NFL Coach Of The Year: Cowboys Mike McCarthy On The Rise?

It's the time of the season when teams are battling for the final few playoff positions and fans are seeing what their coaches are really made of. Some teams are facing injury issues while still notching wins and other teams are folding under the pressure.

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the teams that are having a spectacular year, but it doesn't mean there haven't been obstacles to overcome. Blowout losses have been followed by blowout wins the other way. And in an environment where Cowboys players are told they're the best in the league, it's hard to keep that narrative from turning negative from time to time.

And McCarthy has been on top of all of it all season.

Pro Football Focus has tabbed McCarthy as one of the Coach of the Year candidates, and although noting they're not listed "in any particular order other than the manner in which the eight divisions of the NFL are wired into (the author's) brain," McCarthy is listed at No. 9.

"9. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy: If they take the fifth seed (as expected), that won’t be good enough. If they somehow swipe the division title, maybe he gets a little consideration."

There's no reason McCarthy shouldn't have as good a chance as any of the others listed.

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Others mentioned on the list could raise some eyebrows, such as Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay, who seemingly is underperforming while losing his locker room. San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan has led the 49ers to an incredible season, but wasn't that expected?

Based on whatever criteria are being considered - and of course what happens in Miami and beyond matters - there could be other coaches who are more deserving than McCarthy. But for him to be mentioned and in consideration should prompt Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to discuss a extension for McCarthy, whose contract is up after 2024. ... which is indeed the eventual plan at The Star.