AI-assisted summary
• The Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-15 in the NFL’s ‘Black Friday’ game.
• Chicago’s rushing attack, led by D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, dominated the Eagles’ defense.
• Philadelphia’s offense continued to struggle, and even their signature ‘tush push’ play resulted in a fumble.
• The Bears’ victory improved their playoff chances to nearly 75% and gave them a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Eagles.

PHILADELPHIA — When not even the tush push is working, a lot must be going wrong for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The defending Super Bowl champions fell to the new-and-improved Chicago Bears, 24-15, in the third iteration of the NFL’s ‘Black Friday’ game.

Chicago punished the Eagles on the ground all afternoon and, in continuation of the troubling trend for Philadelphia, the Eagles’ offense looked largely lost, save for a few plays.

Of course, results are never as simple as the final score. Here are the winners and losers from the Nov. 28 showcase.

WINNERS

D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai

Swift ran ferociously all game after Monangai set the tone early. Every time it looked like their run would find its natural end, there seemed to always be another cutback, another push available to the Bears’ backs. And take advantage of it they did.

A revenge game for Swift, the former Eagle, he ran 18 times for 125 yards and a touchdown. Monangai, a seventh-round rookie, had 22 carries for 130 yards and a score himself. There was nothing the Eagles could do to stop them, it seemed. 

Bears’ offensive line

Of course, Monangai and Swift wouldn’t have gone on their shopping sprees – sorry, rushing sprees, we’re in the Black Friday spirit here – were it not for the Bears’ offensive line dominating the line of scrimmage. Monangai’s big run in the first quarter was an example of this, with the line pushing the Eagles to the left and Monangai pressing the run back the other way. Later in the drive, the big boys pushed Monangai for a first down on third down. 

For the Eagles, the 84 rushing yards was the most allowed in the first quarter since 2022. The 142 first-half yards on the ground were the most given up in a half for Philadelphia since 2015. 

The offensive line was the first unit head coach Ben Johnson and the front office addressed during the offseason by bringing in a trio of interior linemen. The win over the Eagles was the most significant proof of concept in why that was essential to turn the Bears around from punchline to the playoffs (possibly). 

Mother Nature

Twenty-mile-an-hour winds with gusts approaching 40 mph from the open northwest corner of the stadium, creating a left-to-right pattern, massively affected the game, from ball flight to both head coaches’ decision-making. The goalposts visibly shook. 

Bears’ defense

Once again without their starting linebackers, the unit that exhibited more of a bend-don’t-break philosophy for most of the season held up against the (albeit struggling) Eagles’ offense. The returns of cornerback Jaylon Johnson and defensive back Kyler Gordon from their respective injuries provided some insurance for the back end. But it was the front that kept the Eagles’ run game at bay and made Eagles QB Jalen Hurts uncomfortable. 

Bears’ postseason seeding, chances

Both teams entered with a 8-3 record and tied for first place in their respective divisions. Now the Bears own the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Eagles, which could come into play for postseason seeding. The Bears, according to Next Gen Stats’ playoff probability metrics, now have close to a 75% chance of making the playoffs. Those odds would have been closer to 50% with a loss.

A.J. Brown

Throw him the ball, and good things happen. Backed up on their own 8-yard line, the Eagles had Brown run a slant over the middle for a pickup of 16 to gain some immediate breathing room. Three plays later, Brown beat his defender to the ball after Hurts threw it up near the goal line. He came down with it and scored both of the Eagles’ touchdowns. He finished with a game-high 10 catches for 132 yards, with much of those coming in garbage time.

Eagles fans 

The boo birds were out early and often, as the Eagles’ offensive inefficiency once again reared its ugly head. Philadelphia ran 18 plays in the first half; Chicago lined up 48 times on offense.

Dallas Cowboys

Suddenly alive in the NFC East race, the Cowboys are the ascending team within the rivalry at 6-5-1.

LOSERS

Proficient QB play

Understanding that the wind was certainly a factor, neither quarterback played particularly well. In the first half, Hurts was 5-for-10 passing for 57 yards. Williams was not much better at 11-for-24 and 90 yards.

They both found the end zone in the second half – and the hands of the other team, with Williams’ interception coming on an attempted screen pass in the third quarter in a 10-9 game and the Eagles gaining momentum. 

The Eagles were on their way to a fourth straight three-and-out when Hurts was intercepted by Kevin Byard – his league-leading sixth of the season for the NFL’s No. 1 unit in takeaways – on a scramble-drill play while trying to lead wide receiver Darius Cooper up the sideline but overthrew him (or perhaps underthrew Brown, who was crossing the field).

Williams finished 17-of-35 with a pretty touchdown throw to Cole Kmet in the fourth quarter to help ice the game. But he also left plenty of throws on the field, including two into the end zone in the first half that could have been touchdowns had he set his feet and accurately delivered the ball.

The tush push 

As Hurts had done countless times prior, he crouched under center with less than five minutes left in the third with one yard to go before moving the chains in the red zone. Bears defensive back Nahshon Wright had a different idea. Wright jarred the ball loose from Hurts’ clutches and won the battle at the bottom of the scrum for the ball. 

Saquon Barkley

There was more room to run compared to most Eagles games this year, but Barkley went another week without a home-run play and finished with 56 rushing yards on 13 attempts. His involvement in the passing game didn’t go any better (two catches, 0 yards).

Kevin Patullo

The design of the Eagles offensive coordinator’s scheme will be diagnosed further in the coming days and weeks. But upon immediate reflection, the fact is Patullo’s unit couldn’t stay on the field for the second straight game. 

Patullo’s experiments and efforts to get the ‘RPO’ game backfired with one particular play serving as the prime example. Lined up in a two-back set, Brown went in motion across the formation. It was exactly the kind of creativity Eagles fans have been clamoring for. But Barkley was not looking for the ball and it whizzed by him for an incompletion. 

Jake Elliott

Philadelphia’s kicker is not a kicker immune to extra-point mishaps, and that happened on the potentially game-tying point-after kick in the third quarter as he pulled the kick wide left to keep the game 10-9 in favor of Chicago. 

Green Bay Packers

A Bears loss would have given the Packers a half-game lead in the NFC North. Instead, they remain slotted in a wild-card spot for now.

Eagles fans

They don’t actually want to boo, right? Most of them cleared out. Honestly, who could blame them?

New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri was down on the ice in pain during the second period on Friday, Nov. 28 after he fell when getting tangled up with Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale.

It took a while for him to stand and he skated slowly to the bench as the puck went to the other end of the ice. But the puck came back in the Flyers’ zone and Palmieri, still skating slowly, had the wherewithal to strip it from a Flyers player who was skating backward.

Palmieri passed to Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin, who fed Emil Heineman. Heineman scored to cut the Flyers’ lead to 3-1.

Palmieri couldn’t celebrate the goal or his assist. He was busy heading to the dressing room with assistance and stayed there while the Islanders rallied to tie the game.

‘What a gutsy effort for him on that,’ captain Anders Lee said after the game. ‘Going through a lot of pain, he’s one of the toughest teammates that I know. Takes a lot for him to feel pain and get keeled over, but you can also see how strong he is to battle through and make a huge play.’

The Islanders later announced that Palmieri wouldn’t return to the game because of a lower-body injury.

The Flyers won 4-3 in a shootout.

Kyle Palmieri injury update

Islanders coach Patrick Roy had no update on Palmieri after the game, saying the forward would see a doctor on Saturday.

‘I think everybody knows it doesn’t look very good,’ he told reporters.

Texas and Texas A&M closed down the Black Friday slate of college football games with the latest edition of the Lone Star Showdown rivalry.

For the second straight year since joining the SEC, Texas has spoiled a potential Aggies victory, upsetting them 27-17 and knocking them from contention for the SEC championship game. Arch Manning threw a touchdown and ran for another in the win, now raising the question of whether the Longhorns might join in the College Football Playoff fray.

Stream Texas vs. Texas A&M live with Fubo (free trial)

Marcel Reed, who had a brief injury scare in the first quarter, was largely ineffective through the air vs. Texas, completing 20 of 32 passes for 180 yards and two fourth-quarter interceptions. He did rush 12 times for 71 yards as well.

While the Aggies’ season isn’t over, it is certainly a sour note for a team that was looking for its first SEC title game berth on top of a jump into the CFP.

USA TODAY Sports brought you updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check them out:

Texas vs Texas A&M football score

Texas vs Texas A&M updates

This section has been updated with new information

Final: Texas 27, Texas A&M 17

And that’ll do it. For the third straight game, Texas beats Texas A&M. The Aggies are out of the SEC championship game but still have a strong opportunity at hosting a first-round CFP game.

The real question is whether Texas will make the CFP as well?

Texas picks off Marcel Reed

That should do it for Texas. Kobe Black picks off Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed and gives the ball back to Arch Manning and the offense. It’s the second interception of the night for the Longhorns defense.

Arch Manning erupts for 35-yard rushing score

Holy smokes, Arch Manning! A Manning isn’t supposed to run like that!

The Texas quarterback reads the gap and takes off for a 35-yard rushing touchdown to extend the Longhorns’ lead to 27-17 with 7:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Texas A&M scores touchdown

EJ Smith brings Texas A&M within a field goal of Texas with a 13-yard rushing touchdown up the middle of the field. It’s a quick and impressive response by the Aggies, as Marcel Reed and the offense go down the field and score in six plays for 59 yards in less than two minutes of game time.

Texas now leads Texas A&M 20-17 with 9:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Texas extends lead to double digits with TD

Nick Townsend runs it in from the 2-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter for the touchdown. Texas now holds a 10-point lead over Texas A&M at 20-10 with 14:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Complete dominance by the Longhorns here in the second half.

End of third quarter: Texas 13, Texas A&M 10

Arch Manning completes a 54-yard throw down the left sideline to Jack Endries to bring Texas down to Texas A&M’s 2-yard line with a first-and-goal to start the fourth quarter. A dominant third quarter by the Longhorns, who created 189 total yards of offense in the quarter compared to the Aggies’ 35.

Texas A&M false start penalty ends drive

The Aggies are called for a false start on fourth-and-1 and it forces the punt unit to head out onto the field. A costly penalty for Texas A&M, which has struggled to find any rhythm (or success) in the second half.

Arch Manning TD pass gives Texas lead

Here comes Texas. Arch Manning finds Ryan Wingo in the back of the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown pass to give Texas the 13-10 lead. It’s a great ball thrown by Manning and a great job by Wingo to hold onto it.

The scoring drive was set up by two extended runs from Quintrevion Wisner of 16 and 17 yards. He’s at 113 rushing yards on the night, the first time Texas has had a runner finish with at least 100 rushing yards in a game this season per the ABC broadcast.

The drive itself was six plays for 70 yards and took 3:04 off the game clock.

Texas A&M punts

It’s a quick three-and-out for Texas A&M in its first drive of the second half. The Aggies were able to create just eight yards of offense on three plays, while the drive only took 1:32 off the game clock.

The Longhorns’ defense is keeping their offense in this one.

Texas settles for field goal

Mason Shipley hits a 46-yard field goal attempt to cut Texas’ deficit over Texas A&M to 10-6 with 11:56 remaining in the third quarter.

The Longhorns were at the Aggies’ 19-yard line, but Arch Manning took a 9-yard sack on third down, pushing Texas back further. Manning was also handed his second intentional grounding penalty of the game, as he threw the ball away with no receivers around as he was being brought down by Texas A&M’s Dalton Brooks.

Manning is 8-of-22 passing for 51 yards on the night.

End of first half: Texas A&M 10, Texas 3

Texas A&M sacks Arch Manning

Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim sacks Arch Manning on third-and-10 for an 8-yard loss for the game’s first sack. It’s a costly sack taken by Manning, as it takes the Longhorns out of field goal range.

The Aggies take the knee after the punt to go into the locker room with a 10-3 lead.

Texas A&M scores TD before halftime

Marcel Reed hands it off to KC Concepcion for the game’s first touchdown, an 8-yard rush. It’s a nice run by Concepcion for the score. The Aggies are dominating on offense in this one, as they have out-gained the Longhorns 178-85 for total offensive yards.

Texas A&M moving on offense at two-minute timeout

Texas A&M’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-5 pays off, as Marcel Reed connects with Mario Craver for 7 yards and the first down. It’s a gutsy call by Elko, as the Aggies were in field goal range. The Aggies are at the Longhorns’ 30-yard line with two minutes to go until halftime.

KC Concepcion returns punt for 30 yards

KC Concepcion sets Texas A&M up with some strong field position on its fifth drive, as he returns the punt return from Jack Bouwmeester for 30 yards to the Texas 42-yard line.

Texas A&M field goal ties game

Second time’s a charm for Jared Zirkel, as he successfully makes the 31-yard field goal attempt to tie the game at 3-3 with 6:41 remaining in the second quarter.

Marcel Reed scrambles for first down into red zone

That’s a 13-yard scramble from Reed, who’s in his first drive back from injury. He didn’t seem limited there and has Texas A&M looking to at least tie this game.

Texas field goal gives Longhorns first lead

A Mason Shipley 41-yard field goal gets Texas on the board first with a 3-0 lead. Manning led the Longhorns down to the Texas A&M 23-yard line before the Aggies clamped down on defense.

End of first quarter: Texas 0, Texas A&M 0

Arch Manning lets the clock run down to end the first quarter after picking up 3 yards on a carry. Both teams failed to score in the first quarter, the first time in the rivalry game since 1997.

Texas blocks Texas A&M field goal attempt

Texas takes over at its own 20-yard line.

Texas punts after controversial no-call

Arch Manning tries to go down the field on third-and-9 but his throw to Ryan Wingo is broken up by a pair of Texas A&M defenders. The home fans in Austin, along with ABC broadcasters Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy, were not thrilled that there was not a flag thrown for defensive pass interference as Texas A&M players were all over Wingo.

Texas punts for the third consecutive drive. The Longhorns have just 24 total yards of offense.

Texas A&M incompletion ends drive

Marcel Reed throws a fast ball to Mario Craver on third-and-4, but the Aggies’ wide receiver is unable to hold onto it for the first down. Texas A&M sends out the punt unit and gives the ball back to Arch Manning and Texas at its own 36-yard line.

Both teams’ offenses have a pair of drops to begin this rivalry game.

Texas punts

Texas’ first drive of the night ends in a punt, as Arch Manning is unable to connect with DeAndre Moore Jr. across the middle on third-and-11. The Aggies will start on their own 7-yard line.

Arch Manning, Texas start on offense

It will be Arch Manning and Texas’ offense out on the field first. The Longhorns quarterback has played well over the last month in Steve Sarkisian’s system, as he has thrown for at least 250 yards and a touchdown in each of his last four games. He has thrown for at least three touchdowns in three of his last four games.

Pregame

Texas A&M wins coin toss

The Aggies win the coin toss and defer the opening kickoff to the second half. Just about underway in Austin!

Anthony Hill ruled out vs Texas A&M

ABC’s Molly McGrath reports that Texas star linebacker Anthony Hill will not play against Texas A&M due to a hand injury. Hill was listed as a game-time decision on the final SEC availability report before kickoff. A big loss for the Longhorns’ defense.

Marcel Reed warming up ahead of Texas-Texas A&M

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed has taken the field in Austin. The Aggies’ redshirt sophomore quarterback is having a career season at Texas A&M, as he has completed 61.8% of his passes for 2,752 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding six rushing scores.

Arch Manning arrives for Texas-Texas A&M

Arch Manning leads Texas through its pregame walk into DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium ahead of Friday night’s top-20 matchup against Texas A&M. The Longhorns quarterback completed 18 of 30 passes (60%) for 389 yards and four touchdowns against Arkansas in Week 13, while adding a rushing and receiving touchdown.

What is Texas A&M football’s path to the SEC championship game?

A win over Texas would send Texas A&M to the SEC championship game. It’s the lone path to the conference championship game following Ole Miss’ win over Mississippi State earlier in the day.

What TV channel is Texas A&M vs Texas on today?

• TV: ABC
• Streaming: ESPN App | Fubo (free trial)

Texas A&M vs. Texas will air on ABC in Week 14 of the 2025 college football season from Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Greg McElroy (analyst) will call the game.

Streaming options include the ESPN App, which requires a valid cable login to access, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Texas A&M vs Texas time today

• Date: Friday, Nov. 28
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

The Week 14 matchup between the Aggies and Longhorns is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 28.

Texas A&M vs Texas predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Nov. 25:

• Spread: Texas A&M (-2.5)
• Over/under: 51.5
• Moneyline: Texas A&M -130 | Texas +110

Prediction: Texas A&M 24, Texas 23

The Longhorns have been excellent at home this season, with a 5-0 record heading into their season finale. They haven’t faced a team there quite as good as the Aggies yet, though. Expect Texas A&M’s ferocious pass rush to get to Manning just enough for coach Mike Elko’s team to pull out a close win.

Arch Manning’s first full regular season as Texas football’s starting quarterback is officially in the books. 

Following a game in which he had a career-high passing yards against Arkansas, the Longhorns quarterback carved up the defense of the No. 3 team in the nation, completing 14 of 19 passes for 179 yards and two combined touchdowns in a 27-17 win over Texas A&M on Friday, Nov. 28 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

With the win, Manning has led a third top-15 victory for the Longhorns, also improving his record to 11-3 as the Longhorn’s starting quarterback of the last two seasons.

Manning had a rather uninspiring first half, as he completed 8 of 21 passes for just 51 yards with no touchdowns. The 6-foot-4 quarterback got Texas into field goal position just before halftime with an 11-yard dump pass to Quintrevion Wisner, but took a rather costly 8-yard sack three plays later to take the Longhorns out of field goal range.

He significantly improved his stats in the second half. A 29-yard pass to Ryan Wingo and a 35-yard rushing touchdown of his own served to be Manning’s biggest plays in the final 30 minutes.

The Nov. 28 win also raises the question of whether Texas, the No. 16 team in the latest CFP rankings, can make the playoff after a home win vs. No. 3 Texas A&M. The Longhorns can’t make the SEC championship game and can’t improve their resume further to make a third CFP appearance. 

Here’s a deeper look at Manning’s stats in Week 14 at home against Texas A&M: 

Arch Manning stats today vs Texas A&M

Here’s a full look at Manning’s line on Nov. 28 against Texas A&M: 

• Completions: 14
• Attempts: 29
• Completion percentage: 48%
• Passing yards: 179
• Touchdowns: 1
• Interceptions: 0
• Rushing attempts: 7
• Rushing yards: 53
• Rushing touchdowns: 1

ARLINGTON, Texas – Jerry Jones carried a turkey leg with him as he hopped on an elevator that took him directly to his 50-yard-line suite at AT&T Stadium. While a turkey leg is far cry from a Lombardi Trophy – remember, the Dallas Cowboys haven’t won one of those in nearly 30 years – it was a fitting symbol nonetheless after the impressive win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving.

Suddenly, the Cowboys are relevant in the NFL’s playoff picture.

And the team’s owner, thoroughly roasted early in the season for the controversial trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, has reason to dream again about the Cowboys’ chances of chasing a championship.

This is what two victories over a five-day span against the Super Bowl 59 participants – they hung a 31-28 result on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Thursday, following a rally from 21 points down to beat the defending champion Eagles on Sunday – can do to revive the hope that Jones is always selling.

“I wouldn’t be standing here right now, would not be in the hunt, if I were not a dreamer,” Jones told USA TODAY Sports as he leaned on the bar of his suite.

Cowboys have five weeks to keep 2025 playoff dream alive

With maybe 100 people in the suite – family, friends, business associates – the place was buzzing with festive electricity. Never mind the NFL’s one-week-at-a-time mantra and the fact that if the playoffs were today, the Cowboys would be on the outs. Jones had reason enough to celebrate.

The Cowboys (6-5-1) are above .500 for the first time all season and under first-year coach, Brian Schottenheimer, and have a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2023.

It’s why Post Malone, the rapper-turned-country/rock star who performed at halftime, came into the suite and yelled at Jones from the other side of the room with unbridled glee. And Jones yelled back at Malone, who has intimate ties to the franchise.

Maybe they’ll celebrate bigger victories later. Maybe not.

To make the playoffs, undoubtedly as a wild-card entrant barring a collapse by the Eagles, the Cowboys have to run the table and win every single game. Next up, a trip to Detroit, to face a just-as-desperate Lions squad (7-5) that has fallen woefully of lofty expectations.

After that, Dallas has back-to-back home games against the Vikings (4-7) and Chargers (7-4) before closing out the regular-season slate at the Commanders (3-8) and Giants (2-10). For a team that lately complemented a dynamic offense with an improved defense, it’s a path with, well, promise.

Is it taboo to even speak playoffs? Or is this a matter of trying to speak it into existence?

Of course, it’s rather predictable what you’d get from the NFL’s most visible owner.

“We all see the numbers,” Jones said. “We know where they are. As far as this team playing well enough to think like, we should. These last two games, we’ve played well.”

As Jones pondered the ways, Michael Irvin walked into the suite. The Hall of Fame receiver, who remains close to Jones and the franchise, took the celebration to another level with a demonstration that resembled something out of the glory years in the 1990s.

“Arrrrrgh!” Irvin yelled, raising his arms as he approached Jones.

“First we beat the Super Bowl champs! Now we beat the perennial Super Bowl champs!”

Irvin then put Jones in a bear hug like they had just won, well, a Super Bowl.

It was classic, over-the-top Irvin. And Jones loved it.

“Sometimes, it’s Thanksgiving and sometimes it’s Christmas Day,” Jones said. “Same energy. That energy has never left.”

Premature celebration? Look at where the Cowboys have been

It’s fair to wonder whether this excitement is all a bit premature. While they celebrated in the owner’s suite, it was fitting that Dak Prescott’s postgame press conference was shown on the TV monitors. Prescott won’t deny that Dallas has just pulled off its most impressive back-to-back victories in years, hailing the team’s resilience.

Yet the classy quarterback – dogged for years by the team’s playoff failures – is just the man to put it in perspective.

“I don’t know if there’s been two more impressive wins,” Prescott told reporters. “I can tell you now, we’re not going to get on some high because of that. We know we’ve got another big one next week. All this does is just give us more confidence, knowing that we can beat whoever.”

Then again, considering the real-world tragedy the Cowboys were forced to process after defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide in early November, there is much to be said with how the team has responded.

Kneeland’s jersey still hangs in the Cowboys’ locker room. The team carries a huge flag with Kneeland’s uniform number, 94, onto the field with it. Jones was careful to express a proper measure of respect while contending the difference with the team since the tragedy.

“Rather than taking an emotional downer or feeling like woe-is-me, they did what young people have to do whenever they have a setback or a tragedy: You live in every way you can with energy and enthusiasm,” Jones said. “There’s no question our energy has picked up since his death.”

Other relevant factors for the Cowboys’ resurgence:

This is not your Week 1 Cowboys defense

The much-maligned defense is forming a new identity. The trade of Parsons – who had 2½ sacks to help the Packers defeat the Lions on Thursday and became the first player in NFL history to post 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons – figures to add context for some time. Yet the acquisition of all-pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline on Nov. 4 takes up some of the slack.

Mahomes stung the Cowboys for four touchdowns and provided a Keystone Kops moment as he slipped out of would-be sacks to launch a magical, 42-yard completion to Xavier Worthy that set up a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Yet one reason the Cowboys won traced to the heat on Mahomes, which included three sacks and nine quarterback hits. And the unit, with veteran addition Jadeveon Clowney providing some of the rush and rising star DeMarvion Overshown back in the flow after returning from a torn ACL, and with Logan Wilson added to the linebacker mix, is not what it was a few weeks ago. And yes, Williams is a beast in the middle of the D-line, alongside Kenny Clark, who came to Dallas in the Parsons trade.

No, it’s not an elite defense. But much better.

Brian Schottenheimer rises to his big moment

Schottenheimer has flourished with his big opportunity. When Jones promoted the offensive coordinator after the split with Mike McCarthy, it was a gamble wrapped with the reality that the long-time NFL assistant – and son of the late coaching legend, Marty Scottenheimer – had never been a head coach before.

Yet Schottenheimer has proven to be well-equipped to withstand the glare of the high-profile Cowboys job … and the shadow that comes while working under Jones. He also showed tremendous leadership in helping the team deal with the loss of Kneeland.

“It’s his people skills,” Jones said. “He didn’t separate his feelings, as far as saying ‘I’m the leader.’ He shared his sorrow, just like they did. And he understood that the best thing for everybody and the feelings, after we were out for a few days, was to understand what was happening to you. Understand the sorrow. He had a challenging time.”

As he maintained when he promoted Schottenheimer, growing up in a household with his father provided added value.

And Schottenheimer’s confidence is undoubtedly rubbing off on his team about now. After Thursday’s win, he put it this way: “We’ll play anybody, anywhere. You can see that by what we’ve done the last couple of weeks. The moment’s not too big for us.”

George Pickens’ career year highlights dynamic passing attack

The addition of the big-play receiver, obtained in an offseason trade with the Steelers, has been better than expected. In teaming with CeeDee Lamb, Prescott has a 1-2 punch with perhaps the NFL’s best set of wide receivers, and it has added balance, spark and options to one of the league’s most dynamic units.

The passing game didn’t tank when Lamb missed three games earlier this season due to a high ankle sprain. Pickens filled in the gap. With five games to play, Pickens has already posted career-bests for receptions (73), receiving yards (1,142) and TDs (8).

Pickens is playing on a one-year contract, but slim chance that he’ll hit the free agent market next spring. Pickens has expressed a desire for an extension and Jones reiterated a similar desire amid the postgame suite party.

Jones, though, would not go any deeper than that – for good reason. Negotiations.

It’s also worth noting that Pickens is represented by David Mulugheta, the same agent who represents Parsons and was in the middle of the saga that led to the controversial trade.

Maybe Mulugheta and Jones can celebrate a big deal yet – with or without a turkey leg.

But first things first: The Cowboys are trying to keep their playoff dream alive.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on  X: @JarrettBell