FRISCO, Texas — Winners of three of their last four games, the ĂŰĚŇTV are fighting back despite having taken it on the chin at every turn over the course of the 2024 season. As they moved to 6-8 on the year, following their upset of the Panthers in Carolina, they will return to AT&T Stadium with the hopes of improving their struggling home record, and against a very capable Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Some will point out the "still alive" playoff odds while others will note the Cowboys are simply choosing to go out on their shield and not cowered in a hole somewhere, but whatever your argument might be for their insolence against Murphy's Law, you're probably right.
And when the Buccaneers take the field on Sunday Night Football, here are some of the players might have the most difficult time contending with.
Rico Dowdle, RB
The hat trick achievement has been unlocked by Dowdle. His 100-yard outing against the Panthers marked the third in a row for the veteran running back and the first for the organization since Ezekiel Elliott did it in 2019. And as he enters Week 16 against the Buccaneers, he does so with the once unthinkable in reach: Dowdle needs just 120 rushing yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. The Bucs' defense has allowed an average of 4.5 yards per carry this season and given up nine run plays of more than 20 yards, and three of more than 40 yards, so you might want to keep an eye on Dowdle in this one.
Micah Parsons, EDGE
Yeah, admit it. This is a safe place. You didn't believe Parsons would claw his way to a 10-sack season when factoring in how many games he missed due to the high ankle sprain and, overall, how the Cowboys' defense was struggling to rush the passer before he was injured. I thought the same, and yet here we are with Parsons needing only 1.5 sacks to hit that mark for the fourth consecutive season; and his smile tells you he's ready to hit everybody with the "I told you so" once he does. Baker Mayfield better keep his head on a swivel, because the Lion is hunting.
Marist Liufau, LB
Losing DeMarvion Overshown created a massive void in the middle of the Cowboys' defense, but Liufau is showing why Dallas' decision to use a third-round pick on him in April was a master stroke. The rookie linebacker has shown flashes at several points during the season but, with more reps, he's really beginning to make impact plays that swing the game in Dallas' favor — e.g., critically-timed sacks and forced fumbles. And the Cowboys will need this level of play from him more than ever against the Buccaneers, a team with an offense that can torch a scoreboard.
CeeDee Lamb, WR
Who needs two good shoulders when you can take over games with just one? What Lamb has been able to do in 2024 puts to bed any questions regarding his ability to help lead a locker room. His explosive outing against the Panthers was just one of several he's beginning to stack on a weekly basis, despite not having his starting quarterback on the field and, to that point, his numbers could be higher if he and Cooper Rush were on the same page more frequently. And to take down a defense orchestrated by Todd Bowles, Lamb will have to bring the smoke and all of the fire behind it as he builds on his fourth 1,000-yard season in his first five tries as an NFL receiver.
Tyler Guyton, OL
This has been the longest calendar year ever for Guyton, who went from starting right tackle at Oklahoma to preparing for the NFL draft via pro day and the combine in Indianapolis, and then to Cowboys' rookie minicamp, mandatory minicamp and, before the start of training camp, refusing to take time off — instead training over the course of that six-week period. It led to a myriad of injuries he's had to fight through, but he's avoided IR and, after sitting in Week 14, his film in Week 15 looked very, very good. No penalties, no sacks allowed and only one pressure allowed in Carolina? Yes indeed. And now the challenge is to do it against Bowles' defense.
