The sad Cowboys reality that reveals the guilty party behind 49ers loss
The month is October, the year is 2023.
Dallas Cowboys fans are waking up after yet another horrific loss, this one was to an all too familiar foe: The San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers have seemingly delivered knockout blows to the Dallas Cowboys for what seems like forever. In reality, this decade sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the 2010s.
In case you missed it, or just turned it off like most of America, the 49ers demolished the Cowboys 42-10 on Sunday night football.
The results of this game have Cowboys Nation up in arms trying to find the proper people to blame. So let’s dissect this, who is to blame?
Many are pointing the fingers at QB Dak Prescott. While he was far from perfect and played one of his worst games in some time, I think their blame is misguided (although a fair part of this loss is absolutely on him). I do not think Dak is in the upper echelon of top QBs in the league, but he is someone who you can win with. If you disagree, think of what Kyle Shannahan has done on offense with Brock Purdy as his QB. If Prescott had that, he would have a lot fewer critics.
The blame starts with the front office. They are the ones who bought into the Mike McCarthy facade of “I’ve changed, let me do things my way and I’ll be better.”
Let’s not forget his whole tenure in Dallas started off with a lie. It has just snowballed from there. If the Cowboys had conducted a proper coaching search, they would have interviewed former 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik. Slowik would instead follow DeMeco Ryans to the Texans and now he is coaching a rookie quarterback in CJ Stroud.
Here is the kicker with Slowik: Turnovers have been the primary reason for hate against Dak Prescott. Guess what? Stroud has yet to throw an interception in his rookie season.
You would think hiring someone who can tailor an offense to the literal last pick in the draft and have success, would be a no-brainer. Apparently not for this front office. Not even enough for an interview.
The Cowboys had a good offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore, and they made him the scapegoat for the 49ers debacle last year. In reality, they entered the game with a beaten-up offensive line, and their second-best receiver was TY Hilton.
That’s a recipe for disaster when you’re facing a juggernaut like the San Francisco 49ers.
They were also tied to a running back, who I’m quite sure that ownership was forcing carries to justify his contract.
Secondly, Mike McCarthy’s “Texas Coast” offense does not seem to be working all that well. The Cowboys have had a lackluster offense for four weeks. They beat up on a terrible Giants team. They faced the Jets who had lost Aaron Rodgers. They struggled against an Arizona Cardinals team (who lost to the 49ers by less than 20), and they beat a terrible New England team.
The Cowboys have a 7.5% unadjusted offensive VOA, which is 12th in the league (value over average). While teams like the Dolphins and 49ers have 49.2% and 44% respectively. With Kellen Moore, the Chargers rank fourth at 22.5%.
Makes you wonder, was Kellen truly the problem?
Lastly, Dak Prescott is not without blame, but he is not the QB you want to ask to play hero ball when you’re facing a team like the 49ers. Prescott has proved he is not afraid to take risks with the ball (as evidenced by his turnovers last year). If he is put in a situation where he is down multiple scores and asked to bring the team back, he is going to take risks. It’s what needs to be done.
Simply put, he needs to be better, but the context matters.
The sad reality of being a Cowboys fan is realizing this team won’t win because they won’t go outside of their comfort box and hire a coach who will say no to ownership. They need a “yes man” in charge so they can have their way and fit their own narratives about the team.
