ARLINGTON, Texas – Figures.
How else did you think this incalcitrant season was going to end, right? Because as we've come to know, in this disappointing and frustrating 2024 season, whatever can go wrong is going to go wrong. Just refused to cooperate.
And brother did it ever here at AT&T Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the Cowboys' final game of the season. One that Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said his team would be "playing like hell" to win the game and secure the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs.
Now, it really was no secret all week long the Cowboys were going to start their third string quarterback, Trey Lance, who received all the first-team practice snaps. It really was no secret they were being forced to start their eighth different cornerback, since the seventh failed miserably in the previous game and a potential eighth was ruled out with an injury on Friday. So come on down practice-squad corner Troy Pride, you're up next.
Then this game unfolded against the 11-5 Commanders, the NFC East-mate the Cowboys already had beaten, 34-26, the first time around. And there was this:
Too many field goals. Four of them.
Too many negative plays or for no gain and penalties. At least one of each, sometimes one of each during every one of their 10 full possessions, eight of their 11 penalties occurring on offense.
Too many empty possessions inside the red zone when coming to touchdowns. Only converting 1 of 6, and even worse just 1 of 4 in goal-to-go situations.
Too many defenders falling for a fake handoff up the middle on a Commanders' fourth-and-1 play from the Cowboys' 49-yard line with just 33 seconds to play. That's when Washington backup quarterback Marcus Mariota instead came roaring around left end untouched for 33 yards to the Cowboys' 16, now with 25 seconds left and certainly at least in game-tying field-goal range.
Even after all this, the Cowboys, hanging on by a fingernail, were leading the playoff-bound, needing-to win-Commanders, 19-16, with all of six seconds remaining in the season.
And guarantee you, the majority of the 91,349 folks hoping for a happy ending to this brutal, injury-riddled campaign knew what was coming. Mariota hit receiver Terry McLaurin for the winning touchdown on a second-and-goal throw from the 5-yard line.
Ballgame.
Commanders 23, Cowboys 19.
Season.
A losing 7-10 record.
Just more disappointment piled upon a heap of disappointment all season long.
"In some ways the game was a microcosm of our season," head coach Mike McCarthy very appropriately pointed out, with now all the attention turning to his future, everyone knowing his five-year contract will expire nine days after the final game, so on Jan. 14.
And even though Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talked for 45 minutes after the game, likely already knowing what he wants to do with his head-coaching position, he played cat and mouse with reporters afterward, not showing his cards in any way while dropping hints for the past week that he would like to retain McCarthy.
Then for McCarthy's part, with some suggesting the veteran head coach and play-caller will draw attention from other teams searching for a new head coach, Mike made his intentions infinitely clear when asked if he still wanted to be here coaching the Cowboys.
"Absolutely," McCarthy said without hesitation, "I have a lot invested here. And the Cowboys have a lot invested in me. And then there's a personal side to all these decisions. They all point in the right direction. I think anytime you invest your time, energy, your belief, the connection you have, the relationships that are in place here, the understanding of what the organization can do and is willing to do. Those are all positive attributes that you take into account.
"But, you know, absolutely I'm a builder. I believe in building programs. I believe in developing young players. So at the end of day, it is about winning, and you have to have those components in place to get this thing where it needs to be. I think we have a very good foundation here."
Granted, too many times this season the Cowboys have been in over their heads, taking into account a loss to New Orleans early in the season, being overwhelmed by the Lions, falling to the Eagles both times and the Texans. But in fairness, there were some real close calls.
Making a valiant comeback in the 28-25 loss to Baltimore, but at the two-minute warning, facing a second-and-9 at the Ravens' own 45-yard line, Pro bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson breaks Dallas' hearts with a 10-yard keeper for a first down to run out the clock and cancel out the Cowboys' last-gasp chance to take one more shot to at least tie the game.
There was the inconceivable punt-block situation in a 20-20 tie game against the Bengals when backup cornerback Amani Oruwariye felt compelled to catch the fluttering ball on a bounce that was coming right at him. He muffed it and the Bengals recovered, giving Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow an opportunity to drive for the winning touchdown with 1:01 left in the game, when the Cowboys were going to have possession around the Bengals' 40-yard with just less than two minutes to play.
And then Sunday, mercy me, with 2:41 left to play, the Cowboys leading 19-16 with the Commanders in possession and facing second-and-4 at their own 15-yard line. And here comes blitzing safety Donovan Wilson, nailing Mariota for a sack at the Commanders' 5, figuring third-and-14 with just 2:34 remaining is up next. But there was an ominous flag down by the tackle. Offensive holding, right?
No, siree. These are the 2024 Dallas Cowboys. Head referee Clete Blakeman saw what he perceived to be Wilson face masking Mariota. Personal foul. Fifteen yards. First down at the Washington 30-yard line, 2:34 left. The game-winning drive continues, though replay shows Wilson's hand raking across the front side of Mariota's helmet, not yanking the facemask.
And the shame of losing yet another one of these is this: The Cowboys, with nothing but pride to play for, outgained the Commanders 378 yards to 269. Lance, playing his first NFL snaps of significance since Week 2 of the 2022 season with San Francisco, throws for 244 yards to the Washington duo's 199. Quinn said he made the move from Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Jayden Daniels to Mariota after sensing Daniels' leg was too sore to continue, and there was a need for the quarterback to run more. The Cowboys defense registered six sacks. Washington's bullish front against the inexperienced Lance just two.
Why, behind Rico Dowdle's 72 yards and Deuce Vaughn's 37, the Cowboys ran for 150 yards. The Commanders, thanks to nine combined carries from Daniels and Mariota, rushed for 83 and only had nine carries for 30 yards from their non-QBs. In addition, the Cowboys won the turnover differential at plus-1.
Yet the Cowboys lost.
"We kicked too many field goals, and they scored touchdowns," McCarthy correctly reasoned.
And at 3:05 p.m. Sunday, the Cowboys' snake-bit season came to a conclusion, knowing starting quarterback Dak Prescott played only eight games. Future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin also had season-ending surgery, missing the final seven games. Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence played just the first four games. Micah Parsons, finishing with four tackles, 2½ sacks, two tackles for loss and three QB hits, missed those four critical games midseason against Pittsburgh, Detroit, San Francisco and Atlanta (Cowboys goings 1-3). Cornerback DaRon Bland missed the first 10 games. Rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was out for six. Fellow defensive end Sam Williams all 17. Wide receiver Brandon Cooks seven games. Pro Bowl wideout CeeDee Lamb the past two games, on IR, the Cowboys scoring just one touchdown in his absence.
Coincidence? Me thinks not, the Cowboys at some points during the season missing seven Pro bowl players,
But there has been more. Backup swing tackle Chuma Edoga missed the first 10 games. Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs missed six of the final seven games. Rookie cornerback Caelen Carson after starting five games, ended up missing the final six and was designated inactive for four others (injury related). And finally, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown missed the past four games with a knee already surgically repaired.
On top of all that, the Cowboys had cornerbacks starting who most probably didn't even know were on the team, ending with Pride, with four of those guys starting after being called up off the practice squad: Oruwariye, Josh Butler, Andrew Booth and then Pride.
On and on and on. Just no end.
Thus ending this season on a sour note. Real sour.
"I think it's something that we should be proud of," Parsons said of the way this group kept fighting to this bitter end. "I think this is a team that could have easily just said, man, we could throw in the towel, not care. I'm proud that we all came in every day with purpose to get better, to keep trying even to this last game. Keep trying to the end of the whistle.
"Yeah, we came up short to a playoff team, but like I said, that's a playoff team, and we're a broken team right now. A lot of Pro Bowlers and All-Pros out. This, man, is a team. So I would say, man, I'm really proud. I know it's not something to be proud of, having a losing record and not be in playoffs, but how we finished and how we carried ourselves as men and as teammates, I'm proud of that."
And as one of the security guards said to me upon emerging from the locker room and crossing the field the one last time this 2024 season, "Well, there's always next year."
That there is.
