Skip to main content

Tag: Featured

REDZONE WEEKEND ON ESPN AUSTIN

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in SPORTS NEWS.

REDZONE WEEKEND Brings Texas Football to ESPN Austin

Texas Sports Monthly is back on the Austin airwaves with REDZONE WEEKEND, airing Sundays from 10–11 a.m. on 102.7 ESPN Austin.

Hosted by Russell Dowden and longtime co-host Coach Pat Carrigan, REDZONE WEEKEND combines Texas Sports Monthly’s local sports coverage with radio, podcast and video programming throughout the 2026 football season.
Now in its fifth season, the program covers the Texas Longhorns, college football, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and, importantly, the high school football programs and coaches that define Friday nights across Central Texas.
The show is also building an impressive guest lineup. Attorney and sports agent Trey Dolezal joined REDZONE WEEKEND to
discuss NIL, athlete representation and the changing business of college athletics. Round Rock Dragons head coach Cody Moore
joined Episode 2 as Round Rock prepared for district play.

Upcoming programs are expected to continue the focus on Central Texas high school football, with plans to feature
Lake Travis head coach Hank Carter, Vandegrift head coach Drew Sanders and Dripping Springs head coach Galen Zimmerman.
The show is also looking to welcome Heisman Trophy winner and former Texas Longhorn Ricky Williams, who has
previously appeared with Dowden on another program.
The combination reflects what REDZONE WEEKEND and Texas Sports Monthly are about: football, community
and conversation. Rather than simply reporting scores, the program brings listeners directly into conversations with the coaches, athletes and sports professionals shaping football throughout the region.

As Texas Sports Monthly celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, REDZONE WEEKEND represents the next chapter
for the brand—connecting print, digital, radio, podcasting and video under one Texas sports platform.
REDZONE WEEKEND airs Sundays from 10–11 a.m. on 102.7 ESPN Austin. 

DRAGONS LOOK TO MAKE THEIR MOVE IN 2026

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Round Rock enters the heart of the 2026 season at 3–1 with experience at quarterback, size in the trenches and a roster built to compete as district play begins.

Momentum Building as District Play Arrives
The Round Rock Dragons aren’t simply showing promise anymore.
Four games into the 2026 season, head coach Cody Moore’s team has begun turning that promise into victories.

Round Rock enters district play with a 3–1 record and three consecutive wins, the latest coming in dramatic fashion Friday night against Vandegrift. The Dragons rallied late to defeat the Vipers 41–38 at Monroe Stadium, adding another significant victory to what has quickly become an impressive September.
After opening the season with a 42–28 loss to Weiss, Round Rock responded by beating Temple 49–37 and Dripping Springs 35–25 before taking down Vandegrift.

Now the Dragons turn their attention toward District 25-6A.
A Statement at Vandegrift

Friday night’s victory may have been Round Rock’s biggest statement yet.

Trailing Vandegrift 38–34 with less than two minutes remaining, the Dragons faced a daunting situation.

Their defense had just stopped Vandegrift on fourth down at the Round Rock 5-yard line, leaving the offense 95 yards from the end zone.

Senior quarterback Dov Stickler wasn’t finished.

Round Rock drove down the field, and Stickler connected with receiver Simon Sylvain for a 47-yard touchdown that put the Dragons ahead 41–38 with less than a minute remaining.

It capped a huge night for Stickler, who threw for 325 yards and five touchdowns, tying the school record for touchdown passes in a game.
The Dragons also rushed for 206 yards, giving Moore’s offense more than 500 yards of total production against the Vipers.

Sylvain emerged as one of the night’s biggest playmakers, catching both a 75-yard touchdown and the decisive 47-yard score.

But the game’s defining sequence started with the defense.

With Vandegrift facing fourth-and-three from the Round Rock 5, defensive linemen Ford Lucas and Ellis King stopped Vandegrift running back Evan Williamson short of the first down. That stand gave Stickler and the offense one final opportunity.

They made it count.
The 41–38 victory was Round Rock’s first against Vandegrift since 2021 and improved the Dragons to 3–1.

Stickler Driving the Offense
The Vandegrift performance continued an outstanding start to the season for Stickler.Through four games, the Round Rock quarterback has thrown for 1,132 yards and 15 touchdowns.
More importantly, the Dragons are putting points on the scoreboard.
Round Rock has scored 153 points through its first four games, an average of 38.25 points per contest.
That offensive production has allowed the Dragons to rebound quickly from their opening-night loss.

Round Rock scored 49 against Temple, 35 against Dripping Springs and 41 against Vandegrift — three consecutive victories against quality Central Texas programs.

The Dragons have also demonstrated that they don’t have to win games in only one way. Their passing game can create explosive plays downfield, while the running attack gives Moore’s offense another dimension defenses must account for.

Moore’s Dragons Finding Their Identity

For Cody Moore and his staff, the first month of the season has provided evidence that Round Rock can compete with some of the area’s strongest programs.
The Dragons could have allowed the season-opening loss to Weiss to define their start.
Instead, they’ve responded with three straight victories.

Winning at Temple demonstrated Round Rock could go on the road and produce offensively. Beating Dripping Springs gave the Dragons another quality win at home.

Then came Vandegrift.

 

This time Round Rock had to respond under pressure, make a critical defensive stop and execute a 95-yard drive with the game on the line.

Those are the kinds of moments that can become important when district games begin.
And the stakes are about to get considerably higher.

District 25-6A Begins

Round Rock opens District 25-6A play Friday night against Stony Point at Dragon Stadium.
From there, the schedule becomes one of the most interesting stretches of the season.
The Dragons travel to Westlake before returning home to face Westwood. Road games against
McNeil and Cedar Ridge remain on the schedule, along with a home matchup against Lake Travis.

That means the three-game winning streak is important, but the Dragons understand the games that determine their postseason future are still ahead.
Round Rock enters that stretch with something every football team wants in September:
Momentum.

The Dragons have won on the road. They’ve won high-scoring games. They’ve made late defensive stops.
And against Vandegrift, they proved they could drive nearly the length of the field with the game hanging in the balance.

At 3–1, Round Rock has put itself in position to make the 2026 season an interesting one.

Now comes district football.
And after three straight victories, Cody Moore’s Dragons enter it believing they can play with anybody on their schedule.

 

Top-ranked Texas likes the view from No. 1 but is focused on long season ahead

Written by Associated Press on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas has seen the view from No. 1 and the Longhorns know the fall from the college football summit can be hard.

The goal now is to make sure they get more than a fleeting glimpse from the top.

Texas (2-0) jumped to No. 1 after a wild 24-23 victory over Ohio State, which knocked the Buckeyes from No. 1 to No. 6. The Longhorns play UTSA this week before starting Southeastern Conference play Sept. 26 at No. 15 Tennessee.

“A week ago, the narrative was we can’t win the big game,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. “The opinion now is we’re the best team in the country, allegedly, and so everybody is patting us on the back.”

And he cautioned his team about getting carried away with it.

“This is the third straight year we’ve been ranked No. 1 at some part of the season,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t know how we handled it. And I don’t know how worthy we were of those rankings, of the opinions of others.”

The Longhorns look worthy of the top spot for now. How things shake out by season’s end is yet to be seen.

In 2024, Texas rose to No. 1 for the first time since 2008. The Longhorns stayed there for a month before losing to Georgia. They wouldn’t get back to No. 1, but made it all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Ohio State.

The fall last year was much farther and much harder.

Texas started the season No. 1 only to lose the first game at Ohio State. They were 3-2 a few weeks later and unranked. A 9-3 regular season left the Longhorns out of the playoff.

Senior linebacker Justin Cryer, a transfer from Florida State, seemed unimpressed with life at No. 1.

“It’s cool to post on Instagram or whatever,” Cryer said. “We have 10 more games to play.”

That’s where quarterback Arch Manning said the focus should be. He remembers the quick fall from No. 1 last season and getting left out of the postseason.

“The rankings don’t really matter until the playoffs,” Manning said. “We’ve got a lot to prove.”

Arch Manning throws four TD passes in season opener 59-7

Written by Associated Press on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arch Manning passed for 305 yards and four touchdowns, including two to Cam Coleman, and No. 5 Texas eased into the season with a 59-7 win over Texas State on Saturday.

Manning connected with Coleman for Texas’ first touchdown and with Ryan Wingo on the Longhorns’ next possession. Graceson Littleton’s 59-yard fumble return touchdown put Texas ahead 28-0 in the second quarter.

Coleman played his first two seasons at Auburn and was one of the top transfers in the country when he signed with Texas. He caught three passes for 70 yards in his Longhorns debut. Raleek Brown, who transferred from Arizona State, also scored twice.

“I liked how we got a lot of guys involved. We have a lot of playmakers who can do everything,” said Manning, who left the game in the third quarter with Texas leading 42-7.

Texas will host No. 1 Ohio State next week. The programs have an intense recent history. Ohio State beat Texas in the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals, and again in the 2025 season opener.

And while Texas earned a relatively easy win Saturday, it wasn’t a perfect one.

Manning killed a touchdown drive at the end of the first half with a poor throw into triple coverage in the end zone. Texas’ first play was a 45-yard run by Hollywood Smothers, but the Longhorns managed just 111 yards rushing the rest of the way behind an offensive line that struggled to push the undersized Bobcats.

“The run game, we gotta look at and find ways to make it cleaner,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said “I knew we’d have some growing pains today, which we did. Now we have to fix those going into next week. ”

The takeaway

Texas State: The Bobcats (0-1) join the rebuilt Pac-12 this season after 13 years in the Sun Belt. Do-everything quarterback Brad Jackson passed for 150 yards and ran for 27 but was mostly held in check.

“It wasn’t a very good performance by us. Pretty terrible, to be honest,” Texas State coach G.J. Kinne said. “Obviously, that’s a really good team. Don’t want to take anything away from them. But we really got out coached more than we got outplayed.”

Texas: The Longhorns forced three turnovers and held Texas State under 350 total yards in new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp’s first game back at Texas. The former Florida and South Carolina head coach was defensive coordinator at Texas from 2008-2010, which included a loss in the national championship game in 2009.

Texas transfers deliver right away

Texas added firepower in the transfer portal and it delivered in the first game.

Coleman and Brown put up their highlight touchdowns. Smothers, who transferred from North Carolina State, had the big run on the first play. And linebacker Rasheem Biles, a preseason All-American from Pitt, punched out the fumble that Littleton scooped to score. Biles also had an interception in the third quarter.

“He’s a violent player,” Sarkisian said of Biles. “The play he made to cause that fumble was elite.”

Up next

Texas State hosts UTSA on Sept. 12.

Texas hosts No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 12.

Cowboys Revamp Seek Playoff Run

Written by Associated Press on . Posted in NFL.

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer

It has been 13 years since the Cowboys missed the playoffs at least three consecutive seasons and more than 20 years since they had three losing records in a row. The expectation is that Dallas has done enough to end its recent slide by improving one of the NFL’s worst defenses enough to complement Dak Prescott’s potent offense. Brian Schottenheimer enters his second season as coach and offensive play caller with the same tools he had a year ago. Prescott had one of his best seasons with star receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, a productive running back in Javonte Williams and a tight end the Cowboys believe is still waiting on a breakout season in Jake Ferguson. Dallas brought in 34-year-old Christian Parker to replace Matt Eberflus, who lasted just one ugly season as defensive coordinator. The personnel at Parker’s disposal is significantly better, and he doesn’t have to worry about the Cowboys trading one of the league’s best defensive players. They did that a week before the season last year when they shipped disgruntled edge rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay, essentially setting up the epic failure that the defense became.

New faces

Edge Von Miller, S Caleb Downs, edge Malachi Lawrence, edge Rashan Gary, LB Jaishawn Barham, QB Sam Howell, S P.J. Locke, CB Cobie Durant, S Jalen Thompson, LB Dee Winters.

Key losses

CB Trevon Diggs, DT Osa Odighizuwa, S Donovan Wilson, special teamer C.J. Goodwin, LB Kenneth Murray, edge Jadeveon Clowney, edge Dante Fowler, CB Kaiir Elam.

Strengths

Prescott was a top-five quarterback by just about any measure last season, which helped Pickens have a breakout year coming off a trade triggered by a tumultuous start to his career in Pittsburgh. Pickens and Lamb are among the best duos in the game, which makes life easier for the third, fourth and fifth guys in the room. There could be an undrafted rookie among them in Camden Brown, who had a standout preseason. Williams’ arrival helped the Cowboys go from last in the NFL in rushing TDs in 2024 to the middle of the pack. Williams had 11 touchdowns, matching the total from his first four seasons combined in Denver. The interior of the defensive line, led by Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, could help Dallas be much better against the run. The Cowboys have struggled to stop the run for years, and they point to that as a reason they haven’t even reached an NFC championship game in 31 years.

Weaknesses

Until it proves otherwise, Dallas’ defense is known for having trouble getting off the field on third down or creating turnovers. The Cowboys were last in the NFL in third-down defense a year ago. Dallas gave up the most points (511) with the fewest interceptions (six) in franchise history. Logic says many of those numbers will improve with two first-round draft picks in Downs and Lawrence and the additions through trades or free agency of safeties Locke and Thompson and edge rushers Gary and Miller, a two-time Super Bowl champ who is joining his hometown team at 37. Durant was the NFL postseason leader with three interceptions last season for the Rams. The offensive line could end up being leaky if right tackle Terence Steele can’t find the form of his first few seasons or left tackle Tyler Guyton doesn’t progress as expected in his third season.

Camp development

Barham, a third-round pick, was among a handful of preseason standouts and could force his way into the lineup as a rookie even after Dallas traded for Winters believing a veteran was the anchor needed for a young group of linebackers. Barham, who went to Michigan, has shown great instincts at a position that has been a weakness for the Cowboys in recent years.

Fantasy player to watch

Pickens is coming off career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine). At his playmaking best, Pickens is unmatched on the Dallas roster, and now he’s playing for a big second contract. The former Georgia standout decided to accept the $27.3 million franchise tag without making a fuss, and the Cowboys won’t have a choice but to give him a long-term contract if he equals or surpasses his 2025 production.

Tony Romo pleads no contest to charge of DW

Written by russell@tsm.football on . Posted in NFL. 

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer

Tony Romo pleads no contest to charge of operating while intoxicated and issues statement of apology.

CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has pleaded no contest to a charge of operating while intoxicated and has issued a statement apologizing for the actions that led to his July arrest.

Romo was arrested July 23 following a traffic stop as he was driving south on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. CBS has since placed him on leave from his role as its lead NFL analyst.

According to Milwaukee County court records, Romo lost his driving privileges for six months and was ordered to complete an alcohol assessment program.

Romo also owes $834. An interlock device must be installed on any vehicle owned or operated by Romo or registered to his name, and that order will remain in effect for at least one year after he is issued a license.

“The past month has been difficult, but it has also been personally significant,” Romo said in a statement on Instagram. “It has required me to confront and own my mistakes fully — to the Lord, to myself, to my family and now to the public.”

Romo said the multiple back surgeries that led to his retirement as a player “left me with constant, debilitating pain.” He noted that the pain “led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.”

“None of this is an excuse,” Romo said. “These are my failures and I take responsibility for them.”

Romo said he is working with a team of doctors to address his health and “make the necessary changes.” He thanked his family, friends and the NFL community for their support.

“As I turn my attention to my health, my family, and, in time, my return to CBS, I kindly ask for privacy during this period,” Romo said.

Romo also initially had received citations for possessing open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, unsafe passing on the right and refusal to take a test for intoxication after arrest. Those citations have all been dismissed.

CBS Sports president David Berson said last month that he does not have a timeline for a decision about Romo’s future with the network.

Romo, 46, has been the lead game analyst for CBS’ NFL coverage since 2017 after making four Pro Bowl appearances during a playing career that ran from 2004-16 and was spent entirely with Dallas.

Analyst JJ Watt will join play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS Sports’ lead NFL team during Romo’s absence. Their first game will be on Sept. 13, when the Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers.

Citations released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office indicated that Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests and that an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage was found in the passenger’s side of his black Jeep during an inventory before it was towed.

Body camera footage showed Romo telling deputies he had been coming from a golf course and was on his way “to visit grandma and grandpa” when he was stopped. A deputy told Romo he suspected him of being impaired because he had “red glassy eyes” and an “odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage.”

Romo went to high school about 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee in Burlington, Wisconsin.

He remains the Cowboys’ franchise leader in career touchdown passes with 248. He held the franchise record for career passing yards (34,183) until Dak Prescott overtook him last season

 

TEXAS LONGHORNS 2026 PREVIEW: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EXPECTATIONS RETURN TO AUSTIN

Written by Charles Branch on . Posted in Football, TEXAS SPORTS.

 

The expectations surrounding Texas football are rarely modest, but heading into the 2026 season, the Longhorns have assembled the kind of roster that makes championship talk difficult to avoid.

 

After entering 2025 with the program’s first-ever preseason No. 1 ranking, Texas finished 10-3 and outside the College Football Playoff. It was hardly a disastrous season — the Longhorns still reached double-digit victories for the third consecutive year — but after back-to-back CFP semifinal appearances in 2023 and 2024, last season felt like unfinished business.

 

Now Steve Sarkisian enters 2026 with perhaps his deepest roster yet.

ARCH MANNING GETS ANOTHER SHOT

Everything begins with Arch Manning.

 

The enormous expectations surrounding Manning followed him into his first full season as Texas’ starting quarterback. His early performances were uneven, but by the second half of 2025 he looked considerably more comfortable running Sarkisian’s offense.

 

Manning finished the year with 3,163 passing yards and added another 399 yards on the ground, accounting for 36 total touchdowns. Most importantly, his best football came late in the season. Over Texas’ final five games, Manning accounted for 15 touchdowns against just one interception.

 

That late-season surge is a major reason Texas enters 2026 believing Manning can become more than simply a highly regarded quarterback with a famous last name. He is now an experienced starter with legitimate Heisman Trophy potential and NFL scouts watching closely.

 

PFF graded Manning at 89.5 from Week 9 through the end of last season, sixth-best nationally during that stretch.

 

The question is no longer whether Manning can handle the job.

It’s how far he can take Texas.

CAM COLEMAN GIVES TEXAS A NEW NO. 1 WEAPON

Texas also went shopping aggressively in the transfer portal.

The biggest offensive addition may be former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, one of the most physically gifted receivers in college football.

 

At 6-foot-3 and roughly 200 pounds, Coleman provides Manning with a legitimate outside target capable of changing games vertically. Despite Auburn’s inconsistent quarterback play, Coleman produced 13 receiving touchdowns during his first two college seasons.

 

Put that kind of receiver into Sarkisian’s offense with Manning delivering the football and the possibilities become obvious.

Texas didn’t bring Coleman to Austin simply to improve the receiving room.

The Longhorns brought him in to help win a championship.

 

FIXING THE RUNNING GAME

If there was one glaring weakness in the Texas offense last season, it was the running game.

 

The Longhorns averaged only 4.3 yards per designed rushing attempt, ranking near the bottom of the FBS. Manning himself scored 10 rushing touchdowns while the rest of the roster combined for only seven.

That isn’t the balance Sarkisian wants.

Texas responded by rebuilding the backfield through the portal, adding Raleek Brown from Arizona State and Hollywood Smothers from NC State.

Brown arrives after earning an 88.0 PFF rushing grade last season, while Smothers established himself as one of the ACC’s more dangerous big-play runners with 24 explosive runs.

 

Texas also strengthened the offensive line with additions including Wake Forest transfer Melvin Siani.

If the Longhorns can consistently run the football without relying on Manning’s legs, an already dangerous offense becomes considerably harder to defend.

COLIN SIMMONS LEADS A LOADED DEFENSE

The championship expectations aren’t based solely on offense.

 

Texas has one of the country’s most talented defensive rosters, and Colin Simmons may be the biggest problem opposing quarterbacks face all season.

 

Simmons generated 59 quarterback pressures in 2025 and led the SEC with 12 sacks. Through his first two college seasons, he has established himself as one of the nation’s premier edge defenders.

 

And he isn’t alone.

 

Texas added former Pittsburgh linebacker Rasheem Biles, giving defensive coordinator Will Muschamp another experienced playmaker to plug into a defense filled with elite recruits and future NFL talent.

 

The national recognition is already substantial. Texas placed a nation-leading five players on the Walter Camp preseason All-America teams: Manning, Simmons, Biles and offensive lineman Trevor Goosby on the first team, with Coleman earning second-team honors.

 

THE PRESSURE IS ON SARKISIAN

 

Steve Sarkisian has unquestionably restored Texas to national relevance.

The Longhorns reached the CFP semifinals in consecutive seasons before last year’s 10-3 campaign, and Sarkisian enters 2026 with a 48-20 record at Texas.

But the standard has changed. Simply winning 10 games isn’t the objective anymore.

Texas expects to compete for the SEC Championship and return to the College Football Playoff. With Manning at quarterback, Coleman outside, a reconstructed running game and Simmons leading the defense, anything significantly short of that would qualify as a disappointment.

The roster is talented enough.The quarterback is experienced enough.The program has recruited and spent aggressively enough. Now Texas has to finish the job.

 

RED ZONE OUTLOOK

Strength: Potentially one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. Biggest Question: Can Texas finally establish a dependable running game?

Offensive Player to Watch: WR Cam Colemane Defensive Player to Watch: EDGE Colin Simmons

X-Factor: RBs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers

Championship Outlook: College Football Playoff contender with legitimate national-title talent.

Texas doesn’t enter 2026 trying to prove it belongs among college football’s elite programs.

The Longhorns already belong there.. The question facing Sarkisian, Manning and the rest of this roster is considerably bigger:

Can Texas finally bring another national championship back to Austin?

Dallas Reloads for a Critical 2026 Season

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL.

Can the Cowboys Finally Take Control of the NFC East?

Dallas Reloads for a Critical 2026 Season:
For nearly three decades, the Dallas Cowboys have entered every season carrying championship expectations.
The 2026 campaign is no different. After another offseason filled with aggressive moves, roster restructuring, and significant defensive investments, the Cowboys believe they have assembled one of their most complete rosters in years. The question now is whether Dallas can finally turn potential into postseason success and reclaim control of the NFC East.

Jerry Jones Goes All-In

The Cowboys made headlines throughout the offseason by aggressively reshaping the roster.
Dallas doubled down on its pass rush by acquiring veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary, adding another proven playmaker to a defense looking to become one of the NFC’s most disruptive units.

The Cowboys also continued building their defensive front through free agency and trades, signaling a clear commitment to winning with defense.

The organization also invested heavily in rebuilding the secondary, signing veterans such as Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson to provide leadership and stability in the defensive backfield.

 

A Draft Focused on Defense
The Cowboys entered the 2026 NFL Draft with a mission: get younger and faster on defense.

Dallas selected Ohio State superstar safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick.
Many analysts considered Downs one of the best defensive players in the entire draft and a
potential cornerstone of the defense for years to come.

Later in the first round, Dallas added edge rusher Malachi Lawrence from UCF, giving the Cowboys another explosive pass-rushing weapon to pair with their veteran talent.
The Cowboys continued addressing defensive needs throughout the draft by selecting linebacker Jaishawn Barham, cornerback Devin Moore, and several developmental defensive prospects. The
class has been widely praised as one of Dallas’ strongest defensive drafts in recent memory.

Offensive Weapons Remain in Place
While much of the offseason attention focused on defense, Dallas still boasts one of the NFC’s most dangerous offensive groups.

Dak Prescott remains the leader of the offense, while wide receiver George Pickens enters another season after becoming one of Dallas’ most explosive playmakers. The Cowboys continue to view

Pickens and CeeDee Lamb as one of the league’s most dangerous receiving combinations.
The running game also received a boost with the emergence of Javonte Williams, who has established himself as the team’s lead back after a breakout season.
The NFC East Remains a Battlefield
The road to a division title will not be easy.

The Philadelphia Eagles remain the defending standard-bearer of the division, while Washington has emerged as one of the league’s fastest-rising franchises. New York continues rebuilding but remains dangerous within the division.

For Dallas to win the NFC East, the Cowboys must improve in divisional games and prove they
can consistently defeat elite opponents.

Why 2026 Feels Different

What makes this season intriguing is balance.
For years, Dallas relied heavily on offensive firepower. This roster appears far more complete.

The defense has added veterans and blue-chip draft talent. The offense remains loaded with proven playmakers. The coaching staff believes the team now possesses the depth necessary to survive a long NFL season.

If Caleb Downs develops quickly, Rashan Gary returns to elite form, and the Cowboys stay healthy,
Dallas could field one of the strongest rosters in the conference.

Prediction
The Cowboys have enough talent but can they win the NFC East?
The roster is deeper. The defense is faster. The secondary appears improved. The pass rush has more
firepower than it has had in years. The challenge remains mental as much as physical. Dallas has
repeatedly shown it can win regular-season games. The next step is proving it can finish when the
stakes are highest.

Will the Cowboys finally take the NFC East?

The answer may depend on whether this new defensive core can deliver the consistency and
toughness Dallas has lacked during previous playoff runs.

One thing is certain: The Cowboys have removed most of the excuses.
Now they have to deliver.

Spurs Suffer Historic Collapse in Game 4 Loss to Knicks

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NBA.

For San Antonio Spurs fans, Game 4 of the NBA Finals will be remembered as one of the most painful nights in franchise history.

 

After building what appeared to be a commanding and insurmountable lead, the Spurs watched the New York Knicks storm back in stunning fashion, eventually stealing the game by a single point. The comeback now stands as the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, a distinction no Spurs fan wanted to see attached to their team.

 

The collapse immediately brought back memories of another Texas sports nightmare—the 1993 AFC Wild Card game when the Houston Oilers squandered a 35-3 lead against the Buffalo Bills in what became known simply as “The Comeback.” More than three decades later, Texans have another heartbreaking comeback loss to add to the list.

 

The numbers tell the story.

The Knicks dominated the second half, outscoring San Antonio 58-30 after halftime. What had looked like a comfortable Spurs victory slowly turned into a disaster as New York’s defense tightened and the Spurs’ offense unraveled.

 

Guard De’Aaron Fox struggled down the stretch and committed several costly turnovers as the Knicks chipped away at the lead. The game’s final moments added another layer of controversy when Fox appeared to absorb contact on a potential game-winning layup attempt. No foul was called, leaving Spurs players, coaches, and fans frustrated as the final seconds expired.

 

Despite the historic collapse, the series is far from over.

 

San Antonio now returns home for a must-win Game 5. The Spurs will need to win out to capture the championship, beginning with defending their home court in Texas. Should they survive Game 5, a daunting Game 6 awaits back in New York, where Madison Square Garden will undoubtedly be at its loudest.

 

The silver lining for Spurs fans is that a potential Game 7 would return to Texas, giving San Antonio one final opportunity to complete a remarkable comeback of its own.

 

The challenge now is simple: forget history and make some new history.

The Spurs have spent an entire season proving they belong on basketball’s biggest stage. After suffering the greatest collapse in NBA Finals history, they must now show the resilience that championship teams are made of.

The Knicks may have delivered a devastating blow in Game 4, but the Spurs still have life.

 

Game 5 will determine whether this Finals becomes a story of collapse—or redemption. :::

 

Spurs Punch Back in NBA Finals, Defeat Knicks in Game 3

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NBA.

The San Antonio Spurs are back in the 2026 NBA Finals.

 

Facing a daunting 0-2 series deficit and playing in front of a hostile Madison Square Garden crowd, the Spurs responded with their biggest win of the season Monday night, defeating the New York Knicks 115-111 in Game 3 to cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1.

 

San Antonio came out aggressive from the opening tip, attacking the paint and pushing the tempo. The Spurs built an early lead before New York answered with a dominant second quarter, using a 42-24 run to seize control and take a halftime advantage. Rather than folding, San Antonio regrouped and delivered its strongest stretch of the Finals in the second half.

 

 

Victor Wembanyama once again proved why he is becoming one of the league’s defining superstars. The 7-foot-4 phenom finished with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks, controlling the game on both ends of the floor while making several clutch plays in the final minutes.

 

Rookie Stephon Castle delivered perhaps the biggest performance of his young career, adding 23 points while providing critical offensive energy throughout the game. Castle’s shot-making and composure helped keep the Spurs within striking distance during key stretches when New York threatened to pull away.

 

 

The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson’s 32 points, but San Antonio’s defensive pressure and timely execution down the stretch proved to be the difference. The victory snapped New York’s remarkable 13-game playoff winning streak and handed the Knicks their first postseason loss since April.

 

 

For San Antonio, Game 3 represented more than just a win—it may have saved the series. No NBA team has ever overcome an 0-3 deficit in a playoff series, and the Spurs understood the urgency. Head coach Mitch Johnson described his team’s mentality as “attack mode,” and his players responded accordingly.

 

 

Now the pressure shifts to Game 4 on Wednesday night in New York. The Knicks still lead the series 2-1, but the Spurs have regained momentum and confidence. If Wembanyama and Castle continue playing at this level, the 2026 NBA Finals suddenly look far from over.

 

 

Series: Knicks lead 2-1

Game 3 Final: Spurs 115, Knicks 111

Next Game: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 – Madison Square Garden