The Dallas Cowboys improved to 5-7 on the season with their 27-20 victory over their division rival, the New York Giants, on Thanksgiving afternoon. It marks just the second time all year that the Cowboys have won two consecutive games.

The 2024 NFL season has truly been a monumental disappointment for the Cowboys, who won 12 games in each of the previous three seasons. They also made Dak Prescott the highest paid player in NFL history and gave CeeDee Lamb the second richest contract ever for a wide receiver.

But, for a variety of reasons, the Cowboys simply could not get it going early on in the season. Jerry Jones made a glaring mistake in not going out and signing a high-profile running back like Derrick Henry as Dallas’ rushing offense has been near the bottom of NFL rankings all season long.

Rico Dowdle did rush for 112 yards and a touchdown against the Giants on Thanksgiving, but it was the first time a Cowboys running back went over 100 yards in 26 games.

Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy Has Been Blamed for Team’s Struggles

McCarthy entered the 2024 NFL season in the final year of his contract with Dallas. Due to his 1-3 postseason record, presumably, Jones declined to offer him a new deal.

While Jones deserves a great deal of criticism for the Cowboys’ poor season up to this point for his failure to adequately address roster needs, McCarthy has not exactly gotten the most out of his players.

Many have criticized the former Green Bay Packers head coach for his stagnant offense which, at times, to be years behind what a modern NFL offense should look like. These are the same concerns the Packers had when they fired him before the end of the 2018 season.

There are many, though, who defend the Dallas coach because of his football IQ and ability to develop players, especially quarterbacks. As it turns out, NFL legend Tom Brady is one of them.

Dallas Cowboys Fans Go Off on Tom Brady for Complimenting Mike McCarthy

During the broadcast, Brady had high praise for Coach McCarthy, saying, “Oh, I think Coach McCarthy is a great coach. His 18th season as a head coach. He’s a great leader of men. But not only as a play-caller, he’s a developer of players, of talent, of quarterbacks.

“He’s got a very consistent personality to him. He won in Green Bay. He’s got a championship DNA. I think he’s one of the better coaches in the NFL, absolutely.