Cowboys studs and duds Week 15: Potential win falls through Noah Brown’s hands

Dec 18, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Noah Brown (85) makes the catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Noah Brown (85) makes the catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dallas Cowboys
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 18: Noah Brown #85 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter of the game at TIAA Bank Field on December 18, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /

CeeDee Lamb had an 18-yard reception on third-and-long during the first drive, and he showed off his athleticism on the play. The pass was underthrown — a common theme on the day for Dak Prescott — and the coverage was solid from Tre Herndon, but Lamb adjusted and made the contested grab to keep the chains moving.

When Jacksonville took the lead, Dallas needed something to happen on offense, after their last two drives had gone for an interception and a punt. Lamb rose to the challenge, as he took a short pass on first down and took off running, taking it to the 50-yard line for a 25-yard gain.

He finished with 126 yards on seven receptions and probably should have been the man Prescott was throwing to late in the fourth and overtime.

Dud: Noah Brown, Wide Receiver

After adding T.Y. Hilton, the Cowboys have continued to say they’re going to target Odell Beckham, Jr. With all this talk about wide receivers, Noah Brown has been stepping up.

He’s been great at making catches on third down plays, and will throw a block as well as any tight end — despite being a wideout. On Sunday, he was asked to do more, as he had six receptions for 49 yards and two touchdowns.

The first score was just after the two-minute warning, as he lined up near the line of scrimmage in an H-back set. Dallas faked the run, but then Dak Prescott flipped it forward to Brown, who took it in for a one-yard score.

Later, Brown hauled in his second touchdown of the game — and just the third of his career — when Prescott scrambled and he found an opening in the end zone. The touchdown put them up 34-31, and would have made him a stud had it been the game-winner. But all that changed in the final minutes.

First, Brown was unable to come down with a deep pass from Prescott in the fourth that would have iced the game. It would have been a sensational catch, but still, he had a shot at it.

Then in overtime, Prescott threw it to him on third down, and while the pass was low (again), Brown had it in his hands but couldn’t haul it in. Making things worse, the ball then flew in the air and landed in the arms of Rayshawn Jenkins, who ran it back 51 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

No drops are ever good, but this one might have given the Eagles the NFC East title. Dallas will now need to beat the Eagles next week and hope their rivals lose out from that point.

With that being said, it’s probably best to start thinking about who they will face as a Wild Card entrant.