The Dallas Cowboys won 38-21 against their NFC East divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles on October 26, breaking their two game losing streak. But the Week 7 victory came at a cost, as two Cowboys defenders have been hit with league-imposed fines ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
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According to the NFL’s official Week 7 accountability list, linebacker Shemar James and rookie defensive tackle L.T. Overton have been hit with fines worth $6,171 and $6,013 respectively.
Overton was flagged for “A hit on a Quarterback”, more specifically, for a “Blow to the head/neck”. The infraction happened in the second quarter, at the 13 minute, 34 second mark.
During a third-and-7 play, Overton hit Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee while tackling him, illegally getting his hand through the quarterback’s facemask in the process. This turned out to be a boon for Philadelphia because while McKee’s throw was incomplete, the flag thrown against Overton ended in a four-yard penalty for the team. The Eagles got an automatic first down near the goal line, which set the stage for them to score a touchdown on the very next play.
Meanwhile, James’ penalty came under the “Unnecessary Roughness” category for a “hit on the defenseless player.” The accountability list revealed that this penalty also occurred in the second quarter of the game, at the 4 minute, 14 second mark.
Although it is unclear which Eagles player James hit, it happened when the linebacker made an incomplete pass meant for rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon. The same play also led to rookie safety Caleb Downs being hit with a pass interference flag. Officials reviewing the game noted the infraction and imposed a fine appropriate for a first offense this season.
For both James and Overton, these penalties mark one strike out of three. Based on the new NFL-NFLPA rule changes implemented to ensure greater player safety, they will incur higher fines if they commit similar player safety violations. The third infraction will lead the league to issue a one-game ban on the offender.
Being a high stakes game that affected divisional standings, players from both teams were on edge. So, the Cowboys gaining the upper hand and securing a win over their NFC East rivals should have been a moment of elation for Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer. But his demeanor during the post-game presser suggested that the coach wasn’t satisfied.
Cowboys HC Schottenheimer Remains Focused on Playoff Contention
Reporters were shocked when the Cowboys head coach conducted the briefest post-game press conference of this season after the team’s Week 7 win. When asked if he was offended by any comments made by the media, Schottenheimer was blunt in his response.
“No, I’ll be honest. I really do a good job of blocking you guys out,” the Dallas head coach admitted. “I think it was a big game for us. We’re motivated as a football team. I’m motivated as a head coach to get our guys playing to the standard that I know they’re capable of playing.”
However, he clarified that his brief report to the media was not fueled by any personal vendetta but rather a realization that this wasn’t the time to celebrate but to remain motivated and focus on securing the lead in divisional standings.
The win against the Eagles has pushed the Cowboys’ win-loss record to 3-4, putting them in second place in the NFC East standings, right after the New York Giants, who have a 4-2-1 record. Schottenheimer believes the team needs to maintain their focus and carry their win streak into Week 8 to remain a playoff contender this season.