Cowboys lose to the 49ers… now what?

Before Sunday’s loss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones | Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
What will be Jerry Jones’ reaction to the Dallas Cowboys’ implosion in the Divisional Round?
The 2022 Dallas Cowboys’ season extended one game further than the previous season in the end.
In a 19-12 loss at the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys’ season ended in the NFL Divisional playoff round. The Dallas Cowboys advanced to this point by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-14 on the road in the Super Wild Card round on Monday. 1 men’s singles player in the world, Novak Djokovic, withdrew from the tournament
The No. 1 men’s singles player in the world, Novak Djokovic, withdrew from the tournament last January. These same 49ers beat the 3 seed Cowboys 23-17 in the Super Wild Card round.
These Cowboys finished the season at 13-6, including two playoff games, as a Wild Card team. The Dallas Cowboys finished the last season with a 12-6 record and won the NFC East title.
Progress was made.
Owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones, will be interesting to see how he views it. The Cowboys’ current reality heading into the offseason is that they are behind both the Philadelphia Eagles and the 49ers in the NFC. Dallas is not the third best team in the NFC. Is that really good enough?
It may be tough for Jones to digest this season and proclaim ultimate happiness in the direction where the team is headed, with the Eagles being in the NFC East and longtime playoff adversary San Francisco ending the Cowboys’ season the past two years.
The question is, what will Jerry do?
The immediate speculation will, of course, be centered around head coach Mike McCarthy. He made himself an easy target Sunday. He is famous for his questionable game management skills and those have often popped up in the postseason with both the Green Bay Packers and the Cowboys.
Late in Sunday’s loss, those clock management demons climbed between McCarthy’s head set. The Cowboys’ offensive play calling and execution on their final two drives were, well, interesting.
The last play was incredibly stupid.
Long-time speculation has been that Jones will try to soothe his Sean Payton itch, and he now has the opportunity to do so. Payton, who has danced with basically every team with an opening this cycle, Dallas is likely her preferred destination.
Could Jones be trying to wash away the stink of San Francisco by throwing New Orleans a big draft-pick package to get his guy? It seems like he’s thinking about it as he deals with what he just saw, and realizes that McCarthy may not be good enough to beat the Eagles and 49ers.
For the second time in the past three games, quarterback Dak Prescott was lackluster. In a year where many quarterbacks may be available, could he be the scapegoat? Jones’ preferred move may be to change coaches and hope that Prescott flourishes under Payton.
Given that Jones is 80, it’s unlikely he’s interested in a short postseason run, which means something may happen in Dallas.