Cooper Rush and the Dallas offense seem to be improving, though it might be too late for the Cowboys’ playoff hopes.
On Sunday, the 31-year-old Rush threw a career-high three touchdown passes, and Rico Dowdle set a new career high in rushing for the third week in a row as the Cowboys defeated the Carolina Panthers 30-14.
Rush has thrown eight touchdown passes in the past four games, including three Dallas wins and a tough 27-20 loss to Cincinnati on Monday night after a special teams mistake led to the Bengals’ winning points.
This stretch is the best of Rush’s nine-year NFL career.
“I think I’m a better player than I was in 2022, for sure,” Rush said. “I think some fundamentals have been cleaned up. I have been around a long time, but getting starts does matter. So that’s important.”
Coach Mike McCarthy praised Rush after Sunday’s game, where he completed 18 of 29 passes for 214 yards and helped the offense gain 410 yards and 24 first downs.
“A lot of poise,” McCarthy said. “He commands the huddle and keeps us in really good plays.”
The Cowboys (6-8) are still three games behind the Washington Commanders, who won 20-19 against New Orleans, in the race for the final NFC wild-card spot, with only three games left in the regular season. So even if Dallas wins all their remaining games, their chances of making the playoffs are slim.
However, the improved balance on offense gives the Cowboys something to look forward to next season.
Dowdle is becoming a promising running back. He set a new career high in rushing for the third week in a row, running for 149 yards on 26 carries.
Although it came against the league’s worst run defense, the undrafted rookie is gaining confidence with every game.
“He’s doing a really good job, breaks tackles and has a violent run style,” McCarthy said. “His decision-making has been excellent.”
Meanwhile, CeeDee Lamb is still playing through a shoulder injury, despite the shrinking playoff hopes.
He caught nine passes on Sunday for 116 yards and a touchdown, reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in five seasons.
“He’s just a tough, talented dynamic football player,” McCarthy said. “You can’t find enough ways to get him the ball. The beauty of CeeDee is you can line him in the backfield and give him the ball 10 times. He’s a natural runner with the football. We just have to continue to find ways to get him the ball.”
Lamb said he believes defenders are targeting his shoulder, knowing it has been bothering him. On Sunday, Panthers safety Xavier Woods was penalized for hitting Lamb as he tried to make a catch.
But Lamb said it’s important for him to keep playing through the injury because his teammates are relying on him, even if the playoffs seem out of reach.
“I always have that mentality,” Lamb said. “Obviously, offensively, the guys are looking for me as a spark. So with that, I’m going to continue to do that. And I look at myself as a spark as well. I feel like I can personally score from anywhere on the field no matter how deep. With that being said, I want to be a threat every time I touch it.”
