Texas’s Arlington After a shocking playoff loss to Green Bay, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones appeared disheveled and was unwilling to talk about anything, even the future of quarterback Dak Prescott or coach Mike McCarthy.
McCarthy was recruited by the Cowboys (12-6) after more than twelve seasons in Green Bay because of his track record of leading the Packers well into the postseason. Under his leadership, the team has three straight 12-win seasons and four postseason visits.
Dallas will soon mark 29 years since its last NFC championship game appearance. The Cowboys were winning their fifth Super Bowl championship in 1995.
In the last two weeks of the regular season, the Cowboys defeated Philadelphia, the defending division and conference champion, and went on to win the NFC East.
After Dallas concluded the regular season with a 16-game home winning streak, they unexpectedly got the opportunity to host a divisional game following a wild-card victory for the first time since that 1995 season.
Rather, there will be plenty of questions and a reminder that both McCarthy and Prescott are nearing the end of their contracts.
When asked if the defeat raised questions about the future of his 60-year-old coach, Prescott responded, “I don’t know how they can be, but I understand the business.” “Then it need to be about me as well.
“I’ve had the season that I’ve had because of him,” Prescott said after Dallas trailed 48–16 after he threw two interceptions and three somewhat meaningless touchdown passes. “It is thanks to him that this team has achieved the success that they have.” I know the goal is to win the Super Bowl. That is the norm for both this league and, darn it, this location. Okay, but include me.
The Cowboys have lost their home playoff opener twice in McCarthy’s three playoff seasons with Dallas. Two years ago, San Francisco defeated them in the wild-card round.
Last year, Prescott had one of the best performances of his career in a victory over Tampa Bay that ended up being Tom Brady’s final game before losing again to the Niners, this time on the road, in the divisional round.
Dallas is the first club to win twelve games or more in three straight postseasons and never make it to the conference finals.
McCarthy led the Packers to the Super Bowl four times in nine playoff appearances; in 2010, the team defeated Pittsburgh at the Cowboys’ stadium to win the championship. In the midst of a losing season in 2018 for the second time in a row, he was sacked.
When asked if he thought he would stay on as coach, McCarthy responded, “I think the biggest thing is we’re disappointed.” “Everyone on my team is hurting in the locker room. I haven’t given this game’s conclusion any thought.
After leading the NFL in touchdown passes during the regular season and being considered for MVP, Prescott’s playoff record fell to 2-5.
Prescott stated, “Three hours ago, we had everything set up.” “Anyone in this company, particularly in our locker room, would have never imagined that we would be here. That’s why I keep using the adjectives ‘shocked’ or ‘stunned.’”
Since the playoffs were expanded to a 14-team format in 2020, Dallas became the first No. 2 seed to lose to the final team at No. 7.
Jones stated that he had “nothing set” in stone regarding his meeting with McCarthy.
“My intention was to spend time with him discussing our play and preparing for the upcoming week,” Jones stated. That was the plan of action. My plan for tomorrow is to fire the squad.
