Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys are coming off yet another season-ending loss in the NFL Playoffs, failing to make it to the NFC Championship Game for a 27th consecutive year.
This time, it came via a 19-12 road loss to the rival San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. Dak Prescott came up small again, throwing two first-half interceptions in defeat.
Meanwhile, there’s been widespread rumors about McCarthy’s job status in Big D. While owner Jerry Jones had previously hinted his job was safe, more playoff futility could change his mind.
In talking with reporters following Sunday night’s loss in Santa Clara, Jones attempted to quiet the aforementioned rumors. Simply put, the longtime owner said that this latest loss will have no impact on McCarthy’s job status moving forward.
This might not be what Dallas Cowboys fans want to hear. But let’s be honest. Mike McCarthy has been their most-successful head coach since the days of Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer during their dynastic run in the 1990s. In fact, the ‘Boys have won 12 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 90s.
Related: Takeaways from Dallas Cowboys loss to San Francisco 49ers
Can the Dallas Cowboys win with Mike McCarthy?
The answer to this question has multiple layers. He’s not the individual who led the NFL with 15 interceptions during the regular season. That rests on Dak Prescott’s shoulders.
It also must be noted that Dallas was taking on a juggernaut 49ers team on the road Sunday night. San Francisco had won 11 consecutive heading in, averaging nearly 35 points per game. The fact that Dallas kept this one close has to be seen as a good thing for McCarthy’s job security.
Even then, it’s all about winning that Lombardi Trophy. Several members of the Cowboys’ current roster weren’t even born the last time they won the Super Bowl following the 1995 season. Jones knows all about these struggles and has not been afraid to open up about them.
“I can tell you the story of every one of those disappointing years. I can go back and pick about four of those years that we had the goods to be there, but for whatever reason, we weren’t. The motivation is here and we created the motivation in what we do in presenting the Cowboys. We write a check with our mouth that our butt has to cover. Or should cover.”
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones earlier in January