Following Baltimore’s 28-25 victory over Dallas at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, here’s what Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy had to say, courtesy of the media teams for both Dallas and Baltimore:
On whether the game was another case of falling behind early, making it too hard to recover.
“It’s just like any game. Right before we went out, I told the team it would be a four-quarter battle. We needed to get off to a strong start, but they came out quicker than we did. We were down by six at halftime.
As a play-caller, I had some regrets, but you’ve got to appreciate the effort and fight. Our execution needs to improve. We had chances, but they made more crucial plays.
The big plays at halftime showed us ahead, but the score didn’t reflect it. Their big takeaway in the red zone was a turning point. They’re a strong team with great players and a solid coach, but we just weren’t clean enough to win today.”
On how demoralizing it was to struggle stopping the run:
“The last two weeks, our inability to stop the run has been a clear issue, and we have to fix it. We’ve got a quick turnaround with New York coming up, and we’re not where we need to be with run defense or run offense.”
On winning the toss and choosing to receive, hoping for an early offensive spark.
“Absolutely. The plan was to get ahead as quickly as possible, and that was part of the decision.”
On his frustration with play-calling and CeeDee Lamb’s mistakes.
“In games like today, the key is to look in the mirror. We put a lot into preparation every week, and sometimes it doesn’t show on game day.
Our preparation matched our performance this week. I love the fight in this group, but we’re experiencing growing pains. We need to keep growing and get ready for New York.”
On the challenge of bouncing back from consecutive losses with a short week ahead.
“That’s just the NFL schedule. Competition is what makes Sundays special. We know the schedule and have a plan to get ready for Thursday night.”
On what he’d say to frustrated fans:
“We’re a work in progress. I understand the fans’ frustration. We have issues to address, especially in run defense and pass protection. We need to clean up our own house because we’re not where we need to be yet.”
On what he expects from the receivers:
“It’s more than just them. Coverage and staying connected are important. The pocket was shaky early, and there are calls I’d like to have back. But this is all part of the work-in-progress.”
On the reality of playing younger players:
“That’s part of the growing pains. But we need to break this cycle of long drives without scoring touchdowns. We’ve done it three weeks straight. We had penalties right from the start, and that’s not the beginning we wanted after choosing to take the ball.”
On the state of the running game:
“We didn’t have enough run attempts. By halftime, we had 20 pass attempts. That’s not where I wanted us to be, but I wasn’t discouraged by the looks our guys were getting.”
On whether he wants the team to focus on the comeback:
“It’s not something that shows up in a playbook, but the heart and soul of the team matter. It was a great learning moment for our young players.
We don’t have the emotional connection we’re capable of yet. The mental side of the game is crucial, and we need to have made progress from last week.”
On Brandon Aubrey’s performance:
“He’s a weapon. Early in the game, we considered punting, but I believe in him. If we think we’ll be in playoff situations, he needs those opportunities now, not for the first time in a crucial game. He keeps delivering.”
**On whether he would have gone for a third onside kick under the old rules:**
“That was a tough call, a 50-50 decision. John and I discussed it, but with three timeouts, we felt we could stop them.”
On the new onside kick rules and having to announce the play:
“We’ve discussed it. The surprise onside kick was a good play that’s no longer available, but at least kickoffs are still part of the game at some level. This is how we have to play it now.”
