Blame Game in Dallas: Dak Prescott & Mike McCarthy
Anytime a team loses in the opening round of the playoffs, there are always significant amounts of blame ready to be levied out. Dallas’ 23-17 home loss to the 49ers bears no exception. Most of the blame seems to be firmly thrown against Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy. This is not undeserved. McCarthy was brought in as coach who could win Dallas big games and lead them through deep playoff runs. His predecessor, Jason Garrett, was known as a people pleaser who would often get outcoached in big moments. McCarthy was brought in to put an end to those disappointments, but he instead added another one to the list.
Despite his shortcomings contributing to Dallas’ loss, McCarthy should not solely bear the blame. So often in playoff matchups the game is decided at the QB position. Dak Prescott, considered a potential MVP candidate early in the season, was matched up against Jimmy Garoppolo, who many speculate will not be the 49ers starter next year. Cleary this was supposed to me a matchup benefitting Prescott. Yet Prescott was outperformed squarely by Garoppolo. Garoppolo completed a higher percentage of his throws (64 to 54) had a higher yards per attempt (6.9 to 5.9) and a higher QBR (68.6 to 27.1). Both QBs threw a costly interception that handed the other team a short field for a touchdown. A strong case could be made that Prescott was outplayed by Garoppolo. No case can be made that Prescott played well.
That brings us to McCarthy. Despite all of the coaching issues, Dallas had the football trailing by 6 with 3 timeouts and the ball in San Francisco territory. Late playoff scoring drives have always been the calling card of elite quarterbacks, from Rodgers to Brady to Mahomes to Russell Wilson. Yet Prescott failed to live up that standard. He took a bad sack and then threw 3 straight incomplete passes to end Dallas’ most realistic opportunity to win the game.
Both Prescott and McCarthy were granted great opportunities. Prescott was handed a veteran offensive line and a receiving corps littered with 1st round talent. McCarthy was handed a quality roster ready to win now. Both failed to live up to the expectations of playoff success. This failure could end up costing McCarthy his job this offseason, but Prescott himself faces a new reality. Instead of claiming his place among the QB elite, as his salary would dictate, he finds himself claiming a new title: most overrated.