NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Washington

Cowboys

Once again the Cowboys fell in a huge hole in Sunday’s game against the Browns. Once again they cut it to within a possession like they had the previous two weeks against the Falcons and Seahawks. But instead of gutting out an improbable win like in Atlanta, this result went the way it did in Seattle with the Browns scoring a game-clinching touchdown to keep Dallas at an arm’s length for a 49-38 win. Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy now has a 1-3 start and a list of clear problems to deal with. 

“What I don’t like is I don’t like the pattern of the four games that we’ve played,” McCarthy said via Rob Phillips of the team’s website. “The points are outrageous. The time of possession is totally lopsided and we’re minus-7 in the turnover ratio. That’s not a winning formula. . . . We need to do a better job bringing our preparation to the performance, and that starts with me. When your team performs and makes similar mistakes, four weeks is a pattern. This pattern needs to stop. And that starts with leadership.”

The defense has been particularly horrendous, forcing QB Dak Prescott and the offense to play catch-up for practically the whole game. Although they’re in the first year under DC Mike Nolan‘s scheme and are clearly still adjusting, Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence said that’s no excuse for how porous they’ve been, including allowing over 300 yards rushing to the Browns even without RB Nick Chubb for most of the day. 

“We got to hold ourselves to a higher standard,” Lawrence said via the Athletic’s Jon Machota. “We got to play together as one. And I don’t feel like we are holding ourselves accountable, including myself. So, I call the s–t soft, and we will get better from it.”

• McCarthy later told reporters that he is very confident in Cowboys DC Mike Nolan. “We’re going to stay the course. … My confidence is very high in Mike Nolan.” (Jon Machota)
• Mike Nolan also stressed the importance of staying the course: “You have to stay the course, work on the things we need to get better at. … There have been no effort issues, in my opinion. We played very poorly. I hope we don’t have to live though another one of those.” (Machota)
• Cowboys C Joe Looney avoided a major injury after spraining his knee in Week 4 but he won’t be able to play in Week 5 and will be replaced by fourth-round C Tyler Biadasz. (Michael Gehlken)

Eagles

• Per ESPN’s Tim McManus, Eagles HC Doug Pederson said RT Lane Johnson‘s ankle injury is “going to linger” and be something the veteran plays through all year. 
• Pederson added LB T.J. Edwards and S Rudy Ford would miss some time with injuries. (Zach Berman)

Giants

• According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL will review a postgame fight between Rams CB Jalen Ramsey and Giants WR Golden Tate. No suspensions are anticipated but both players could be fined. 
• Giants HC Joe Judge said that while fighting is not what the team stands for and he won’t tolerate it, he was told Tate did not throw a punch and was defending himself. (Zack Rosenblatt)
• Judge also pre-empted a question by asserting the team’s belief in QB Daniel Jones as the team’s starter and quarterback of the future: “If you’re asking if Daniel’s our quarterback, Daniel’s our quarterback.” (Art Stapleton)

Washington

• Per the Athletic’s Ben Standig, Washington canceled a free-agent workout that was scheduled for Monday out of an abundance of caution as they evaluate COVID-19 concerns. 
• Washington HC Ron Rivera told reporters after Sunday’s game that he received two bags of IV fluids before the contest. (Nicki Jhabvala)
• Rivera summed up coaching through cancer treatments saying that it’s been a “struggle” for him: “It’s a struggle. It’s a battle. . . . It’s interesting. I have my moments where I felt pretty strong and felt good enough to go get up and walk up and down the sidelines. There were other times I waned a little bit.” (Barry Svrluga)