NFL Week 16: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game

Cowboys

What does a win mean with the playoffs out of reach? The cynic will say it only hurts the Cowboys’ draft positioning, but the players and coaches play and coach to win games. Mike McCarthy deserves credit for having his players in the proper mental space after learning only hours earlier that they were officially out of the playoff chase following the Washington Commanders’ victory. The Cowboys won without their leading tackler, linebacker Eric Kendricks, because of a calf strain. The Cowboys won with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb extremely limited in the second half because of a shoulder injury. The Cowboys won despite rushing for just 31 yards. They have won four of five and are now 7-8. It’s all too late to mean something for a postseason run, but a team that is down so many starters and key players is continuing to fight.

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What we learned about the QB on Sunday: Cooper Rush can get the ball down the field. He entered the game averaging just 5.7 yards per pass attempt. In the first half, he had 226 yards, averaging 9.4 yards per attempt. His 226 yards were not only the most he has had in a half in his career but the fifth most he has had in a game. The Buccaneers’ blitzing didn’t faze him, either. He went 7-of-11 for 148 yards against pressure in the first half. For a good portion of the second half, he did not have Lamb, who reinjured his right shoulder in a 100-yard first half. Rush also didn’t have wideout Jalen Tolbert, who had a touchdown reception but injured a finger on his left hand near the end of the first half.

Most surprising performance: Running back Rico Dowdle entered Sunday coming off three straight games with 100 yards rushing, and as a team, Dallas ran for 122, 156 and 211 yards in those tilts. It came to a halt against Tampa Bay. Dowdle finished with 23 yards on 13 carries and did not have a rush longer than 5 yards. The Cowboys had no success between the tackles (hello, Vita Vea) or to the edges. The longest gain was 12 yards by wide receiver KaVontae Turpin, who lined up at tailback twice. Given the roll Dallas had been on running the ball, it was a surprising season-low finish. (The Cowboys’ previous low was 51 rushing yards versus Baltimore in Week 3.) — Todd Archer

Next game: at Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Buccaneers

After defeating the Chargers 40-17 last week, what happened? The pass rush was nonexistent. The secondary surrendered five pass plays of 20 or more yards, including 34- and 52-yard plays to wideout CeeDee Lamb. Quarterback Cooper Rush was particularly adept between the numbers, which was a trouble spot for Tampa Bay earlier in the season and reared its ugly head Sunday. There were multiple missed tackles, including by linebacker Lavonte David.

What we learned about the QB on Sunday: Several times quarterback Baker Mayfield just had nowhere to go with the football, with the Cowboys keying on Mike Evans all night, resulting in four sacks. However, Mayfield was able to connect with rookie Jalen McMillan on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Mayfield looked for McMillan again in the end zone from the Dallas 46-yard line but was picked off by Jourdan Lewis. Mayfield completed 2 of 6 passes of 20-plus air yards.

Describe the game in two words: Gut punch. The Bucs could regain first place in the NFC South next week if the Falcons lose to the 10-5 Commanders. But it’s hard not to feel the letdown of a Tampa Bay team that, last week, appeared poised to contend in the NFC but wound up going 0-4 in prime time for the first time in franchise history. It was also the first time since the 2021 Seahawks that any team has gone 0-4 or worse in prime time after winning its division the previous season. — Jenna Laine

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Raiders

Did the Raiders wreck their draft slot and, if



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