Dallas Cowboys 27-13 Tennessee Titans, Schultz scores two touchdowns, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 17
Dallas Cowboys at Tennessee Titans
SUMMARY: Titans extend losing streak to 6 as Cowboys win at Nissan Stadium
First half
The Cowboys took an early lead in the first quarter with a touchdown by Ezekiel Elliott. With Tony Pollard out with a thigh injury, the Cowboys also relied heavily on Malik Davis, who got them down the field on two big gains of 18 and 23 to set up another scoring opportunity. The Titans defense held them to 4th down just as the 1st quarter ended. The Cowboys went for the field goal from 36 yards and Maher made it without a problem, to put the Cowboys up by 10 to start the second quarter.
The second quarter started with the Cowboys going for a field goal after being held by the Titans defense. Maher made the 36-yard attempt, but it was all about the defenses for the rest of the half. The rest of the 2nd quarter was a tradeoff of turnovers as the Dallas offense were unable to get into the end zone. At one point, Fowler sacked Joshua Dobbs for a fumble, recovered by the Cowboys, but as soon as Dallas took over on offense, Dak Prescott fumbled and it was recovered by the Titans again. The Titans offense couldn’t get it done though and the Cowboys got another opportunity. Again, they turned it over when a bobbled pass by Hendershot was picked off by Byard. With just over a minute left, the Titans got their first points on the board on a 37-yard field goal by Bullock. The Cowboys tried to get down the field far enough to get another field goal, but instead, Prescott threw another interception, again caught by Byard. That was followed by a huge 30-yard gain by Burks, who the Dallas defense just couldn’t take down. The Titans ended up getting the field goal the Cowboys wanted for themselves just before halftime. Titans trailing the Cowboys 10-6.
Second half
In the third quarter, Titans’ Tre Avery got a Pass Interference call that gave Dallas a free 51 yards and led to a 7-yard touchdown catch by Dalton Schultz in the end zone. The Titans respond by getting a touchdown of their own though. They set it up with a 21-yard gain by Burks, but are held to 4th and 2. They went for it and just got it on a 2-yard run by Haskins. An 11-yard catch by Robert Woods put the Titans up to the 11 and it was he who caught it in the end zone, wide open for 7 yards and the touchdown to make it a 17-13 game, Cowboys. The Titans had yet to have the lead in the game, but they kept gaining on the Cowboys for a while there.
To start off the 4th quarter, the Cowboys decided to up the lead to a more comfortable number. They set up their next score with a 28-yard catch by T.Y. Hilton. It was Schultz again who gets the TD on a 10-yard catch in the end zone to make it 24-13. At this point, the Cowboys were playing more aggressively. They didn’t let the Titans get close again, fending them off from even another field goal. The Cowboys got their own on a 45-yard try by Maher and they moved up to 27-13, a lead they kept until the end.
What does this win mean for the Cowboys and Titans?
This game does not make a difference in the post season for the Titans, who will play Jacksonville next week for the AFC South crown. The Cowboys do have a chance at winning the NFC East, albeit slim. They only need to win one more game and for the Eagles to lose their next two to the Saints and Giants. If Dallas ends up as the fifth seed instead, they’ll be facing the NFC South winners on the road in the Wild Card game. The Cowboys play the Washington Commanders in Week 18.
Game highlights: Another Prescott interception...
but this one not really his fault.
Game highlights: Prescott iterception, one of a few...
Game highlights: Fowler forced fumble, Parsons recovers
Game over - Cowboys win
Ward is taken down just as the clock runs out and that is GAME.
Ward gets another gain of 11 yards but the clock keeps ticking...
Ward gets 12, then 6. Titans at 2nd and 4 at the Tennessee 27.
Dallas punts it back to the Titans
2-minute warning
At 3rd and 8, Lamb gets a short gain of a yard. Cowboys are at the 50-yard line.
Elliott gets another yard, but the Cowboys are milking the clock, staying in bounds and running it down...
Titans' Basham was injured during the play - his return is Questionable.
Elliott gets a yard...2nd and 9
The Titans go for it on 4th and 15 and Parsons runs after Dobbs. With pressure on, Dobbs gets it away, but it's incomplete. Dallas gets the ball back at their own 47.
Titans get FalseStart call on Daley
Bland gets to Dobbs just as he gets rid of the ball. He avoids the sack but it's an incomplete pass, 4th down.
Dobbs pass to Hooper also incomplete - 3rd and 10
Dobbs pass to Westbrook-Ikhine is incomplete - 2nd and 10
Dobbs pass to Woods for a gain of 8 for the 1st down and he gets out of bounds at the Cowboys 42.
At 2nd and 4, Dobbs throws it away with pressure from Williams. 3rd and 4.
Dobbs pass to Burks is caught for 11 yards and it's in bounds so the clock is still ticking...
Dallas punts it back and the Titans FUMBLE it - Dallas recovers it. BUT Joseph was in the way of the fair catch and the refs call it for Interference. The Cowboys get the penalty and the Titans get the 1st down.
Brown can't get the 1st down and Smith gets a Holding call, 4th and 10
Cowboys fans everywhere
The "let's go Cowboys" chants are way too loud for this game being played in Nashville
Elliott gets nowhere and Prescott's pass to Lamb is incomplete - avoiding a sack - which brings Dallas to a quick 3rd and 10.
Dobbs under pressure avoids the sack but then his pass is INTERCEPTED by Wright!
The Cowboys are getting aggressive here in the 4th quarter, not letting Tennessee stay close. They get held to 3rd and 15, but Lamb gets them enough yards to be within field goal range. Maher makes the 45-yard attempt and the Cowboys have a nice lead with 6:24 to go in the game.
Maher 45-yard field goal is GOOD!
At 3rd and 15, Lamb takes it 10 yards to the 27, 4th down. Cowboys are in field goal range.
Tart was injured during the play - return is Questionable.
Prescott SACKED by Tart and Walker for a loss of 8 yards.
Gallup gets another big gain of 14 yards
Prescott pass deep to Lamb for 34 yards!
Titans punt it back
Titans get False Start, puts them back to 4th and 10
At 3rd and 5, Dobbs is under pressure by Bland. He throws it away, incomplete. 4th and 5.
Dobbs pass incomplete to Burks. Should it have been a Pass Interference call on Wright? Maybe so, but it wasn't. 2nd and 10.
Dallas rookie Williams was injured during the play - return is Questionable.
At 2nd and 10, Dobbs gets it to Haskins for just enough, 10 yards and the 1st down to the Dallas 45
Burks takes off to the 46-yard line for 20 yards
Titans' Adams was injured before the PAT was kicked. His return is Questionable.
It's Schultz AGAIN for the Cowboys! Prescott lobs it into the endzone 10 yards into the endzone for the touchdown. Cowboys up with 12:03 to go in the 4th.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Lamb gets 3 to take it to the Titans 10, 2nd and 7
At 3rd and 2, Prescott tosses it to Davis for a gain of 5 and the 1st down
END 3rd quarter
The Cowboys let the clock run out on 2nd and 10 at the Titans 47.
Biadasz is out after getting his leg twisted in a tackle. The Cowboys put 19-year veteran Jason Peters in at left tackle and move Tyler Smith to left guard.
Dallas' Biadasz was injured on the next play - return is Questionable.
Dallas is at 2nd and 10.
Prescott goes for the deep pass and it is CAUGHT by new WR Hilton for 28 yards for the 1st down!
Davis gets no gain, Prescott throws incomplete pass and Cowboys are at 3rd and 10 already...
Dobbs pass to Woods wide open in the endzone for 7 yards and the touchdown, puts Titans back up to just a 4-point deficit.
TITANS TOUCHDOWN!
Dobbs pass to Burks in the endzone is incomplete on a dangerous toss with Cowboys defenders everywhere - 3rd and 6.
Cowboys' Kearse was injured during the play - return is Questionable.
Dobbs pass to Ward for 4 yards to the Cowboys 7, 2nd and 6
Dobbs comes through again with an 11-yard cartch to Woods who's just in bounds! 1st down at the Cowboys 11.
Chestnut is swallowed up and Titans are at another 3rd down, and 6
Haskins gets another 5-yard pickup, Titans are at the Cowboys 19
The Titans go for it on 4th and 2 andddd....they'll get it! Haskins gets just 2 yards and the drive is still alive!
And Haskins gets just 5 yards to put Titans at 4th and 2
Dallas D holds Titans to 3rd down again - this time, they need 7 yards...
Haskins gets another 12 yards and Gallimore is called for Offsides - declined.
Dallas defense stops Titans from getting too far at first, but then Dobbs throws deep on 3rd down. It's caught by Burks for a gain of 21yards and the 1st down!
The Cowboys get stuck after a penalty put them back 20 yards, but a Pass Interference call on Titans' Avery gave them a free 51 yards to put them at 1st and goal, easy. Schultz, wide open in the end zone, caught the pass from Prescott 6 yards for the touchdown. Cowboys up the lead to 11 with 8:48 left in the 3rd quarter.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Prescott scrambles away and throws it deep, and it's incomplete to Gallup but Avery is all over him. They're called for Pass Interference and Dallas gets the automatic 1st down on a 51-yard penalty (OUCH!) to put them at 1st and goal.
With 20 yards to go, Elliott gets 1 and Prescott throws an incomplete pass - Cowboys at 3rd and 19.
Cowboys' Biadasz gets Holding call, puts Dallas back 10 yards, 1st and 20 at the Titans 42
Dallas is held to 3rd down again, but they just need 2 yards and they get 4 on a short run by Elliott to get the 1st down at the Titans 48.
Prescott pass incomplete to Brown, but Pass Interference call on McCreary gives Dallas the 1st down
Dallas brought to 3rd and 4, and Gallup gets the 1st down on a 13-yard catch
Turpin takes back the return 11 yards but an Illegal Block Above the Waist call on Dallas' Joseph takes it right back 10 yards again
Dobbs pass dropped by Burks after Parsons puts on the pressure, 4th down and 6
And we're back
The Titans are starting out on offense in the 2nd half. They start out with a few short gains to set up 3rd and 6.
Turnovers hurting the Cowboys
Zeke with the Cowboys' first TD tonight
HALFTIME
Dallas leads, but only by 4 as the first half comes to a close. The defenses have been trading off takeaways the entire second quarter, but the Titans defense dominated, ending the half with an interception by Byard (his second of the game) to set up a field goal and cut the Cowboys' lead to 4 points.
The Titans turned things around at the end of the 2nd quarter, getting an interception to set up a field goal just as the Cowboys were trying to do the same. Bullock made the 29-yard attempt to make it a 4-point difference to end the 1st half.
Bullock 29-yard field goal is GOOD!
Burks gets a gain of 30 yards!!
Prescott pass is INTERCEPTED by Byard! He takes it 28 yards to the Dallas 40!
Prescott scrambles and gets the 1st down, gets out of bounds to stop the clock
Cowboys take final timeout
Prescott gets it to Hilton and then Lamb gets the Cowboys to 3rd and 1
Timeout #2 Cowboys
Schultz gets a 13-yard gain for another 1st down at the Cowboys 30
Prescott scrambles but he's tackled after a few yards, but they get the automatic 1st down on a Holding call on Titans' McCreary
Yet another incomplete pass, this time a dropped pass by Brown after Basham put the pressure on Prescott, 3rd and 10
Prescott pass to Gallup incomplete, broken up by Avery
The Titans get points on the board just as the 1st half is coming to an end. They got the ball back on an interception, but the Dallas D held them to a 37-yard field goal made by Bullock. The Titans are down by 7 with 1:04 left in the 1st half.
Bullock 37-yard field goal is GOOD!
Dobbs pass to Woods is incomplete as Parsons puts the pressure on him, 4th down and the Titans' field goal unit is coming on.
Dallas' Wright was injured on the play - return is questionable.
Haskins gets a gain of 3, 3rd and 9
Chestnut is swallowed up by Armstrong for a loss of 2, 2nd and 12
Two-minute warning
That brings us to the 2-minute warning in the 1st half. The Titans have the ball after picking off a Prescott throw and are now at 1st down at the Dallas 20.
Woods catches it and takes it down two yards to get 10 yards and the 1st down
After the big gain, Chestnut gets just 1 yard, followed by an incomplete pass - nearly intercepted by Diggs - to set up 3rd and 9.
Chestnut takes it up 33 yards! Titans now at the Dallas 31
Prescott pass is initially caught by Hendershot, but he bobbles it and it's picked off by Byard and the TITANS get the ball back yet again
Another 12-yard gain for the Cowboys as Gallup gets the pass and just barely stays in bounds
Prescott pass COMPLETE to Lamb for 12 yards to get the 1st down
Davis is stopped by Edwards and Walker for a loss of 1, Cowboys at 3rd and 11 now
Prescott throws deep but Lamb is stopped and it's incomplete, 2nd and 10
Prescott to Lamb for 15 yards at the Dallas 23
Prescott's throw incomplete, 2nd and 10
Titans punt it back at 4th and 5
And the Titans go 3 and out immediately as Dobbs' next pass is incomplete
Dobbs passes low but it's caught by Westbrook-Ikhine to set up 3rd and 5
Titans take over
Chestnut gets 1 yard as the Titans take over again
And now it's the Cowboys (Prescott) who FUMBLE the ball and it's. recovered by the TITANS
Prescott fires it to Hilton for a gain of 12 to the 50-yard line
Cowboys take over
Prescott to Schultz for a gain of 7 and then an incomplete sets up 3rd and 3
On the next play, Dobbs is SACKED by Fowler and he FUMBLES it, recovered by the COWBOYS.
At 2nd and 15, Barr takes down Okonkwo but the play wasn't called dead and the Titans take it up to the 1. Cowboys challenge it, but there were actually two calls by the officials (one said he was down and the other said he wasn't), so they give the Cowboys the challenge back. They call it as Okonkwo down, Titans at 3rd and 13.
Dobbs SACKED by Wilson for a loss of 4 yards
Dobbs takes it up the middle for a gain of 2 and the 1st down
Haskins takes it just short of the 1st down, Titans at 3rd and 1
Dobbs scrambles for 7 yards to set up 2nd and 3 at the Dallas 25
Dobbs lobs it downfield and it is CAUGHT by McMath for 39 yards!
Dobbs throws the ball away and is swallowed up by Lawrence for a loss of 6. He FUMBLES the ball and recovers it and then nearly tosses an interception. Titans at 3rd and 6.
The Cowboys are stopped at 3rd and 1 to go for the field goal instead of a touchdown. Maher makes the 36-yard try and the Cowboys are up by 10 to start off the 2nd quarter.
Maher 36-yard field goal is GOOD!
END 1st quarter
That brings us to the end of the first quarter. The Cowboys are on offense, but were stopped on 3rd and 1. They're now at 4th an 4 at the Tennessee 18. Will they go for it or kick the field goal?
Elliott takes it but he's swallowed up by Gibbens and Basham for a loss of 3, Cowboys are at 4th and 4.
Lamb gets a couple yards, Brown gets 7, and Cowboys are at 3rd and 1
Davis on fire
And it's Davis again with another huge gain of 23 yards to the Titans 24!
Prescott pass caught to Davis and this time he gets a gain of 18 for the 1st down at the Titans 48.
Dallas back on offense
Prescott tosses it to Davis, but he's sat down real quick by Rice for a loss of 1 yard.
Turpin runs it back 11 yards to the 34-yard line
Dobbs throws two incomplete passes in a row, sets up 4th down and they'll punt it away.
Parsons is on the field for Cowboys defense and he takes down Haskins immediately. Titans at 2nd and 8.
Elliott runs the ball in 1 yard for the TD, Cowboys take the early lead over the Titans with 4:36 remaining in the 1st quarter. Elliott has had at least one touchdown in the last (now) nine games straight.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Elliott for 1 more yard, 2nd and goal
Elliott sets up 1st and goal on a 4-yard run
Titans take 1st timeout
Davis, taking the reins while Pollard is out, gets a gain of 7 to set up 2nd and 3 at the Titans 6.
At 2nd and 7, Prescott tosses it to Brown and it's incomplete, but the Titans get called for PassInterference on McCreary for a 14-yard penalty and 1st down for the Cowboys.
Prescott tosses it to Hilton for 7 yards and the 1st down
Cowboys at 3rd and 5...
It's Schultz again for a 13-yard gain! Cowboys are in Titans territory.
Schultz gets a 9-yard gain and an Offsides call on Titans' Tart puts Dallas at 1st down at the Titans 42.
Turpin with the punt return runs it back 13 yards. An Illegal Motion call on Tennessee's Harris sets up 1st down at the Cowboys 40.
Dobbs tosses it to Okonkwo for 10 yards but it's still 4th and 6. The Titans punt it back.
Gallimore bats Dobbs' pass away, sets up 3rd and long
Dobbs scrambles to get the 1st down but it's called back due to a Holding call on Burks, 2nd and 16
Dobbs tosses it Okonkwo for a 12-yard completion!
Rainy eve
It's already a little rainy here in Nashville for tonight's TNF action.
Joshua Dobbs in at QB
Third-string quarterback Joshua Dobbs is coming onto the field for the Titans offense.
Prescott pass batted away by Weaver. Cowboys forced to punt it back to Tennessee.
Pollard is out, but Elliott is in. He gets a couple short gains to set up 3rd and 3.
Prescott tosses it to Lamb twice in a row, Cowboys get the 1st down on a 13-yard gain.
Game time!
Titans won the toss and have elected to defer. Cowboys will start us off on offense. Let's go!
Parsons rocking club cast
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is dealing with a hand injury, but is active for the game against the Titans tonight. He was limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday and is now on the sidelines with a club cast on his hand.
When asked about the cast and hand injury by a reporter, Parsons simply said, "you know, football. That's the reality of it. We play a physical sport. I'm good, though."
Cowboys wearing white color rush vs Titans
Prescott's interception problem?
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has had an interception problem lately. It's been worse on downfield passes. He is currently tied for 1st in the league with nine such interceptions. He has thrown an interception on 8.2% of his 10+ air yard attempts, the highest rate among qualified QBs.
Titans RBs chance to step up
With Titans running back Derrick Henry out tonigjt, HasaanHaskins will likely get the majority of the work running the ball. So far this season, Haskins has 11 carries for 50 yards, so this could be a chance for him to prove himself.
Rookie running back JuliusChestnut could also get a chance to prove his worth tonight. This season, he has just five carries for 13 yards.
Weather forecast for Titans vs Cowboys
The Titans game was delayed an hour due to blackouts caused by the frigid weather last week. This week in Nashville, conditions are looking much more favorable. It's still chilly, but manageable, with a high of around 53 and low of 48 with a 55% chance of rain this evening.
Titans on five-game losing streak
For a team that's fighting for a division title, the 7-8 Titans sure have been in a bad way lately. Tennessee has lost five games in a row, and the odds are not in their favor against the Cowboys tonight either.
With QB Ryan Tannehill and RB Derrick Henry both out and "nothing" to play for in tonight's game for the Titans, the Cowboys are a 14-point favorite (Caesars Sporsbook) and the over/under for total points scored is 40.
The Titans are starting their 3rd-string quarterback Joshua Dobbs and he's surrounded by an extremely weak offensive line and mediocre receivers. The defense is typically decent, but they are dealing with a lot of injuries this week.
The Cowboys offense has put up at least 27 points in each of the last eight games and 40 or more in four of the last eight, Though Tony Pollard is the lead rusher and he'll be inactive tonight, the Cowboys still have Ezekiel Elliott, who has had one rushing touchdown in the last eight games.
Cowboys vs Titans Inactives: Pollard out, Tannehill on IR
With the playoffs in the near future, NFL teams are taking extra caution with which players they're starting in the next two weeks.
Dallas Cowboys injury report vs Tennessee Titans
The Dallas Cowboys will sit running back Tony Pollard tonight against the Tennessee Titans. Pollard missed practice this week due to a thigh injury. Ezekiel Elliott will still play and Malik Davis is likely to fill in for most of Pollard's workload alongside him.
Cowboys Inactives
QB Will Grier
WR Jalen Tolbert
RB Tony Pollard
CB Trayvon Mullen
S Markquese Bell
LB Leighton Vander Esch
WR James Washington
Tennessee Titans injury report vs Dallas Cowboys
The Tennessee Titans placed quarterback Ryan Tannehill on Injured Reserve ahead of the Cowboys game, effectively ending his season. This will be his fourth missed game as he deals with a persistent ankle injury. The Titans have chosen to start QB Joshua Dobbs instead of rookie Malik Willis, who they are likely saving to play next week when the division crown is on the line.
Titans Inactives
RB Derrick Henry
CB Kristian Fulton
DB Josh Thompson
S Amani Hooker
LB Dylan Cole
OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
DL Denico Autry
DT Jeffery Simmons
T.Y. Hilton's Cowboys debut
The Cowboys signed wide receiver T.Y. Hilton a few weeks ago and this was his debut...a 52-yard catch from Dak Prescott on 3rd and 30.
The Tennessee Titans host the Dallas Cowboys for Thursday Night Football, and the home team is predicted to extend their five-game losing streak.
Fighting for division wins?
Sort of, but not really. Technically, the Titans and Cowboys can both still clinch their respective divisions, but neither would happen after tonight's game.
The Cowboys are behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and would need to win out and the Eagles to lose out in order to win the division.
The Titans could win the AFC South, but it will come down to their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18.
The Cowboys' chances are pretty low. The Eagles are without their starting quarterback and Dallas was able to beat them last week, but Philadelphia's next opponents will be the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants. The Eagles offense, even without Jalen Hurts, should be able to take on both those teams, or at least one of them. It's much more likely the Cowboys will end up being the fifth seed and playing the winner of the NFC South in the Wild Card round.
The Titans, on the other hand, are indeed in control of their own destiny, but not until next week. This week actually doesn't matter at all for Tennessee. The winner of the AFC South will be decided next week when they play the Jaguars, with the winner of that game coming away with the crown.
Hello everyone and welcome to our live coverage of the Tennessee Titans vs Dallas Cowboys game!
Thursday Night Football kicks off at 8:15 p,m. ET from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
We'll be here all night to bring you the latest scores, updates, highlights and commentary on the game as the Titans host the Cowboys for TNF!