Analysis: After another playoff failure, only Bill Belichick can save Cowboys.
On TV, Jimmy Johnson exuded more enthusiasm for victory than any Dallas Cowboy did on the field.
To save his team, Jerry Jones should now look to another legendary coach.
The rumors surrounding Bill Belichick have intensified. Even though Mike McCarthy hasn’t been fired yet, he is already the clear favorite to become Dallas’ next coach.
That may not be far off after a lackluster showing against Green Bay on Sunday.
In a wild-card game against Green Bay, Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, and the other NFC East champs did not show up. Since the NFL switched to a 14-team playoff structure in 2020, the Cowboys became the first No. 2 seed to lose to a No. 7 seed.
It wasn’t even close. The Cowboys were embarrassed.
Jordan Love and the Packers destroyed Dan Quinn’s defense, dominating Dallas 48-32 in a game they led 27-0 and 48-16.
The Cowboys lost at home for the first time since the 2022 season opener, ending a 16-game winning streak.
Jones has to be out of patience after his team’s latest playoff failure. The 81-year-old owner looked stunned and angry as he watched from his suite. He said this collapse “seems like the most painful” playoff loss he has endured.
“This is beyond my comprehension,” Jones said.
The score did not accurately reflect the quality of the performance. The Cowboys were uninspired, lacked enthusiasm, and had no strategy toCowboys seem to emerge as potential landing spot for ex-Patriots coach Bill Belichick counter Green Bay.
Excited during the Fox halftime show, Johnson is the Hall of Fame coach who guided Dallas to two Super Bowl championships in the mid-1990s and was just enshrined into the team’s ring of honor.
Johnson glared into the camera, saying, “You get your rear end in there and you play the way you know how to play.”
The ‘Boys didn’t receive his message.
In the second half, they lacked inspiration just as much as in the first. It appeared even less unbalanced after the garbage-time scores were added at the conclusion.
Under McCarthy, the Cowboys are the first team to win 12 games in the regular season three straight years and not advance to the conference championship. The Super Bowl drought for America’s Team will reach 29 years.
Jones has to be contemplating a change.
He has a talented roster that features four first-team All-Pros and five on the second team, including Prescott and Parsons.
But everyone crumbled under pressure against the Packers.
Prescott threw two interceptions, including a pick-6. Parsons had just one solo tackle and one quarterback hit and the team had no sacks.
Simply put: Nobody on the Cowboys did their job. Belichick wouldn’t stand for that.
He built a dynasty in New England, winning six Super Bowls in 24 seasons by instilling a team-first culture. Dallas desperately needs a heavy dose of his “do your job” philosophy.
Sure, Belichick couldn’t win after Tom Brady left the Patriots. But he would have Prescott and a strong supporting cast on both sides of the ball.
Coaching matters in the NFL. Matt LaFleur outsmarted McCarthy, Quinn and everyone on Dallas’ sideline. His game plan was executed to perfection by Love and other young, inexperienced players.
After Dallas lost to Green Bay, the Detroit Lions advanced to the divisional round by beating the Rams 24-23 for their first playoff victory in 32 seasons and second in 65 years.
They were energized by coach Dan Campbell, who took over one of the league’s worst franchises and built them into a winner in just three seasons.
“To be able to do something greater than yourself, it takes everybody around you doing their job and doing it at a high level and you got to be able to trust them,” Campbell said. “It’s special. It’s different than anything, man. It’s why you do what we do. It’s not the money. It’s about the competition, the camaraderie, to be the best of the best collectively.”
After a contentious home defeat to Dallas in Week 17 that cost them the No. 2 seed, the Lions were hoping to play the Cowboys again the next week. Given that the Cowboys bungled it, they will still receive the second home game. The Eagles and Buccaneers’ Monday night game winner will be hosted by Detroit.
Regarding the Cowboys, Jones must determine the best route to win another Lombardi trophy while the players begin yet another early vacation.
Calling Belichick on the phone is the first step.
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