AP

Cowboys focus on reboot with defense in playoff trip to Bucs

Jan 11, 2023, 1:10 AM | Updated: 3:12 pm

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, left, hauls in a pass from Sam Howell (not show...

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, left, hauls in a pass from Sam Howell (not shown) as Dallas Cowboys cornerbacks Trayvon Mullen (37) and Malik Hooker (28) pursue during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Landover, Md. (Shaban Athuman/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)

(Shaban Athuman/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)


              Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) scores a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (28) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) during the second half an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
            
              Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, left, hauls in a pass from Sam Howell (not shown) as Dallas Cowboys cornerbacks Trayvon Mullen (37) and Malik Hooker (28) pursue during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Landover, Md. (Shaban Athuman/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)
            
              Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) runs into the end zone to score a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
            
              Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) makes a catch for a first down against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trayvon Mullen (37) during the second half an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Safety Jayron Kearse was more than happy to reflect on a late-season blip from the Dallas defense when the regular season was still going on.

Now that the playoffs have arrived, it’s a hard turn to 2023 for the Cowboys in Kearse’s mind.

“That leaves 2022 behind us, and let’s start this new season that we have ahead of us the way that we need to start it,” Kearse said Wednesday. “What we did in the regular season means nothing.”

In keeping with the idea of a reboot, the Cowboys will visit Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a wild-card game Monday night with two defenders expected back in the lineup after missing several games with injuries.

Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was out the final three games of the regular season with a neck injury, and is set to resume play-calling responsibilities that fell in part to Kearse.

Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, a midseason trade acquisition designed to plug a leaky run defense, is on track to play after missing four games with a pectoral muscle strain.

The Cowboys (12-5) have already lost two cornerbacks to season-ending injuries in Anthony Brown (torn Achilles) and Jourdan Lewis (broken foot).

DaRon Bland, tied for second among NFL rookies with five interceptions, left last week’s 26-6 loss to Washington in the regular-season finale with a chest injury but is expected to play against the Bucs (8-9).

“I feel great about where we are,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Anytime you can stand here and come Monday night you’re going to have some guys disappointed they’re not on the 48(-man roster). To me, that’s as healthy as you can ask at this time of year.”

The Cowboys led the NFL with 33 takeaways, becoming the first team since the 1972-74 Pittsburgh Steelers to lead the league in that category in consecutive seasons. Dallas also led the league in sacks most of the season, but recorded just six in the final five games.

There were other signs of trouble late in the season.

Kearse conceded the defense was trying to find its early-season form after consecutive 40-34 scores in December — the first an overtime loss at Jacksonville and the second a home victory over Philadelphia, the NFC’s top seed.

Dak Prescott’s third pick-6 in the final four games and special teams gaffes boosted the Commanders early in last weekend’s loss. But the Cowboys let Sam Howell and the Washington offense control the second half in the rookie quarterback’s debut.

When Prescott missed five games after breaking a thumb in a season-opening loss to the Bucs, the defense carried the Cowboys to a 4-1 record in his absence. The late-season D wasn’t nearly as dominant.

“Guys realize we’re not where we were at the beginning of the year,” Kearse said after the Dec. 24 victory over the Eagles. “Just understanding that it’s going to take the conversations, the tough conversations, that’s going to get us back to where we need to be when it comes down to playing a relentless style of defense that’s not really leaving anything to chance.”

In the past month, the Cowboys have added three cornerbacks to address injuries and the demotion of one of the replacements, Kelvin Joseph. The latest is Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota’s first-round pick from 2013.

The 32-year-old Rhodes, added to the practice squad last week, has 127 regular-season starts and six playoff appearances and could make his Dallas debut against Tampa Bay.

Whether it’s the fresher reinforcements or banged-up sacks leader Micah Parsons, Kearse sees the playoff opener as a recharge for everyone.

“Whether you’re hurt or not, when the postseason starts, it’s kind of like newfound energy,” Kearse said. “You feel good. You’re ready to go. We know we’re going to have everyone giving their best shot.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Cowboys focus on reboot with defense in playoff trip to Bucs