The Dallas Cowboys have put in a commendable effort against the Houston Texans with the entire country watching on Monday Night Football, but it feels like only a matter of time until the Texans assert their dominance on the scoreboard.
Despite the intensity, the Cowboys still look the part of a poorly-coached team. They had to call a timeout on a Texans field goal attempt because they had 12 men on the field and allowed Joe Mixon to go untouched 45 yards for the first touchdown of the game.
Poor tackling has plagued Dallas all season and it's reared its ugly head in primetime. While the Texans' shifty receivers have made life difficult, it's when Mixon's had a head of steam where Mike McCarthy's team has really come up small in the tackling department.
Troy Aikman has been critical of Dallas' defense on the ESPN broadcast, and Bill Belichick followed his lead while appearing as a guest on the popular "ManningCast," which is aired on ESPN2.
Bill Belichick is already trying to coach the Cowboys amid head coach rumors
Bill Belichick on the ManningCast on @ESPN criticizing the Cowboys' tackling:
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) November 19, 2024
"Go tackle him. You wear pads for a reason. Go tackle him."
That quote will undoubtedly get the people talking about the unrelenting rumors connecting Belichick to the Cowboys.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter mentioned on Monday Night Countdown that folks around the league continue to believe Belichick will be Dallas' next head coach.
That is contingent on Mike McCarhty losing his job, but that feels like a foregone conclusion. McCarthy's contract expires at the end of the season and it's widely expected that it won't be renewed.
While Belichick is arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, several prominent analysts aren't convinced he'd be a slam-dunk hire. Belichick would be an upgrade over McCarthy, but some think he's lost his fastball as a head coach. Others have reservations about the coaching staff he'd assemble, particularly offensive coordinator.
It's all open for interpretation, but it feels written in the stars that Belichick will be among the first phone calls Jerry Jones makes in the offseason.
It's no secret that Jones likes coaches to have previous NFL experience. That's why he hired McCarthy in 2020 and Mike Zimmer this past offseason to replace Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator. It's why many think former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will be among the list of candidates.
Regardless, the Belichick talk is only getting started. There are still seven games left on the 2024 schedule. Every Cowboys reference he makes during his many media gigs will create a buzz. His critique of the team's shoddy tackling is an excellent example.
If Belichick does get the keys to this operation, several players on the roster are in for a rude awakening.