Dallas Cowboys Receive Encouraging News Ahead of Bengals Matchup
The Dallas Cowboys are getting a boost just in time for their Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 9. Despite being a 5-7 team, the Cowboys have won their last two games with backup quarterback Cooper Rush filling in for the injured Dak Prescott. However, they still face a tough road ahead if they hope to secure a Wild Card playoff spot.
Fortunately for Dallas, some positive news this week could lift their spirits as they prepare for the Bengals.
Dallas Cowboys’ Defense Earning Praise
As the season progresses, many NFL analysts are recognizing the Cowboys’ defensive improvement.
ESPN’s Todd Archer recently highlighted the Cowboys’ defense in a feature, noting that while not perfect, it has shown significant progress since the beginning of the season.
“At one point, the Cowboys were on track to have one of the worst defenses in franchise history,” Archer said. “But that’s no longer the case. Over the last five games, Dallas has allowed more than 400 yards just once and given up over 6.2 yards per play only once. They’ve also kept opponents from converting more than 40% of their third downs.” Overall, the defense is showing marked improvements.
A key factor in this resurgence has been the return of edge rusher Micah Parsons. According to Archer, the Cowboys’ defensive turnaround could be linked to Parsons’ presence.
“After missing four games due to a high ankle sprain, Parsons has played in the last four contests, recording 5.5 sacks,” Archer explained. Parsons currently leads the Cowboys with 6.5 sacks, despite missing 17 quarters of action due to injury.
DeMarcus Lawrence’s Potential Return
The Cowboys could also be bolstered by the return of veteran defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence, who has been sidelined since Week 4 with a foot injury. NFL analyst Saad Yousuf of The Athletic reported that Parsons hinted at Lawrence’s potential return during a postgame interview, saying he could rejoin the team for the Bengals matchup next Monday night.
However, while this would be a huge boost for Dallas, it might come too soon. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones tempered expectations on December 2, stating that Lawrence’s return against Cincinnati was “probably a long shot,” though he confirmed that it wasn’t entirely out of the question. Jones added that he expects Lawrence to return “sooner rather than later,” according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Dallas Faces Tough Challenge Against Bengals
Despite the positive news on the defensive front, the Cowboys are still considered underdogs against the Bengals, as noted by David Halprin of Blogging the Boys. Dallas will need strong performances from both its offense and defense to pull off the win and keep their playoff hopes alive.
