The Dallas Cowboys‘ playoff hopes were officially crushed on Sunday afternoon, leaving fans in disbelief. After a surprising upset by the Washington Commanders over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention, marking the first time since 2020 that they would miss the postseason. The Cowboys‘ hopes for another strong playoff run, following three straight seasons of 12 wins, came to an abrupt halt, and both head coach Mike McCarthy and executive vice president Stephen Jones have since addressed the situation.
Speaking just before the Cowboys hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that evening, McCarthy opened up about the gut-wrenching end to the season. “I’m disappointed,” McCarthy admitted during an interview with 105.3 The Fan. “I’m just really trying to stay focused on winning this game tonight. I’m staying in tune with our message and our process, trying to continue playing better football, which we’ve done over the past month. But definitely very disappointed.”
The Cowboys (6-8) have been struggling all season long, and McCarthy’s future with the team remains uncertain. Despite leading the Cowboys to a 48-33 record over his tenure and a winning percentage of .593, which ranks fourth in franchise history, McCarthy has yet to receive a contract extension. With a potentially pivotal offseason looming, McCarthy is keen on finishing strong.
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Stephen Jones remains optimistic despite setback
While McCarthy focused on the immediate task at hand the upcoming game against the Buccaneers Stephen Jones echoed his coach’s resolve, maintaining the team’s commitment to finishing the season on a high note. “Being eliminated from the postseason doesn’t change anything,” Jones remarked. “We’ve prepared all week to beat the Buccaneers, and we’re totally focused on winning football games. Our guys have done a really good job this past month, getting guys back and having young players step up.”
Jones, known for his leadership in overseeing team operations, emphasized that despite the playoff exit, the Cowboys were determined to close out the season with pride. As the Cowboys prepare to face Tampa Bay, Jones remains confident that they have a good chance to end the year with a win.
While the Cowboys‘ playoff dreams may be over, the team’s resolve under McCarthy and Jones to finish strong highlights their dedication to the game and the future of the franchise.