The Dallas Cowboys have fallen to 3-7 after a crushing Monday night loss to the Houston Texans. They’re now tied for 14th in the NFC, with only the 2-8 New York Giants trailing behind them.
While a seven-game winning streak to close out the 2024 season could theoretically revive their playoff chances, such a scenario is highly unlikely.
According to NFL.com, the Cowboys hold the second-worst odds of making the playoffs in the NFC. Even with a win against the Commanders on Sunday, their postseason chances would only rise to 4%. A loss, however, would drop their odds to less than 1%.
Still, head coach Mike McCarthy is pressing forward as if Dallas has no choice but to aim for the playoffs. Winning out could not only salvage the season but also McCarthy’s reputation, especially if he ends up looking for a new coaching job. As McCarthy enters the final year of his contract, losing games for a better draft position seems irrelevant to him.
McCarthy is unlikely to remain in Dallas beyond April. The Cowboys are almost certain to have a new coach by then. For now, expect McCarthy to focus on winning as many games as possible before his tenure ends.
Cooper Rush Returns as Starting QB
Given the circumstances, it’s no surprise McCarthy has decided to stick with veteran quarterback Cooper Rush, even though putting 2021 No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance on the field might make more sense in the long term. With star QB1 Dak Prescott sidelined for the season due to a hamstring injury, Rush will start again this week.
The Athletic’s Jon Machota reported on Twitter/X: “Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Cooper Rush will again be the starter this week. But there will be a package for Trey Lance.”
Lance, acquired before the 2023 season for a fourth-round pick, has barely seen the field, appearing only in garbage time over two seasons with the Cowboys.
McCarthy: ‘We Deserve to Win’
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, McCarthy tried to rally his team, though it’s unclear if his message is resonating.
“This is it, man,” McCarthy said, via ESPN. “We’ve got seven losses. We gotta go. Backs against the wall. Gotta fight, claw, scratch. Gotta do everything we can to go win the next game. That’s where my mind’s at. That’s the way we coach and that’s the expectation.”
He added, “We gotta win. We deserve to win. We deserve the opportunity to win and that’s about putting the best people out there. Right now they’re young. Those guys, our young guys are getting a lot of experience. But we need to do whatever the [expletive] we need to do to win.”
