Micah Parsons finds out how the other half lives, puts focus on getting Cowboys back to winning

Micah Parsons had never seen anything close to a losing record with the Dallas Cowboys, or at Penn State, and didn't have any reason to believe his fourth NFL season would be different.

Even after a stunning and gutting blowout loss to Green Bay at home in a wild-card playoff game last season, the star edge rusher figured it would be regroup, reboot and run it back.

Then the Cowboys got blown out at home by New Orleans and Detroit early when they were mostly healthy. Then he and fellow rusher DeMarcus Lawrence went down with injuries, followed by quarterback Dak Prescott.

From there, three players with All-Pro pedigrees eventually ended up on season-ending injured reserve, and the reality of that first losing record for Parsons hit hard in a 41-7 blowout loss to NFC East champion Philadelphia on Sunday.

The Cowboys (7-9) finish the season Sunday at home against the division's other playoff team, Washington. The Commanders are coached by Dan Quinn, the former Dallas defensive coordinator who helped shape Parsons into one of the NFL's most dynamic defenders.

“Definitely not what I envisioned, definitely not what I hoped for,” said Parsons, who missed four games with a high ankle sprain while Lawrence never returned from a foot injury sustained in the same game, a Week 4 win at the New York Giants. “Coming off a devastating playoff loss and you say, ’Hey, I’m just going to get the same team back and we kind of know what it’s going to look like, what the team’s going to be like.'

“But you say there’s other teams who are fully healthy and they’re not where we’re at right now,” Parsons said. “I’m going to take that as a grain of salt and use that as motivation to go toward next year.”

There was uncertainty over coach Mike McCarthy's future after the 48-32 loss to the Packers last January. Now, the uncertainty revolves around his expiring contract.

Executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said Monday the Cowboys wouldn't address that question until after the game against the Commanders.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, the former Minnesota head coach who replaced Quinn, came in on a one-year contract, so his future is up in the air as well.

A defense that seemed to struggle to adjust to his scheme early in the season was better late, and Parsons spoke highly as the season progressed of a man who spent a decade on the Dallas staff in the 1990s and 2000s.

McCarthy has deflected questions about his future all season. That probably won't change this week.

“I mean, that’s in eight days, you know,” McCarthy said when asked to reflect on just a fifth losing record in 18 seasons in Dallas and Green Bay, where he won the Super Bowl to cap the 2010 season. “I’m here to finish the race. That’s my mindset and that’s the team’s mindset.”

While a three-year run of 12-5 playoff seasons is over, losing records have been rare for the Cowboys. They haven't had consecutive losing seasons since going 5-11 three straight years from 2000-02 under coach Dave Campo. This is Dallas' fifth losing record since then.

Depth in the secondary has been exposed with the late-season injuries to Diggs and others. The Cowboys will have to rebuild that group in the offseason.

Rico Dowdle became the first undrafted running back in franchise history to reach 1,000 yards rushing. He had 104 against the Eagles to put him at 1,007. The first four 100-yard games of his career have come in the past five weeks.

Cooper Rush is showing a pattern as the replacement for Prescott. While his overall record filling in for Prescott is a solid 9-5, he's now 0-3 against Philadelphia. Five of his eight interceptions in his starts have come against the Eagles, all of them in two road games.

OL T.J. Bass is the biggest lingering question with a thigh issue that has kept him out the past two games. He's a backup guard as long as rookie C Cooper Beebe and RG Brock Hoffman, Martin's replacement, are healthy.

9 1/2 — That's where Parsons sits in sacks this season. He had at least 10 in each of his first three seasons.

Even with a loss, a top-10 pick in April's draft appears unlikely for the Cowboys. Something in the teens is most likely, slightly lower than where they were when getting Parsons in 2021, and slightly higher than their spot when CeeDee Lamb fell to them in 2020.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, center, leaps as Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau tries to trip him up during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy talks to reporters following an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 41-7. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Dallas Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin, center, is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles' Tristin McCollum, top and Kenneth Gainwell (14) on a kickoff return during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra (81) reacts after making a catch in front of Dallas Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons hugs his son, Malcolm, prior to an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr., left, punches the ball out of the hands of Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Eagles recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder won their franchise-record 13th consecutive regular-season game, 116-98 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

The Thunder trailed by 16 in the first half before pulling within 52-48 at halftime. Shaking off a cold shooting first half, the Thunder exploded for 42 third-quarter points and an 18-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander also had a game high eight assists for the Thunder, who are 28-5 and have won 17 of their last 18 regular-season games. He did not play in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Williams scored 18 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City.

Amir Coffey led the Clippers with 26 points.

After shooting just 31% in the first half, the Thunder wound up at an even 50% for the game and added to their league-leading steal total with 11 takeaways.

Despite the slow start, the Thunder's depth eventually overwhelmed the Clippers, who were without James Harden, a late scratch.

Williams hit a runner at the halftime buzzer to cut the Clippers lead to four, then scored the first six points of the second half to jumpstart a 23-5 run that put the Thunder in control.

Norman Powell came into the game averaging a career high 24.3 points per game. He missed his first nine shots and didn’t get a basket until eight minutes remained, finishing with six points on 1-of-11 shooting including 0-for-5 from 3-point range.

The Thunder continue their homestand Friday night against the Knicks. The Clippers return home to host Atlanta on Saturday with the expected return of Kawhi Leonard.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr. (77) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, center, looks to pass the ball away from Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) and guard Kevin Porter Jr. (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, knocks the ball away from Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, looks for an outlet as Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)