Mike McCarthy is no stranger to clock management problems and Sunday’s playoff game was his magnum opus.
In what could be his final game as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, McCarthy’s team limped to a lifeless 19-12 loss at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Bad Dak Prescott showed up once again as the Cowboys offense couldn’t get anything going against a stifling 49ers defense.
But, with the game on the line and the Cowboys trailing by seven ahead of the two-minute warning, McCarthy opted to punt from behind their own 20-yard line. Not only that, the Cowboys wasted precious time off the clock waiting for McCarthy to make a decision on what to do ahead of the two-minute warning.
Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys chose to punt (and took a lot of time to do so) on 4th-and-10 with just over 2 minutes remaining, trailing by 7.
We'll see if they ever get the ball back! pic.twitter.com/3MHKsqQYcW
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 23, 2023
Yes, the Cowboys did get the ball back one more time — and finished the game with an incredibly mind-boggling final play — but goodness, that was terrible from McCarthy. From the cowardly punt to the ridiculous time wasting beforehand, NFL fans had no trouble at all roasting McCarthy and the Cowboys here.
appreciate mike mccarthy helping me go to bed faster
— charles (parodied) mcdonald (@FourVerts) January 23, 2023
Mike McCarthy is the biggest bozo of all-time. My god. Season on the line and you punt with two minutes left. Sickening.
— B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) January 23, 2023
Shoot Mike McCarthy into the sun https://t.co/kHheNQJMFl
— Bru McCoy Fan Account (@Rohitthelights) January 23, 2023
I’m glad Mike McCarthy doesn’t coach my favorite football team
— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) January 23, 2023
Mike McCarthy just make sure you leave Sean Payton all the passwords he needs on your way out
— Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) January 23, 2023
Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys with some less than stellar clock management in a playoff game?
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) January 23, 2023
Mike McCarthy’s decision to punt has a Jason Garrett clap-clap-clap-we-still-have-time-to-win vibe.
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) January 23, 2023
Has a coach ever lost more games exactly like that one than Mike McCarthy?
— Ethan Budowsky (@ethanbudowsky) January 23, 2023
Watching Mike McCarthy decide to punt down 7 with under 2 minutes to play. pic.twitter.com/uj2iS1XerZ
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) January 23, 2023
Some good old fashioned Mike McCarthy clock management on that fourth down
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) January 23, 2023
