Once again, the Dallas Cowboys fell on the wild card wheel. With the team's regular season record, fans may not be able to accept such an ending, but this game fully exposed the problems of the cowboys themselves. The Cowboys' offense was lifeless in the first three quarters, and by the fourth quarter they scored 16 straight points to launch a counter-attack. But in the end, a series of mistakes ruined their hopes of turning the tables.
After losing 17-23 at home to their old rival San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys' offseason needs to solve one problem after another, starting with McCarthy's coaching position. Even team owner Jerry Jones said it was the most disappointing game he could remember.
The most discussed topic after the game was the Cowboy's final tackle. Less than a minute into the game, the Cowboys' defensive group managed to force the 49ers to abandon the game, and Duck Prescott led the Cowboys offensive group all the way to the 49ers' half. With 14 seconds left in the game, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan called a timeout.
After the timeout, Prescott unexpectedly chose the middle to sprint and slid to the 24-yard line. At this time, the Cowboys have not stopped, and the attacking team has seized the time to line up and wrestle the ball, hoping to give Prescott a chance for one last pass. Even the referee ran to the kick-off point at full speed. However, due to the lack of time, the game time has run out when the cowboy drops the ball.
After the game, head coach McCarthy admitted that this moment will haunt the hearts of the players, faintly painful and unforgettable.
Throughout the game, the Cowboys were lucky to be able to keep their hopes of winning in the final moments. For most of the game, Kyle Shanahan's varied offensive routine completely overwhelmed the Cowboys' defensive group. The Dan-Quinndan defence had a hard time finding opportunities to create a ball switch. The 49ers took a 16-7 lead in the first half. If Gallopolo had passed more accurately, the point difference would have been even greater.
In the third quarter, when the 49ers intercepted Prescott's pass, Dib Samuel, who played well in the game, completed a 26-yard advance with dexterity and easily completed the touchdown, widening the point difference to 16 points, and almost pronounced the death penalty for the Cowboys.
In this game, the Cowboys offensive group did not come out of the bad state of the second half of the season and did not find an offensive rhythm. Even with offensive coordinator Karen Moore's varied tactics, there was no room for maneuver in the face of the 49ers' strong pass.
Even though 49ers top passer Nick Bossa left the field with a concussion, the 49ers defense still completed five tackles and 14 hit quarterbacks. Not only did Prescott have to flick in his pocket, but the Cowboys' proud road attack was also struggling, advancing only 77 yards on 24 dashes.
In the most critical moments of the game, the Cowboys' long-standing problem this season – too many fouls – once again dragged them down. The cowboys committed as many as 14 fouls in this game, including 9 in the offensive group, and were sent off 89 yards. More than once the Cowboys' own offensive rhythm was interrupted by fouls.
Even the Cowboys' own course didn't help at the crucial moment. The ball kicked by the team's kicker hit the upper edge of the stadium's oversized screen, and the dazzling sunlight when the sun set shot through the window of the stadium, directly affecting the receiver Wilson's catch, losing a great opportunity to attack.
Even if there is a chance to overtake, the cowboy can't catch it. When the Cowboys got a new fourth-gear offense in the fourth quarter with a fake kick pass, it was followed by a strange substitution decision that led to a decision to delay the game and back 5 yards. After 3 attacks, the Cowboys could only choose a 51-yard shot.
Even if McCarthy doesn't have to take charge of the chaotic tactical set-up, he's the head coach. With 14 fouls at home, he couldn't help but blame. This offseason, moore and Quinn may find another way, and the composition of the coaching staff will be the core problem to be solved in the cowboy offseason.
On paper, Cowboys remain a strong contender for the Super Bowl. When the team is in good shape, it has the most gorgeous offensive combination in the league, and the defensive group also has a number of star players who can change the situation. But whenever a strong team is encountered, the team's performance is not as expected.
This year's Cowboys have made the playoffs for the first time since the 2018 season, but the last time the Cowboys reached the National League Finals was in 1995. McCarthy didn't recreate his Super Bowl glory in the Cowboys, and this offseason will determine his future at the Cowboys.