Dallas’ slow starts a dangerous habit
Eagles’ Jackson put on IR after surgery
FRISCO, Texas — Several good things happened to Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys after a black cat ran onto the field during a 37-18 victory over the New York Giants.
One of them was pretty lucky — a questionable pass interference penalty that kept a drive alive when Dallas was leading by five points early in the fourth quarter Monday night.
The call helped the NFC Eastleading Cowboys (5-3) avoid another tight finish at the site of their most inexplicable loss this season, against another team they were expected to handle easily until a sluggish start made things difficult.
“We definitely have to fix that if we want to be a good team,” running back Ezekiel Elliott said. “We did pick it up in the second half and finished really strong. But I’d like to see us go out there and take over that game early.”
After a 24-22 loss to the New York Jets in the stadium the Jets share with the Giants, the Cowboys played their most complete game, a dismantling of Philadelphia, the only other threat in the division for the NFC East’s defending champions.
But after the open week, Dallas returned to the place where the Jets won their only game this season and showed the inconsistency that marked a 3-3 start (three consecutive wins followed by three straight losses).
Prescott threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage after rookie Tony Pollard botched the fielding of the opening kick to pin Dallas deep. As soon as the Cowboys took control with a TD early in the fourth quarter, they gave up running back Saquon Barkley’s 65-yard catch.
Dallas mitigated that mistake by forcing the Giants to settle for one of their four field goals. And only after the pass interference call that led to another touchdown drive were the Cowboys finally in control again.
The first half of the Dallas schedule was heavy on alsorans. The second half isn’t.
“In a lot of ways, it shows the ability to handle adversity as a
group, but at the same time, you don’t have to start like that,” tight end Jason Witten said. “You certainly have to get that cleaned up. There’s still a lot of good things. But you’re right, we can’t do that as we move forward.”
EAGLES: Philadelphia placed DeSean Jackson on the injured reserve on the same day the wide receiver had surgery to correct a core muscle injury suffered earlier this season.
Jackson’s regular season is over, but he will be eligible to return to the team during the playoffs if the Eagles make it that far. Jackson’s recovery will likely take at least two months, which would make a playoff return possible, but it depends on how quickly he recovers.
49ERS: Kwon Alexander wasn’t just the 49ers’ best linebacker. He was the heart and soul of their defense. And now they must replace him with a rookie fifth-round draft pick, Dre Greenlaw.
The 49ers placed the 25-yearold Alexander on injured reserve Tuesday with a torn left pectoral muscle. He suffered the injury Thursday against Arizona when he hit running back Kenyan Drake violently with his left shoulder, left the game and never returned. Alexander will miss the rest of the season.
“Since Day 1, the defense has been what it is because of him,” starting middle linebacker Fred Warner said Tuesday. “He was playing at a Pro Bowl level.”
CHARGERS: Team chairman Dean Spanos emphatically — and colorfully — denied a story about the team possibly moving to London.
Before the Chargers practiced Tuesday, Spanos called together a small group of reporters who regularly cover the team to address the situation.
“I just want to give you a quote from me, OK?” he began before launching into an expletiveladen comment. “It’s total … bull---, OK? We’re not going to London. We’re not going anywhere. We’re playing in Los Angeles. This is our home, and this where we’re planning to be for a long … time. Period. OK? And if you want me to say it again, I’ll say it again. … bull---, that story. OK? Thank you.”
JAGUARS: Coach Doug Marrone believes quarterback Nick Foles gives the team “a better chance of winning right now.”
Marrone announced Tuesday he will start Foles over rookie sensation Gardner Minshew “going forward.” Marrone made the decision during the team’s bye week, saying Foles is ready to return from a broken left collarbone and will start next week at Indianapolis.
DOLPHINS: Defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche has been released by Miami, who decided the ex- first-round pick couldn’t help their struggling defense.
Nkemdiche signed with the Dolphins in August and played sparingly in the past two games. He was the 29th overall pick by Arizona in 2016.
SEAHAWKS: Seattle released disappointing fourth-round pick Gary Jennings and activated rookie offensive lineman Phil Haynes from the physically unable to perform list.
Jennings became expendable when Seattle claimed Josh Gordon off waivers last week.
PANTHERS: Carolina placed QB Cam Newton on IR, meaning he can’t play for the rest of the regular season.
RANKINGS: San Francisco led the AP Pro32 pool with seven first-place votes and 379 points to edge out New Orleans, which had the other five firstplace votes and 374 points in balloting Tuesday by media members.
New England went from first to third. Dallas is 10th.