Mike McCarthy provides basis for confidence in improved line play with Tyron Smith at right tackle

The Dallas Cowboys offensive line allowed a season-high six sacks on quarterback Dak Prescott on Saturday versus the Eagles, and their total is up to nine allowed since the loss of Terence Steele, despite the return of All-Pro Tyron Smith to the lineup in Week 15. Smith is continuing to adjust to his new role at right tackle and according to Mike McCarthy, the protection on the right side of the line will continue to improve as Smith meshes with right guard Zack Martin.

“It’s just like anything, we’re playing to win football games and we’re playing to get our 12th win,” McCarthy said on Tuesday ahead of the Thursday Night Football matchup versus Tennessee. “Tyron just wants to get a week better.

“And the connection with Zack Martin, so much of this game is about who you play next to, it’s no different when a tight end is over there too. So, the continuity is something we obviously didn’t have the opportunity to practice with the injury in training camp, so all those things are real.”

Since starting the season with the loss to Tampa Bay that included four sacks allowed, the Cowboys offensive line had nine games with one or no sacks given up.

Former Tulsa standout Tyler Smith had multiple sacks allowed through November but improved his play and held on to the left tackle spot even with Tyron Smith’s return from IR. In the win versus the Eagles, the rookie allowed just one pressure on 40 pass-blocking snaps, according to ProFootballFocus.

Asked what exactly will factor into his All-Pro tackle’s gradual improvement as Dallas heads toward playoffs, McCarthy described a litany of small improvements.

“I think it’s all in the same,” McCarthy said. “You’re talking about footwork, technique, fundamentals… just like anything, Tyron knows how to single block, he knows how to double team, he knows the A-B-C blocks on the backside, but who you’re doing it with and the fit of it all, that’s why we practice, so he’ll be a week better.”

McCarthy, Cowboys prepare for TNF road game versus Titans

The Cowboys head into a Thursday night game versus a Tennessee Titans team on a major skid. Despite five straight losses, the Titans still control their fate for the postseason. Headed for a rubber match versus the Jaguars in Week 18, a win or loss versus Dallas changes little for Tennessee’s playoff chances.

Unless Philadelphia losses, little would change with a win for Dallas on Thursday, but Mike McCarthy has made it clear they aren’t entering preseason mode.

Players echoed their head coach’s sentiments as they returned to work after the victory over the Eagles on Saturday.

“I don’t really pay attention to much of what they’ve got going on,” Zeke Elliott said on Tuesday. “That’s nothing to do with me. We wanna win. We gotta go win this football game. We’re trying to build momentum for the playoffs.”