January 1st brought on the new year, and January 12th gave NFL fans one of the greatest days in all of sports-a Dallas Cowboys playoff elimination.
The Cowboys started the 2018 NFL season a subpar 3-5. The tone-deaf ringing of critics calling for Jason Garrett's job blared through television sets worldwide. Dallas was struggling in the first season without franchise record holder for receiving touchdowns, Dez Bryant. Dallas' offense fell into an abysmal mess unable to compliment pro bowl running back Ezekiel Elliot.
The mastermind of owner Jerry Jones felt the rumbling of another wasted season and traded away the team's first-round pick for receiver Amari Cooper.
Cooper and quarterback Dak Prescott's immediate connection gave NFL fans a nostalgic feeling as if they were watching Troy Aikman throw to Michael Irvin in the 21st Century.
Dallas rattled off five consecutive wins following the trade and ended the season as NFC East champions with a record of 10-6.
A Wild Card round victory over the Seahawks gave Dallas their third playoff win since 1996. The win made Dallas confident, and the sports world followed.
Longtime skeptic, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith picked Dallas to defeat the Los Angeles Rams. The prediction unsuccessful as Dallas fell to Los Angeles 30-22, but the bigger story came after the game.
NFL Hall of Fame receiver and former Cowboy Terrell Owens tweeted his disdain for Garrett in a message directed at owner Jerry Jones.
Calling for Garrett to be fired is nothing new for Owens. The former "get your popcorn ready" wideout has proven to hold a grudge against Garret for cutting him following the 2008 season.
Through Owens' all to regular whining, he does have a good point. Garrett has had nine years to lead Dallas to success and by that standard has failed.
Garrett has coached Dallas to three playoff appearances but has yet to surpass the Divisional round. The Cowboys have also failed to finish above .500 in five seasons under Garrett-not the standard set forth for the so-called "America's Team".
Garrett deserves criticism. The last decade of Cowboy football has been a blur accompanied by an over-reliance of past success. Even through Garrett's mediocre tenure, he deserves to keep his job.
Dallas is trending upwards and have one of the most well-rounded teams in football. The Cowboys defense finished 2018 ranked seventh and dominated opposing rushing attacks by limiting teams to 94.6 yards per game and just 3.8 yards per attempt.
The Dallas defense also boasts two pro bowlers, DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Jones as well as defensive rookie of the year candidate Leighton Vander Esch. Even Dallas' weaker secondary finished just outside the top ten.
Dallas' offense needs improvement, especially at tight end but the Cowboys "big three" is as good as any. Quarterback Dak Prescott struggled at times, especially when Ezekiel Elliot was not carrying the majority of the load.
Prescott needs to Elliot but that is not to say Prescott cannot lead. Under Garrett, Prescott has led Dallas to three consecutive winning seasons for the first time during Garrett's tenure. If not for the Eagles, Dallas would also have won three consecutive division titles.
Garrett's reign as head coach has not been pretty as the first four years were full of failure. It was right to question why Jerry Jones handpicked Garrett to be his golden boy in 2015. Four years later and questioning Garret's job is off the table.
Jason Garrett is Dallas' second most winningest head coach in terms of total wins while having weaker rosters than his superiors. Garrett has had to work through a consistently injured Tony Romo, diva receivers like Terrell Owens and Dez Bryant while improving a defense that was once the league's worst to one of the best.
According to Terrell Owens, Jason Garrett should be fired after nine seasons of not winning a Super Bowl. Hopefully, Owens knows Garrett and the Cowboys have won the fourth most games since 2016 including more than the Saints, Eagles, Rams and Chargers.
Suggesting Jason Garrett should be fired is foolish and a nonstatistical, let alone an accurate, opinion.
*preview photo credited to ClutchPoints
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