Frustrated Dallas Cowboys buoyed by short week, short memory and injury returns
Despite still being miffed by their performance in Sunday’s 19-9 victory against Kansas City Chiefs, the Dallas Cowboys have already turned the page toward Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Because it’s a short week, there is no time to dwell on what went wrong, lick their wounds or even make corrections.
They have been forced to have a short memory and that’s a good thing.
That starts with quarterback Dak Prescott, who went from MVP frontrunner to running for his life and making off-target throws in a 28-of-43 passing performance that produced just 216 yards and two interceptions.
“I think we’re all disappointed,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “He’s moved on to the Raiders. I think like anything you normally need to get things flushed out of your system on Monday one way or the other. And playing in the Thanksgiving game, he has a lot of experience playing in this game. So, I think he’s done a good job turning the page.
“He’s in a good head space right now.”
It helps that Prescott could have a better team around him Thursday than the one he ended the game with on Sunday.
Leading receiver CeeDee Lamb, who missed the second half with a concussion, is feeling much better and has a chance to play against the Raiders.
McCarthy said the Cowboys are hopeful Lamb will make it through the concussion protocols by Thursday.
It will boost a receiver corps that will be without Amari Cooper for the second straight game due to COVID-19.
The Cowboys are also confident in left tackle Tyron Smith returning to action against the Raiders after missing the last four games with an ankle injury.
“Barring some unforeseen setback this week, he should be ready to play this Thursday,” vice president Stephen Jones said.
Smith, a perennial Pro Bowler, should bolster an offensive line that allowed five sacks of Prescott against the Chiefs.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott is still nursing a bone bruise in his knee but he said he will be ready to go.
As a team, the Cowboys are eager to return to the field quickly and try to bounce back from the loss to the Chiefs.
“I would say it’s a good (week) to get this taste out of our mouth,” said guard Connor McGovern. “We get back and right into it in four days. I think it will be a good turnaround.”
It’s one thing to do it mentally. But the Cowboys also have to prepare themselves physically for a quick turnaround.
The team watched tape of the Chiefs game on the plane home on Sunday night. They began installing game plans for the Raiders on Monday.
They will have light workouts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We’ve got to turn the page. Got to turn it quick,” Prescott said. “We got a good team coming in Thursday so we’ve got to make sure we’re getting our body and our minds rested and in the right spot to go out there and to bounce back.”
Said safety Jayron Kearse: “You hit your recovery as hard as you possibly can. We’re back at it Thursday to try to get us a win and get this thing back rolling how it needs to be rolling.”
The Cowboys (7-3) have been anything but rolling as of late with two losses in their last three games after winning six straight following a season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Of course, they followed a 30-16 loss to the Denver Broncos two weeks ago with a 43-3 victory against the Atlanta Falcons before Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs.
They expect a similar response on Thursday.
“Yeah, I’m never worried about how this team’s going to respond,” Prescott said. “As long as I’m a part of this team, quarterback of this offense, that’s the least of my worries is how we’re going to respond. This is a resilient bunch.”
This story was originally published November 23, 2021 at 5:30 AM.
