Cowboys breaking 25-year drought strengthens Mike McCarthy's Coach of the Year case
The Cowboys having consecutive double-digit win seasons for the first time in more than 25 years bolsters head coach Mike McCarthy's chance to win NFL Coach of The Year.
If the Cowboys defeat the Texans on Sunday, they will be 10-3 and inch toward their 12-5 mark last year. According to The Athletic's Jon Machota, the last time they accomplished this was 1995-96. Per Oddschecker, McCarthy has the fourth-best NFL COTY odds.
McCarthy proved he's deserving, specifically when he guided the team through chaos after Dak Prescott fractured his right thumb in Week 1.
Rather than letting the team shatter, McCarthy and his coaching staff emphasized cohesion, easing the transition for backup Cooper Rush, who went 4-1 as Dallas' starter.
The Cowboys kept the glue intact when Prescott returned in Week 7. Per CBS Sports, they tied for the league's best record (5-1) since and have the league's best scoring offense (37.2 points per game) through the past six games.
The season is a victory for McCarthy, who remained calm despite hot seat claims in August.
"McCarthy has not let the outside discussions of his job impact how he coaches. Players say he has remained the same with them in temperament and in his demands," wrote ESPN's Todd Archer.
McCarthy's calm demeanor is something the franchise needed since a frenzy of attention surrounds it.
Perhaps the COTY candidate's steadfast presence could help Dallas recapture another mid-1990s achievement. Per Oddschecker, it has the fourth-best Super Bowl odds.
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