Cowboys' HC Mike McCarthy predicts win against WFT

While it may appear like overconfidence, the 'Boys' are on the up so the WFT will need to be on the alert.

Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy makes winning prediction

Having been out for 10 days due to covid-19 it would seem that Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy intends to return with a bang. Speaking ahead of Sunday's game against the Washington Football Team, McCarthy left no doubt about where he and his team stood. "We're going to win this game," McCarthy said. "I'm confident in that." Reminiscent of former Cowboys' coach Jimmy Johnson and his famous moment before the 1993 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers when he said "We will win the ballgame. You can put it in 3-inch headlines."

"I mean, what am I supposed to say?" McCarthy followed up. "Yeah, I fully expect to win every game I've ever competed in. That's what sports is all about. That's what the NFL [is all about]. Trust me, I understand how hard it is. They're working hard. We're working hard. But, yeah, we're clearly planning on going to Washington and winning the game. There's no doubt about that."

The Cowboys are behind their coach

Speaking on his coach's words, Cowboys' QB Dak Prescott was matter fact about the odds of winning. "S--- yeah," Prescott said. "It doesn't put us in a bad spot. Obviously if you're preparing for this game, you're a Dallas Cowboy; if you're a fan, you expect to go in and win each and every game, so I don't think he's said anything different than [what are] everyone in this building's thoughts. He just voiced it. Now we've got to make sure we're accountable of our words. And I think that's all that is, is a coach setting the tone for the week."

The Cowboys have a tough task

While McCarthy's pledge is based in reasonable assumptions regarding where both teams are at, he will still have to face Washington with both of his running backs not at 100%. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are both carrying knocks coming into the game. Elliott has been struggling with a right knee injury since October, while Pollard sustained a partially torn plantar fascia on his 58-yard touchdown run last week against the New Orleans Saints. The latter didn't participate in training during the week and has been listed as a game-time decision. "They say once you tear it, it actually heals better and you don't feel it as much," Pollard said. "So I'm waiting until I get to that point."

Elliott on the other hand has been cleared to play, but it must be said that he has not posted above 51 yards in his last six games. While he did have an MRI last Friday that revealed the injury is healing, the Cowboys are taking no chances in that Corey Clement has been put on the active roster and veteran Ito Smith is now on the practice squad.

Where are the Cowboys now?

At present the Cowboys are leading the NFC East with an 8-4 record, however, Washington has won four straight games. Across NFL history the Cowboys hold a respectable advantage in the series with a record of 73-47-2, but most recently fell to Washington in both games last season - when Prescott was sidelined. For his part, Prescott is 7-1 vs. Washington. Expanding on his thoughts about the coming game, McCarthy was focused. "We're just really focused on self-improvement and winning," he said. "We've got to do whatever we got to do to win the game. But these guys are very accountable, the work ethic of our football team, the whole space is. They're very accountable. We know what people think of us. We love that. We're comfortable with who we are and where we are, but I'm excited about what's in front of us."

And where do the Cowboys go from here?

The Cowboys bring the curtain down on their season with four NFC East games that are intermingled around a January 2nd clash of titans when they meet the high flying Arizon Cardinals who are currently No.1 in the league."This is December football," McCarthy said. "I mean, December football defines your season. You have to get it done in December. There's no way we can get to where we want to go if we don't take care of things. I like the fact that we're on a five-week stretch. Hopefully this stays seven days. That would be nice. But I really like the way this lays up for us."

"With respect to your job, I think it's a waste of time," he said. "I'm more focused on the real stuff. I think it's important you go through the week to identify how the opponent is going to play you, things you're expecting. By Friday, they're blank faces to me. We're about winning, doing the things we need to win, just stay on the details of where we need to improve. To me, that's enough work."