Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy couldn’t be prouder of the team after holding on and taking down the Detroit Lions in their Week 17 showdown.
The Cowboys almost lost the game, though a controversial referee decision during the dying seconds of the contest allowed them to stay alive. In the end, they were able to make the key stop they need to edge the Lions, 20-19.
It’s an important win for the Cowboys. Not only were they able to keep their hopes alive in their bid to win the NFC East title, but beating the NFC North winners also proved they can compete against the best of the best.
Heading to the Saturday showdown, there were plenty of questions about Dallas’ ability to win against other top teams, with four of their five losses coming against opponents with winning records (versus the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins).
By beating the Lions, the Cowboys proved that they are getting closer to being that playoff team that fans can put their hopes on. Jones and McCarthy firmly believe that.
“Part of football is to gut through a trying, tough, competitive, physical (game),” Jerry Jones said following the narrow win, per Fox Sports. “That game had it. For us to step up and come back and hang in and win this ball game helps us in the playoffs.”
McCarthy had the same sentiments as the Dallas Cowboys owner, adding that the challenging battle with the Detroit Lions is the kind of game that helps the team be ready for the postseason.
“If you think you’re going to be battle tested and ready to go in the playoffs, these are the kinds of games that character is enhanced. It’s the adversity you train all year for,” Mike McCarthy shared.
The Cowboys definitely have a good reason to be happy about the Lions victory. They really needed that kind of morale-boosting and confidence-building performance, and it couldn’t come at a better time with the playoffs coming real soon.
Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Also Delighted Over Major Win
For what it’s worth, it’s not only Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy who see and know the importance of the Dallas Cowboys taking down the Detroit Lions.
The Cowboys had lost their previous two games prior to the match-up, with both the Bills and Dolphins breaking their hearts, so pulling off a victory against another postseason contender is crucial–no matter how controversial or close it may be. A win is a win, after all.
“It’s huge. Huge, especially coming off the last two. Being able to pull this one out was important for us to understanding this is what playoff football is about,” Prescott said of the win.
Now, the Cowboys just need to build off the victory and make sure they maintain the momentum as they enter the playoffs. Facing a hapless Commanders team should be beneficial for them in their quest for a deep postseason run.
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