IRVING, Texas (AP) -The Dallas Cowboys have gone from the NFC East lead to chasing Philadelphia.
Their kicker has misses in five consecutive games, Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware is recovering from a strained neck sustained in a scary headfirst collision, and a trip to undefeated New Orleans comes next.
Yet despite consecutive losses to start December that have knocked the Cowboys (8-5) out of first place and intensified concerns about another late-season slump, coach Wade Phillips insists he is still confident his team will do what it needs to do to make the playoffs.
“I think we can, I think we will. I don’t wonder about that,” Phillips said Monday. “I have a lot of confidence in these guys. This is part of a long season. Coming down the stretch, we need to finish.”
s (7-6) on Sunday night to prevent a three-way tie for the division lead. The Cowboys have a one-game lead over New York for the final NFC wild-card spot.
“I know that we have a team that is capable of winning against any opponent,” owner Jerry Jones said after the Chargers game, describing his mood as frustrated, not angry.
Dallas now has games at the Saints and Washington before the regular-season finale Jan. 3 at home against Philadelphia.
“We lost a game. We haven’t lost a season. The only way you lose is to give up or quit,” Phillips said. “I don’t think it’s doom and gloom. It’s opportunity, and that’s what we have to go for.”
The really good news Monday was the status of Ware, who a day after being strapped to a stretcher and taken off the field isn’t being ruled out for Saturday night against the Saints.
Ware went to the hospital after getting hurt in the fourth quarter Sunday when he slammed headfirst into the upper leg of Chargers lineman Brandyn Dombrowski while pursing quarterback Philip Rivers. The Cowboys described his injury Monday as a strained muscle in his neck.
Phillips said Ware had “really bounced back strong. That’s encouraging for him and us.” The coach said the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker is day to day.
As for struggling kicker Nick Folk, Phillips would only say the team is looking at all options.
five games. His nine misses this year are two more than he had combined his first two seasons, and Folk was a Pro Bowl pick as a rookie.
With a short week of preparation before playing the Saints, the players were off Monday and unavailable for comment. They return to practice Tuesday.
Even with a change in holders, with quarterback Tony Romo taking over for punter Mat McBriar on Sunday, Folk missed a 42-yard attempt just before halftime. He made a 31-yarder on the Cowboys’ opening possession.
“I don’t believe we’ve got a holder problem,” Jones said. “The bottom line is we need to make our field goals. “
If the Cowboys decide to make a kicking change, one possibility is rookie kickoff specialist David Buehler. They could also look outside, though Phillips acknowledged that could be difficult at this time of the season.
“Most of them that are out there have probably done worse, and certainly haven’t done as well as (Folk) has in a lot of the situations here,” Phillips said. “So that’s why you want him to get back somehow. And how to do that, we haven’t solved that yet, but we’re going to keep working on it.”
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