The Dallas Cowboys’ season is over. On Sunday, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers 23-17. The offense of quarterback Dak Prescott, which is extremely powerful, was mostly contained. The Cowboys’ mistakes are what made them go home so early in the playoffs.
Many questions will be raised about the circumstances of this. The Cowboys were supposed to have a different season. Their defense was the best in the NFL for takeaways. Their offense was number one in yards and points per game. They won the NFC East title, and were invited to play in the playoffs. We are here again, with the Cowboys losing their first playoff match.
There are many things to be done for next season. The Cowboys must fire Mike McCarthy, their head coach. Here are three reasons.
3. Cowboys lack discipline
Every year, it seems like the Cowboys are either eliminated from the playoffs or out of contention for the playoffs because they have inflicted self-inflicted wounds. This year was no exception.
The Cowboys were flagged by the 49ers for 14 penalties. This tied the franchise record for the most penalties in a single playoff match.
The Cowboys have 14 penalties today, matching their most ever in a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/WPkXTEC18a
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 17, 2022
They were penalized 14 times for a total of 89 yards. It seemed that they came at the worst possible time. They extended their drives to San Francisco or made a big offensive play, negating the big gain.
The Cowboys were also not ready to begin the game. On their first possession, the 49ers were able to move the ball quickly. Dallas was unable to find a rhythm on offense. Ezekiel Elliott was still being tried by the team, even though it was obvious to everyone watching football this season that Tony Pollard is the faster, more explosive running back.
The Cowboys were not prepared or disciplined. This is directly at the feet of the head coach.
2. Mike McCarty’s Resume is Overrated
McCarthy is a Super Bowl winning head coach. In 2010, he won the Lombardi Trophy along with Aaron Rodgers. Many people agree that it had more to do than McCarthy.
From 2006 to 2018, he was Green Bay’s coach. The Packers made one Super Bowl appearance despite having a Hall of Fame quarterback each year.
McCarthy was often criticized for his inept time management. This problem resurfaced on Sunday. McCarthy was not opposed to Kellen Moore, the offensive coordinator, calling for Prescott to run a QB dive as time was running out and Cowboys were out of timeouts.
What a way to end the game! #SuperWildCard pic.twitter.com/esKKpbkrQn
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2022
Prescott ran for more yards than he needed, and the Cowboys lost time before he could get another snap. This is unimaginable. In that situation, you can’t allow anything to happen. Would you rather throw from the 25-yard mark than the 40? Yes. You are willing to risk any chance at the end zone on a quarterback pass. Not a chance.
McCarthy defended his play call after the game (via NBC Sports).
“I’ve never seen that come down the way it came down as far as the collision between the umpire and the quarterback. We were trying to get inside the 30-yard-line to set up the last play. The mechanics were in-tact and I felt from our end of it, the communication I was given on the sideline was that they were reviewing it and they were going to put time back on the clock. The next thing I know they’re running off the field.”
McCarthy must ensure that at least one throw is made into the end zone as the leader of the team.
1. “Same Old Cowboys” need a fresh start
A fresh start is a good idea after a loss like Sunday’s.
The Cowboys were the dominant team in the 1990s. They won three Super Bowls, and were still in the running almost every year. Cowboys fans have had a difficult 20 years.
America’s Team has consistently failed to perform. McCarthy led the team to a 12-5 record, the NFC East championship and a disappointing first season. This year was to be different. The Cowboys defense was able to field playmakers throughout the field, unlike years ago. Both Micah Parsons, a rookie linebacker, and Trevon Diggs, a second-year cornerback, had stellar seasons. Both sides were full of talent.
The season ended with a loss in the Wild Card playoffs. To help overcome the loss, it would be a good idea to have a new voice in the locker rooms.