ARLINGTON, Texas — It wasn’t difficult to figure out the No. 1 topic on Jerry Jones’ mind following Sunday night’s game. His underdog Dallas Cowboys had just defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24. About seven hours earlier, they were eliminated from playoff contention.
But Jones wanted to give praise to head coach Mike McCarthy for having the Cowboys (7-8) play as if a win would’ve secured a playoff spot.
“I’m real proud (of the team),” Jones started after walking out of the locker room. “And Mike McCarthy, he just won’t let them not think that they’re playing for the Super Bowl out there. He won’t let them do it. I’m proud of that. I’m proud of the coach.”
Jones also made that obvious with his locker room embrace of McCarthy that was captured on the NBC “Sunday Night Football” postgame show.
Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy in the locker room after tonight’s win pic.twitter.com/zPfti4P31i
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 23, 2024
If Jones would’ve been told back in 2020 that McCarthy would lead Dallas to three consecutive 12-win seasons with only one playoff win and then completely miss the playoffs in the final year of his contract, Jones would probably say it’s unlikely that McCarthy would get a second contract. But, at this point, that can’t be ruled out. The Cowboys owner and general manager has made it known several times over the last month that he has been impressed with the job McCarthy has been doing. Dallas has gone 4-3 since losing franchise QB Dak Prescott to a season-ending hamstring injury. Now, that doesn’t excuse the 3-5 start, which included three lopsided losses at home, but injuries have unquestionably impacted the disappointing season.
“There’s no question that we’re fighting with a very limited deck out here right now, and those guys are doing a great job,” Jones said. “All of them, the players, but my hat is off to Mike McCarthy.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones with a lot of praise for Mike McCarthy after tonight’s win. He’s gone out of his way to give credit to the Cowboys head coach while answering multiple questions pic.twitter.com/sASH6FzN0S
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 23, 2024
With all of that praise being said, Jones declined to provide any insight into how he will determine the future of the team’s head coaching position after the season.
“Just so we’re clear, all I can say is what good of a job he’s doing,” Jones said. “I don’t have thoughts that I would share as to anything about what we do with our days after we’re through playing this year. I don’t have anything I would share about that.”
It wouldn’t have been all that surprising if the Cowboys went through the motions, kept Sunday night’s game competitive for maybe two or three quarters and then let it slip away down the stretch. But just as they continued fighting last weekend in Charlotte when a playoff spot was already at a less than 1 percent chance, they were the better team in the biggest moments.
No play was bigger than Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis’ interception with 6:30 remaining. Dallas was clinging to a 26-17 lead. If Lewis doesn’t rip the ball away, it’s likely a 46-yard Baker Mayfield touchdown pass to WR Jalen McMillan. Instead, Lewis made his most impressive interception of his eight-year NFL career. Cowboys CB DaRon Bland then finished things off with just under two minutes to play when he ripped the ball away from Buccaneers RB Rachaad White.
Baker goes deep for the TD… no it’s a PICK!? WHAT?! 🤯
📺: #TBvsDAL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/2gt3cGRqHI— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2024
“The takeaways won the game,” McCarthy said. “The timing of (them), the fourth quarter when the game is on the line. That’s just remarkable the way our guys just went after it and got it done.”
Offensively, the running game wasn’t working. Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle, who was coming off three consecutive 100-yard games, managed only 23 yards on 13 carries. But the Cowboys got a quality performance from QB Cooper Rush and they again won the turnover battle by not turning the ball over once. Rush completed 26 of 35 pass attempts for 292 yards and one touchdown while posting a 108.3 passer rating. His yardage total and rating were both the third-highest of his 13 career starts.
His most popular target continued to be star WR CeeDee Lamb, who caught seven passes for 105 yards while continuing to play through a painful right shoulder injury. Six of those receptions and 100 of those yards came in the first half as the Cowboys built a 23-14 lead.
Dallas now finishes the season out with two NFC East opponents: next week at Philadelphia and then the season finale at AT&T Stadium against Washington. Both opponents would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. A common topic after the game was what the Cowboys have to play for in the final two weeks.
“Everything,” Rush said. “This is your life. This is ball. This is what you do. You get paid to do it. I don’t think people need much more motivation.”
“We love this game and we love each other,” Lewis said. “Just going out there playing for each other and playing for Coach Mike.”
Lewis said he expects that mentality to continue.
The Cowboys improved to 6-5 on the season in games that star DE Micah Parsons starts. He missed four games with a high ankle sprain. Parsons said he “100 percent” believes finishing the season strong is something that can carry over into next year.
“You need to go through things,” he said. “Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows. I’m looking to finish this year strong and prove to these guys that we can get over anything.”
Parsons said he believes a strong finish could also be something that leads to McCarthy remaining in Dallas beyond this season.
“I just love the way our team plays,” McCarthy said. “I just can’t say enough about the locker room. Their pride, their character, their toughness. … When I talk about ‘it’s a great locker room’, this is the definition of it. This is what a great locker room looks like.”
What does the players’ fight and resilience say about McCarthy and the job that he’s done?
“I don’t know,” the head coach responded, “I’m just proud that everybody stayed the course. I think it’s just, this is how we roll.”
(Photo of Jourdan Lewis: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)
