The heartbreaking mistake for the Cowboys, following what could have been their game-winning blocked punt, cost them more than just a victory against Cincinnati.
Amani Oruwariye’s mistake in the last two minutes of the Bengals’ 27-20 win effectively ended the Cowboys’ three-year playoff run (5-8), even though their chances of reaching the postseason were already slim.
Now, the focus shifts to the future of coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract is in its final year. Speculation about his job grew after a surprising wild-card loss to Green Bay last January and has continued since.
Two of the team’s top players, quarterback Dak Prescott and pass rusher Micah Parsons, have supported McCarthy in the past week.
Prescott, who had season-ending surgery on a torn hamstring after playing eight games, is especially important because this is his second season with McCarthy as his play-caller. Dallas had one of the best offenses in the NFL in their first year together, though things didn’t seem to go as planned in the following season.
The Cowboys, who are set to play Carolina on Sunday, have already committed to Prescott for at least three more seasons with a $240 million, four-year contract signed on opening day in September.
The only statement from owner and general manager Jerry Jones is that there will be no coaching change during the season.
McCarthy’s success was always expected to be measured by how far he could take Dallas in the playoffs. The franchise hasn’t reached an NFC championship game since their fifth Super Bowl win at the end of the 1995 season.
Prescott’s injury made the playoff question irrelevant, and it didn’t help that seven-time All-Pro right guard Zack Martin will miss the final seven games due to an ankle injury.
Dallas Cowboys celebrates in the 2nd half
Parsons missed four games with a sprained ankle, and the last three games of that stretch started a five-game losing streak. The team’s second-best pass rusher, DeMarcus Lawrence, hasn’t played since Week 4 due to a foot injury.
“Mike is an outstanding coach,” Jones said after the loss to the Bengals. “A lot of what he’s about, some of the benefits that we’re having out there, we’re gaining from the type of coach that he is.
“And so there’s an old adage, when you start thinking about any coaches, you better give it a good look, because he’s one of the most outstanding,” Jones added. “I’ve spoken to that about any consideration I’m having, but this was a hard one for him tonight. I’m sure.”
The loss was tough for everyone on the Dallas side.
For Jones, it reminded him of a painful memory from Thanksgiving Day 1993, when Leon Lett mistakenly tried to recover a blocked field goal that should have sealed the game for Dallas. Miami got another chance and won with a short field goal at the final play, 16-14.
Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel was desperately trying to prevent anyone from touching the ball after it passed the line of scrimmage following Nick Vigil’s block.
Oruwariye acted quickly to try to grab the bouncing ball, and his touch allowed Cincinnati to recover at the Bengals’ 43-yard line.
Now, the Cowboys are playing for pride.
“Just do the math,” McCarthy said. “We’re still in a hole. So, we need a tremendous amount of help, just being captain obvious here. This one stings. We had to have this one.”