DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys won’t play in the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Sitting at 7-8 and out of the race in the NFC, the Cowboys have unequivocally been a disappointment, especially after team owner Jerry Jones called the 2024 campaign an “all-in” season earlier in the year as he made it clear that the goal was Super Bowl or bust.
Now, however, despite being a bust, Jones was quick to dole out stocking stuffers of praise to his coaching staff after Dallas rattled off four wins in five games that culminated in a 26-24 win over the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16.
Full of holiday cheer following the victory, Cowboys owner, president, and general manager Jones made his weekly visit on the Shan & RJ show on Audacy’s 105.3 The Fan Tuesday to discuss Dallas’ win over a probable playoff-bound opponent and just the second win of the year at AT&T Stadium.
The main key in Jones’ eye for improved play despite the team’s playoff chances crumbling has been the coaching staff and their ability to coax improvements out of young players who have taken over for an injury-depleted squad.
“Really proud of these young players,” said Jones. “They just are growing mentally and physically by leaps and bounds, makes me think we’ve got an outstanding future ahead of us.”
Despite the losses of franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs, several starters on the offensive line, and many others to injury, the Cowboys showed fight, especially in the Week 16 win where they were playing for nothing but pride while their opponent was trying to maintain their playoff destiny.
After starting the season 3-7, including a five-game losing streak, the Cowboys have won four of their last five games to draw near to the .500 mark at 7-8. With the potential to completely collapse, Dallas has rallied and that appears to be something Jones attributes to McCarthy and his coaching staff.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way the coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy, and the leadership on this team,” Jones said, after McCarthy went from lame duck status in the last year of his contract to on the hot seat all season. Now Jones is potentially laying the foundation for a potential extension for the former Super Bowl-winning coach.
Another part of the recent success has been the steady play of backup-turned-starter Rush, who threw for 292 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay and now has nine passing scores to just one interception over his last five games after he took over for the injured Prescott mid-season.
Cooper “Gold” Rush heating up early. pic.twitter.com/0DZy8DnV60
— The Cowboy Regg ✭ (@Irish_Cowboy88) December 23, 2024
To that end, Jones was asked if he has had any second thoughts about the protracted contract talks that ended with a record-breaking extension for Prescott now that Rush is producing results at the helm. “No. No. Not at all,” Jones assured, as Prescott will almost certainly be back under center for the Cowboys next season.
More curious, perhaps, is the fact that third-stringer Trey Lance hasn’t gotten more of a look, especially with Dallas out of contention. “The very best chance that we have on the next play or series, that’s what I want every play to be,” Jones responded when asked specifically about giving Lance an opportunity in the final two weeks. “So the people who go out there are the ones that I want who give us the best chance.”
With Christmas upon us, Jones was also asked about the league’s unusual schedule this season which will see four AFC squads play three games in eleven days as part of the league’s mandate to have games on Christmas Day, which falls on an unwieldy Wednesday this year.
“Christmas Day is Christmas Day and it doesn’t wait around for what day it’s on,” Jones, ever a major influence on NFL broadcasting decisions chimed in. “We want to be there on Christmas Day. I would think the future is whatever day it’s on, we’re going to be there on Christmas.”
The Cowboys won’t be among the teams playing on Christmas Day, as they next suit up against the archrival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at noon from Lincoln Financial Field where they will once again try to play the role of spoiler against a playoff-bound team in Week 17.
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