2024-01-10 04:12:02
Coach Mike McCarthy believes he talked too much regarding his return to Green Bay last season, when the Cowboys lost to the Packers.
There will be much more at stake during Sunday’s reunion, in the wild card game and in Dallas. And McCarthy has learned from last year’s bitter experience.
“I regretted it,” said McCarthy, who coached Green Bay for a little more than 12 seasons and won a Super Bowl in Dallas to cap the 2010 season. “It doesn’t even have to influence our basic energy. I answered questions honestly here last year regarding my experience on that team. But that just didn’t help us win. And if it didn’t help us win, I don’t care. I apologize”.
McCarthy did not completely avoid the questions but was less emphatic in his answers.
Now you have more arguments in your favor. The Cowboys (12-5) have their highest seeding, second in the NFC, in McCarthy’s fourth year as their coach. With him, Dallas has made the playoffs three consecutive times.
The team is a seven and a half point favorite over Green Bay (9-8), according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The franchise hasn’t even reached the NL finals since the post-1995 playoffs, when it won the most recent of its five Super Bowl titles.
McCarthy reached those heights three other times, in addition to his title-winning season with the Packers.
“I think the most important thing is the timing of the playoffs. We talked regarding that in the team meeting on Monday. “This is a time when all of us must be selfish,” McCarthy said. “And we have put a lot of effort into this season, to prepare. “We are right where we need to be.”
His last playoff victory with the Packers was 34-31, precisely once morest the Cowboys. The key to the game was a pass that Aaron Rodgers completed in incredible fashion to tight end Jared Cook in the final seconds.
In that 2016 season, Dak Prescott was a rookie.
McCarthy, who turned 60 this season, was fired less than two seasons following that victory. He had two losing seasons with Green Bay. The Packers made the playoffs nine times under McCarthy.
“He’s a tremendous coach and I always appreciate him,” said defensive tackle Kenny Clark, one of three currently healthy Packers who played under McCarthy. “He is one of the guys who brought me here. “I have a lot of respect for him and I thank him for the opportunity.”
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