The tiny sliver of hope the Dallas Cowboys had entering Week 16 that they could keep any postseason hope alive was dashed before they took the field Sunday night.
Eliminated from postseason contention following the Washington Commanders' victory over Philadelphia, the Cowboys could have rolled over and played dead against a Tampa Bay club fighting for a playoff bid. Instead, Mike McCarthy's club battled, taking it to the Bucs and making plays from kickoff to the final forced turnover.
"Proud of those guys. They wouldn't give it up out there. So I'm real, real proud of them," owner Jerry Jones said after the 26-24 victory, via the Associated Press. "And Mike McCarthy, he just won't let them not think they're playing for the Super Bowl out there. He won't let them do it. So proud of that."
Jones' praise of McCarthy is notable. The head coach's contract expires at the end of the season, and the owner and coach have a decision to make on the future. After things looked grim for McCarthy a month ago, Dallas' late-season surge could change the calculus. The Cowboys have won four of their last five games. Jones' comments could be laying the foundation to bring McCarthy back.
Following three consecutive playoff appearances, Dallas was eliminated from postseason contention with three games left, its earliest exit since 2015. McCarthy's players battled despite playing out the string. With two division bouts left -- at Philadelphia, versus Washington -- how they perform could determine a lot in Dallas.
Jones noted how proud he was of how his team battled Sunday night under McCarthy's leadership but wasn't willing to discuss the future.
"All I can say is what a good job, how good a job he's doing," Jones said. "Don't have thoughts that I would share as to anything about what we do ... after we're through playing this year."
They'll be through playing on Jan. 5.
