The biggest game of Jason Garrett's career
I've supported Jason Garrett. Still do pretty much kinda, sorta, maybe. Not sure what ANY coach or playcaller could do with that cast of abysmal offensive linemen.
That said, Garrett is in trouble.
Jerry does NOT want to fire him. I doubt he'd given it a thought until very recently. The last thing Jerry wants to do his pay off Garrett and pay big for a big name. Jerry's pretty cheap when it comes to coaches, especially those that require spotlight and power. Garrett is Jerry's "perfect" head coach.
However, 6-10 is screaming pretty loud. That's the Cowboys record over the past 16 games, and if not for ugly wins over Cleveland and Tampa, it could be even worse. Add a 28-3 deficit at halftime on Thanksgiving and a cascade of resounding boos going into the locker room for all the nation to see, and the dreary mood hanging over this thing is palpably uncomfortable to watch.
But, ugh, imagine losing to a Vick-less, Babin-less, Jackson-less, McCoy-less, hapless disaster of a football team with an even worse offensive line than Dallas and a head coach with nine toes out the door already?
Garrett is coaching for his Cowboys life on Sunday.
Somehow, someway, Garrett has to get this team to 9-7 and relevant in the discussion heading into the offseason. Another draft and offseason shot at shoring up this team's offensive line woes, and he'll have a chance at a last chance around here. 8-8 is bleh. 7-9 is bye bye. A loss to Philly, and 6-10 might be in the works.
I honestly didn't think there was a way Jerry wouldn't give Garrett 2013. I've pointed at next year all along as the year to truly contend. Too much left to fix to judge too harshly.
But this season has been so wrought with unthinkable calamities and head-scratching bungles and flubs, the intensity of the scrutiny on BOTH Jerry and Garrett has magnified to new levels.
Fault or not, Garrett now finds himself with a precarious hold on his job.
And beating the Eagles, for him, is suddenly a must win if he wants his career to remain in these parts.
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