How y’all doing, Cowboys? Well, after three straight losses, we can understand if you might say the mood’s a little…tense. This season was supposed to be the one—the “all-in” for Super Bowl season, as Jerry Jones promised. But at 3-5, the Cowboys are looking more like a work in progress than a contender. And yeah, there’s a loud crowd calling for Mike McCarthy’s head, saying his game plans are way too predictable. But Jones? He’s not budging on his HC. For now, McCarthy’s staying put.

However, the script has brought its own twist. From how JJ (Jerry Jones) put it, we all thought he and Mike were buddies. But Coach McCarthy’s blatant admission of the issues within the franchise is not a good look for the front office. He gave a little speech on what it takes to build a powerhouse team, and you can read between the lines here. “When you see teams that are in it every single year, that’s a hell of a football program,” he said.

Further, he pointed to how top teams succeed with coaching, drafting, and spending smart. “All three of those components function at a very high level.” Basically, if you want to build a dynasty, it’s about more than just one big year. And McCarthy thinks the Cowboys have some catching up to do.

McCarthy also laid out his own blueprint, starting with free agency. In his eyes, teams should fill all the gaps before the draft even rolls around. That way, by draft day, you’re picking the best player available, not scrambling to plug holes. “I personally, as a head coach — when you’re signing veterans in camp and you’re doing things at the end. I think that’s a pretty big challenge.” McCarthy clearly wants the whole squad in place by April so they can actually build some chemistry. And as you can guess, he is not a fan of bringing in last-minute free agents during camp. Who would be, right? This season, we all know, the Cowboys did more of the scrambling he’s not used to.

Take the Cowboys’ recent run game struggles, for example. They’ve been looking for a spark, and Chicago’s Khalil Herbert was on the radar. He’d been putting up decent numbers—1,775 yards and 8 touchdowns over his first few seasons. But when deadline day came, Herbert was traded…to the Bengals. And the price? Just a seventh-round pick in 2025. Yeah, that one hurts, especially when Dallas could’ve scooped him up for practically nothing.

And while Rico Dowdle has been solid, Dallas has more questions than answers in the backfield. Ezekiel Elliott? The Zeke hasn’t been doing much, on or off the field. Deuce Vaughn? Barely sees any snaps. Dalvin Cook? Still waiting for a real chance to shine since coming off the practice squad. Herbert could’ve been a low-risk, high-reward move. But once again, Dallas passed.

Mike McCarthy’s comments make it clear he’s thinking big picture—he wants consistency, depth, and a smart approach to team-building. But that’s where the problem comes in. The Cowboys aren’t quite hitting those marks, and it’s showing on the field. If they don’t start pulling it together, this “all-in” season might end up as another missed opportunity.

Now, it’s not one’s blame to concede. Instead, it’s a shared one. Sure, McCarthy has a point in needing time. But the gameplay issues? Yeah, that’s where he loses the argument.

Mike McCarthy needs to look beyond the draft and develop mantra

When Mike McCarthy says, “For a long haul you have to draft and develop… The depth of your football team is critical today,” it sounds like he’s committed. And that’s good news. But here’s the problem—fans and former players (hey, Dez Bryant!) are itching for something fresh. Dez even took to social media to suggest Jerry Jones “go steal Kliff Kingsbury from the Washington Commanders.” Bryant’s call for Kingsbury’s offensive schemes has fans thinking maybe it’s time for a new playbook in Dallas. So, what do you think?

Now, let’s talk about the frustrations building up with McCarthy. This season, we’ve seen everything from an embarrassing tablet toss against the Falcons to one of the worst home losses in Cowboys history—a 47-9 smackdown by the Lions (that too, on Jerry Jones’ birthday).

But wait…the Cowboys’ red zone stats? Well, well, well, they ranked 30th in red zone TDs. So, it isn’t exactly playoff material. Fans can’t help but notice the similarities to Jason Garrett’s final season, where Dallas looked unstoppable against weaker teams but stumbled when it mattered. With a 3-5 record, this team’s flirting with a top-10 pick instead of the playoffs, and McCarthy’s clock is ticking.

The big question: can McCarthy really turn this around, or are we just running out the clock for the rest of the season? With nine games left, the Cowboys are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Jerry Jones may say all the right things, but anyone watching closely knows the story by now. Unless there’s a miracle run in these next two months, we might just be watching McCarthy’s last season on the Dallas sideline.