The Dallas Cowboys' loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday was a microcosm of their season. Some of the issues that plagued Dallas were poor tackling, a lack of execution on offense, miscommunication in coverage on defense and an abundance of pre-snap penalties.
That is an indictment on Mike McCarthy more than anyone, but the entire roster and coaching staff needs to look in the mirror.
Jerry Jones spoke after the loss and didn't sound like someone who's considering making a coaching change. On the contrary, Jones hinted the Cowboys will be buyers before Tuesday's trade deadline even though Dak Prescott faces a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
It has been a while since Jones fired a coach mid-season, but just because McCarthy's job is (seemingly) safe doesn't mean Jones won't make any statements. If the 82-year-old feels like a change is necessary, he has the perfect scapegoat to fire.
Cowboys could fire special teams coordinator John Fassel after Week 9 disaster
If any Cowboys coach deserves to be handed their walking papers after a third straight loss, it's Fassel. A lot of that boils down to the atrocious fake punt Fassel dialed up on the first possession of the second half.
Trailing 14-10 and facing a 4th-and-2 at their own 38-yard line, Bryan Anger fielded the punt and threw in the direction of C.J. Goodwin, who tripped on the route and the throw was almost intercepted. Even if Goodwin didn't slip, the play had little chance of succeeding.
The Cowboys fake punt is almost intercepted!
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It was a boneheaded decision on multiple fronts.
Why not have Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Rico Dowdle and Jake Ferguson on the field to convert two yards? We don't hate the decision to go for it, but it was a crucial point in the game and Fassel and McCarthy put it in the hand - not leg - of their punter.
While Dallas' defense put up a good fight in the first half, Fassel and McCarthy put them in an impossible situation having to stop the Falcons on a short field. Like clockwork, Bijan Robinson ran for gains of 8, 7 and 14 yards before Kirk Cousins found Ray-Ray McCloud in the end zone to put Atlanta up 21-10. The game felt like it was over with that touchdown.
The play-call and execution was an atrocity, but there was so much wrong with the decision beyond its design and result. It was a desperate decision that compromised the Cowboys' severely undermanned defense.
Fassel being the ideal scapegoat goes beyond Sunday's fake punt. No special teams unit in football has more penalties than Dallas (16). On a team that is plagued by a lack of discipline, Fassel's group is arguably the least disciplined sector of the team.
Brandon Aubrey's kicking heroics and KaVontae Turpin ranking first in the league with 34.2 yards averaged per kickoff return have masked what has otherwise been a disastrous season for Dallas' special teams.
While we aren't calling for Fassel to be fired, he is the obvious fall guy if Jones feels compelled to make a change.