Mike McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys future, Dak Prescott’s legacy will be decided in playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys season ended just how it started with the fate of coach Mike McCarthy and the legacy of quarterback Dak Prescott left to determined by what they do in the postseason.

Moments after the Cowboys beat Washington Commanders 38-10 to secure the NFC East title on Sunday, owner Jerry Jones spoke about the team’s successful regular season and the coach that led them to the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

It marked the third straight 12-5 season for McCarthy, who became the first coach in Cowboys history win 12 games in three straight seasons.

In the same breath that Jones complimented McCarthy for his outstanding achievement, he refused to guarantee his future as Cowboys coach beyond the playoffs. The Cowboys open the playoffs on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium.

“I just think that his record speaks for itself. I think what he’s done, the fact that we’ve put ourselves in this position over these last three years, I think that does speak for itself,” Jones said. “And we’ve got a lot of football left in no small part, thanks to Mike and his staff, and thanks to some really outstanding football players. So we’ll see how each game goes.”

It’s not lost on Jones or anyone that the Cowboys have not won been to the Super Bowl since 1995 nor reached the NFC title game since that season.

In each of the past two seasons, they have lost in the San Francisco 49ers. In 2021, it was in the wild card game. In 2022, it was the divisional round.

Each time the Cowboys came up short after a 12-win season.

Considering their talent and roster, it was expected the Cowboys would return to the postseason in 2023.

They clinched a playoff berth a couple of weeks ago and secured the division title and the No. 2 seed behind the 49ers with the victory against Washington.

It has ushered in the same questions or concerns about the Cowboys.

What will they do in the playoffs where they haven’t won two games since 1995?

The Cowboys believe this is a season they could breakthrough but they also understand that doubters remain.

That goes for McCarthy and his future.

It also goes for quarterback Dak Prescott.

Never mind that he has proved his own doubters wrong by going from leading the league in interceptions in 2022 to leading the NFL with 36 touchdown passes in 2023 to go along with just nine interceptions.

He knows he will be judged by what what the Cowboys do in the playoffs and Prescott has just two wins in the postseason in eight seasons as Cowboys quarterback.

He is the first quarterback to lead the Cowboys to four division titles since Hall of Famer Troy Aikman.

Of course, Aikman also has three Super Bowl championships.

Prescott said championships are what matter’s most to him.

He expected to be in this position.

Prescott knows what has been said since the preseason. But he also knows that is about they do now.

“I give biggest credit to the guys staying focused all season long and being in the moment each game by game and understanding that any noise outside of the star was about to playoffs,” Prescott said. “Hell if you don’t focus in and this is the NFL, you’re going to be sick when you look up and you’re not into this tournament. So credit to the guys to the focus the resiliency. We’ve done a good job of just being present, right where our feet are. And right now, that’s more important than anything.

As we move forward, it will be the same approach and make sure we’re preparing the right way and not missing anything in our preparation and our focus. And from there, we’ll control it. We’ll run our own race and let you guys write about it Excuse me, we’re on the write it and let you guys commentate about it.”

Regardless, it’s all on the line starting Sunday against the Packers.