The Dallas Cowboys never seem to be far from the spotlight, and this season is no exception. For Cowboys fans, following the team often feels like a rollercoaster, filled with moments of excitement, frustration, and everything in between.
But right now, the spotlight is squarely on Jerry Jones, and for once, the pressure isn’t just coming from the fans. Head coach Mike McCarthy is feeling the heat as well.
After the Cowboys’ blowout loss to the Lions in Week 6, Jones initially defended McCarthy. But in a recent interview on 105.3 The Fan, the tone shifted. Jones didn’t mince words, noting, “The things we think we should be analyzing are poor designs or bad concepts,” before adding, “Execution also plays a role.” While it might seem like Jones was just analyzing the game, it felt more like he was subtly pointing the finger at McCarthy’s leadership.
And he’s not wrong. McCarthy’s offensive play-calling has been underwhelming, to say the least. His strategy has lacked the creativity needed to keep defenses guessing, and the Cowboys have been falling behind in key areas like pre-snap motion. Cowboys legend Troy Aikman even weighed in, criticizing the team’s receivers for their “terrible” routes and lack of effort when they’re not the primary target.
At the heart of the issue is McCarthy’s overall game plan—or lack thereof. It’s forcing quarterback Dak Prescott into tough situations, making him throw into tight coverage more often than any other QB in the league. With a 22.8% rate of passes into tight windows, it’s clear that this is a losing formula, no matter how talented Dak is.
The recent game against the Lions was a clear sign that something’s not working. The Cowboys managed just 251 yards of total offense, including a paltry 53 rushing yards. And let’s be real—Detroit’s defense isn’t exactly top-tier, ranking 18th in the league for yards allowed. If the Cowboys’ offense struggles this much against a middle-of-the-road defense, what does that say about the bigger picture?
Jones’ comments should be a wake-up call for McCarthy. He’s vowed to make changes, but time is running out. With a critical game against the 49ers looming, the next few weeks could define McCarthy’s future with the Cowboys. If things don’t improve, he might find himself out of time, and out of a job.
