ARLINGTON, Texas – When the Commanders were sitting with the ball at the Cowboys' 8-yard line with six seconds to play, I just sat here in the press box wondering how it was going to go down.
Not if Washington would score a touchdown, but how would they do it. Another scramble by Marcus Mariota? A pass to Zach Ertz? Or maybe to Terry McLaurin, who ended up with the game-winning catch with three seconds to play?
But all I could think about in those 45-60 seconds between plays was the rollercoaster of a season this has been. From the injuries, to the outbursts, to the other weird off-the-field circumstances that have flooded the headlines in the last five months. There was a mini-fire at the team complex back in training camp.
A season that started out that way was clearly going to end with one more kick in the gut. So, of course, the Commanders score on the final play of the game to steal a 23-19 win and avoid a season sweep by the Cowboys.
You just knew it wasn't going to end any other way. The Cowboys were better than Washington on this day, and I'll argue this all day long, but I think they're a better team overall than the Commanders. At least from a matchup standpoint, Dallas seems to be a better team than Washington.
But one team is going to the playoffs, and one team isn't. And there are plenty of reasons the Cowboys are done, and it's not just injuries.
Now, you can't win 12 games in a row for three straight seasons and be satisfied with a 7-10 record. That's probably about as obvious of a statement as one could make, but that's just the simple reality about the Cowboys' situation.
And while no one is probably saying they are satisfied, we'll find out how disappointed anyone is around here with the level of changes made after the season. Without a doubt, if you miss the playoffs, there are going to be changes, and significant ones at that.
Either way, I really can't tell you what is going to happen regarding the biggest decision owner/GM Jerry Jones has to make. We all know Mike McCarthy's contract is up. And with that, every other coach on the staff has an expiring contract as well.
And it's not just the coaches, but the players too. By last count, there are 22 unrestricted free agents on the roster and a handful of others who are also considered free agents as well.
So change is inevitable – and that's a good thing.
Hey, I'm really either way when it comes to McCarthy. I get that he's won a lot of games here in the last five years, and if continuity is what you want, then a case could be made that this year was a "down year." But the overall body of work is good enough to keep him around.
I wouldn't argue too much if you told me a change at the top must be made to give the Cowboys players another voice. And that while they've won a fair share of games, they'll need a different leader to get them over the top.
I could go either way, here. My gut tells me to probably stick with McCarthy for another contract. But – and everything comes with a caveat – in this case I would call for some other significant changes on the coaching staff.
One way or another, the play-calling wasn't good enough. We have seen McCarthy as the head coach here and not the play-caller. He's also done it both ways in Green Bay. But Sunday was yet another example of the team's struggles down in the red zone, and I think play-calling was a big factor.
The team was running the ball well, and yet doing so in between the tackles. Heck, even Deuce Vaughn, the smallest running back in the NFL, was doing some work in the middle of the Commanders' D-line. But yet, they get down in the red zone and try to put the ball back in Trey Lance's hands, relying on his accuracy, which isn't the best part of his game.
At least put him on the move and give him an option to throw it on the run. But these fade routes to the back of the end zone, passing to receivers who aren't known for their contested-catches in the first place, just screamed like a bad idea. Brandin Cooks is a great route-runner and knows how to stretch a field, but he's not exactly Randy Moss. Same with Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo and even Jake Ferguson, who got some passes in the red zone.
If they didn't trust Lance to make the right reads down there and just decided to give him 50/50 balls, then run the ball with Rico Dowdle or, at least, Lance.
That end-of-the-half scenario looked like they were a little more interested in seeing Lance as a passer than to actually score some points.
Either way, I'm not sitting here and bashing the way they called the game in the regular-season finale. But if you're telling us you wanted to finish the season "the right way," and this was a game you were trying to win, then once again some of the play-calls down there were not good enough.
So that's one of the changes that needs to be made one way or another, in my opinion. And I don't think the head coach has to change to get that done.
I also think there needs to be a few changes made in the way the team is put together. Yes, the salary cap will be a problem again, but the Cowboys have 22 free agents to replace. That doesn't mean they have to re-sign 22 guys.
I'd be fine if they let a few of these current players walk with the idea of maybe making a bigger free-agent splash this time around. The fans need something to gravitate to. And more than that, the team needs better players on the roster.
Usually, the Cowboys have been more top-heavy, but they didn't have the depth on the back end. For the last few years, they've been way better in terms of having a full roster of capable contributors.
But I think the last two drafts have hurt the depth a little bit. Not only do they need to nail the draft this April, but for the first time in a while, they need to get a couple of "March" wins, too. Change it up a little bit and land a big-name free agent who will come in here and help.
We've seen too many players around the NFL this season that changed teams and made a difference. More than just Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, but I feel like this year more than ever saw free agents have an immediate impact.
Well, go get one or two for next season.
Again, these aren't major changes. I'm not sure this team needs a "major" change anyway.
But if Sunday's game was any indication, a few smaller plays here and there can be the difference in the final outcome. That works for a game, and it works for a season, too.
If you're not going to make the biggest change of all and move on from McCarthy, then at least do a handful of things that will make him and his coaching staff better moving forward.
Change is necessary when you're 7-10. But we'll find out soon enough how much change the Cowboys are willing to do.
