The Dallas Cowboys suffered their second consecutive defeat as a last-second field goal by Jason Sanders handed the Miami Dolphins a 22-20 victory in NFL Week 16 on Christmas Eve. This outcome has left some observers with a familiar sense of frustration about “America’s Team,” reminiscent of the sentiment that “It’s Always Something!” And coach Mike McCarthy acknowledges this, emphasizing the significant errors that cannot happen in close games against formidable opponents.
In games of this nature, where the margin is narrow and mistakes become pivotal, the Cowboys faced a road test that they ultimately failed. Various errors, such as the Dak Prescott/Hunter Luepke fumbled exchange on the opening drive and untimely penalties, including Damone Clark’s face-mask penalty on the final drive, contributed to the narrow loss. McCarthy, despite the disappointment, attempts to find positives in the team’s resilience, battle, and grit, stating, “We clearly have that, but we’ve got to play better than we did. You have to play above it on the road… Road warriors we will be.”
While the notion of being “road warriors” sounds promising, there’s a lingering concern that the Cowboys encounter obstacles on the road, hindering their ability to secure victories. Self-inflicted wounds, particularly in the last two weeks, have been a recurring theme. The “Texas Coast Offense” has faced challenges, and although the defense showed improvement against the Dolphins, it failed to make the critical final stop. The Cowboys, once again, found themselves lamenting crucial penalties that contributed to their defeat at Hard Rock Stadium.
McCarthy remains optimistic about the team’s ability to be “road warriors” in the postseason if necessary. However, given the struggles on the road this season, the Cowboys need to address these issues in their remaining regular-season games against the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders. This is essential to avoid entering the playoffs with a sense of vulnerability and to establish that opponents’ laments of “it’s always something” should not define the Cowboys’ journey.