'Onto the Next One!' Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys Turn Focus to Commanders on Thanksgiving
The Dallas Cowboys have won their last two games by a combined score of 82-27, but they aren't resting on their laurels. There's another division opponent coming to town after a short week of preparation.
The Cowboys took down the Carolina Panthers 33-10 on Sunday, continuing a difficult stretch for Bryce Young and company in Charlotte. What was head coach Mike McCarthy's reaction? Pretty pedestrian, if you expected comments about the game itself.
His focus has already turned to the Washington Commanders.
"A lot of good to come out of this and, frankly, we're not going to spend a whole lot of time [on it]," McCarthy said in postgame media availability. "We'll be watching Washington on the way home. Sorry, I'm not here to go ticky-tack with you on stats today. I apologize because my mind's already onto the next one.
"I feel like we came here and did what we needed to do."
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (right) and running back Tony Pollard.
USA Today Sports
These comments from the head coach of America's Team show the championship mindset that is still alive inside The Star. Sure, it's always good to beat up on lesser NFC teams, but an important divisional bout is coming up on Turkey Day in Arlington, and if the Cowboys hope to catch the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East race, they need to store up as many wins as possible before winter.
Should the Eagles fall on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas will have gained another game on Philly in the division. That in itself is a positive as the Eagles are in a tough stretch of their schedule, but the Cowboys can't worry about what's out of their control.
For now, the focus is on Washington and keeping this positive momentum going. This will be Dallas' first matchup with the Commanders this season, and the second meeting will come in the final week of the regular season on Jan. 7.
Kickoff at AT&T Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, and the game will be televised on CBS.
