The Dallas Cowboys' playoff hopes took a major hit Sunday after a 36-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, a defeat that now leaves them needing a near-miracle to keep their postseason dreams alive.
With just three games left, the path forward is steep. Dallas must run the table-beating the Chargers, Commanders, and Giants-and hope the division-leading Philadelphia Eagles drop all three of their remaining matchups. That’s a tall order, and after Sunday’s showing, it’s fair to wonder whether this Cowboys team has enough left in the tank.
The loss wasn’t just a scoreboard setback-it was a gut punch to a team that had expectations of making noise in the NFC. Instead, the Cowboys looked outmatched and outcoached, and the frustration is boiling over.
Longtime NFL analyst and outspoken Cowboys fan Skip Bayless didn’t hold back in the aftermath. His criticism zeroed in on the leadership-or lack thereof-within the organization, calling out both team owner Jerry Jones and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
“There's no fear factor with Schottenheimer,” Bayless said, highlighting what he sees as a lack of commanding presence on the coaching staff. “There’s no Jimmy Johnson here.
No Tom Landry. Just a guy in his fifties who’s never been a head coach.”
It’s a harsh assessment, but it echoes a growing sentiment among fans and analysts alike. This Cowboys team, talented on paper, has struggled to find consistency on the field-and Sunday’s loss was a microcosm of that.
The offense, which has shown flashes of brilliance this season, couldn’t overcome a defense that simply couldn’t get stops when it mattered most. And that’s where former Jets head coach Rex Ryan entered the conversation, offering his own critique of the Cowboys’ defensive performance.
“This is a Super Bowl-caliber offense,” Ryan said. “But this defense? It stinks.”
Ryan didn’t mince words, pointing to the way the Cowboys made Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy look like a seasoned pro. McCarthy, who’s had his share of struggles this season, finished the game 15-of-24 for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception-numbers that don’t jump off the page until you consider how wide open his receivers were for much of the afternoon.
“How do you get this open in the National Football League?” Ryan asked. “It shouldn’t happen.”
And yet, it did-over and over again. The Cowboys’ secondary was routinely caught out of position, and the pass rush failed to generate consistent pressure. Combine that with missed tackles and blown coverages, and you’ve got a defense that couldn’t hold up against a Vikings offense still trying to find its identity.
It’s not just one side of the ball, though. The Cowboys’ issues run deeper. The lack of urgency, the mental lapses, the inability to adjust-all signs of a team that’s still searching for leadership and direction.
There’s still a mathematical path to the playoffs, but make no mistake: Sunday’s loss felt like a season-ender. And unless something drastic changes over the next three weeks, the Cowboys could be headed for another offseason full of questions-and not nearly enough answers.