Penalties and other mistakes are plaguing the Cowboys even when they find ways to win

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The good news for the Dallas Cowboys is they didn't bury themselves in the mostly woeful NFC East with a third inexplicable loss in a month.

The bad news is they aren't showing many signs of being playoff-worthy in coach Brian Schottenheimer's second season.

The 153 yards in penalties in a 27-23 victory over Indianapolis included a mystifying unsportsmanlike conduct call against inactive linebacker DeMarvion Overshown when he ran onto the field to celebrate a fumble recovery, costing Dallas (4-5) valuable field position while trying to protect a fourth-quarter lead.

The two turnovers included CeeDee Lamb carrying the ball so loosely in his left hand that when it came out as he was tackled, the refs couldn't even say the ground caused the fumble. The sad part was, Lamb had just made a heads-up play by getting up and running when a defender failed to touch him on the ground.

The beleaguered Dallas defense has usually been the sloppy unit for a team that leads the NFL with 667 penalty yards.

This time, the offense drew the first seven yellow flags, three of them holding calls. Lamb was flagged for offensive pass interference twice, both wiping out first down catches. He still had the second-most yards receiving of his career with 195 on 10 catches.

Ultimately, the offense bailed out the Cowboys, who play NFC West-leading San Francisco (7-1) at home Sunday. Dak Prescott's 46-yard completion to Ryan Flournoy set up Javonte Williams' go-ahead touchdown run after Indianapolis had taken a 23-20 lead with 1:53 remaining.

Yes, those same Colts that have weakened their roster in a lost season, having traded a top lineman on both sides of the ball going into a game that ended with star running back Jonathan Taylor essentially saying goodbye because he's probably next with the trade deadline looming Tuesday.

The Cowboys were a month removed from a loss to then-winless Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers were starting undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels for just the second time.

A week before Dallas' trip to Indy, backup QB Gardner Minshew rallied Arizona from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals' 33-30 overtime win.

“When you get in your own way, you make mistakes, you make some of these games closer than they have to be,” Prescott said. “Whether it was last week, us not being able to overcome it, and this week we did. We can’t do that. Simple as that. We can’t have this many penalties, especially on offense.”

On balance, this was probably the best defensive showing of the season for the Cowboys, who are slowly climbing from at or near the bottom of the NFL in most statistical categories. Rookie first-round pick Caleb Downs sealed the victory with his first interception.

“Shoutout to the defense for ending the game,” Lamb said. “But I think I had like three penalties alone in the second half and a fumble. So like personally, I’ve got to take a real good look. I’m always thinking about the could have been. So, as for me as a leader on this offense, feel like I got to be better in some realms.”

Dallas had 508 total yards on offense, and Prescott's throw to Flournoy after the Colts had taken the lead was perfect. It was the 28th game-winning drive of Prescott's career, fifth among quarterbacks in his 11 seasons.

Significant cracks are showing for the first time in kicker Brandon Aubrey's four seasons. His rate is a career-low 77% after a 50-yard miss in a 20-all tie with 3 1/2 minutes remaining. That miss was one of the few times the operation has been off, with Trent Sieg's snap bouncing before holder Bryan Anger managed to get the ball in place. Aubrey seemed to hesitate slightly on the approach because of the low snap.

DT Quinnen Williams has been shining for weeks, despite the up-and-down performances from the defense. He led Dallas with seven tackles against the Colts and tied his career high of three tackles for loss for the second time this season. Williams entered Monday leading the NFL with 14 tackles for loss.

Overshown can't stay on the field — except to celebrate turnovers, when he's in street clothes. He has missed six of nine games this season with a hamstring injury, and a back issue surfaced last week. The Cowboys have played 60 regular-season games since drafting Overshown in the third round in 2023. He has been on the field — in uniform — for 22 of them.

Overshown, WR George Pickens (shoulder/hamstring) and CB Joey Porter Jr. (foot/ankle) figure to be questionable again this week, just as they were before getting ruled out against Indianapolis. ... TE Jake Ferguson and backup RB Tyler Goodson will miss multiple weeks with knee injuries. ... S P.J. Locke could be looking at a lengthy absence after sustaining concussions in consecutive weeks.

641 — Lamb passed DeAndre Hopkins (632) for the most catches before turning 28 in NFL history. He has the rest of the season to add to that total. Lamb turns 28 in April.

It's time to stop pretending the frequently downtrodden New York Giants aren't the favorite in the NFC East. The Cowboys have no choice but to start stacking wins. That's a tall task with the 49ers coming to town, but Dallas will be a big favorite in the final two games of three straight at home.

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Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (13) and Daron Bland (26) defend a pass to Indianapolis Colts' Ashton Dulin (16) during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) kicks the extra point during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Shemar James (50) celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble by the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb, right, fumbles the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The two big additions the San Francisco 49ers made to their starting defense since coming back from the bye helped them deliver the type of defensive performance they will need to make a playoff run.

With star defensive end Nick Bosa back after missing five games because of a calf injury and DeForest Buckner playing his first game since being traded back to the 49ers during the bye week, San Francisco dominated defensively in a 38-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

“Those are two super disruptive players for our D-line and the offense has to have a plan for them at all times,” linebacker Fred Warner said about Bosa and Buckner. “It frees up a lot of things for the rest of the defense.”

While Bosa and Buckner didn't make many splash plays, their presence helped the defense deliver a lot.

The Niners (7-1) generated five takeaways in a game for the first time in nearly 12 years. All five came in the second half, starting with a pick-6 by rookie Jaden Dugger on the first snap of the third quarter.

San Francisco ended the game with takeaways on the final four drives, with Warner forcing a fumble and recovering one, while Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha had interceptions.

The 49ers also held Las Vegas to 24 yards rushing for the lowest total they allowed in a game since holding Atlanta to 17 yards on Nov. 8, 2015.

That's the formula they will need to replicate on defense down the stretch.

“We have the guys to do it,” Bosa said. “We're going to keep getting better. ... It's great to have (Buckner) back and we have the guys to do it.”

Buckner played his first game for the Niners since the Super Bowl following the 2019 season. He was traded the following offseason to Indianapolis and returned Oct. 27 when he was acquired from the Colts for a fourth-round draft pick.

Buckner had two quarterback hits and got one of the loudest cheers during pregame introductions.

“I definitely had some butterflies today,” he said. “Obviously, my first game being back, I was definitely nervous. I just had to tell myself, ‘Just go out there and play football.’”

Generating takeaways. After back-to-back games with no takeaways, the 49ers had five in a game for the first time since Nov. 16, 2014, against the Giants.

Guarding tight ends. The 49ers allowed 10 catches for 148 yards to Las Vegas tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. That was the second-most yards they allowed to opposing tight ends in the last 19 seasons behind the 172 against Arizona on Dec. 17, 2023.

WR Jordan Watkins. With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel sidelined, Watkins came through with four catches for 86 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown. Watkins has seven catches for 142 yards in his past two games. The 2025 fourth-round pick had only five catches for 82 yards in his career before that.

“J-Wat's done a good job with the opportunity that he's been given,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “If he's got a one-on-one matchup, I'm not going to shy it down.”

Kick coverage unit. The Niners allowed a 54-yard kick return by Dylan Laube that set up a field goal. San Francisco has allowed the fourth-highest return average this season (27.8 yards per return) and the sixth-worst average starting field position after kickoffs (32).

DT Gracen Halton will miss the rest of the season after breaking his ankle. ... Green (back) and CB Deommodore Lenoir (foot) left the game and are day to day. … WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and DT C.J. West (knee) are expected back at practice Wednesday. … WR Mike Evans (Achilles tendinitis) won’t practice Wednesday but hasn’t been ruled out this week.

18 — Christian McCaffrey extended his record with his 18th career game with at least one touchdown run and catch. Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk is second with 15.

The 49ers visit Dallas on Sunday in search of the team's second 8-1 start to a season in the last 15 years. They also did it in 2019 on the way to the Super Bowl.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) celebrates next to linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) after forcing a fumble, which the 49ers recovered, against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) gestures after returning an interception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes as San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)