When Mike McCarthy made the highly scrutinized decision to let go of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, many believed that McCarthy would be the one who made more efficient use of the offense.
But a costly decision involving clock management led to McCarthy getting crushed online, especially with new Los Angeles Chargers OC Moore on the opposite sideline in the first meeting since their split.
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Fans Crush Mike McCarthy’s Decision Toward End of First Half
Dak Prescott hit Tony Pollard in the middle of the Chargers’ defense while inside the red zone.
However, McCarthy and the Cowboys still had two timeouts left. And McCarthy opted to just settle for the field goal instead of taking a shot at the end zone.
so with 8 seconds left and 2 timeouts Mike McCarthy really told the ref he didn’t want to call a timeout until 3 seconds so he could settle for a FG????? pic.twitter.com/33IPGVpyE7
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 17, 2023
After that decision, NFL fans began to roast McCarthy for his clock management mistake. Annie Agar of Stadium was one who mocked the Cowboys’ coach.
everytime we believe mike mccarthy is good at clock management pic.twitter.com/O4GfpF1KnG
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) October 17, 2023
The X account for BetMGM was another who ripped McCarthy.
take a minute to watch that mike mccarthy clock management disasterclass pic.twitter.com/QaaEbklgco
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) October 17, 2023
Even Cowboys reporter for the Dallas Morning News, Michael Gehlken, used the word “bizarre” in watching the sequence unfold.
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“Mike McCarthy saving his third timeout as if it carries into future like salary-cap space. Bizarre clock management to conclude first half. Cowboys lead 10-7 after Brandon Aubrey field goal,” Gehlken posted.
David Helman of FOX Sports used an even stronger description for McCarthy: “Gross.”
“So I am to understand that that’s the way Mike McCarthy wanted to play it? With eight seconds, a timeout to spare & a $40 million QB? That’s so, so gross,” Helman posted.
Finally, multiple Cowboy fans took to X to share how McCarthy has to go or that he now needs to be the one to relinquish play-calling post-Moore.
Is Troy Aikman Also Fed Up With Mike McCarthy?
It certainly didn’t help McCarthy that there were three Cowboys Hall of Famers inside SoFi Stadium when that clock management mishap occurred.
NFL Hall of Fame head coach and two-time Super Bowl winner Jimmy Johnson was in the stands watching the scene unfold. Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin was another in attendance in Inglewood. Worse for McCarthy, Cowboys legend and NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman was the one calling the color commentary during the moment.
One fan caught a sigh from Aikman during the broadcast of the MNF game.
Troy Aikman is really getting tired of the cowboys and Mike McCarthy…. That *sigh* was noticeable!!
— My friends call me Deon (@jusplaindeon) October 17, 2023
Toward the end of the third quarter, Aikman remarked, “The offense has not been efficient” under McCarthy.
This prime-time game, again, presented McCarthy with the opportunity to prove he is the better play-caller compared to his former coordinator. But instead, he got ripped for being much less aggressive compared to Moore.