The subpar Dallas Cowboys regular season ended in January much like their preseason ended in August … with a meaningless game quarterbacked by third-stringer Trey Lance at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The eventually-dramatic 23-19 loss to the Washington Commanders was Lance’s first start for the Cowboys. It might also have been Mike McCarthy’s final game as head coach.
And it all ended in a way that helped the Cowboys land a better pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in April.
For weeks, we’ve been told that Cooper Rush “gives us the best chance to win,” as if that was all-important. So … why did Trey play? Why did Deuce Vaughn finally get a uniform? And most of all, why with 3:25 remaining in a game in which Dallas was leading did McCarthy not attempt to secure the victory?
The Commanders took the freebie and drove to Dallas’ 49, where on their own 4th-and-1 they went for it – naturally! – as backup QB Marcus Mariota sprinted freely on a 33-yard keeper.
Two plays later – with :03 remaining – Mariota hit Terry McLaurin with a 5-yard touchdown pass he caught over DaRon Bland in the back corner of the end zone.
If it is indeed McCarthy’s final game as coach of the Cowboys, he’ll be remembered as the guy who got conservative at the end of a January scrimmage.
