Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is at it again. Notorious for baffling in-game decisions that prove costly, the Cowboys’ head coach is getting blasted for bizarre choice on Thanksgiving against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Missing star wide receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys’ offense is struggling. Dallas found the end zone once on four drives, with Dak Prescott hitting Sean McKeon for an early score. But Greg Zuerlein missed the extra-point attempt, costing Dallas a crucial point.
Las Vegas responded with two scoring drives, taking a 17-6 lead late in the second quarter. Finally, the Cowboys’ offense moved the football back into Raiders’ territory. When the drive stalled at Las Vegas’ 40-yard line, it forced McCarthy to make a choice.
He could put the ball in Prescott’s hands on 4th-and-7, with this team in desperate need of a big play. He could have punted it, forcing the Raiders’ offense to cover the length of the field for a scoring drive.
Instead, a few drives after Zuerlein missed the extra-point attempt, McCarthy sent his kicker out for a 59-yard field goal. To no one’s surprise, the attempt failed as the ball bounced off the upright and gave possession to Las Vegas in great field position.
As you might expect, the NFL world didn’t hold back its criticism of McCarthy for another dumbfounding decision.