The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 NFL season has been a frustrating journey, culminating in the disappointment of missing the playoffs. Their slim hopes for a postseason spot were officially extinguished during Week 16’s action-packed Sunday afternoon games.
A dramatic comeback by Jayden Daniels propelled the Washington Commanders to a crucial victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, sealing the Cowboys’ fate. With this result, Dallas’ already fragile chances of advancing to the playoffs were completely dashed.
MORE: Dallas Cowboys fans push for Trey Lance after playoff elimination
Although their playoff aspirations have come to an end, the Cowboys still have three games left on their schedule. The first of these is a high-profile Sunday Night Football matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ahead of the game, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy joined 105.3 The Fan for a pregame interview, where he shared his perspective on the season’s shortcomings. “It’s disappointing,” McCarthy admitted. “Right now, my focus is on winning tonight’s game. This season hasn’t gone the way we hoped, but we’re determined to keep fighting.”
Dallas’ season was heavily impacted by injuries, especially on defense, which bore the brunt of the setbacks. Despite showing flashes of promise with a 3-1 record over the last four weeks, their efforts proved insufficient to salvage the season.
With the playoffs out of reach, the Cowboys are left to decide whether to play for pride or prioritize positioning for a better draft pick. Their next steps will become clearer as they face off against the Buccaneers tonight at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, with live streaming available on Peacock.
