The Dallas Cowboys should have had a deep playoff run after winning 12 games in the regular season.
They had a high-scoring offense with Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb.
On defense, players like DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, and Trevon Diggs helped them limit their opponents’ production.
But their aspirations melted when the San Francisco 49ers defeated them at home.
Falling short of their expectations puts Mike McCarthy on the hot seat.
Aside from the team’s blunders, some recent developments should have him praying for a miracle.
3. Sean Payton’s Availability
The former New Orleans Saints head coach revealed that he doesn’t plan to coach in 2022.
After 16 seasons in The Big Easy, he would like to explore other options like being a pundit on television.
However, Payton did not shut down the possibility of a coaching return in the foreseeable future.
Therefore, Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones will continue to shoot his shot, hoping to lure in the one-time Super Bowl champion.
Dallas’ roster should have Payton interested in listening to their pitch.
Likewise, he coached for the Cowboys from 2003 to 2005 as part of Bill Parcells’ staff.
As long as Payton is available, be it this year or the next, McCarthy’s days with the Cowboys look numbered.
While they both have a world title on their resume, Jones won’t pass up on hiring a coach of Payton’s caliber.
2. Jerry Jones Is Not Happy
It’s hard to be optimistic about keeping a job when the team owner expresses his discontent with you.
Jones isn’t particularly known for his patience, and he’s always impartial to good results.
That’s why he wasn’t able to contain his frustration about how the Cowboys’ season ended.
In his latest appearance on 105.3 The FAN’s K&C Masterpiece, the team owner and general manager had much to say.
He did not reveal names, but it’s obvious who he is referring to with the statement above.
It’s hard to find a way for McCarthy to turn around Jones’ emotions and mindset as of the moment.
Therefore, he should not be comfortable with his position because he might be on the way out.
1. The Coordinators Did The Heavy Lifting
Clock management seems to be McCarthy’s primary responsibility, and he can’t perform it well.
Running out of time against the 49ers shouldn’t have happened if they made certain adjustments.
But beyond that sequence, it’s his coordinators who did much of the work all season.
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn took over the play-calling, and they both did well.
Because of the Cowboys’ regular-season success, both coordinators had interviews with other teams for their head coaching vacancy.
While Moore remains a top candidate for any opening, Quinn shared that he wants to stay with the Cowboys.
If he stays, there’s a chance that Jones will fire McCarthy and elevate Quinn as head coach.
He’s had previous experience with the Atlanta Falcons, and he reached the Super Bowl with the team.
Therefore, there should be no concern about Quinn taking over for the much-maligned McCarthy.
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