It’s the wake of a close Cowboys loss. Worse, it’s the wake after a close Cowboys playoff loss, a 23-17 defeat to the 49ers, and the familiarity of the disappointment have sent segments of the fan base looking for easy scapegoats and quick fixes towards a better 2022.
Fire the head coach! Fire the offensive coordinator! Change the culture! Trade the quarterback!
All have some merit, and there’s an abundance of vitriol devoted by the faithful towards the last drive, which ended with the clock striking 0:00 as Dak Prescott tried in vain to spike the ball, allowing one final throw into the end zone.
Tactical critiques miss the mark, I believe. Sure, there are plenty of mistakes to parse, from Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy, and even from Dan Quinn’s defense. All contributed to a 14-penalty abomination that kept Dallas from seriously challenging for the win.
That said, I think those critiques miss a much bigger problem. Sure, Moore and McCarthy might have called the end game differently. Sure, Jerry Jones would have closed the curtains in the sun end zone and helped his offense jump start its sputtering self just before the half.
Even had the Cowboys found a way to pull a playoff win away from their many miscues, they would be facing a constant shortcoming that would make them certain underdogs to Tampa Bay, one that must be addressed if the organization wants to improve next season and not backslide into the 8-8 maw.
Their offensive line was manhandled by the 49ers defensive front, And this mismatch persisted for four quarters, even after San Francisco’s starting defensive ends left the game with injuries and the middle linebacker limped off the field with a knee injury.
“We have to do better,” said right guard Zack Martin after the loss. But looking at this contest, and every contest since Dallas beat Minnesota on the last day of October, the most apt question should be, can they do better?
I’m skeptical. And if the Cowboys brass deceives itself into thinking it can, a playoff berth next year is far from certain.