Two more interceptions from Dak Prescott. Another missed extra point by Brett Maher. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys Can’t seem to get rid of those playoff demons.
It all added up to another playoff exit for the Dallas Cowboys and more questions about what needs to be done to get them over the hump.
Prescott had two turnovers and led only one touchdown drive and the Cowboys fell short of the NFC title game for the 12th straight postseason trip, losing 19-12 to the San Fransisco 49ers in the divisional round on Sunday.
“I felt we were in a good situation to come in here and win this thing,” owner Jerry Jones said. “Frankly, I wouldn’t say surprised, I would say just really disappointed that we maybe couldn’t make something happen.”
A franchise that won three Super Bowl titles in a four-year span early in Jones’ tenure is now known mostly for playoff flops.
And now there will be speculation about the job security of coach Mike McCarthy, who has won one playoff game in three seasons — last week over Tampa Bay.
Jones said the loss didn’t change his opinion on McCarthy, but he was clearly frustrated by another early ending.
“Our team is one that could have handled the situations on anything we had tonight,” Jones said. “We came up short. We’re sick. Just sick. Sick.” Said, Jones.
As a Wild Card team, these Cowboys finished the season at 13-6, including two playoff games. Last season, Dallas finished 12-6 and won the NFC East title.
So was true progress made?
It will be interesting to see how Dallas owner Jerry Jones sees it. The immediate reality of the Cowboys’ lot in the NFL as they head to the offseason with players on both sides of the ball heading into free agency. Dallas might be the third-best team in the NFC. But is that really good enough?
With the Eagles being in the NFC East and longtime playoff adversary San Francisco ending the Cowboys’ season the past two years, it may be tough for Jones to digest this season and proclaim ultimate happiness in the direction where the team is headed.
So that needs to be the question, what will Jerry do?
Of course, the immediate speculation will be centered around head coach Mike McCarthy. He is easy to pick on, but he didn’t do himself any favors Sunday. He is famous for his questionable game management skills and those have often popped up in the postseason with both the Green Bay Packers and the Cowboys.
Those clock management demons climbed between McCarthy’s headset late in Sunday’s loss. Let’s just say the Cowboys’ offensive play calling and execution on their final two drives were, well, interesting.
The final play was simply silly.
Of course, there has long been speculation that Jones will try to soothe his longtime friend Sean Payton’s itch and he has the opportunity to do it. Payton, who has danced with basically every team with an opening this cycle, would likely prefer to go to Dallas.
Would Jones try to wash away the stink of San Francisco by throwing New Orleans a big draft-pick package to get his guy? You would think it’s crossing his mind as he deals with what he just saw and realizes bypassing the Eagles and 49ers may not be within McCarthy’s bandwidth.
Quarterback Dak Prescott was lackluster for the second time in the past three games. Could he be the scapegoat in a year where many quarterbacks may be available? Maybe, but changing coaches and hoping Prescott flourishes with Payton may be Jones’ preferred move. But beyond the coaching and terrible quarterback play Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front off have far worse things to come than just a playoff loss.
The Dallas Cowboys’ front office was lambasted by the majority of the fanbase this past offseason for many reasons. Chief amongst them, though, was letting talents like Amari Cooper, La’el Collins and Randy Gregory go and not replacing it them with comparable talent from the outside. The counterargument goes Stephen Jones was preparing for the inevitable contract negotiations with young stars currently under rookie deals.
WR CeeDee Lamb and LB Micah Parsons will be eligible for extensions after 2022 and 2023, respectively, but both are first-round picks with the coveted fifth-year option. CB Trevon Diggs, a second-round pick, is finishing his third year and is much more a priority. All three playing money positions make it even more treacherous and lend credence to Jones’ preparing for the worst. But what about beyond those three stars? Heading into the offseason the cowboys will have 22 players going into free agency. Among those? TE Dalton Schultz, RB Tony Pollard, Safety Donovan Wilson, QB Cooper Rush, WR Noah Brown, K Brett Maher, LB Leighton Vander Esch, and LB Anthony Barr.
With Jerry Jones turning 80 and heading to 81 he is probably not wanting to go through another rebuilding phase. Look to this offseason to see some blockbuster trades and different faces on the Dallas Cowboys roster next year.
