Everything coach Mike McCarthy and Cowboys players said after beating the Washington Commanders

What did Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, quarterback Cooper Rush and other Dallas players say after their 34-26 win over Washington on Sunday? Here’s their comments:

Coach Mike McCarthy

On his thoughts on the rough start to the game and on how they still were able to come back and win it:

“Well, there were a lot of good things that happened too with the way the game started. I think clearly, we had a plan. I think anytime you go into the game and coming off a Monday night game and just the moving parts of who’s playing, who’s not playing really went up until today with [Cowboys T] Tyler Smith and some of the guys. So, obviously we left a number of guys home and because there were a couple plays early you’ve called that were – [WR] Brandin Cooks practiced this week, so the point I’m making is I thought our players just did a really good job of staying to the plan. We wanted to come in here offensively, ground and pound and win the time of possession and just really focus on being in a favorable down and distance. You know, we were able to do that and we had the giveaways that hurt because we had chances for points that we did not conclude those drives where we did move the ball well. And our defense just kept banging away. I thought our defense did a great job keeping the score in that range of where it needed to be in to win the game. And really the special teams is a tale of two halves. I mean, their special teams made the big plays in the first half. Ours made them in the second half and then we got down to the end there and it was just a game situational extravaganza. I mean, it’s like Yahtzee; everything was in there. So, just a lot of situational football things to learn from, things we work on all the time, but we still gotta execute in those spots. Excellent team win. These are the way these division games are supposed to go. But you know, it is just great to see our guys rewarded for just staying the course, you know, just grinding it out. So, the messaging has been great. Going up into it, no one’s really blinking just with everything going around us, so it feels good to win. It’s been a minute.”

On his thoughts on the growth of their defense:

“Definitely. The defense is getting better. I just think you can just see it, you know, the understanding all the way around. I mean, the staff, the players just we had some out-of-balance games. I mean, it’s just good to see that we’ve learned from it. We’re getting players back and it’s great to have [CB] DaRon [Bland] back today. He played to his pitch count, so it was good to see. And you know, I think [OLB] Micah [Parsons] is back, full speed, and able to play the whole deal there. But with the changes in the secondary, I thought our coaches and the secondary guys did a really nice job of rolling in there. And what can you say about [CB] Josh Butler, [CB Kemon] Hall. And so these guys have really earned the opportunity and you love the reward. Your young players will just continue to work, and not only did they have the opportunity, but they made plays. So just once again, we’re a growing football team. I think you’re starting to see the benefit of a lot of young players playing early and hopefully the fruits of those moments are starting to come into play here because obviously we got a quick one here coming up on Thursday.”

On if he’s experienced ebbs and flows in a game like the ones that were present in this one:

“No, like I said, I just think it was game management – just everything that could happen almost happened there at the end. You know, on the onside kick and it’s a no mas situation. So, I think those types of things we just gotta learn from. But yeah, they hit the – we call it “Vanna”. They hit the free level play on us for the big play to get it back. So, those are things that you work on every Friday and Saturday and that’s why you do it because all those situations came into play down the stretch there.”

On Dallas Cowboys WR KaVontae Turpin’s kickoff return touchdown that went through his legs initially:

“Oh, he did that for timing [Laughs]. No, he’s special. He’s a special young man. It was obviously a huge play for us.”

On if this game against Washington Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn meant more to him since Quinn was previously on his staff:

“It really is. It’s a division game. You know, for us, I’m happy for Dan. I’m proud. He’s off to a great start here. I have nothing but love for him, but this is what it’s all about, competing. You know, if you’re blessed to be in this league as long as I have, you’re able to have friendships and relationships and it makes it even more competitive. So, just a hell of a football team. He’s done a great job.”

On how his blood pressure was the last two minutes of the game:

“I’m fine. I’ll be honest with you, I just look at the next play. When you’re calling the offense or when you get into game management, I’m listening and interjecting on the headset, and it’s amazing that it came all the way down to the last play. So, you look at how they did a nice job on the second down completion and got into range to throw the Hail Mary. I’m just really focused on the game. It’s the National Football League and we show the cutups every week. Brian Peter is our game management director who does a phenomenal job and last night we saw eight, nine or 10 games that came down to the last play or last series last week. That’s why we do it. That’s why we spent the time on it. So, we’re definitely prepared for it in these situations. These players are unbelievable and are special people with gifts and skills that can make plays like that when the game is on the line, and it was a hell of a game to watch.”

On what QB Cooper Rush did better today:

“I thought Cooper did a great job managing the game. I thought the run game teed up some completions for him. I thought he was very decisive and was clean with that. We had some plays taken off us in the passing game because of penalties, but I thought he did a great job managing the game, and I think it was his best one so far.”

On if he remembers what he said into the headset as WR Terry McLaurin was running down the field for the touchdown:

“Do I remember what I was thinking? I saw the play and I knew the coverage, and they hit it so we just got to tackle him. Again, it was situational football and obviously we have to get down there and the call may change, but the coverage and the type of play that they ran, those are those types of plays you run in those situations.”

On what this win does for this team after they’ve been through this past month:

“We needed it. It’s been frustrating, no doubt. We’ve acknowledged that. I think everybody in our circle has been very accountable for it, and I think it shows who we are. Tremendous fight, and they fought from the time the ball was kicked off at the beginning all the way down to the end and that’s what this team is all about. Hopefully, we can continue to get healthy. We gotta win this next one. That was a division game which is a big win for us. We’ve got another one right around the corner here, so we have to get some wins and get some momentum.”

On what his reasoning was for his plan at left tackle:

“Trust in the preparation. [T] Tyler Guyton was dealing with something and [T] Asim [Richards] played very well so we just had a plan to rotate those guys. We’ll take a look at the video and then see what the plan is.

On if he thought the players handled the rotation well:

“I thought the communication was clear and concise. The reason why we were doing it is they’re good, young guys who can play. So we just have to keep helping them move along and they’ll grow some more.”

On what he feels for the players who have toughed things out and played today and have stayed the course:

“It was very rewarding for everyone who got an opportunity, and I think and mentioned it last night that this game is going to be about not complaining and doing the things we need to do to win. This game will not be about who is not here, and to take advantage of your opportunity. With these guys you can go right down the list, and if you look at the charts of who’s playing and who’s not playing, I’m sure there were strong opinions on how this game was going to go. I’m sure we were favored by atleast 12 points [Laughs]. But that’s why you play the game, and that is why this is the ultimate team game. It’s 11-on-11 and I think our guys just do a great job of staying the course.”

On what he thinks of CB Josh Butler:

“I can’t say enough about Josh Butler. He’s earned it. Had to wait a long time so you just love it when these young guys get opportunities and are rewarded with this type of win. I’m just really happy for him.”

On TE Luke Schoonmaker and on how he’s been playing:

“He’s been making some key plays. Not only do you see him in the last game make some situation plays, but that last one, that was a shot play. They pushed it and had a double on [WR] CeeDee [Lamb] so he had the game winner. He runs a heck of a route and [QB] Cooper [Rush] did a great job reading it. It’s one thing to make plays, but when you start making big plays, critical plays in games it’s a whole different level and gives him a big chunk of confidence. I’m really happy for Schoony.”

On what he saw from QB Jayden Daniels especially in the fourth quarter:

“Dynamic. I love him as a quarterback. He takes the ball in his hands when the game is on the line, so obviously coming into the game I have been so impressed with the way he runs the offense, the throws. He is dynamic with his feet. He made some critical third and fourth down calls. He’s going to be a challenge for a long time.”

QB Cooper Rush

On the mood of the game and what it can do for him:

“You just have to get that ball rolling. That’s kind of what we talked about, that was the messaging all week. Get one, get one, get one. Especially going into a short week, you might need a quick two so you just have to get that one and full team effort today as everyone saw and it was awesome.”

On the fight that the team has:

“It’s cool. A bunch of guys are getting opportunities to show who they are. Coach [Mike McCarthy] talked about it earlier this week when we found out who was going to play. I think everyone fought out there today. We found out and a lot of the younger guys stepped up. Played a lot of ball today and it was huge.”

On still believing in Head Coach Mike McCarthy:

“Yeah, there’s a lot of games left. We’re sitting at 4-7 and this is why you play. You just have to get that first win. Get it going, get on a streak and we’re good.”

On his emotions during the final minutes of the game:

“Pretty insane. Happy for [S] Juanyeh [Thomas] scoring TD with zero time, I was like get down. Good job recovering, I guess. It was crazy. I think both sides of the ball, I think special teams picked each other up all day. We turned it over and they didn’t stop. They scored; we went down to score. Ran into a field goal there and [WR KaVontae Turpin] Turp does his thing. I think it was a full team effort showing guys playing for each other, fighting for each other, and finally picking each other up and playing the way we were supposed to.”

On whether he was already thinking of a first-down call after the kick-return touchdown play:

“Yeah, it was a tough kick. It was actually a really good job by him [WR KaVontae Turpin] to just to field it, to knuckleball. You think alright we’re going to get the ball in 20 and it’s a spin move and you’re going oh my God everyone just ran by. He puts on the gas.”

On what he saw from G/C Cooper Beebe and C Brock Hoffman at the guard spots:

“Those guys out front out there all day, we ran it well. [RB] Rico [Dowdle] running strong, and powerful. Extra contact, pushing the pile, and those two guys inside getting their shot, getting their chance. I thought everyone was pretty coordinated up there. Communication was awesome and Brock brought some juice in there and it was really good to see.”

On how the final score was 34-26:

“It’s never over. It’s cliche but it’s never over. We knew they had time left. We’re talking on the sidelines we’re going to have to win this again on offense. Four-minute mode and didn’t really expect to play like that.”

K Brandon Aubrey

On his thoughts on the Northwest Stadium:

“Um, you know, there’s nothing really about special about this place. It’s an outdoor stadium, it’s a little bit of wind. I had two blocked here that were good kicks and good looks. So, we’ll figure it out. The two that have hit the uprights, the first one, was a little bit of a mental lapse last year, you know, where the streak was broken, and I kind of wasn’t focused. We were winning the game pretty handily, so just mental lapse there. This one, I struck pretty well, just a little bit off of the toe, so it didn’t cut through the wind. I played it left, but it came off a little bit right, and the wind was pushing it right, so just not quite enough to get it through there.”

On his thoughts on Kicker Austin Seibert:

“He’s fine, he’s a pro, he’ll bounce back. I think if you look back at the missed extra point at the end of the game they’re lucky to get that one off with where the snap was at. So, I wouldn’t be too harsh on him. He’s coming back from an injury, maybe rushing back because he wants to win the job going into it next year. So, I mean, everyone has a bad day every once in a while, and just chalk it up to that and see what he does next week.”

On if he thought it was tougher conditions today:

“No, no, not at all. Just an odd one, we had a rough day, and I wouldn’t necessarily say that I had a bad day. I had one kick that hit off of the uprights, and one got blocked, so not a bad day for me.”

DE Micah Parsons

On if he’s ever been a part of a game as off the rails as this:

“That was the first one, for sure. I’ve never been a part of something like that.”

On how the defense continued to stand tall:

“Yeah, we did a great job. I just wish we finished at the end. Letting them get that touchdown at the end, that really bothered me. But that’s what I mean when I said we’re a good team; we’re slowly putting games together. This time, we did all three quarters. I would just like us to finish a better fourth quarter, but we’re definitely on our way to being the team that we want to be.”

On how he feels when Washington Commanders K Austin Seibert missed the extra point:

“Obviously, you feel good because obviously you’re in the position to win the game if you get another stop but, the point is, you shouldn’t even get there. Like that’s the reality. We shouldn’t even get to hoping that they miss a field goal; we block the field goal. We have to end the game on defense, get off, take a knee down. Not all of the kick returns, extra points, and all that nonsense. We should be able to end the game. What did we have? 13 points in the last, 10 points in the last 4 minutes of the game. That part really bothers me. We have to do a better job of finishing, just playing hard, but overall, I thought we had a great day.”

On how he thinks the rest of the season will go:

“Behind the 8-ball. Let’s see how we can, you know, handle adversity and see if we can make a play off of run. But we got a long way to go. We got to win game after game and consistently do that and play good for these next, what do we got? 7 games, 6?”

On the celebration in the locker room:

“You know the vibe is extremely high. You know, obviously, everyone is upset about that end of the game but, you know, just being able to find a way to win. It seems like over the last 3-4 weeks, we’ve been finding ways to lose. And this time, we were able to get the ball back, and we were able to create those turnovers right back. So, you know, that’s the high side. But, we got to consistently do that and not put ourselves behind the 8-ball. Because we gave them chances to win the game, and they gave us chances but you got to find a way to try and eliminate the turnovers, eliminate the things that we can be better on.”

On seeing Jay-Z before the game:

“That was cool. You know, that’s one of my first times meeting him. But it was funny because I’ve always told him at the White Party I heard he was a Cowboys fan. I said, “Man, don’t give up on us yet like,” and then you know, when I saw him down there, I told him, “Remember what I told you, now that you’re here, we’re for sure going to have a good game.” You know because he was in the tunnel, so that was pretty cool.”