3 fireable offenses by Mike McCarthy in Cowboys Thanksgiving loss

2. Fake punt debacle in the fourth quarter

While the failed fourth-and-1 conversion attempt was back, the deplorable fake punt attempt in the early fourth quarter was even worse. Dallas was down 20-16 just inside of 13 minutes left in the game. The Cowboys defense had allowed three points in their four previous defensive series. Once again, McCarthy decided to go for it on the wrong side of the field and paid a price for it.

On a fourth-and-10 from the Dallas 24-yard-line, the Cowboys went for it on a trick play with wide receiver Cedrick Wilson carrying the rock. Not only did he not go anywhere, he lost a yard on the botched fake punt. So Washington took over on the Dallas 23-yard-line. On the very next play, Washington running back Antonio Gibson scampered 23 yards to pay dirt to make it 27-16.

What makes this the second fireable offense for McCarthy is it was proof he did not learn his lesson from the previous go-for-it debacle. Not only did he not have his offense out there to at least give his team a glimmer of hope to convert, but he did it even further back in his own territory already trailing at home to a division rival on Thanksgiving evening. What was he doing?

Good coaches do not gift wrap points to the opposition, especially in a rivalry game with playoff implications on the line and one that everybody in America is watching. Washington is not as talented as many teams in the NFL, but these guys are playing very hard for head coach Ron Rivera. And with this victory, Washington is the first team in the NFC East to four wins in 2020.