The Dallas Cowboys gave owner and de facto general manager Jerry Jones the worst birthday present imaginable on Sunday. The saddest part? Cowboys fans viewed the 38-point loss to the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium as poetic justice for Jones.
Much like the humiliating playoff loss to the Packers in January, all eyes were on Jones after the historic defeat to see if he would lay down the hammer on Mike McCarthy. While Jones didn't give McCarthy a ringing endorsement, he made it clear that he is not considering a coaching change.
Firing McCarthy wouldn't accomplish much at this juncture. The Cowboys are 3-3. They're a half-game behind the inconsistent Eagles in the NFC East and they still have a shot at clinching a Wild Card berth. Injuries are a major issue right now and Dallas has gutted out some tough victories.
With that said, it's easy to understand why folks are calling for McCarthy's job. While somebody normally has to answer for a loss of that magnitude, Dak Prescott made it virtually impossible for Jones to hand McCarthy his walking papers.
Dak Prescott passionately defends Mike McCarthy after Cowboys' Week 6 loss
“... I’ll go to war for that guy, with that guy, every single day, and I’m not the only one in that locker room," Prescott said of McCarthy. "I feel like everybody feels that."
“If you heard what he said after that game, that’s not something that I care to let you guys in on, honestly, but strong message. In a loss, to be able to feel that way, show those emotions and respond, I’ll follow him. “I’ll follow him. I know he said it to you guys, he said it in there, he’s looking in the mirror, as we all should. Thankful for him as my coach. Period."
That's a powerful statement from Prescott. It is abundantly clear that McCarthy has the support of the locker room. The players came out in support of McCarthy following the Wild Card loss to the Packers. The fact Prescott is still willing to go to war for McCarthy puts the front office in a tough spot.
As the team's quarterback and one of the best leaders in the NFL, Prescott's opinion is valued as much as any player on the team. With that said, powerful messages to the media can only buy McCarthy so much time.
It's one thing that the Cowboys got blown out, but the Lions mocked them throughout the game. Head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson clearly took last season's loss personal and they dialed up several trick plays to embarrass Dallas.
One of them resulted in a long touchdown to tight end Sam LaPorta to put Detroit up 17-3 in the second quarter.
Beyond that, offensive tackle Taylor Decker almost caught a touchdown, while fellow lineman Dan Skipper ran routes as a wide receiver. The Lions also ran a hook-and-ladder to OT Penei Sewell that would have gone for a touchdown if not for an illegal formation penalty.
The Lions did not take McCarthy and the Cowboys seriously. That's a damning indictment on the head coach. Prescott may have bought McCarthy some more time, but the head coach should be skating on thin ice from this point forward.
