First-year Dallas coach Mike McCarthy draws parallels to his debut in Green Bay when the Packers finished a rough year with four straight victories on the way to a strong second season. The first stint was interrupted during the second game when he went out with a concussion that sidelined him the next week. Dallas has been last in the NFL much of the season in that category, but probably won't finish there. The franchise record is 436 from 2010, the last time the Cowboys were caught up in a coaching change. NEXT STEPSWith a Dallas loss or Washington win in any of the three remaining games, the Cowboys can't make the playoffs as NFC East champions.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates a touchdown throw with wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)CINCINNATI – Andy Dalton was good enough in his return to Cincinnati, tossing two touchdown passes and helping lead the Dallas Cowboys to a 30-7 win over the Bengals on Sunday. The Bengals fumbled the ball away on their first three drives, one fumble returned for a touchdown, and leading to 17 first-half points by the Cowboys (4-9). Dalton was serviceable, going 16 for 23 for 185 yards, as the Cowboys stayed in contention in the weak NFC East. Dalton signed with the Cowboys as a backup, and stepped in when Dak Prescott went down.

Dak Prescott stuck with his virtual hiatus trying to get a long-term contract that never came during the offseason. Im not a guy that looks at my future to be honest, Prescott said Wednesday, two days before the first practice of training camp for the Cowboys. He was an almost instant star with the Cowboys, winning 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as a fourth-round pick who replaced injured 10-year starter Tony Romo during his first preseason. The Cowboys made the hotel available to their players, and Prescott estimated 90% of them had essentially agreed to create their own bubble. The Cowboys cleared their COVID-19 reserve list early this week by activating WR Jon'Vea Johnson and CB Saivion Smith.

FRISCO, Texas The Dallas Cowboys released Kai Forbath on Saturday, clearing the way for Greg Zuerlein to be their kicker in 2020. Forbath signed a one-year contract in March after making all 10 kicks as the midseason replacement for a struggling Brett Maher in 2019. Zuerlein signed a three-year contract with $2.3 million guaranteed just a few days later and was reunited with special teams coach John Fassel, who left the Los Angeles Rams and joined new Dallas coach Mike McCarthy's staff. The 32-year-old Zuerlein was second to Maher in misses in the NFL last season with nine. The move means Smith either tested positive for the virus, which teams are not confirming, or was in close contact with someone who tested positive.