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Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas — Mike McCarthy is in his 18th season as an NFL head coach, a span of 280 games. For all but 62 of them, he has been the offensive playcaller for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.
In all those years, he never experienced something like 2024.
The Cowboys are averaging 19.7 points per game and 4.9 yards per play, have converted 35.9% of their third-down opportunities and have scored touchdowns on 41.7% of their red zone trips. A quarterback guru, McCarthy’s QBs this season — Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush and Trey Lance — have a combined 43.3 Total QBR.
Those are all the worst marks through nine games for a McCarthy-led offense during his head-coaching career.
In 2005, as the coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, his offense posted worse numbers and went on to finish 4-12. San Francisco started four different quarterbacks that season, including rookie No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith, Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey and Cody Pickett.
On Monday against the Houston Texans, Rush will make his second straight start in place of the injured Prescott, who underwent season-ending hamstring surgery Wednesday.
Has the lack of offensive success made McCarthy question his system?
“I believe in the process,” McCarthy said. “I know a lot’s made of scheme and so forth. Your system of football has to fit your players. You’ve got to give these guys the opportunity. And every team’s built a little differently — what year you’re in, where your players are. This is not a ‘we need to go change’ [situation]. We need to be better at the things we’re committed to.”
Through nine games last season, the Cowboys were averaging 29.9 points per game, partially aided by defensive scores and special teams touchdowns (second most in the NFL). They averaged 379.1 yards per game (fourth best). They converted 47.2% of their third-down tries and scored touchdowns on 20 of 39 red zone trips.
Prescott had 17 touchdown passes — on his way to an NFL-best 36 — and six interceptions. The Cowboys had nine giveaways.
Through nine games this season, the Cowboys are tied for 21st in points per game. They are 21st in yards per game. They are converting 35.9% of their third-down tries and have scored touchdowns on 10 of 24 red zone trips.
Prescott’s season ended after eight games with a partial avulsion of his right hamstring. He had 11 touchdowns passes and eight interceptions, one fewer than his 2023 total. As a team, the Cowboys have given it away 18 times (10 interceptions, eight lost fumbles) already.
The message from McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is to stay the course.
“Sometimes you feel like you look for the way to motivate them, and I try to be honest with these guys. ‘Hey, we can play more consistent than we have been doing. There’s been good, but there’s been too much bad,'” Schottenheimer said. “But again, this group will never finger point. This group will never make excuses.
“They’re going to work, and so why is that? Because the type of men we have in the locker room and the belief we have and the love we have for one another. You know there was some long faces in there [Monday]. Just like we all are. But there is no solution in this league. This is a tough-ass league for tough people.”
There have been improvements, albeit incrementally. In the past two games, the Cowboys have had their best back-to-back rushing efforts (137 yards, 95 yards) led by Rico Dowdle (75, 53). But compared to last season, there’s been a drop-off.
Through nine games in 2023, the Cowboys had 27 runs of 10 yards or more compared to 17 this season. Nine have come in the past three games.
Big plays in the pass game have disappeared. In the first nine games last season, the Cowboys had 38 completions of 20 yards or more, compared to 27 in 2024.
Normally, playing at home is a plus for teams, but the Cowboys have been even worse at AT&T Stadium this season.
In 45 offensive possessions in four home games, the Cowboys have scored four touchdowns. They have gone 24 straight possessions without a touchdown in losses to the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. They have not scored a touchdown in the first or third quarters in four home games.
Including the Texans matchup, five of their next eight games are at AT&T Stadium (Giants, Bengals, Bucs, Commanders).
“We just need to stay the course,” said McCarthy, “and make sure we’re giving the players what they need, and putting them in positions to be successful, and just keep working on our execution.”
Source: www.espn.com