Another week, another big game, another colossal disappointment for the Dallas Cowboys. And once again, Jerry Jones finds himself evaluating the job security of his coach, Jason Garrett.
© Ron Jenkins, AP
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019.
“This was a little bit of a surprise,” he told USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell Sunday night before going on to say, “I thought we were prepared to play. I thought we could play better out here. I’m disappointed.”
The Cowboys’ 17-9 loss to the Eagles should not have come as a surprise, however — not to Jones, Garrett, players or fans.
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Wilting in big moments is exactly what the Cowboys have repeatedly done this season and for much of Garrett’s tenure. Garrett hasn’t consistently called the right shots under pressure. With the division title at stake, a squad featuring a lot of nice pieces failed to play up to its potential — again.
Jones can voice frustration about his team. He can call out the coaches for failing to adequately prepare players. But truthfully, the owner has no one but himself to blame at this point.
Let’s not pretend that this is the first time Garrett seemed like he’s in over his head. Let’s not act as though this is the first time he has failed to take the Cowboys to the next level. In his 10 full seasons, his teams have posted winning records just four times, and he has only two playoff victories in five games.
But Jones opted to stick with Garrett as his head coach entering this season when he could have made a switch last offseason.
Jones made two grave miscalculations.
First, he overestimated the quality of this Cowboys roster. He thought he had a Super Bowl contender on hands. But in truth, this group is good, but not elite.
Then, Jones acted out of complacency by sticking with Garrett. Jones seemed to believe that a strong collection of players would compensate for whatever deficiencies Garrett has as a coach. But while a strong leader can put a talented team over the top, players can’t carry coaches.
Now, as the Cowboys find themselves in danger of missing the postseason altogether, Jones is paying the price. It became clear weeks ago that Garrett had to go. But the Cowboys didn’t have anyone capable of stepping in as an interim who could have done any better.
And now, here Jones finds himself: on the verge of hoping for better fortunes next year, once again. He told Bell his radar is on regarding potential coaching candidates. But he should have switched it on a year ago.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Eagles in driver's seat for NFC East but two spots still open
NFL DRAFT ORDER: Bengals clinch top pick; Redskins and Lions in top three
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Patriots getting their groove back?
After weeks of frustrations, Tom Brady and his supporting cast looked like the well-rounded unit one would expect from a Patriots offense.
And if that showing against Buffalo’s top-five defense serves as any indication, maybe, just maybe, New England will be OK this postseason.
Brady and Co. didn’t light up the scoreboard at an epic rate. They produced two touchdowns and three field goals. But they did rack up yards both in the air (271) and on the ground (143) in that division-clinching 24-17 victory.
Saturday marked only the fourth 400-yard game of the season for the Patriots but the second time in as many weeks that New England has topped the 100-yard mark in rushing yards.
Sony Michel’s 96 rushing yards were a season high. Julian Edelman and Rex Burkhead both caused problems as pass catchers for the league’s second-best defense. And young receivers N’Keal Harry and Jacoby Meyers displayed greater comfort in the offense. (Give Josh McDaniels credit for finding additional ways to get Harry involved - twice using him on running plays). Brady spread the ball around to nine different targets, which served as a testament to improved chemistry as well as the versatility that this passing attack traditionally boasts.
We should know by now not to base the Patriots’ postseason prospects entirely on their regular-season product. Last season, the defense caused concerns at times. By Week 16, that unit had morphed into a game-changing force. Is a similar eruption now around the corner for New England’s offense?
Eagles building momentum
It started in late in the Week 14 win over the Giants and continued in Week 15 against Washington. And then on Sunday, in the biggest game of his young career, Carson Wentz continued his surge and again delivered the kind of difference-making performance for which the Eagles have been waiting.
Wentz completed a season-high 77.5% of his passes and led Philly to a victory that put the Eagles in the driver's seat in the NFC East.
“He is playing tough, he is running, he is using his legs and all the things we know he is capable of doing,” coach Doug Pederson told reporters on Monday. “What is exciting for us is how he is doing it. When the opportunity arises, he takes the shot down the field, and when it is not, he is getting the ball out of his hand and protecting himself. It has allowed us to stay on the field and extend drives. There are some plays yesterday even that we left on the field that we would like to have back and do again, but what he has done with this team, kind of putting the team on his shoulders and putting us in a position to win the NFC East, is awesome for your quarterback to do.”
But Wentz isn’t the only Eagles player who has rounded into form at the perfect time. The offense has also received a spark from several young players, including running back Miles Sanders (79 rushing yards and a touchdown along with 77 receiving yards on Sunday), tight end Dallas Goedert (career-high nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys to compensate for the injury to Zach Ertz) and wide receiver Greg Ward Jr.
Meanwhile, a defense that had struggled with consistency also played up to expectations while holding one of the league’s most potent offenses to just nine points.
It appears that as pressure has reached its most intense point, the Eagles are finding ways to respond, which is something the rival Cowboys certainly wish they could say for themselves.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Upon Further Review: Why Jerry Jones shouldn't be surprised by Cowboys' nosedive, how Pats and Eagles have rebounded
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