Dallas Cowboys News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Fans react to Mike McCarthy’s catastrophic 4th-down decision

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Matt Fitzgerald | Last updated 11/26/20

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy isn’t winning any popularity contests among fans, and his failed 4th-and-1 decision on Thanksgiving Day against NFC East rival Washington set Twitter ablaze with harsh criticism.

Social media is already a cold place in arctic reality for anyone under the microscope as a public figure, and McCarthy wasn’t spared when he and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore decided to dial up a pass play in which Andy Dalton threw incomplete to CeeDee Lamb. A simple run with Ezekiel Elliott probably would’ve done the job.

Twitter reacts to latest Mike McCarthy blunder

Worse yet, the turnover on downs came at Dallas’ own 34 yard-line, and tight end Dalton Schultz exacerbated the situation by drawing a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty. Predictably, this sequence of unfortunate events led to a Washington touchdown as the visitors went up 17-10 with 2:30 remaining in the first half.

On this holiday in which the spirit of gratitude is meant to be in fashion, you can bet fans of America’s Team aren’t counting their lucky stars that McCarthy is running the show. That’s especially so due to how ruthless the haters are:

I am not thankful for Mike McCarthy
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) November 26, 2020

How stupid is mike McCarthy? The dude needed to get one yard in two downs. Rather than give it to zeke or an effective Tony pollard, he tried a cutesy wr sweep to ceedee lamb that falls short and then he calls a pass.
— Fidel Martinez (@fidmart85) November 26, 2020

Fun Fact: The NFL had to dangle compensatory draft picks to encourage teams to bring in minority candidates in a league that currently employs Mike McCarthy & Matt Patricia
— Reese Waters (@reesewaters) November 26, 2020

Mike McCarthy doesn’t know when it’s right to go for it on 4th down. It’s weird.
— Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick) November 26, 2020

Mike McCarthy, just before that low-percentage pass play on 4th-and-1 pic.twitter.com/WacQJajIoR
— Turnbow Bobblehead (@turnbowbobble) November 26, 2020

From now on in honor of The Clapper, I’ll be referring to Mike McCarthy as The Smasher, smashing watermelons and the Cowboys’ playoff dreams! @mlombardiNFL pic.twitter.com/5oK13VE45U
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) November 26, 2020

When Mike McCarthy passes on 4th and 1 pic.twitter.com/CSC0388L2c
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) November 26, 2020

Mike McCarthy passing on 4th and inches from their own 35 in the second quarter of a tie game pic.twitter.com/kbUN8enVTv
— Jarret (@phoenixsuns87) November 26, 2020

mike mccarthy calling fourth down plays pic.twitter.com/ewnopZ7wY1
— Ron Mexico (@m_gallagher18) November 26, 2020

Will Mike McCarthy be a one-and-done Cowboys coach?

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was loyal to Jason Garrett perhaps to a fault, as Dallas could never quite get over the hump with its longtime coach. But this new direction under McCarthy’s leadership looks like an immediate dead end, and he’s already among the coaches with the hottest seats in the league.

The NFC East is so awful that the ‘Boys still have a shot to win the division and qualify for the playoffs. However, no one is scared of facing this bunch in the postseason. Granted, the offensive line is banged up, Andy Dalton is starting in place of an injured Dak Prescott at quarterback, and the defense is clearly in an antiquated system masterminded by coordinator Mike Nolan.

All those factors aside, there has to be some sort of accountability for these boneheaded decisions McCarthy seems incapable of avoiding on game day. Toward the beginning of the season in a loss to the Rams, McCarthy decided to roll the dice on fourth down in a very bizarre decision that wound up costing Dallas a real chance at a win.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: