3 reasons Cowboys shouldn’t fire Mike McCarthy after playoff exit
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys are heading home after they lost 19-12 to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. A long offseason awaits the franchise, and fans are seemingly already demanding answers with the wound of the team’s latest playoff shortcoming still fresh as the morning dew.
The most burning topic is the future of Mike McCarthy, who’s under scrutiny from the media after the Cowboys’ disaster final drive trailing by a touchdown.
The decision to punt with 2:11 left in regulation was questionable, too. As was the execution, as Dallas wasted valuable seconds getting the punt team on the field and snapping the ball before the two-minute warning.
McCarthy absolutely deserves to face the music after Sunday’s loss, but that doesn’t mean it should cost him his job.
Jerry Jones has already stated McCarthy’s job is safe. We’ll see if that holds true. In the meantime, here are a few reasons why the Cowboys would be insane to fire McCarthy.
3 reasons Cowboys shouldn’t fire Mike McCarthy
3. McCarthy’s proven he can win without Dak Prescott
This alone doesn’t prove McCarthy shouldn’t be canned, but it undoubtedly resonates with Jerry Jones and the rest of Dallas’ front office. How many head coaches in the league would put together a winning record — let alone tread water and keep pace in their division — without their franchise QB injured?
Not many. McCarthy is 7-7 in 14 games without Dak Prescott. In 2022 alone, the Cowboys were an impossible 4-1 with Prescott sidelined. For what it’s worth, Jason Garrett was 1-13 without Prescott or Tony Romo in his Dallas career.
To all the Dak haters, that isn’t an indictment on the quarterback. Cooper Rush’s limitations were on display throughout his run as the starter. Rather, it’s a testament to McCarthy’s ability as a coach.
Again, this alone shouldn’t save McCarthy’s bacon, but it should signal to the Jones family that this team will fight tooth and nail for their coach, even if their $40 million QB isn’t under center. That speaks volumes, whether you want to admit it or not.