Mike McCarthy proved he hasn't learned anything, and the Cowboys suffered for it
Death, taxes, and the Cowboys (-3.5) making a quick playoff exit.
While a host of miscues almost let Dallas make an inexplicable comeback in the NFL Wild Card Game against the 49ers, in the end, it’s another cold (temperate?) winter in Arlington. A deflating, 23-17 defeat is not all she wrote.
Many screeds will be penned about what and who was responsible for another disappointing Dallas effort in the postseason. (Which, we can all be sure North Texas will have a penchant for the melodramatic in their usual eulogies while Jerry Jones weeps.)
Could Dak Prescott have been better after one of the best years of his career? Absolutely. 254 passing yards but one touchdown and a terrible decision to scramble with the Cowboys (who were out of timeouts) driving in the final seconds isn’t up to par.
(Please note whose decision that was.)
Could a defense littered with stars like Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence have been a bit more stout? We’re not sure Deebo Samuel isn’t still running past Cowboys defenders.
But a factor that the Cowboys should be able to control and count on—coaching decisions—is what probably stings most.
Mike McCarthy: Your table is ready.
First, there were the customary conservative fourth-down decisions. The type of decisions Green Bay faithful were familiar with long before any Cowboys fans got to know them.
Near midfield? Punt, why not!
Down by two scores (with two two-point conversions, no less) in the fourth quarter, and your offense struggling? Oh, taking the field goal is totally fine. You haven’t been to the red zone all day, but there’s plenty of time.
And, finally, in what was even new territory for all you McCarthy heads out there: He called a fake punt on a fourth down, which the Cowboys converted, and followed it up by trying to goad the 49ers into taking a timeout.
Wait for it. Wait for it. Wait for it.
Whoops! A delay of game!
There have been many instances where you could and should question McCarthy’s decision-making in a playoff game throughout his career. It’s part of the reason he’s no longer on the sideline in Green Bay.
But two separate punts near and in opposition territory, followed by a delay of game after a successful fake punt (not easy to do)? This is unquestionably his Mona Lisa of awful game management.
The Nickelodeon broadcast of the game probably put it best.
(Via Nickelodeon)
The Cowboys will try to pick up the pieces and reflect on a playoff run gone awry. While there are certainly other factors, they shouldn’t look much farther than their outright liability of a head coach.