Dallas Cowboys will keep NFC East seeding hopes alive against Titans

The Dallas Cowboys are still clinging to the hope of the NFC East.

Dallas earned a 27-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans in the final game of the season on Thursday night.

But not only are their division hopes alive, they have a (very) remote chance of being the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Dallas would have to win the next week, while the Philadelphia Eagles (13-2) would have to lose their last two games (this would give Dallas the division). But Minnesota and San Francisco need to lose each of their next two games for Dallas to pass them in the standings.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Dalton Schultz #86 of the Dallas Cowboys scores a 10-yard touchdown run against Andrew Adams #47 of the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee
(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Tennessee entered Thursday with starting third-string quarterback Joshua Dobbs and without Derrick Henry, who is suffering from a hip injury. It should be noted that Thursday’s result literally means nothing to the Titans – next week’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars will determine who wins the AFC South and who goes home – so perhaps Tennessee opted to rest their team. star runner.

Dallas was given a chance and they didn’t waste it.

The Titans were unable to move the ball much on offense for much of the first half. Ezekiel Elliott scored the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter, and Dallas added a field goal early in the second. After that, Dak Prescott fumbled and threw an interception on their next two drives: Tennessee was able to cut their deficit to seven, but as Dallas drove down the field for the two-minute drill, Prescott again threw an interception and the Titans had the ball at the opponent’s 41-yard line. After an impressive catch and run by Treylon Burks, Randy Bullock made a 29-yard field goal to make it 10-6 at halftime.

Early in the second half, defensive pass interference led the Cowboys from their own side of the field to the Titans 6-yard line, so Prescott threw a pass to tight end Dalton Schultz that put Dallas up 11. Dobbs answered. with the Titans’ best drive, and first touchdown, of the night finding Robert Woods to make it a 17-13 game with just over two minutes left in the third.

Joshua Dobbs #11 of the Tennessee Titans fights against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Joshua Dobbs #11 of the Tennessee Titans fights against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

JEANS, TERRELL OWENS CANNOT HIT A DEAL AS 49-YEAR-OLD ASKS FOR TOO MUCH MONEY: REPORT

But Dallas didn’t flinch one bit. They came back with Schultz’s second touchdown of the night to regain an 11-point lead with 11:58 to go. After forcing the Titans’ fifth punt of the night, Brett Maher drilled another field goal to give Dallas a 27-13 lead, and the Titans were unable to update their side of the score.

Fantasy football owners probably weren’t thrilled with Prescott in the first half, but he ended up throwing for 282 yards and two touchdowns as Dallas was able to overcome its three turnovers. CeeDee Lamb led all receivers with 100 receiving yards on 11 receptions.

As for Dobbs, in his first NFL start, he went 20-of-39 for 232 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. He also stepped on it twice, lost one and got the other back.

Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown scored by Dalton Schultz #86 against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown scored by Dalton Schultz #86 against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Dallas (12-4) will finish its season in the nation’s capital against the Commanders, while Tennessee (7-9) now prepares for what is now the AFC South championship game in Northeast Florida. It is not known if Dobbs or Malik Willis will start in that game.

By Robert Collins

You May Also Like