Mike McCarthy‘s time seems to be up. After yet another disappointing loss, the Dallas Cowboys‘ season, which was once full of hope, now appears to be on the verge of disintegrating. The game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night was meant to be a chance for them to make amends and bounce back from their crushing defeat to the Detroit Lions. Rather, the Cowboys were in familiar ground, outclassed and outmatched by a team they wanted to compete with.
There was still some hope for the fans. Given that the postseason race is still very much open, Dallas’ 3-4 record does not necessarily portend total NFL calamity. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Cowboys haven’t shown they can handle the pressure of playing against elite teams, a problem that has dogged them throughout the season and sparked major concerns about the team’s leadership.
Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys just don’t seem to get better
Dallas seemed rejuvenated and ready to make an impression going into this game after a bye week. However, the 49ers swiftly gained control by taking advantage of holes on both sides of the ball. San Francisco outscored Dallas 381-167 in total yards by the third quarter, leading by 17 points—a clear sign of the Cowboys’ incapacity to stay up with more formidable opponents.
There was a glimmer of optimism in the fourth quarter as Dallas scored two touchdowns.
Even yet, the effort seemed pointless because the Cowboys’ attack was largely contained by San Francisco’s defense, which mostly used shell coverage. Dak Prescott didn’t gain a yard and ended up in a four-and-out when he finally had a chance to design a game-winning drive.
4th and NOPE 🙅♂️
📺 #DALvsSF on NBC
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/wshWCn7Cej— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 28, 2024
This season, the scene is growing too familiar. In Week 2, the New Orleans Saints dominated the Cowboys, winning 44–19. They played the Baltimore Ravens a week later, and just like Sunday’s game, they were ahead 28-6 before giving Dallas a failed comeback. Baltimore held on for the victory, just like the 49ers did, even though the Cowboys outscored the Ravens 19-0 in the last quarter.
