Coach Mike McCarthy’s first season in Big D isn’t a total loss yet, but the Cowboys missed a chance to take some significant momentum into December after a 41-16 division loss to Washington on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys played a day after strength and conditional coordinator Markus Paul died. “Suffered just a tragic, tragic loss in Markus Paul. Washington (4-7) took over the NFC East lead, at least briefly, before Philadelphia (3-7-1) and the New York Giants (3-7) play this weekend. The Cowboys canceled practice Tuesday after Paul, a former NFL defensive back, was taken to the hospital.