![](\"https:\/\/sportsaldente.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Dallas-Cowboys-players-celebrates.webp\")
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With a long break and an extra day off, the Dallas Cowboys have a chance to get healthier, although they understand that any unlikely playoff run will be without star quarterback Dak Prescott.<\/p>\n
The Cowboys (5-7) defeated the New York Giants 27-20 on Thanksgiving, earning back-to-back wins after a five-game losing streak.<\/p>\n
They now face three more teams with losing records, starting with a Monday night game against Cincinnati on Dec. 9. The defending NFC East champions are beginning to believe they can keep their three-year playoff streak alive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rest might be the most important part of the schedule,\u201d coach Mike McCarthy said. \u201cIf you just look at what we\u2019ve been dealing with, rest and recovery will really help us. The schedule is set up for our players to be on a bye week. I do want them to get away, get their batteries charged, and be ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Right now, the Dallas offense is in the hands of Cooper Rush, following Prescott\u2019s season-ending surgery for a torn hamstring. Rush has led the team to victories in the last two games, despite missing perennial All-Pro right guard Zack Martin, who may be back from shoulder and ankle injuries.<\/p>\n The biggest worry for the Cowboys is 2023 All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb\u2019s injured shoulder, which forced him to sit out the second half against the Giants. Owner\/general manager Jerry Jones mentioned on his radio show Friday that the extra time off should allow Lamb to be ready to play.<\/p>\n The defense has become more dynamic since star pass rusher Micah Parsons returned from an ankle injury and might also get defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence back for the Bengals game. Lawrence hasn\u2019t played since Week 4.<\/p>\n Cornerback Trevon Diggs, a 2021 All-Pro, has missed two games due to groin and knee problems. He and fellow starter DaRon Bland, a 2023 All-Pro after setting an NFL record with five interception returns for touchdowns, have never played together this season. Bland missed the first 10 games due to a foot injury.<\/p>\n If the Cowboys\u2019 defense is mostly healthy, they\u2019ll be ready to face Cincinnati\u2019s Joe Burrow, who is leading the NFL\u2019s top passing offense.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully we\u2019re fully loaded, and I know they\u2019re going to be fully loaded,\u201d Parsons said. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With a long break and an extra day off, the Dallas Cowboys have a chance to get healthier, although they understand that any unlikely playoff run will be<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dallas-cowboys"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/sportsaldente.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Dallas-Cowboys-players-celebrates-in-the-2nd-half.webp\")