The Dallas Cowboys deserve a ton of credit for how they've competed against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. While the Texans haven't played up to snuff, Mike McCarthy's group has showed some serious fight despite being severely shorthanded.
That it was a 10-point game deep into the second half shocked everyone, but McCarthy may have screwed his team with a boneheaded decision.
Brandon Aubrey had just nailed a 64-yard field goal, but it was negated by a headslap penalty on Houston. That is not a typo. Rather than take the points and go down 20-13, McCarthy decided to accept the penalty, which gave Dallas a fresh set of downs.
Cooper Rush had been inaccurate all drive and had an interception dropped. Sure enough, the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs after they failed to convert a 4th-and-2 from Houston's eight-yard line.
Cowboys fans are furious with Mike McCarthy over baffling decision vs. Texans
So you take the points there, right? Make it 20-13. Another turnover on downs. Wasn't a lot there for Rush and wouldn't have mattered because of a holding penalty anyway. Texans still up 10.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) November 19, 2024
While McCarthy doesn't have anything to lose and we admire the aggression, taking points off the board with a backup quarterback just isn't smart coaching. Points have been at a premium since Rush took over under center.
What are the odds that drive ends in a touchdown? CeeDee Lamb had to take an offensive pass interference penalty to save an interception. Taking the field goal would have brought Dallas within a touchdown.
McCarthy's play-call on that fourth down is another story by itself. He dialed up a sprint right option (!) that resulted in CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert running into each other. Rush actually had Jonathan Mingo open on a crossing route but threw over his head and behind him.
Not only did McCarthy take away half the field, but the route concepts were a disaster. Again, you could argue that McCarthy should have called Aubrey's number. Yes, Dallas was knocking on the doors, but the red zone offense has been a disaster all season for a reason: the play-calling and execution have left a lot to be desired.
We haven't even mentioned the failed fake punt in the first quarter. While special teams coordinator Bones Fassel introduced the idea to McCarthy, it was ultimately McCarthy who had the final say. It was as desperate as it was obvious and the Texans were all over it.
Not many head coaches would survive such a letdown season, but Jerry Jones has doubled and tripled down that he isn't considering a mid-season coaching change. Regardless, McCarthy is considered a dead-man walking.
With his contract expiring after the season, the Cowboys can hit the reset button. McCarthy will get the final seven games, but decisions like taking points off the board with your backup QB running the offense just hammer home why his seat is boiling hot.