ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy looks on prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at AT&T Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
The Dallas Cowboys were in bad shape on their final drive of yesterday’s playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers and were trying hard to move the ball. But the final play of the game equated to some of the most embarrassing in NFL history.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy had Ezekiel Elliott lined up under center with his offensive linemen and his receivers in the middle. But Elliott was quickly bullied and wide receiver Dak Prescott was thrown out immediately after the catch.
Speaking to the media after the game, McCarthy acknowledged that the play was not executed the way he had planned. He said it was a gadget play the Cowboys used in practice, but it didn’t work.
“Yeah, it wasn’t working,” McCarthy said, via profootballtalk, “I don’t really want to go into the details of it, but that clearly wasn’t the plan. It’s clearly a gadget play or whatever. It’s the last-play-position call we practiced.”
Fortunately for Mike McCarthy, his job was reportedly safe after that performance – something that seemed impossible at the start of the season until he at least got to the NFC Championship Game.
Now the Cowboys head into a season of uncertainty where they have to come to terms with the potential loss of several staff members and potentially some key players.
Will the Cowboys be better or worse next season?