The Dallas Cowboys have the worst record in the NFC going into the final quarter of the season, and they aren't eliminated from the playoffs only because they play in the NFL's worst division.
Even the NFC East is getting better as the Cowboys (3-9) continue to flounder, with one victory in the past seven games of coach Mike McCarthy's Dallas debut, and the excuses of the pandemic are wearing thin as the blowouts mount.
Victories on the road by the Giants and Washington over strong contenders (New York beat Seattle, and Washington topped previously unbeaten Pittsburgh) leave little doubt the Cowboys can quit pretending there's hope of returning to the playoffs a year after missing the postseason cost coach Jason Garrett his job.
Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins, left, gets by the tackle attempt of Dallas Cowboys strong safety Darian Thompson while scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
After COVID-19 issues caused a five-day delay before the 34-17 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday night, the Cowboys face their second short week of the season going into a visit to Cincinnati (2-9-1) on Sunday.
“I don’t talk about it,” McCarthy said of the division race. “I think it’s known. Frankly, we need to play better. The fourth quarter of the season is upon us and our goal is to finish strong. That definitely starts with a win in Cincinnati.”
Since a surprising win at Minnesota that had a chance to save the season, the Cowboys have been run over — literally — in the fourth quarter of losses to Washington and the Ravens, who almost hung the second 300-yard rushing game of the season on the Dallas defense.
Dallas Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
Yes, the pandemic hurt implementation of a new defensive scheme with McCarthy bringing in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Sure, injuries have played a big role, most notably quarterback Dak Prescott's season-ending ankle injury and a dizzying amount of changes in the offensive line.
Even with all of that, the last thing owner Jerry Jones expected was a top-five draft pick five years after a similarly lost season led to the No. 4 choice and two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott, who is having his worst year as a pro.
Dallas is guaranteed to have a losing record in McCarthy's first season after finishing below .500 just once in Garrett's nine full seasons.
“It’s frustrating to be in the position that we’re in,” quarterback Andy Dalton said. “To have opportunities in some of these games and just not be able to get it done. All we can do is put our head down and work and try to make the most of these last four games on the schedule.”
WHAT’S WORKING
The offense is getting better with Dalton settling in after starting twice coming off Prescott's broken ankle, missing two games, and now making three straight starts. The Cowboys had 388 yards, their most since the injury, but had trouble getting inside the 20. Three of those drives ended in missed field goals.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
The run defense had regressed to the embarrassing form of early in the season after showing progress. Even the loss to Washington on Thanksgiving looked better before an ill-advised fake punt led to a rough fourth quarter punctuated by two long TD runs.
The loss to the Ravens looked more like a defense that allowed at least 200 yards rushing in three out of four games the first half of the season. Dallas is giving up 168 yards rushing per game, second in franchise history to the inaugural — and winless — 1960 team.
STOCK UP
The Baltimore game was perhaps the best overall for the much-hyped receiving trio of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and rookie CeeDee Lamb. Each had at least five catches and played a role in keeping the offense moving. Cooper and Gallup had the two Dallas touchdowns.
STOCK DOWN
There were more questionable moments for the coaching staff, highlighted by McCarthy failing to call a timeout with the play clock approaching zero before a 35-yard field goal attempt. Greg Zuerlein missed from 40, then was wide twice from 50-plus yards when the Cowboys might have been better off going for it on fourth down both times.
“Frankly, I thought we were going to snap the ball and kick the field goal,” McCarthy said when asked why he didn't call a timeout. “There was obviously a breakdown in our operation.”
INJURIES
Rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs (broken foot) is eligible to come off injured reserve, but the short week might mean otherwise. There could be a better chance of cornerback Anthony Brown (ribs) and safety Donovan Wilson (groin) returning after both were ruled out a day before the Baltimore game.
KEY NUMBER
300.5 — The average number of yards rushing the Cowboys have allowed in demoralizing losses to Cleveland and Baltimore. Dallas gave up a franchise-record 307 yards in the 49-38 loss to the Browns and is on track for the worst run defense in the NFL since 2010, when Buffalo allowed 170 yards per game.
NEXT STEPS
Dalton returns to Cincinnati, where he was the starter for nine seasons before the Bengals used the No. 1 overall pick this year on Joe Burrow. Dalton signed a one-year contract with Dallas to be Prescott's backup.
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The FA Cup delivered another fairytale result on Saturday when sixth-tier Macclesfield — managed by Wayne Rooney's brother — knocked out titleholder Crystal Palace in one of the competition's greatest upsets.
The teams were separated by 117 places in the English soccer pyramid.
At the other extreme, Manchester City overwhelmed third-tier Exeter 10-1 in a match featuring a goal on debut by $87 million signing Antoine Semenyo.
City tying the record for its biggest ever win wasn't the story of the day in the third round, though.
That was the 2-1 win for Macclesfield, a tiny club from England's north west that was relaunched after its predecessor, Macclesfield Town, was liquidated in 2020 because of debts.
The team, placed 14th in National League North, is still coming to terms with the loss of its 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod, who was killed in a car crash travelling back from a match he played in at Bedford Town on Dec. 16. A banner bearing his name hung behind the dugouts at the Palace game and his family were in the stands to watch.
It made for an emotionally draining afternoon for John Rooney, the younger sibling of England and Manchester United great Wayne Rooney, who was at the match working for the BBC.
“We finished the game and then I walk in the office and see Ethan’s mum and dad in there, that’s very special to me,” John Rooney said. “Just knowing they were here with us, and I’m sure Ethan was looking down on us today.”
Macclesfield took the lead just before halftime through captain Paul Dawson, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made it 2-0 in the 60th following a scramble in the penalty area.
Yeremy Pino’s last-minute free kick for Palace left Macclesfield facing a nervous six minutes of stoppage time as home fans chanted “Silkmen! Silkmen!” — the club’s nickname.
Macclesfield survived, their players adding their names to the competition's lore. Given the difference in league positions, it was the most unlikely result in FA Cup history.
Fans sprinted onto the field at Moss Rose — Macclesfield's modest 5,900-capacity stadium — in celebration at the final whistle while Dawson and Duffy were carried aloft.
“I didn’t think it was possible but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day,” said Rooney, who started and ended his playing career as a midfielder with the club and is in only his first season coaching.
“I can’t believe it. We were incredible from the first minute."
The last time Palace played in the FA Cup, it beat City in the final for its first ever trophy.
Palace's dismal afternoon was summed up when U.S. defender Chris Richards did a foul throw in the final minute of stoppage time.
“I have no words for this performance,” Palace manager Oliver Glasner said.
Palace captain Marc Guéhi spoke with the team’s traveling fans after the defeat.
Semenyo was handed a start by City manager Pep Guardiola a day after joining from Bournemouth and was among nine scorers for City. Right back Rico Lewis netted twice.
In a classy gesture, Semenyo thanked Bournemouth fans “for all the memories” in a full-page advertisement printed in the local Bournemouth Echo newspaper before the game.
“He is a humble guy,” City assistant manager Pep Lijnders, who was directing affairs in the technical area as Guardiola served a one-match touchline ban, said of Semenyo. "He brings something to the front line that we really want and we need.
“He can attack quick, he wants to chase, he is a guy who doesn’t stop. He can adapt quite quickly to our style.”
Semenyo's former club lost at Newcastle 7-6 on penalties following a 3-3 draw in an all-Premier League contest at St. James' Park.
Anthony Gordon equalized for Newcastle with a penalty deep into stoppage time. Harvey Barnes grabbed his second goal for Newcastle two minutes before the end of extra time, only for Marcus Tavernier to level for Bournemouth with seconds remaining to take the game to penalties.
In the shootout, Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved from Bafodé Diakité in what proved to be the final kick.
Tottenham completed a miserable week by losing to Aston Villa 2-1.
On Wednesday, Spurs conceded in stoppage time to lose at Bournemouth in the Premier League and some of its disgruntled fans were involved in a row with players, including Micky van de Ven. Cristian Romero also let rip at the club on social media.
Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers scored for Villa in the first half and Wilson Odobert replied for Tottenham in the 54th.
In another all-Premier League match, Sunderland beat Everton on penalties after the match finished 1-1 following extra time.
Premier League sides Brentford, Fulham, Burnley and Wolverhampton all beat lower-level opposition.
Nottingham Forest couldn't do that on Friday, losing to second-tier Wrexham on penalties.
Later Saturday, eight-time champion Chelsea visited second-tier Charlton.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, second left, and Tottenham Hotspur's Joao Palhinha, right, clash after the FA Cup third round soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in London, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
Manchester City's Jeremy Doku substitutes Antoine Semenyo during the FA Cup third round match between Manchetster City and Exeter City in Manchester, England Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Macclesfield Town's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammates, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Macclesfield FC goalscorers Paul Dawson, right and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts celebrate following the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Macclesfield Town's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Macclesfield Town's Paul Dawson scores the opening goal, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Macclesfield Town's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts celebrates scoring his side's second goal, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Macclesfield Town's Josh Kay celebrates with fans following the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Macclesfield Town's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scores his side's second goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Crystal Palace's Yeremi Pino and Macclesfield Town's Rollin Menayese vie for the ball, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Crystal Palace's Kaden Rodney, center right, and Macclesfield Town's Paul Dawson vie for the ball, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
