Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Dallas Cowboys helmet sits on the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Dallas won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys’ home field advantage didn’t exactly help them Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
The Lions pulverized the Cowboys in a 47-9 affair at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Spectators of the contest couldn’t help but notice the sunlight playing a factor late in the contest. Photos from one of the Cowboys’ drives showed just how brutal the visibility was inside the stadium once the sun began to set.
The Cowboys’ stadium is designed uniquely based on the preference of team owner Jerry Jones. The field’s alignment goes East-West rather than North-South, which is the way most stadiums are built exactly to avoid the sunlight issue.
What exacerbates the problem is the fact that there are giant glass panels behind the venue’s goalposts that allow much more natural light in.
The Cowboys got the worst of it on Sunday as their offense drove west just as dusk began during the afternoon contest. But given how one-sided the Lions’ win over the Cowboys was, even giant curtains probably wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the game.
Jones, who celebrated his 82nd birthday at the game, was not at all pleased.
Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys were destroyed by the Detroit Lions 47-9 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, and the team owner was not at all happy about it.
The Cowboys scored the first points of the game and led 3-0. After that, it was all downhill. Detroit scored 27 unanswered points and ran away with the win.
Though Jones turned 82 on Sunday, it was not at all a happy birthday for him. FOX’s TV cameras showed Jones looking disgusted in his owner’s box while watching his team get destroyed.
Jones spoke with the media after the game and said the outcome was a “shocker.” He also said the loss was “very concerning.”
The Cowboys entered the season with three straight 12-5 seasons. They’re 3-3 after six weeks this season, and this is the second time they’ve allowed over 40 points in a game. Jones has plenty of reasons to be concerned.
Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions teams are known for going for it on fourth down, but this week’s game marked something else entirely.
The Lions absolutely dismantled the Dallas Cowboys during their Week 6 matchup, winning in a 47-9 laugher. Detroit hung five touchdowns and four field goals on the Cowboys off nine consecutive drives to begin the game (not counting an end-of-first-half kneeldown by the Lions). The fun finally ended in the fourth quarter though when Detroit put together a drive that did not result in a score … albeit not for a lack of trying.
With the Lions already up 38 points, they decided to go for it on a 4th-and-3 from the Dallas 31-yard line. In what can only be described as a disrespectful gimmick play, Detroit had 6-foot-10, 330-pound offensive lineman Dan Skipper line up as an eligible receiver out wide. Second-string QB Hendon Hooker, who was on in relief for Jared Goff at that point, then took the snap but was sacked before the play could materialize.
Here is the video of the unusual play (with a replay of Skipper’s entertaining turn-and-cut).
That was the definition of just trying anything. Detroit was within field-goal range there, but they didn’t try to run up the score. They also didn’t run the play clock all the way down, so they weren’t just milking the time. Instead, it seemed like the Lions wanted to just run a play to entertain themselves.
In any case, Detroit is now a stellar 4-1 on the season with the thrashing of Dallas marking their most convincing victory yet. But the win on Sunday definitely still came at a cost, namely to one of their top defensive studs.
FOX broadcaster and former quarterback Mark Sanchez fell victim to a brutal announcer jinx at the end of Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.
With the Falcons ahead 38-20 in the final two minutes, Sanchez and play-by-play announcer Chris Myers were filling some time and discussing the future of the Panthers’ quarterback position. Sanchez was trying to make the point that, in his mind, Bryce Young needs to benefit from sitting behind Andy Dalton and watching how an experienced, professional quarterback goes about his business. Unfortunately for Sanchez, he did not even get to finish his sentence, as Dalton picked that exact moment to force a pass that was intercepted by Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips.
“I think he’s learning along the way,” Sanchez said of Young. “I think he needs to watch how a true professional — oh.”
Phillips would have had a pick six if he wanted it, but he went down shy of the goal line in order to prioritize running the clock out. The play had no bearing on the result, as the Falcons were already well on their way to a victory.
To be fair to Dalton, he took over as quarterback when the Panthers were 0-2, and the offense has been notably improved with him running the show. Some even seized on his initial performances and argued that he is a top-16 NFL quarterback, even at the age of 37. Sunday’s loss dropped him to 1-3 as the Panthers’ starter, however, and he only threw for 221 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday’s losing effort.
There is no question that Dalton has plenty of experience, and nobody doubts his professionalism. Unfortunately for Sanchez, he accidentally picked the wrong time to try to make that point on Sunday.
Aug 26, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks on against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield seems pretty amused by how the Texas Longhorns celebrated their rivalry win over Oklahoma on Saturday.
Mayfield, a Heisman Trophy winner for the Sooners, was the subject of some taunting after Texas beat Oklahoma 34-3 on Saturday. Longhorns players not only planted a Texas flag at midfield of the Cotton Bowl, but they did so on top of a Mayfield jersey.
Mayfield was asked about this after the Buccaneers’ win over New Orleans, and his response was perfect.
“Just a kid from Austin, Texas that went to Oklahoma, won his last two Red River games and being rent free in their heads for almost a decade,” Mayfield said.
Texas did beat Oklahoma in 2015, which was Mayfield’s first Red River rivalry game. As he noted, he defeated them twice after that, in 2016 and 2017.
Mayfield has never been shy about taunting the Longhorns, and he can probably take it when the disrespect comes back his way. He’ll probably be hoping the Sooners can put things right next year, though.
The Detroit Lions looked so good in their 47-9 Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday that Tom Brady was left wondering if the team made a big mistake.
The Lions’ offense called for some trick plays during the third quarter of their game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. One such play was a hook-and-ladder to offensive lineman Penei Sewell that was called back due to an ineligible man downfield.
The Lions showed some creative plays despite being up big, which had Brady wondering if the team should have saved some of those great plays for other games.
“I just wonder if Ben Johnson needs to hold some of these plays,” Brady questioned while providing analysis for FOX. “He’s got another bunch of games left to go in the season. He’s pulling out a lot of stops. So creative. You hate to see it go to waste in a game when they’ve got a big lead.”
Was it necessary for Johnson to call some of those plays while the team was up so big? Probably not. And did the Lions lose the element of surprise if they try to run those plays in the future? Maybe so. But by showing those plays in Week 6, it forces opponents to think about more and more things, which can help get in their head.
Maybe Johnson knows what he’s doing.
Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh reacts during organized team activities at the Hoag Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
New details have emerged regarding the illness that forced Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh to leave the sideline during the first quarter of Sunday’s game.
CBS sideline reporter AJ Ross spoke with Harbaugh about the coach’s health during Sunday’s game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. Harbaugh was apparently dealing with an arrhythmia, which is not a new issue for him.
“He said he was dealing with arrhythmia. That’s something he’s been dealing with on and off for a while,” Ross said. “He said he’s feeling fine. Obviously, he’s been back here on the sideline coaching the Chargers.”
Harbaugh has been dealing with arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, for over a decade. He underwent a minor procedure back in 2012 in order to address the issue when he was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
Harbaugh’s status was a major talking point in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, as he went to the medical tent just before kickoff before leaving the sideline entirely. The Chargers characterized the issue as an illness, and he was back on the sideline before the end of the first quarter.
Oct 15, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) during qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Joey Logano was eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on Sunday, and he couldn’t help but point to Austin Dillon as a potential reason for it.
Logano’s No. 22 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske finished 8th in the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on Sunday. That wasn’t quite enough for Logano to make the Round of 8 in NASCAR’s Cup Series playoffs. Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe were all eliminated from the playoffs.
Logano finished just four points behind Tyler Reddick for the final spot, which had him pointing to the Dillon incident.
“It’s hard not to think about where five points lays. Four points. And really it lays on the entry of Turn 3 at Richmond, is really where it is. So it’s hard not to feel angry right now,” Logano said after Sunday’s race, via Kelly Crandall.
Dillon won the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., in August, but he plowed into Logano and Denny Hamlin in order to win. Dillon won the race but was penalized by NASCAR for his actions. Logano slipped all the way to 19th in the race, costing him some valuable points, and leaving him livid. Logano still hasn’t forgotten about it.
Aug 5, 2024; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
A former Cleveland Brown thinks the franchise is failing to do right by its players by sticking with Deshaun Watson after another ugly performance.
Mitchell Schwartz, who played for the Browns from 2012 to 2015, had some harsh words for the organization after coach Kevin Stefanski made clear Watson will remain the team’s quarterback going into Week 7. Schwartz suggested it was “sh–ty” for the Browns to not give the team the best chance to win by benching Watson when several veterans are performing well while playing through painful injuries.
“It’s incredibly sh–ty to do this to the rest of the team,” Schwartz wrote on X. “Joel Bitonio is out there every week playing through who knows what and has to wreck his body when they have no chance of being good (because) of the QB. Myles Garrett is playing in pain every week. Feel for everyone else there.”
Watson was ineffective again on Sunday in a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He threw for just 168 yards, and the team’s only touchdown came on a blocked field goal return. There was a whole host of stats that came out of the game to indicate just how ineffective Watson and the offense have been, and how they are not getting any better.
The Browns have been consistently adamant that Watson will not be benched. At this point, it feels like nobody is willing to accept or own up to the reality that the quarterback and his contract have been a disaster for the organization.
Aidan Hutchinson was taken off the field on a cart during his Detroit Lions’ Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday after suffering a serious leg injury.
Dallas had a 2nd-and-5 situation from their 34-yard line with just under 12 minutes left in the third quarter. Hutchinson was rushing from the left end and came in to wrap up Dak Prescott for a sack. But there was a collision as Hutchinson made the sack. His lower left leg slammed into the leg of teammate Alim McNeill and appeared to snap.
Hutchinson was down on the field in pain and received medical attention. Hutchinson appeared to say “it’s broken” regarding his leg.
FOX declined to show a replay out of respect for the Lions star. Players from both teams gathered around Hutchinson as he was put on a cart to be taken off the field.
Hutchinson was the No. 2 overall pick by the Lions in 2022. He has performed up to expectations and was up to 7.5 sacks in just five games this season.
