those things. You’d be crazy, I’d be lying, if I said you don’t get frustrated. We’re better than that, but we didn’t play good today. You don’t get on the plane and not turn on your iPad and you don’t start pointing fingers at everybody else. And you don’t say, oh, that’s Klayton Adams’ fault. That’s [expletive]. It starts with me, and coordinators and players have to do their part, and we will do that.”
On what the issue is with the defensive performance
“There’s been a lot of moving parts. We’re playing a lot of different pieces. All of a sudden, you got guys in there. We’re shuffling people around and the green dot changes and all that stuff. Again, we’ve taken a couple big steps in different weeks about stopping the run and stopping the pass and not giving up big plays, and obviously on offense, we’ve got tremendous amount of weapons. [Running back] Javonte [Williams] is talented. Dak is who he is and is an incredible player that gives us a chance to win, and he is always out to get the most out of those guys and continue to put them in the right spots to play.”
On why he didn’t target certain players on the Broncos’ defense when players were out
“No, we didn’t. Yeah, we went after 21 [Broncos cornerback Riley Moss] a bunch tonight, and [wide receivers] CeeDee [Lamb] and George [Pickens] had 19 and eight targets, or something like that. We got a lot of defensive pass interference penalties, but believe me, we went after him. The one guy that we didn’t really get a chance to get after was the nickel, 29 [Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian], that was the one guy, but I do feel like we tried to go after corners pretty good and the yardage won’t show as much because there were some PI [pass interference] penalty stuff.”
On why they didn’t throw to Pickens on their first trip to the red zone
“I don’t remember this specific play. Did he throw it to CeeDee? There’s progressions. It sounds easy and simple, and I understand that, but there was a certain route combination, now I remember the play. There’s a route combination that thought was a better look on the front side, and I’m never going to doubt that he’s going to make those decisions. When you’re blessed to have two guys like that, it’s easy to second-guess and say, ‘Well, throw it to GP. So what, are we going to take CeeDee out of the offense now? That’s not a good idea either, so the ball is going to get spread around, and they did a good job, give them credit. They made the plays they had to make, and we did not. That’s what this league does to you.”
On if the Broncos defended the bootlegs differently
“They play a real wide, contained defense. They don’t line up wider than the widest. That’s how they call it in this defense. Man, [defensive coordinator Vance] Joseph’s a hell of a coach, and they had a great plan. Yes, they do. They play some of the boots and move a little bit different than most people, and boots going to Ferguson is a big part of what we want to do, and sometimes the ball doesn’t find those guys.”
Game schedule dates, times, locations
Oct. 26 vs. Toronto, 6:30 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Oct. 27 vs. Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Oct. 29 vs. Indiana, 7:30 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Nov. 1 vs. Detroit (at Mexico City), 9 p.m., Peacock
Nov. 3 at Houston, 7 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Nov. 3 vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 6 vs. Saint Francis, 7 p.m., TNT
Nov. 10 vs. Lamar, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 14 vs. Michigan, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Nov. 19 vs. Kansas City, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 6 vs. North Carolina A&T, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 9 vs. Sam Houston, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 12 vs. Tennessee State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 16 at N.C. State, noon, ESPN
Nov. 20 vs. Tarleton State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Oct. 26 at Nashville, 6 p.m., Victory+
Oct. 28 vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 30 at Tampa Bay, 6 p.m., TNT, HBO Max
Nov. 1 at Florida, 5 p.m., Victory+
Nov. 4 vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m., ESPN+, Hulu
Western Conference first-round playoff series (best-of-3)
Oct. 26 at Vancouver, 6:30 p.m., Apple TV
Nov. 1 vs. Vancouver, 8:30 p.m., Apple TV
Nov. 7 at Vancouver (if necessary), TBD, Apple TV
Nov. 8 vs. Iowa State, TBA
Nov. 15 at BYU, TBA
Nov. 22 at Houston, TBA
Nov. 29 vs. Cincinnati, TBA
End of the regular season
Nov. 1 vs. Navy, 11 a.m., ESPN2
Nov. 15 at UAB, TBA
Nov. 22 at Rice, TBA
Nov. 28 vs. Temple, 2:30 p.m., ESPN
End of the regular season
Nov. 1 at Oklahoma Panhandle State, 2 p.m.
Nov. 8 vs. Ottawa (Arizona) (Crowley ISD Stadium), 2 p.m.
Nov. 15 vs. Wayland Baptist (Crowley ISD Stadium), 2 p.m.
End of the regular season
Nov. 3 vs. Arizona, 7:15 p.m., ABC, ESPN
Nov. 17 at Las Vegas, 7:15 p.m., ABC, ESPN
Nov. 23 vs. Philadelphia, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Nov. 27 vs. Kansas City, 3:30 p.m., CBS
Dec. 4 at Detroit, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
Nov. 1 NASCAR Racing Experience
Nov. 7–8 POWRi Racing
Dec. 13-14 Xtreme Xperience
This story was originally published October 26, 2025 at 11:30 PM.
Jim Barnes is the Star-Telegram’s sports editor. A Fort Worth native and graduate of Castleberry High School, he returned to Texas after 13 years at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He previously was sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald and a freelance high school sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
The Dallas Cowboys are big-game hunting edge-rushers ahead of the NFL‘s trade deadline, but they may need to settle for a good player instead of a great one.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported on Wednesday that the Cowboys have pursued both Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders and Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals.
“My sense is that Dallas would be pretty surprised if the Raiders actually moved on from Crosby, with whom owner Mark Davis has a deep affection,” Fowler wrote. “The Cowboys — armed with two first-rounders in 2026 and seven picks in total before compensatory selections — also have looked into Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, whom the Bengals don’t plan to deal.
“Several other edge-rushers will be available league-wide, so expect the Cowboys to get involved in various talks. They have shown an eagerness to trade for players on rookie deals, which worked out great with [George] Pickens, who is having a contract year for the ages.”
The big question then becomes if Dallas can’t land an elite player to replace Micah Parsons, who is out there for them? One name that makes considerable sense is that of Jermaine Johnson II, a 26-year-old defensive end and former first-round pick in 2022 (No. 26 overall).
Matt Bowen of ESPN joined Fowler in authoring a trade column Wednesday that ranked Johnson as the 10th-best player who could potentially move ahead of the deadline, as well as one of the more likely movers with a 35 percent chance of getting traded.
“An Achilles injury forced Johnson to miss 15 games in 2024, and he had to sit for three earlier this season with an ankle issue,” Bowen wrote. “But when healthy, he has the strength and the lower-body quickness to attack the pocket. Johnson had his best numbers in 2023 (pre-Achilles injury), when he totaled 7.5 sacks and 16 pressures.”
Johnson, a Pro Bowler in 2023, is in the final year of his $13 million rookie contract. However, the Jets have already exercised the fifth-year team option on his deal for 2026, which is worth $13.4 million for that season.
Dallas would be in position to get quality value on Johnson over the next year and a half if he remains healthy, at which point the Cowboys could decide on his long-term future with the franchise.
Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns.
Here’s everything he said to the media after the game:
On the bandage on his hand entering the press conference
“It’s nothing. Just to take the swelling down. I usually throw my left hand to cover the ball when I get hit, and it usually takes a lot of helmets. Nothing unusual, honestly.”
On today’s offensive game
“It was great, explosive and fun. We saw the big plays and saw some drives that we put together. Our standards and expectations that we have for ourselves is very high, so we understand we’ve got the guys, the playmakers and the offensive line. The love that we have, you see it with the way the guys finish plays. Guys cover the ball, and the defense played very well tonight. When you do that, I think more of our games are going to look like this.
On how hard it is to stay patient during offensive plays
“It’s not hard. I’m a very present guy and I take pride in doing that, and it’s something that I practice. I do that by trying to play it play-by-play, each and every play and going through my reads. I know we talked about it earlier in the week, when you all are asking, ‘How do you not force it to those guys?’ And I say that’s on the coaches and we have multiple playmakers. Those are two dudes [CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens], and the other guys are as well. My point is wherever the ball goes, I’m confident when it leaves my hands that it’s going to be caught and a play is going to be made. After that, if that guy has a chance. When those two guys get it, it can be very explosive. I just want to stay on the field. That’s the other part that allows me to stay patient. I’m not trying to put the ball in harm’s way and throw an interception and then we’re sitting on the sideline. I want to be on the field playing this game.”
On the touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb
“It wasn’t the route we were expecting. It built for him to run a deep cross right there. I go through read one, which was George [Pickens], then I see the big window where if he would’ve ran that route, he would’ve had a great play, not a touchdown. I looked to find CeeDee, and he’s got his hands up saying, ‘I’m here.’ At that point, I saw the safety or the corner to the right. I just put about everything I had on the line, understanding that I could just lob it up and both guys would be able to make a play and try to give them a chance. He took a good job taking two steps back and catching the ball and walked into the end zone. Once again, it was a play that’s not made unless you have confidence in the guy you’re throwing to and that guy is smart and understands the defense, understands the look, and understands he can take the opportunity. We were able to capitalize on that.”
On if he’s proud of the 13 touchdowns in the last four games or ball security
“I’m not sure. I think they go hand-in-hand to be honest. When you take care of the ball, you have more opportunities to score touchdowns, and that’s leading to that. Not counting the touchdowns, probably the interceptions being true. I couldn’t tell you how many touchdowns it was, but I can tell you that I hadn’t thrown an interception. I’m trying to be smart with it, but not hesitant, scared or cautious at the same time. I have tons of confidence in what I can do, where I can put it, and the guys that I’m throwing it to, so that’s just a result of that.”
On DaRon Bland’s pick-six giving him flashbacks of the 2023 season
“Right before, we called the group up, right up before pregame. I told DB yesterday that they throw the ball to him as much as they throw it to anybody. It was pretty cool to see that he got an interception and a touchdown. I put that juju up into the air, manifested it, and he went and did what DB does.”
On his success against Washington and if today was different
“I guess it was similar. I haven’t played them with the new DQ [head coach Dan Quinn] with Joe Whitt and the personnel they have on that team, but it was fun. I was confident with what I was seeing when you play them. Even with the new coaches, that’s a group that I’ve played against every day for three or four years or so. Understanding what they’re going to do and what they’re going to try to do. They got to us in the second quarter a little bit, a couple of drives we didn’t score. I got frustrated, but I know our standard and I knew that we knew we could run away with this game and we were trying to do it too fast. For me, it was focusing the guys in and taking it play-by-play like the scores were going to come. You hit that big play to CeeDee and everyone thinks let’s do that every play, and that just doesn’t happen. It was about just getting the guys focused, back engaged and understanding what they were going to give us. I think everybody did a good job on attacking them.”
On the next step with his play with Lamb on the offensive end
“Next step? Next game. To quantify it, I’m not really sure. It’s the next game, that’s what’s important for us and to us. Honestly, it’s Wednesday practice. Those guys aren’t by any means complacent or great and settled with what they’ve done. They want the ball. They have high expectations, we have high expectations for each other. Who knows that the next game is. I haven’t truly looked at the stats. I know GP [George Pickens] said he was a little short of 100, but my point being is who knows what we can accomplish. The sky is the limit. We’re just going to stay focused each and every day at getting better and growing our connection. Guess that’s the next step to continue to communicate to one another. Understanding why CeeDee took that, but talk about that beforehand so when it happens, it’s a bit faster.”
On his immense trust for Pickens in any one-on-one situation
“Yeah, I do. I threw one in the third quarter, and that’s a miss. I take that as a miss because of the way that guy’s able to play the ball in the air when I don’t give him a fair chance at it. I’m going to put that on myself. I know the first one I threw to him was a little underthrown and a little outside, but he goes and makes an unbelievable catch. Late hands in it, holding it off. And then, the one that led to the touchdown right before the first half. I just put that one out there and kept [Marshon] Lattimore in his back pocket and let it fall in. He has a great natural ability of late hands in the ball and holding the defender off, and that makes my job easier. The trust is through the roof.”
On the defense continuing to force turnovers
“For sure they can sustain this. They just did this with a lot of adversity. A lot of credit to them. A lot of guys were out, and the guys that got to play stepped up. That’s awesome to see. That’s credit to them, I’m proud of them, the coaches and everybody for buckling down and answering through the noise and the adversity. They’re not naïve to what they’ve been doing and to what everybody’s saying. They answered the bell. I most definitely think they can continue this. The energy is electric, and for us on offense, all we want to do is repay them and go score touchdowns.”
On running back Javonte Williams opening up the play action
“It’s huge. I’ve talked about it going back to the spring how important the run game is. It helps with the box count. You can run the game. They’ve got to load it. We can run the ball. They’ve got to load the box, and then you can take advantage of outside with the one-on-ones. Te’s [Javonte Williams] a very smart runner, obviously, but physical, patient and just does a hell of a job. It starts with the offensive line, them creating holes, and he knows where he needs to go and how he needs to set it up. That’s only gonna make us continue to get better, the more success we have on the ground.”
“A lot of gratitude. I’m somebody who appreciates the history before them, the men who have played this game, that wore this uniform and particularly played this position and dealt with the success, the adversity. Roger’s [Roger Staubach] been a guy who from the day that I’ve got here has been so supportive. I remember my rookie year I was asked to sign a ball for him for his Christmas gift that his daughters were giving him, and that was one of those welcome to the NFL, pinch-me type moments for myself. Just as the years have grown, I mean he said it right there. I’ve got your support. I’m always pulling for you. I don’t want to bother you. I’m like, ‘Roger you’re never gonna bother me.’ Please. It’s something that I don’t take for granted, blessed to have his support. Being a Cowboys fan, seeing all those players down there, all it’s going to do is push you a little bit more. Love the history of this team, love everything that they’ve done, and as I told you before, I’m trying to chase a lot of those men and win a championship.”
On what he’s learned about his team through seven games
“We’re gonna keep fighting. We’re gonna keep fighting, and as I alluded to last week, we’re gonna find a way to win some of these close games. I know this one wasn’t necessarily in the fourth quarter, going back and forth, but that’s the difference. We’re gonna win some games like this, but when we flip the switch and we win those close games, a resilient group that loves one another. That’s gonna stick together and is explosive and we’re gonna play complementary ball more and more each week.”
On trusting Pickens
“When I throw a ball like that, it’s 80 to 90% chance of gaining yards at that point. And that’s why I say that one in the third quarter, I just didn’t quite give him a chance. That’s on me because there might be a PI [pass interference] or he might make one of those grabs that he’s been making so tons of confidence. They’ve resulted in, as you said, 135 yards of penalties and how many have they resulted in yards for him. It’s a very successful play for us, and if they’re gonna give it to us, we’re gonna keep attacking it.”
On his feeling on where the team is
“I was about to say I’m OK with where we’re at, but I guess I am. I have be, right? That’s the reality of it. We’re getting past the point where you can say it’s early and we’ve got ourselves in a position to compete and that’s most important. Nobody cares about your records in September, October. It’s November, December and on that really matters, so I think we’ve put ourselves in a great position. So we put ourselves in the position that we shouldn’t and we don’t need to be looking at what other teams are doing and watching their records. We need to put our head down and go to work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and get better and understand that we control what we want to control, then it’s all in front of us. Being 3-3-1 we’re in a good spot. We’re right where we need to be playing a game like this that was so complementary on both sides of the ball. I don’t know how anybody in that locker room can’t have confidence and excited to get to work tomorrow.”
On if Pickens and Lamb are his best wide receiver tandem
“It’s up to y’all to decide. Dez [Bryant] was just in there, too, so don’t say that too loud. Those dudes are unbelievable. They are and that’s credit to them. That’s credit to the way they show up and work each and every day. That’s credit to the standard that they have for themselves. That’s credit to the love they have for one another, the way that they push one another. They definitely are.”
On the reason for his impressive four-game stretch
“A lot of things coming together. It’s all the work that I’ve put into this. Personally, a lot of offseason work to the team getting together in the spring, to training camp. Success through these last few games is just only growing the confidence. I know who I am. I feel great throwing the ball. When you got pass catchers like those two guys, CeeDee, Turp [KaVontae Turpin], [Jalen] Tolbert, Flo [Ryan Flournoy] that are making plays and taking advantage of their opportunities whenever they come. I’m just gonna keep pushing myself to get better. You’ve been around, you understand that, that’s all I want to do. It’s not about the results. It’s about how great can I be and how much better can I get from one day to the next. So I’m as excited as anybody to get in there tomorrow and clean up mistakes from this one and push forward and get ready for the next game.”
On if this is the most fun he’s had
“I don’t know if I have. Not a knock to any other group that I’ve been a part of, but the chemistry, the camaraderie, the trash talking, the emotions and passion of this unit. It’s there as much as I’ve ever seen it. Sure, we’ve got some youth that’s probably a big part of it. But we’ve got guys who just work their tails off every day, and I say it all the time, confidence is earned. You don’t just wake up and say, yeah, I know I can do this. No, you gotta go do that, prove it to yourself and then you feel good about talking about it and walking the walk. So this group practices the right way, and they’ve earned the confidence and they go out there and we play with it and it’s fun. It really is fun. It’s in a collaborative effort, and it’s not about me. It’s not about any one person in that group. It’s about the way that we all play for one another, doing our one-eleventh each play and seeing what the result is afterwards.”
On hearing about what Lamb and Pickens have said about his hot streak and what that means to them
“It’s awesome. It’s something I don’t take for granted, but they’re not telling y’all anything that they don’t tell me. We’re out there on the field, and they’re telling me that I’m the best to do it. They know how important that is, and they want me to take those heat checks and throw it to them. That just reminded me to give them a chance. That’s the love that I’m talking about and the expectations and the standard that I’ve alluded to when I say that we all believe in one another. We understand that we can only do so much alone, but together, we’re a hell of a group.”
On playing Commanders QB Jayden Daniels and if the Cowboys’ offense could be considered one of the most dangerous in the league come December
“Yeah, I don’t see why not. I mean that’s definitely our standard and something that we talk about as a group. It’s not necessarily putting pressure on us, but it’s just the way that we work and the players that we have. With good fortune and good health, I don’t see why this group won’t be one of the best. Yeah, for Jayden, a young player. Obviously, I watched him last year all throughout the year, especially in my time being hurt. Very talented, throws the ball super fast. His stop-and-go is ridiculous, him and [Ravens QB Lamar Jackson] both, right? I wish I had that. I mean I ran to the sideline one play and somebody grabbed me, and I was scared, I didn’t know what was going to happen. But point being, I wish I could slow down and speed up like that and put defenders on skates. Impressive player. I know he’s getting coached by the right man over there, and he’ll only get better and better.”
On who won the pregame dance off between backup QB Joe Milton and Pickens
“I think Joe was really setting the stage, giving the alley oop to George. He was just the opening act for George. I won’t say there’s a winner. That was just a cool moment. The energy was great in pregame. Lot of guys were just dancing throughout pregame. Usually they’re waiting for me to make a speech at that point. I was just like, ‘Hey, let’s keep dancing.’ I’d say maybe Joe won, ‘cause I just threw him out here. Like, hey Joe, start dancing. He took the lead, got it going and then GP jumped in. That was really just a way to tell guys to stay loose. Like play free, you’re confident. I see it, I feel it. You’ve earned that. Stay right here where we are, let’s play for the brother next to us, and that’s exactly what the group went out and did.”
On what it says about this group to have that kind of moment right before kickoff
“That’s just who we are. If you’re around the guys throughout the locker room, at practice, I mean that’s just who we are. That was more of a moment, I guess, for you guys than anything. That’s George, Joe, CeeDee, everybody. myself, I even tried to at times, I’m getting better at dancing. That’s just part of practice and part of the energy that we carry into our workday. It was cool just do it before a game. That’s my point of just be the same guys that we are at practice. We put in the right work, we do it with the right intentions. So you should have fun when you’re doing that. Schottenheimer always mentions that. Sunday is a celebration. It’s a celebration of all the hard work that we put in throughout the week. No reason to play tight. Be free, let it go and fly around. Everybody did that, not just offense, but the whole team.”
On his pregame outfit and his thoughts on tight end Jake Ferguson’s performance (two TDs)
“Yeah, super proud of Jake. Obviously, I know how frustrating and hard I guess last season was throughout the year, not getting a touchdown, and even those first couple of games. It’s a guy that works as hard as anybody, and speaking of just intentions, being very intentional on his routes and his blocking and making sure he’s communicating with me on certain routes and where do I want him to be and what do I expect from him. It’s no surprise, and I’m super proud of him. He told me he had ordered the jersey [Prescott’s high school jersey]. I didn’t know it came in already, and I didn’t know he was going to wear it to the game. What was great was that we just happened to walk into the stadium together, so when I saw it, got hyped.”
On if he expects other wide receivers to start wearing more of the jerseys
“I told him pregame, listen I’m definitely throwing you some. I’m definitely getting you a couple. Thankful that the defense allowed him to get a couple touchdowns, and Schotty’s play calling, so it all worked out. But, yeah, it was cool. He’s a hell of a player, as I’ve mentioned before, and he’s only getting better each and every game. The touchdowns are going to keep rolling.”
This story was originally published October 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM.
Jim Barnes is the Star-Telegram’s sports editor. A Fort Worth native and graduate of Castleberry High School, he returned to Texas after 13 years at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He previously was sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald and a freelance high school sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 25 of 34 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns.
Here’s everything he said to the media after the game:
On going three-and-out in their last drive and not getting the ball back
“I wouldn’t say it’s demoralizing. I’d definitely say it’s frustrating, right? Even the last time we had the ball, probably not our best series of the game right there, other than the three-and-out to start the game off. At a crucial point like that, we can’t just do that. On top of that, that being the last time we touched the ball, it makes it frustrating. That’s the NFL. You trust that those guys are going to get a stop. Unfortunately, had a PI called on the third-down. After that, they just kind of ate the clock up, kept running the ball, did a good job. They won the fourth quarter. That’s the NFL. We won the turnover battle. Don’t know the big plays, but they won the fourth quarter, and that was the difference there. A team that’s obviously second-year coach, young quarterback playing well, getting better. Young running back that we’re familiar with. He told us to buckle up and he went and had a hell of a game and credit to them. They got the best, and they’re the better team this afternoon.”
On wide receiver George Pickens
“He’s just an elite receiver. He’s an elite receiver. He’s playing hard. He’s understanding everything that we throw at him. Whether it’s in different positions — you saw him in the slot a lot more today, making big plays. After he gets the ball in his hands, some of the things he does, it’s only George can do. He’s a special player. We’re lucky to have him. We’re only going to get better each game.”
On the fun Pickens is playing with
“For sure. Yeah, I mean, no, you’re right. It’s contagious at that. And obviously, I’m having a blast, but when you get to throw it to a guy like that, and he makes the catch, and you watch him do the — make the people miss afterwards, try to jump over them. He loves football. You see it on Sunday. I see it all throughout the week. There’s plays at practice, whether he catches a touchdown, and does a celebration, or catches a big play, and acts like — I don’t want to say, ‘Acts like it’ — he’s preparing to cut back and make people miss. That’s who he is. That’s the way he approaches it every day when he comes in. We’re crazy fortunate to have him. You see that every day that he touches that field. When he’s around the guys, he loves his teammates and he loves the game of football. It’s contagious and it’s fun to watch.”
On his team after the last two games
“Yeah, I mean, we can play with anyone. But it’s the NFL. We’ve got to make sure that we’re locked in because you can lose any game. That’s the beauty of the NFL – the parity. That’s why the draft is set up the way it is, it’s why free agency is the way it is. It’s great. It’s great. You get into a game like this, you feel like you’re going to win every second. Even the field goal block right there, [DE] Sam [Williams] is jumping over with the block. In my mind, we’re still going to block it, and we’re going to go win this thing in overtime. We got a good team that’s grimy. We’ve got to find a way to win these games. That’s the missing chink in the armor right now. Whether it’s the tied game or this game, we have to find a way to win games. If we do that, we feel a whole lot different in the locker room. Now the reality, is the team different? Not necessarily. You feel a lot better, you’re taking confidence and when you get that confidence that allows you to feel more confident at the end of games. Understanding and knowing, I guess you could say, and believing that you’re going to pull it out. Right now, we just have to find a way to win the fourth quarter.”
On if he was hoping that the defense let Carolina score at the end to get another chance on offense
“Yeah, for sure. Obviously, when they tried it, they went freeway. It’s NFL. Those guys know exactly what we’re going to try to do, too. That’s the beauty of the league — every play matters and every play is hard to execute. Even when you’re trying to give it to them, they understand that and they don’t want to take it. Yeah, maybe we have to install picking a guy up and running him into the end zone. That’s the beauty of game management. They did it better.”
On what gives him confidence that the defense can get things fixed
“That we go against them every day. It’s an iron-sharpens-iron mentality. I understand the players and the pieces that they have over there. You see them working each and every day. You see them getting better. At the end of the day, they’re getting better. The communication, they’re getting the ball out, so they’re going to get better.”
On what the season holds after a loss like this
“It’s a long season. It’s a long, long season. I’ve been 3-5 before, and we went and ran and made the playoffs. That’s my point. We’ve just got to find a way to win these close games right here. I have all the confidence that we will. That game right there, I just wanted the ball back in my hands knowing we’d go win and unfortunately it didn’t happen. The reality of it is we have to do better on that last three-and out. More importantly, we have to score in the red zone when we had that chance there. That field goal is for a tie, or they’re having to score to win. It’s a long season. It’s a long season. We’ve got a lot of great players. We’ve got guys getting healthy and guys coming back. That’s only going to make this team better and more explosive. We got to keep our heads down and keep working and understand it’s a process. It is a loss, but it’s also — we got to take something and learn from it.”
On not letting frustration boil over when the offense has to score on every drive
“That’s my standard. I don’t ever go out there thinking let’s punt the ball or after a first down, we’re good. If we don’t score, the last thing I’m doing is being frustrated at the defense. That’s my problem, that’s our problem. That’s somebody on offense or something that we didn’t do better. You guys know me, I’m a look-in-the-mirror type guy before I ever would think about pointing the finger. I have to be accountable. There’s two or three plays I can think of off the top of my head, and sure, it’s not big plays or maybe plays you won’t pick out, but that I’m thinking, ‘If I throw it there, if do this, what does that drive turn into? What’s the next play? What’s the next third down look like?’ It’s part of the game. You’ve got to look at yourself and fix that first.”
On if his relationship with Pickens is the quickest that he’s established a strong connection with a pass catcher
“I guess. I mean, [WR] CeeDee [Lamb] was pretty fast. Unfortunately, I was just hurt within five games and didn’t get to show the rest of it. That’s credit to these guys. That’s credit to them, one, to understand what I’m thinking, running their routes hard and then after we communicate, going and executing it. It’s fun to throw it to a guy like that. It’s fun to watch him. Speaking of CeeDee, when he gets back and gets healthy, good luck on how teams are going to play us. You have guys like ‘Ferg’ [TE Jake Ferguson], you’ve got other playmakers out there making plays in terms of getting healthy. We have ‘Flo’ [WR Ryan Flournoy], ‘J.T.’ [WR Jalen Tolbert] and [WR] George [Pickens] definitely opens it up. We’re thankful to have him.”
On connecting with tight end Jake Ferguson on the touchdown
“Yeah, it was great. I got a good look from the defense. The backer was kind of flat-footed and I saw he wasn’t getting depth. They leaned the safety over there. That’s probably one of the easier ones — trusting a guy like that. It was good to cash in on, especially after last week, if we talked about the one that should have been easy. Just to come back today and to get one, I’m proud of him.”
On the struggles of getting downfield on the last drive
“It was tough, and one, understanding that they’re going to try to put a lid on it. That not just because of the success we were having, but that’s kind of their get-back-on-track defense. They gave kind of a two-man look. It’s one of those things, looking at the picture, I’m like ‘Man, could I have taken that inside slot to [WR] ‘J.T.’ [Jalen Tolbert] right there?’ And you guys would probably go back and look at it and say, ‘Yeah.’ But it’s one of those thinking that nickel can drive and should potentially drive it with that coverage. Went through the progression as normal and got two negative plays in a row after the screen. That hurt us. On the third down, it was just about being smart. Trust me, I want to throw it into tight windows and make plays, but it’s a team game. You have to trust the other side. You have to trust special teams, defense, the coaching, the play calling. Unfortunately, we just didn’t get it back today.”
On if he is kicking himself more for having to settle for a field goal in the red zone or for the last drive
“The red zone. The red zone. The last drive, we’ll all have to go back and look at that, and try to dissect that. Good job by them. Just like I said right, I said it over and over. Nice, it’s the NFL, good job by them. We’ve been having a lot of success. They got us on first down. When you’re behind the sticks, it’s hard to get going again. But most definitely the red zone trip one. I know that there’s two balls in the end zone that were ops to cash in on – one was a scramble. [TE] Luke Schoonmaker would have had to make a hell of a catch, so not on him. Then they brought a cover-zero late. Didn’t get to necessarily alert the receivers that it was zero. ‘G.P’ [WR George Pickens] ran a good route, one of those ones we’ll communicate on. He’ll run it maybe a tad different next time understanding the situation, and we maybe cash in on that. But yeah, definitely, anytime we get in the red zone, knowing the players, the plays, what we’re capable of, and we don’t score, the game’s different. The rest of the, what, four or five minutes, what was left or whatever, six minutes, it’s different after that.”
On running back Rico Dowdle and if he misses him and if he has a message for him
“Great job tonight. Great job last week. He told us to buckle up. He got the last laugh. We got a hell of a group of running backs. I love my team, but I miss the guy. Rico is a hell of a friend. But I’m proud of him more than anything. As I said, I messaged him last week, but I didn’t get to see him right after the game. I’ll connect with him. He knows there’s nothing but love.”
This story was originally published October 12, 2025 at 8:06 PM.
Jim Barnes is the Star-Telegram’s sports editor. A Fort Worth native and graduate of Castleberry High School, he returned to Texas after 13 years at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He previously was sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald and a freelance high school sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
And on Sunday afternoon for the Carolina Panthers? Two other bits of franchise history.
The Panthers notched a thrilling win, 30-27, over the Dallas Cowboys in Bank of America Stadium. The victory came thanks to some newly furnished explosiveness on offense, a timely stop by the defense and the unshakeable resolve of their kicking unit — one that was put in the spotlight on that final, game-winning field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald.
The win makes the Panthers undefeated at home through three games.
And onto the history:
The win raises their record to 3-3 — the first time the Panthers have been at .500 since Week 10 of the 2021 season, the same game Cam Newton returned to the Panthers and scored a touchdown his first play from scrimmage, which was memorialized with some signature phrasing: “I’m backkkkk!”
It also featured a franchise-best performance by one of the team’s emerging stars. Running back Rico Dowdle notched 239 scrimmage yards, the most ever of any Panther, supplanting Christian McCaffrey. He finished with 183 rushing yards on 30 attempts, and added four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Head coach Dave Canales reacted to all such history — and more — in the statement-of-a-win. Here’s a recap of his postgame press conference:
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales, center, questions a call during action against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Cowboys 30-27. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Opening statement
“At the end of the day, it’s what do you do with the last possession? The defense, you know, gave up some yards. And Dak Prescott, George Pickens, had a great day. I give the Cowboys a lot of credit for the offense that they produced today.
“But the defense came through for us when we needed it. And to give us the ball back, give us another chance to get down there, get into field goal range right there, and for Ryan to hit that his first career game winner was amazing. It just ties the whole group, and everybody had to do their part right here at the end to win this game. So I’m so proud the way the team keeps coming together to find good football when we need it.”
Rico Dowdle had another monster game. Any extra motivation playing Cowboys?
“Just looked like the same guy last week, ran with violence, had a plan, a man on a mission. He wants to make yards, and really just take our schemes and make them come alive. He’d be up here, first thing he would say is give credit to the offensive lineman tight ends for blocking the wide receivers involved in all that to create another successful day on the on the ground. But he’s human. I’m sure there are emotions coming from the former team and all that. So I will acknowledge that part of it, but I didn’t see a difference from what he did last week. I just saw great execution and great attitude.”
On Bryce Young’s day
“I thought he was great, you know, better and better, just in terms of the the communication with the guys, it’s a lot of hard work. These guys have been working together, working on things in practice, you know, as we continue to challenge the group and they took to that, you know.
“We had to take a couple of timeouts there at the end. There were some substitution things. I had to make a really critical decision to use those timeouts to make sure that we were settled so we could have our best group out there for the concepts that we had practiced. And I don’t want to use those timeouts in that situation. But for me, it felt like I needed to settle to settle the group in. Let’s get our best call. And then we ended up executing them.”
On the resilence of Tetairoa McMilan, who was in on an INT but also two TDs
“He’s a really focused player, and he just goes to the next play. High-confidence player who knows he’s going to make that play. And the catch was a little bit away from him, I’ve seen him make that. He’ll be the first one to tell you, I can make that play, you know. And the Cowboys turned that around and, you know, got a big gain off of the interception. But get the guy down and just give us one more chance, you know, see if we can affect them and keep them and keep them out of the end zone.
“But the way that he just responded, the way he bounced back: This is time on task. This is conversation between him and Bryce all throughout this season of just fine tuning the different routes and the landmark were expected to be at how we adjust on things. And that really showed up on two plays that we’ve been working on, that those guys have been talking about: ‘If they play this I want you to respond this way. If they play this one, find space here.’ And that’s the type of chemistry that we have to continue to grow.”
On Panthers being .500 for first time since November 2021
“It’s a group commitment to the process. And the way that we practice, the way that we study, the way that we talk to each other, the type of effort that we ask for — it leads to good results. And there’s gotta be a trust in this process. A belief that it will lead to good things if you just show up and give us everything you have when you walk into these doors. That’s what we’re looking for: progress. … Being able to come away with a full team win right there was amazing, and it allows me to just double-down on the fact that this process works.”
Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales gives Carolina Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald a hug after his game winning kick at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday, October 12, 2025. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Checking in with Ryan Fitzgerald before his game-winner
“Honestly, just the normal course of action for me is I don’t really typically go and check with the kickers as they‘re going out onto the field. I’m kind of just collecting my thoughts about what happened. What’s the scenario? You know, there are a lot of conversations happening. Just want to give him his space to be locked in. And he came through for us in a big way today.”
On the possession right before halftime
“Going into the locker room. We tried to mess that up. We talked to Xavier about the lateral right there, in that situation, it’s just something that’s outside of what we need to do. I think actually, Rico was calling for the ball. So Rico kind of came up to me and was like, ‘Coach, that was on me.’ So I just, like, ‘Guys, don’t make stuff up. Let’s just play our football. Let’s just advance the ball. Get us into a better field goal situation so we can take advantage of the plays that led into it.’
“It was a good way for me to just remind the group: just do your job. It’ll be enough. And if they beat us, they make great plays. George Pickens makes an amazing play. Today, we got to give them credit where credit is due. The defense made it hard on us at the end. And we had a three and out right there right before the touchdown drive, you know. And Dallas’s defense made some adjustments and made it hard for us right there. But we just have to continue to execute the little things over and over.”
Who told Trevor Etienne to get down on that final play?
“Bryce was all over it. We had a timeout somewhere in there. Dallas called timeout. Came over. He was like, you know, ‘OK, I’m telling these guys, first down, get down. This is something we practice. Coach George Lee presents us with different scenarios in our walkthroughs, where we get to hit our two-minute situations and a half in the game, and also four minute situation just like that. We practiced that two weeks ago, getting into a four minute situation where this is a first down, get down type of deal.
“And Trevor came off the field and said, ‘The next time that happens, you guys are gonna have to run off the field and tackle me, because I really would like to score my first touchdown.’ But it was well executed. It was well blocked. He got down. Gave us a chance to run the clock out and then win the game, lock out.”
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned five APSE Top 10 distinctions, most recently in the Long Features category in 2024. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22. Support my work with a digital subscription
The NFL has fined Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones $250,000 for making an obscene gesture which Jones said was “inadvertent” and meant to be a thumbs up at MetLife Stadium following a game against the New York Jets on Sunday.The news was first reported by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Tuesday and confirmed by the NFL to CNN Sports on Wednesday.In a video which was widely shared on social media, Jones could be seen giving a thumbs-up to the crowd from a box before raising his middle finger and pointing lower in the crowd while mouthing a few indiscernible words. The gesture occurred late in the Cowboys’ 37-22 road win over the Jets.Jones has until Friday to appeal the decision and, though neither the Cowboys nor Jones have yet formally done so, it is likely he will, according to Pelissero. The three-time Super Bowl-winning owner offered his explanation for the “unfortunate” fan interaction on Dallas radio show 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday.“I just put up the wrong show on the hand, but that was inadvertently done,” Jones said. “The intention was thumbs up.”When asked about the exchange, Jones said it occurred in front of Cowboys fans, not Jets fans, amidst the excitement after quarterback Dak Prescott threw a four-yard pass to Javonte Williams for Dallas’ final touchdown of the game.“There was a swarm of Cowboy fans out in front, not Jets fans, Cowboy fans,” Jones emphasized. “That was inadvertent on my part because that was right after we’d made our last touchdown and we were all excited about it.“There wasn’t any antagonistic issue or anything like that.”This is not the first time Jones has faced a fine from the league. He faced his first fine in 2008 for criticizing a referee and another in 2009 for violating an order from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to stop executives and owners from discussing league labor issues.
The NFL has fined Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones $250,000 for making an obscene gesture which Jones said was “inadvertent” and meant to be a thumbs up at MetLife Stadium following a game against the New York Jets on Sunday.
The news was first reported by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Tuesday and confirmed by the NFL to CNN Sports on Wednesday.
In a video which was widely shared on social media, Jones could be seen giving a thumbs-up to the crowd from a box before raising his middle finger and pointing lower in the crowd while mouthing a few indiscernible words. The gesture occurred late in the Cowboys’ 37-22 road win over the Jets.
Jones has until Friday to appeal the decision and, though neither the Cowboys nor Jones have yet formally done so, it is likely he will, according to Pelissero.
The three-time Super Bowl-winning owner offered his explanation for the “unfortunate” fan interaction on Dallas radio show 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday.
“I just put up the wrong show on the hand, but that was inadvertently done,” Jones said. “The intention was thumbs up.”
When asked about the exchange, Jones said it occurred in front of Cowboys fans, not Jets fans, amidst the excitement after quarterback Dak Prescott threw a four-yard pass to Javonte Williams for Dallas’ final touchdown of the game.
“There was a swarm of Cowboy fans out in front, not Jets fans, Cowboy fans,” Jones emphasized. “That was inadvertent on my part because that was right after we’d made our last touchdown and we were all excited about it.
“There wasn’t any antagonistic issue or anything like that.”
This is not the first time Jones has faced a fine from the league. He faced his first fine in 2008 for criticizing a referee and another in 2009 for violating an order from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to stop executives and owners from discussing league labor issues.
For the first time since Week 2, the Dallas Cowboys finally found their way back to the win column.
In Sunday’s 37-22 victory over the New York Jets, Dallas was firing on all cylinders. The team racked up 416 yards of total offense and 22 first downs while committing zero turnovers, and the defense held explosive dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields in check.
Though Fields finished with 283 yards passing and two touchdowns, most of it came in garbage time in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys already up 30-6.
And while the victory featured plenty of action from Dallas’ stars — quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 237 yards and four touchdowns, running back Javonte Williams rushed for 135 yards and has two total touchdowns, tight end Jake Ferguson logged seven catches and two touchdowns — there was also some fourth-quarter explosiveness that had nothing to do with any stats.
With 13:47 left in the final quarter, Fields ran up the middle for no gain in a seemingly inconsequential play. But on the other side of the field, Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs and Jets receiver Arian Smith were involved in a scuffle.
Smith hit Diggs with a headbutt, and the latter responded by taking a retaliatory swing at the 23-year-old wideout. Diggs ultimately was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that was enforced between downs.
Given the NFL’s strict crackdown on player behavior, it’s likely that Diggs will be hearing from the league office by next weekend. The NFL announces player fines from the previous week every Saturday before the current week’s games.
Players are typically fined $12,172 for first-time “striking, kicking, tripping or kneeing” offenses and $17,968 for second offenses.
If he was fined, it wouldn’t be the first time for Diggs. He’s been fined three times previously in his career, including having to dish out $16,883 last season for a “leg whip” tackle from the team’s 33-17 Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns.
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Jets 37-22 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 18 of 29 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns.
Here’s everything he said to the media after the game:
On WR Ryan Flournoy’s big game
“Super proud of him. A guy that’s in his second year. Very, very hungry. He’s not afraid to tell you how much he wants it. I had plenty of conversations with him going back to those Atlanta trips and offseason time spent together and getting to know somebody. That guy has a lot of, as an old coach used to say, “[Expletive] in his neck.” And he wants to be great and he wants every opportunity and responsibility he can, he wants to make the most of. And I think tonight was just an example of just that, of him getting that opportunity, him making every play that came his way, whether it was the deepers across the middle, the free play down the sideline, the arounds. He’s just showing that he’s very deserving of the ball and he’s going to make plays when he gets it. Super proud of him.”
On RB Javonte Williams’ performance
“He’s a hell of a player. Great player, great running back. Understands the schemes, understands the pass game, understands what we’re trying to get at. Always is going to get positive yards. There’s been numbers of plays now where it should have been a negative play and the guy just, he’s so strong, shakes his defender off of him, still gets a first down on a third down or fourth down, whatever it may be. He’s a huge help to this team. He’s been a great addition and credit everything he’s doing. But there’s a lot, a lot of those guys up front tonight playing with, not necessarily, I mean four backups I guess you could say, and I hate to say backups, but four guys who got their opportunity tonight who went and created holes for him and played nasty and played to the end of each whistle. And Javonte running hard like he always does resulted in a big night for him.”
On the Cowboys being able to perform with four backups on the offensive line
“It’s credit to these coaches, it’s credit to the players, it’s credit to the organization and I mean, everybody. There’s not many teams in the league that can put four guys who don’t start into the game and feel confident about going and winning a game, especially on the road against one of the most premier interior defensive lineman [Quinnen Williams] and some good rushers as well. So, credit from the front office of getting these guys, but just as important, these guys don’t see themselves as backups, as they shouldn’t. They’ve just been waiting on their opportunity. It goes back to April and OTAs, all the way through minicamp of guys taking advantage of each rep that they’ve gotten and knowing that their time’s going to come. Our [offensive coordinator] Klayton [Adams] says it all the time, if you don’t like your position or if you’re a little upset, you know that you’re not the guy, wait 10, 15 minutes, you never know. That’s the way that this league goes. And those four guys and Flo [Flourney] and other guys showed that tonight that you just keep your head down, you keep working, you control what you can control, and when your opportunities come, you don’t have to look around, you can take advantage of them.”
On playing with more intensity against the Jets than in 2019
“I was a young Dak, and not this team. I don’t put this team in that same category. Everything’s different, man. I mean, each year, each team’s different. I 1000% get what you’re saying, but I saw this coming just from the simple fact of this team knows how confident we are, what we’re capable of doing. We know how important it was to get the taste of last week out of our mouth and out of our mind. Sure, it was a good game, but it was a tie. You don’t play in this league to get ties. So, you know how hungry the defense is, right? I mean, they’re being asked and being called on from, I’m sure all of you guys, to do more. And they went out there tonight and played a hell of a game. We got some turnovers and numbers of sacks that allowed us to play a complimentary game on all phases of it, and super proud of the team. The way we came out, we fought, loved the whole end of the second quarter, right? That was huge. From that turnover to the way the offense was able to get the two touchdowns, I’m sure they’d all say the same, we want to finish more. And I know we left some plays and some points out there today.”
On how he maintains the confidence when the team is missing four starting offensive linemen
“It’s the time that you spend together throughout the building and it’s those moments, those reps that they get throughout practice. I had a conversation with the young lineman earlier in the week about how I became a starter. So, if there’s ever a guy who’s going to believe in somebody having to step up to the plate when their number is called and people don’t think they’re ready, it’s going to be me. So, to me, it’s just about encouraging those guys and motivating those guys to understand that you’re meant to be here. You’re here for a purpose. You’re here for a reason. Like, don’t overthink this thing. It’s football. It’s a fun, great team game. You’ve got teammates to count on and lean on. Just go out there and trust that and let it go. And going from Nate [Thomas], who I’ve talked about all offseason, right? To Keem [Hakeem Adeniji] or [Trevor] Keegan, who that’s the one I had the conversation with, to T.J. [Bass] and Brock [Hoffman], who have gotten tons of snaps and have started numbers of games here, I’ve got so much confidence in those guys and it just grows with each play and each moment when I see how much pride that they take in their jobs. You’ve got a young Nate Thomas coming up to me after the game saying that he can do better and he will do better. And it’s like, dude, I know you will. You know what I mean? Like, I know you will. But that’s as rewarding as this win is because you got guys who care about this as much as you do and want to be the best on absolutely every play. So, my confidence just continues to rise with those guys.”
On scoring three touchdowns on blitzes today and what he likes about playing against a blitz
“Yeah, I mean, you’re blitzing guys. You’re one on one usually with my guys outside, and I feel comfortable with my guys winning those matchups. Obviously, Jake [Ferguson] on a few of them, did the big one to GP [George Pickens] and then right there at the end, it was just an easy one. Yeah, it just goes into the film study, the preparation. You see those looks before the blitz happens, you know what coverage is behind it, and you feel great about taking advantage of it.”
On where Adams has helped the most as offensive coordinator
“Everywhere. I mean it would be hard to just say one area and damn sure disrespectful to just say one area. That’s a guy that loves football, loves the locker room, loves his players, loves coaching, loves inspiring. The run game, obviously, jumps out and that’s what’s going to scream whether you look at the paper, you watch the film and his intensity, how he coaches with him and [offensive line coach Conor Riley] and [assistant offensive line/quality control coach] Ramon Chinyoung [Sr.], all of them, and just the intensity they have, that offensive line and the details that they have them playing with. Credit to all of them. Clayton brings a sense of intensity and focus and grit to our offense that you really can’t quantify, I guess. He’s a great offensive coordinator. It’s a great mix between him, Shotty [head coach Brian Schottenheimer] and the rest of those guys with their putting together. We’ve got a great staff that, being in this a long time, I’m thankful for.”
On how Schottenheimer has helped the team and gotten them on the right path
“I mean that’s just him being him. He’s a standup guy who approaches each day the same, true to who he is. Win, loss, draw, whatever it may be, you’re going to get the same Schotty. And I think that’s something that makes it easy to follow and a lot of guys easy to respect and something just as a playcaller and you know, from our relationship that I appreciate is a guy who takes heavy accountability. And what I mean is, there was some drives today that didn’t go well, I’ll take responsibility for a number of them, whether it’s third down, should have got to this play or that play. But him even in my head says, “Hey, let me get something going for you. Let me do a better job of calling plays.” And whether it was his fault or not, when you’re the quarterback, man, I appreciate that. Maybe it’s not all on me and that they weren’t your play calls. It’s just taking accountability and then, he called the touchdown to GP. Then goes, “Hey, I’m back in my bag.” And I go, “Yeah, you are.” Just incredible the way he approaches this game each and every day. And when you get to Sundays or whatever the game day is, he talks about playing free and playing coaching and being loose, and he’s the epitome of that. If you want to see somebody who’s enjoying the moment, it’s Schotty.”
On the play call to George Pickens
“I can’t give the play call. It was a touchdown, it was a big post. No, he didn’t call this and say throw it to GP [George Pickens], he just called the play and GP happened to get a touchdown and it was just a great play call.”
On how today’s win reflected Schottenheimer building a culture within the team
“Yeah man, it was evident. As I said, for those guys to start who don’t normally to get in, to play like starters, and to own their roles, and play at the standard that we did. Too many three-and-outs and too many things that we know we can get better at, but that’s not on those guys, that’s on just myself and just the whole process of it. But to stay consistent and the belief in each and everyone of those guys, I mean he’s [Schottenheimer] doing a hell of a job building this culture and he deserves a lot of respect and credit for it.”
On his connection to Jake Ferguson
“Just a lot of communication. Not only give Jake credit, he’s the beneficiary of it, but credit to Lunda Wells their coach. You know, we spend a lot of time with them talking plays, talking specific plays where I want him to be in certain zones, or how do we see a coverage and it’s always grown. I mean, we missed that first third down, that’s a touchdown right there, I want it back, Jake wants it back and that was just simply a way where he saw it a little different than I did. You know, we talked about it, I hadn’t got that look again but I guarantee when we get it again we score on it. That’s what it takes. It’s just communicating, understanding one another, and understanding how you want to attack whether it be certain zones or it be certain players, and Jake is just doing a hell of a job of getting open, playing nasty, and just doing everything that you want in a tight end.”
On what stands out about Ryan Flournoy
“Yeah, strength. As simple as that as strength. He loves the game and he’s strong. He’s going to win when it’s man-to-man outside. Obviously, we’ve given him the ball in the run game back-to-back weeks now and you’ve just watched how he’s turning the edge, covering up the ball, and he turns into a running back. It’s mad impressive. He’s a guy that’s just going to take advantage of every opportunity he’s given. Super, super proud of him. He just has to keep preparing the way that he’s been preparing and he’s going to keep playing that same way.”
This story was originally published October 5, 2025 at 8:11 PM.
Jim Barnes is the Star-Telegram’s sports editor. A Fort Worth native and graduate of Castleberry High School, he returned to Texas after 13 years at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He previously was sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald and a freelance high school sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Jets 37-22 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Here’s everything Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said to the media after the game:
On how badly they needed a game that didn’t come down to the wire
“Well, I mean we talk about all the time, you don’t win the game in the first quarter, second quarter. We knew this game was going to come down to the fourth quarter, we knew they’d make a run. That’s a good football team, they’re talented, their defense made some really good adjustments but, man, I’m just so proud of – imagine going in with four brand new offensive lineman, receivers that are still learning and growing in. Ryan Flournoy, what can you say about him, how great he played. The defense man, what they did to Justin Fields today. He’s an incredible competitor because he’s going to be sore, because we hit him a bunch, we pressured him all over the place. Again, we talk about it all the time, it’s all about winning and we found a way to win. There’s going to be a lot to correct, a lot to fix and that’s what we do as coaches.”
On if Marist Liufau’s forced fumble was symbolic of what the defense was about today
“Yeah, I think so, we’ve been pretty good about complementary football the last couple weeks, sudden change we call it and I think we were pretty close to 100% today. But yeah, incredible play and thought the defense played physical, man. Thought Marist (Liufau) did that, the pass rush was incredible. Because I was sitting there working on calls, and I’d look up and just see Justin (Fields) on his back or running for his life. Great energy man, our guys expected to win this game, they expected to play well and I think that’s important and that’s what we’re trying to build.”
On having four backup offensive linemen start and being able to overcome that
“It’s not a testament to the coaches. It’s a testament to the players. The brotherhood that they believe in, the next man up mentality. I can’t honestly say though.. I don’t remember ever having to go on with four brand new offensive linemen. But again, I think it goes down to their belief in one another. I want to see the film, but I thought really, I thought Nate (Thomas) did some really good things. He’s a very, very talented young man, as we know. A little rotation going there, left guard, trying to get (OT) Hakeem (Adeniji) and (G) Trevor (Keegan) in there. But shoot, what you could say about (G) T.J. Bass, last couple games. But that was a little unique, for sure, going in with that deal.”
On how much it helps having QB Dak Prescott to manage the offensive line situation
“Yeah, I just, look, I think we’re spoiled. I think he’s one of the best players in the league. He’s certainly one of the best teammates and leaders I’ve ever been around. The guys believe in him. He’s playing with a ton of confidence right now, and that’s why you can do some of the things that we do. In terms of staying aggressive, I thought the game changed late in the second quarter, right, when we had the turnover, we got points, and then we got three-and-out. We were able to go, and Javonte (Williams) had the huge run. But that’s a little thing, Javonte knows he cannot get tackled in bounds. So, he’s trying to score, but you saw him kind of veer to the left saying, ‘OK, if I can’t get here, I gotta get out of bounds, because of the situation on the clock.’ And then, of course, a very similar call on the two-point play, where we jumped offsides, we snuck Fergie (Jake Ferguson) back across.”
On if having four new linemen changed any of the plans today or during the week
“No, I would say we went in with a plan. We did struggle to run the ball early. It’s a good front, man. (Jets DT Quinnen) Williams is an incredible player. I thought he played very well. Their backers are downhill. Takes a while to settle in. I thought the big run before the end of the first half was huge for us. But no, not really, I mean, we knew it’d be tough inside all day. (Jets head coach) Aaron (Glenn) and (Jets defensive coordinator) Steve (Wilks) love to load the box, and that’s what they did. So, we just kind of tried to stay with it. I probably got away from it a little bit in third quarter, I guess. And it was nice to be able to finish that way.”
On it being the first time in years that the Cowboys have had two 90-yard drives and the efficiency of being able to do something like that
“But we don’t necessarily want to do that. We’d like to have 90-yard touchdowns. If we can do that, we’ll take those. I guess we probably need to go draw some of those up, because we don’t have enough of them in the offense. Just the belief, again, these guys love playing football together. They believe in one another. We expect to play well. We don’t always, but again, I think, team football, NFL football, 60-minute game. And we needed that last drive because the defense was tired, because we were really (expletive) to start the second half on offense and that’s my fault. But man, that couple drives we put together late. The big touchdown to George (Pickens), what a great catch. And then the last touchdown to Javonte (Williams) was huge.”
On what was it like coming off the field at the end of the game for him personally and getting the win having been at the Jets previously
“I don’t even think about that… I’ll be honest with you. I really don’t. I’m a live in the moment guy. Saw some really dear friends on the Jets sideline, Bobby Mastrodi, security guard, so great to see. (Former Jets RB) Curtis Martin before the game, guys like that. These are guys that I bled with. But I’m a live in the moment guy. And again, it was special to be in that locker room and celebrate with those guys. And really, there’s a lot of things to celebrate, there’ll be a lot of things to clean up. But man, the effort and play style on both sides of the ball and special teams, I thought was terrific.”
On what the main message was to the team postgame
“The power of all about the ball. It’s two weeks in a row now we’ve won the turnover battle. We were 1-0 this week, took care of it again, got a goose egg for the second week. I think that’s huge. But we talked a lot about complementary football. In defense, getting stops, and again, we didn’t get as many out, but I’m telling you, when you watch the film, there’s going to be, you guys should do the math, because I’m not going to give you the numbers, but how many punches we had on the ball. I’m not going to give you guys the numbers, but there was going be a lot of them. They were serious about and intentional about trying to get that ball out.”
On having two straight weeks where the team has had two touchdowns in the last minute of the first half and what he attributes that to and how much that can swing a game in their favor
“Well, momentum is a huge part of it. We practice the game management stuff, I think. To the question earlier about Dak, that’s one of the great things about having a veteran quarterback. There’s nothing that he can’t handle, so it’s easy to communicate with him about those things. We have words that we describe situations, which kind of takes the guesswork out of it. So, we might call something blue — we don’t, but we might call it blue, and that tells him the mindset he’s in about the ball’s gotta get out of bounds, or the ball has to go in the end zone, or whatever it is. And I think that helps, but he’s a big part of our ability to manage those situations so well.”
On if there was anything that changed with the pass rush in practice because they looked like a different group
“Yeah, I noticed it, I think there’s definitely some more pressure. We’re bringing more five-man pressures, but Dante Fowler, I thought he was incredible today, the speed and agility that he had. But it was just, it was multiple guys. I mean, when you hit a quarterback, especially an athletic quarterback like Justin (Fields), and you keep him in the pocket, and you don’t let him, we let Breece Hall get a couple of runs on us, and I’ll get a look at that. But I thought the pass rush was so disruptive, and from having played the position, coached the quarterbacks forever, man. It’s hard when you’re getting hit like that, because it does affect you.”
On if there was any sense coming out today that it was going to be a big day for WR Ryan Flournoy
“No, and I love Flo (Flournoy), I really do. You talk about one of the most selfless people you’ll ever be around. All he ever does is work, but I have seen flashes of that in practice. But we knew Sauce (Gardner) was going to match GP (Pickens), we knew that was going to be a big battle. I wish GP would have got out of there. They made a slight adjust, and he almost got out of it, but so happy for Flo. This guy’s been through so much, and he’s worked his way up the depth chart, and played special teams, and then was waiting for an opportunity. And that’s what you get excited about, like when we go watch the film of Nate Thomas or Ryan Flournoy or guys like that, they get thrown in the mix and then they have success. So important because they can build on that.”
On if the win is a good thing after last week’s tie
“Yeah, I still don’t know how to handle the tie, but yes, I mean, we always play to win, we always expect to win. We obviously haven’t won all of our games, but I do think this was a good building moment for our football team. It was great to see the defense have the flashes. We played pretty soft late, protecting the lead, so they got some yards on us late. I think (LB) Shemar James had 15 tackles, they were checking it down. But again, watch the amount of guys running to the football, tackling when Justin (Fields) was checking it down in late, in a fourth quarter, of a game. That’s when you know you’re made of the right stuff, and this football team is made of the right stuff. That’s why we’re going to win a lot of games.”
On the defense today looking like it played its best game of the season and what he attributes that to
“I would say it starts with the coaches. (Defensive coordinator) Matt Eberflus is a hell of a defensive coach. He and his staff made some changes. I thought some of the changes we made were good. We mixed it up. I thought he called a really good game, but it all starts with the ability to win up front. If you can win the line scrimmage, which I thought we did, certainly in the passing game, that’s a huge part of it. So, it starts with the guys up front, and when you can affect the quarterback, and then we obviously were able to get a lead, which helped, that gives you a chance and just proud of the whole defense. They’ve taken their bruises and they’ve come out on the other side. Have to do it again next week. This is one game, midnight rule still applies. We won this game, and it still applies. Last week we tied, it still applies. As soon as I get out of here, I’m going to have a shotty, get on the plane, and try to get back to Dallas.”
This story was originally published October 5, 2025 at 7:56 PM.
Jim Barnes is the Star-Telegram’s sports editor. A Fort Worth native and graduate of Castleberry High School, he returned to Texas after 13 years at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He previously was sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald and a freelance high school sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Mark Sanchez was stabbed in an incident in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday morning, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and he was later arrested on Saturday evening for his role in the incident.
TMZ first reported that Sanchez was hospitalized and in critical condition after being stabbed in Indianapolis, and later official information from FOX communicated that he was in stable condition and that they were sending their thoughts and prayers for their longtime TV color analyst. Sanchez is scheduled to be on the call for FOX for the Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts game on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, but he is expected to be replaced.
Later in the afternoon, the IMPD announced that they had arrested the 38-year-old former NFL quarterback on three charges, all of which are misdemeanors. Here is the official statement from IMPD posted on social media:
“After further investigation and following consultation with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, IMPD arrested 38-year-old Mark Sanchez for his alleged role in this incident. Sanchez was arrested at the hospital for battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication, all of which are misdemeanors. All involved parties have been identified, and no further individuals are being sought by detectives.
Sanchez is still in the hospital and has not been booked into the Adult Detention Center.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decision. An arrest is merely an accusation, and Sanchez should be considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”
The IMPD also announced that the incident was between two males at 12:30 a.m., and it was classified as an isolated incident and not a random act of violence. Officials also said that both parties were not local residents.
Sanchez, who played eight seasons in the NFL, appeared in two games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2016 in mostly mop-up duty behind Dak Prescott while Tony Romo was sidelined with injury. He completed 10-of-18 passes for 138 yards and three interceptions in his time with the franchise.
After being drafted fifth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the New York Jets — who at the time were led offensively by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer — Sanchez would end up starting 73 games in his NFL career and throwing for 15,357 yards.
Shortly after retiring from the NFL in 2019, Sanchez spent two seasons with ESPN before making the move to FOX in July 2021 where has been a color analyst for middle-of-the-road afternoon games.
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.
Micah Parsons’ return to Dallas as a member of the Green Bay Packers left neither his team nor the Dallas Cowboys satisfied after their 40-40 tie on “Sunday Night Football.”
Though the Cowboys won’t be seeing Parsons again for the remainder of the regular season, owner Jerry Jones continued to talk about Parsons during his weekly media appearance.
After the tie game, Parsons called out Jones to say he never reached out following the blockbuster trade to the Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Parsons went as far as to say that Jones “couldn’t tell me as a man.”
Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons lines up against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Jones responded to Parsons’ comment, saying that he never called because Parsons instructed him to take his number out of his phone.
“I really don’t want to respond to that at all,” Jones initially told 105.3 The Fan. “…but that phone call thing got stopped when he told me to take his number off my dial, so don’t call him anymore. So, I quit those calls.”
The high-scoring bout between both teams didn’t lead to any bragging rights, but Jones believes that it showed trading Parsons as the right move, saying that he feels “real good about our trade.”
Jerry Jones looks on before a game in January 2025 in Dallas, Texas, while Micah Parsons looks on during a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams in July 2025 in Oxnard, California. (IMAGN)
“Now, that’s a real good test,” he said. “I’m glad everybody got to see it, where it goes. And it left me feeling real good about our trade.”
Parsons collected one sack on quarterback Dak Prescott while finishing with three total tackles in the tie. It wasn’t the best statistical night for him, though he was able to tally three quarterback hits on Prescott, who he admitted would be “painful” to hit considering their long friendship.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at training camp at the River Ridge Fields on July 27, 2025 in Oxnard, California. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
While it’s way too early to tell who exactly “won” the trade, the Cowboys’ first-round picks received from Green Bay for Parsons will ultimately be the crux of that decision – the Packers do have the better record at 2-1-1, while the Cowboys moved to 1-2-1 on the year thus far.
The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers battled each other in an absolute slugfest on Sunday night, and it ended in a 40-40 tie.
The stakes were already heightened coming into AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as Micah Parsons was making his return to play his former team. While his impact was felt, it was the offenses that really came to play.
The last two minutes of regulation underscored that.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) celebrates with Terence Steele (78) and others after catching a touchdown pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Cowboys needed to respond to a Packers touchdown. KaVontae Turpin returned a kickoff to near midfield. It only took four plays for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys to find the end zone. Following a 19-yard pass to Jalen Tolbert, he found George Pickens for a 28-yard touchdown.
Dallas drove 54 yards in 62 seconds to get the go-ahead score.
Green Bay was quick to get back up the field. Packers quarterback Jordan Love led the team down the field in seven plays to set up a game-tying 53-yard field goal for Brandon McManus.
In overtime, the Cowboys got the ball first. Prescott found Tolbert coming back to the ball to make an incredible catch on the sideline. Somehow, Tolbert got both of his feet in bounds to set Dallas up in the red zone. The Cowboys couldn’t get into the end zone. Parsons possibly saved a touchdown with a sack of a scrambling Prescott. It was Brandon Aubrey who hit the chip shot to go up 40-37.
It was Love’s turn to lead the charge. On third down, the Cowboys may have gotten away with a defensive pass interference call. But it didn’t deter Love. The quarterback found Matthew Golden to keep the drive alive.
The Packers nearly ran out of time to make a final throw to the end zone. But he was left with one second on the clock. McManus came onto the field to kick the game-tying field goal.
Love was 31-of-43 with 337 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Each of his touchdown passes went to Romeo Doubs. The wide receiver had six catches for 58 yards.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass under pressure from Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Josh Jacobs was a menace on the ground. He had two rushing touchdowns to go along with 86 yards on the ground. He had four catches for 71 yards as well.
The Cowboys showed that they weren’t going to roll over and let the Packers walk all over them in their house.
Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons lines up against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
First, Dallas picked up a crucial two points when they blocked a Packers extra-point attempt in the second quarter. Markquese Bell returned the ball for the two points.
Then, the Cowboys took advantage as the Green Bay offense appeared to get complacent toward the end of the first half. Cowboys linebacker James Houston caused Love to fumble. He recovered it and gave Dallas a chance to score before halftime. Prescott then found Pickens in the end zone. Dallas had a 16-13 lead at halftime.
Pickens had an incredible game for the Cowboys. He had eight catches on 11 targets for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs the ball and holds off a tackle attempt by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trikweze Bridges (25) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)
Prescott was 31-of-40 for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He was only sacked once.
Micah Parsons will make his Dallas homecoming four games into the 2025 NFL season when he and his Green Bay Packers teammates meet the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday.
Parsons, widely considered a generational defensive talent, was traded to Green Bay back in August.
After failed contract negotiations, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shipped his franchise player to Green Bay in exchange for Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks.
Now, Parsons gets his revenge game against the team that drafted him with the No. 12 overall pick in 2021.
Parsons and the 2-1 Packers will face off against the 1-2 Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football.”
Owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. Owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. Sam Hodde/Getty Images
During his weekly radio appearance with 105.3 The Fan, Jones was asked about his team’s upcoming clash with Parsons.
“I think the world of Micah. I might say I wish him well but it’s obvious I don’t this weekend in terms of Green Bay winning the ballgame,” Jones said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
“… He’s going to make some plays no matter how you play him, but when I saw (other teams) play us well with Micah in the game, and it did happen, then obviously we’ll be looking to try to run those kinds of plays (against him).”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on @1053thefan that he does feel an extra competitive drive to win Sunday with Micah Parsons returning.
“I think the world of Micah. I might say I wish him well but it’s obvious I don’t this weekend in terms of Green Bay winning the ballgame. ……
The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Packers on Aug. 28, just one week before the start of the season. Jones was asked if he regrets not trading Parsons earlier in the offseason.
“No. Not at all,” Jones said. “We needed this timing. We needed to be right here at the beginning of the season, in my mind, to get the highest value.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on @1053thefan that he would not have traded Micah Parsons earlier in the offseason if he could do it over again. “No. Not at all. We needed this timing. We needed to be right here at the beginning of the season, in my mind, to get the highest…
Through the first three games of his Packers tenure, Parsons has 1.5 sacks, five tackles and six QB hits. In his four seasons with the Cowboys, the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro pass rusher amassed 52.5 sacks, 63 tackles for loss, 112 QB hits and nine forced fumbles.
“I think the most important thing is Micah wanted to be a Cowboy,” Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta said earlier this month, via ESPN. “He grew up cheering for the Cowboys, wore the blue and white at Penn State, wore it in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. He wanted to be a Cowboy, and we did everything we could for him to remain a Cowboy.”
Sunday’s Packers-Cowboys game will kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek.
He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series.
His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_.
🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
Sunday’s 31-14 loss to the Chicago Bears was a game most Cowboys fans would like to forget — not only because of the lopsided final score but because of what happened to two of the team’s biggest stars during.
With the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, quarterback Dak Prescott was benched in favor of second-year signal-caller Joe Milton after throwing two interceptions and leading the Cowboys to just one touchdown and two field goals on nine drives.
But even more disappointing than Prescott’s performance was the fact that star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb exited in the first quarter after suffering an apparent ankle injury.
Sunday’s game marked the first time in his NFL career he finished without a target, and it’s just the second time he didn’t record at least one reception.
The $136 million wideout is set to undergo an MRI on Monday, and an official injury diagnosis will likely come shortly after that.
Ceedee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Solider Field on September 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Ceedee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Solider Field on September 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
While many of the sports doctors on social media predict Lamb to miss anywhere from one to four weeks because of his injury, the star wideout told reporters after the game that he’s actually optimistic he can play next week against the Green Bay Packers on “Sunday Night Football.”
“Yeah, this is like protect me from myself type of deals,” Lamb told reporters. “So, once I start feeling much better and I start to get the strength back in my ankle as far as mobility and able to cut and like real dynamic movements — I was ready to go back out there but then they told me not to.
“… For sure, absolutely [it feels like something I can play through next week].”
Owner/general manager Jerry Jones affirmed the Cowboys dodged a bullet, stating the team doctors reassured him the Oklahoma alum avoided what could have been a serious injury.
“I talked to him, he felt good about it,” Jones said, via the team’s official website. “He thought he could go, so that’s a good sign. And then the doctors told him that they thought it was not as serious as it could be.”
CHICAGO — Caleb Williams tied a career high with four touchdown passes and the Chicago Bears gave Ben Johnson his first win as an NFL head coach by beating the Dallas Cowboys 31-14 on Sunday.
The Bears (1-2) got a win they sorely needed coming off a 52-21 blowout loss at Detroit. Johnson called out his team’s practice habits during the week, saying they weren’t “championship-caliber.” But he had to like what he saw against the Cowboys (1-2).
In a post to X on Friday, The Wiener’s Circle claimed the iconic Chicago restaurant would give away free hot dogs on Tuesday if Williams threw at least four touchdowns in Sunday’s game.
Johnson’s offense broke off several big plays while racking up 385 yards. It added up to a rough day for Dallas defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus in his first appearance at Soldier Field since the Bears fired him as head coach last November.
Williams looked more like the quarterback the Bears need him to become than the one who faded after strong starts the first two weeks. The No. 1 overall draft pick last year, he completed 19 of 28 passes for 298 yards and a 142.6 rating.
Rookie Luther Burden caught his first career touchdown when he hauled in a 65-yarder in the first quarter. The second-round pick from Missouri finished with 101 yards on three receptions.
Rome Odunze had 62 yards and a touchdown catch, giving him four this season.
Cole Kmet caught a 10-yard touchdown pass near the end of the first half. DJ Moore made it 31-14 with a 4-yard TD reception in the third quarter, capping 19-play drive that ate up 9:54.
The Cowboys never really got their offense in gear and couldn’t make the stops they needed after squeezing out a thrilling overtime win over the New York Giants. It won’t get any easier this week with Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers visiting Dallas.
Dak Prescott completed 31 of 40 passes, but had just 251 yards. He threw a touchdown to George Pickens in the second quarter, but was intercepted twice.
Star receiver CeeDee Lamb left with an ankle injury in the first quarter. The four-time Pro Bowler was hurt on a run, when he took a handoff and twisted his ankle as he was tackled by Noah Sewell.
After blowing an 11-point lead in the opener against Minnesota and getting embarrassed by Detroit, the Bears looked better early.
Williams completed 10 of 16 passes for 239 yards as Chicago grabbed a 24-14 halftime lead.
Injuries
Cowboys: CB Trevon Diggs (shoulder) and DT Kenny Clark (ankle) got banged up.
Bears: TE Colston Loveland (hip) was hurt in the first half. … CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring) missed his third game. … LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring) was inactive.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens was frustrated on the sideline after a pass went off his hands and into the arms of Chicago Bears defensive back Tremaine Edmunds in the fourth quarter.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had Pickens open eight yards down the field. Perhaps, the pass was just a bit too far out in front of the wide receiver. It went off his hands and Edmunds made a terrific diving catch to secure the pick.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens celebrates after catching a touchdown pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Pickens slammed his helmet onto the ground while back on his bench.
He had five catches on nine targets for 68 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter. However, he was unable to make a bigger impact on the game as the Cowboys saw CeeDee Lamb go down with an ankle injury earlier in the game.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) celebrates with Tyler Smith (73) after Pickens caught a touchdown pass in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Chicago.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams torched the Cowboys’ secondary on multiple plays. The most electrifying play came on a flea-flicker. He stepped up in the pocket, and with the defense breathing down his neck, he found Luther Burden III for the first-quarter score.
Williams was 19-of-28 with 298 passing yards and four touchdown passes. Burden led the Bears with three catches for 101 yards. Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet had touchdown catches as well. Eight different targets had catches.
The Cowboys’ defense allowed at least 30 points for the second straight time and third time out of the last five games going back to last year’s regular season.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 season has gotten off to a perfect start: sending the rival Dallas Cowboys home with a loss in Week 1 and leaving Arrowhead Stadium with a gutsy win in Week 2. While the Birds are flawless on paper, leading the NFC East with a 2–0 record, their victories haven’t been all that convincing.
So far, the Eagles’ offense has been underwhelming. Following a marvelous first-half performance against the Cowboys, it’s been difficult to advance the ball down the field. They ranked 30th in second-half expected points added per play (EPA/play) in Week 1 and 22nd overall in Week 2.
Mind you, nearly an identical offense, minus an offensive coordinator swap, put up 40 points against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Despite having endless weapons, Philadelphia has lacked dynamism.
That’s almost exactly the same scenario as 2023—a brilliant offense, led by a new, internal coordinator, regresses after dominating the Chiefs’ defense in the Super Bowl. That season, the team started the most unconvincing 10–1 you’ll ever see. Then, they collapsed hard, losing six of their last seven.
Interestingly, the Eagles didn’t have the prettiest start in 2024, either. At 2–2 with some discouraging offensive outings, many fans were panicking. But they quickly started clicking, victorious in 16 of their last 17, including a championship title.
So, what are these Birds? A 2023 or 2024 repeat?
Verdict: Be Skeptical, But Give the Eagles Time
Ultimately, the Eagles deserve time to figure this out. First, let’s set the scene. The offense came out roaring against the Cowboys, ranking atop the league in first-half EPA/play during Week 1. Then, the lightning delay happened. Over an hour of real-life time later, the teams got back out on the field, and neither looked all that fantastic. The Birds get a pass.
Then, you have Week 2. Jalen Hurts only had 116 total yards on a combined 31 pass and rush attempts, with his biggest play being just 28 yards. He got the win, which he made sure to clarify to Chiefs superstar Chris Jones, but it wasn’t one that makes you say, “Wow, this team can beat anyone.”
PHOTO: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesCredit: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images
However, the Eagles were facing the defending AFC Championship winners on the road, regarded as one of the toughest places to play in sports. Getting a win at all, with revenge as a motivator for Kansas City, is nothing short of incredible. Besides, Patrick Mahomes only put up 17 points. Shouldn’t the 0–2 Chiefs be worrying a little bit more?
It’s always good to be skeptical. But the Eagles have had a challenging road thus far, and they’ve come out on top. Their new offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, is still adapting, and so is the team around him. Kellen Moore, the team’s previous holder of the job, didn’t truly “figure it out” for a while—around Week 8 last season, to put an exact number on it.
D.D. Lewis, a former Dallas Cowboys linebacker who was on the team for their two Super Bowl championship seasons in 1971 and 1977, has died, the team announced. He was 79.
Lewis was a Cowboys lifer – having been selected by the team in the sixth round of the 1968 draft out of Mississippi State and staying with the team through the 1981 season. He played in 27 playoff games for Dallas, which is the franchise record.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker D.D. Lewis (50) in action against the Atlanta Falcons at Fulton county Stadium on Sept. 15, 1974.(Manny Rubio/USA TODAY Sports)
“We mourn the passing of Bulldog legend D.D. Lewis,” Mississippi State said in a post on social media. “An All-SEC standout and 1967 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he played 13 years with the Dallas Cowboys, appeared in five Super Bowls, won two, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.”
Lewis was described as “one of the most underappreciated players in franchise history” in his obituary on the Cowboys’ website. He was mostly relegated to a backup role on defense for Chuck Howley until the 1973 season when he had two fumble recoveries during the year.
He became one of the top linebackers for Tom Landry’s “Doomsday Defense” next to Lee Roy Jordan. He quickly turned into an impact player. In Super Bowl XII, he had a sack in the 27-10 win over the Denver Broncos.
St. Louis Cardinals tight end Jackie Smith (81) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys linebacker D.D. Lewis (50) at Busch Stadium on Oct. 13, 1974.(Herb Weitman/USA TODAY Sports)
Lewis was also known for his famous quote when describing Texas Stadium in 1982. It may be one of the top quotes coming out of the franchise, rivaling Jimmy Johnson’s, “How ‘bout them Cowboys?”
“Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch his favorite team play,” Lewis said.
He was never a Pro Bowler or an All-Pro selection but was named to the Cowboys’ Siler Anniversary Team in 1984.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker D.D. Lewis (50) on the field against the Atlanta Falcons at Fulton County Stadium on Nov. 21, 1976.(Manny Rubio/USA TODAY Sports)
