Jason Garrett was once one of the hottest assistant coaches in the NFL. His star, like that of the Dallas Cowboys, has grown dim. Still, owner Jerry Jones hopes Garrett can give his team the jolt it desperately needs.
It certainly won't be easy.
With the Wade Phillips era over, Garrett will make his head coaching debut Sunday when the woeful Cowboys visit the surging New York Giants, who have won five straight and look like the best team in the NFC.
The Cowboys (1-7), fresh off an NFC East title and their first playoff win in 13 years, entered the season with high expectations of becoming the first host team to play in a Super Bowl.
A 1-4 start certainly put a damper on those hopes, and the Giants made sure the Cowboys wouldn’t rally by knocking Tony Romo out for the season in their 41-35 win in Dallas on Oct. 25.
Romo suffered a broken collarbone when he was drilled by an untouched Michael Boley in the first half.
With Romo out, the Cowboys have looked lifeless on both sides of the ball and it has cost Phillips his job. The final straw was Sunday night’s 45-7 loss to Green Bay. Phillips was the defensive coordinator as well, and it didn’t help that Dallas gave up 121 points over his final three games as head coach.
Phillips was fired on Monday and Garrett, the offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, was named the franchise’s first-ever interim head coach.
Many figured Garrett would eventually succeed Phillips, though not in this manner. The former Cowboys and Giants backup quarterback signed a $3 million deal in 2008 to remain the offensive coordinator and presumed “coach-in-waiting” after interviewing for multiple head coaching positions.
The contract made him the highest-paid assistant in the NFL. Like Phillips, however, Garrett has been under heavy criticism this season. Even before Romo was hurt, the Cowboys’ offense was underachieving.
Dallas is currently second-to-last in the league in rushing (75.6) and 18th in the league in scoring (20.1 ppg). The Cowboys totaled a season-low 205 yards in the loss to Green Bay.
The lone bright spot has been the play of rookie Dez Bryant, who had nine catches for 86 yards and the only touchdown against the Packers.
Bryant is making a strong case for Offensive Rookie of the Year, as he has 38 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns to go along with two punt returns for scores.
While the Cowboys’ season is all but over, the NFC East-leading Giants (6-2) may end their season in Dallas for Super Bowl XLV.
New York has won five straight since starting the season 1-2 and is being touted as the best team in the NFL.
The Giants boast the league’s top-ranked defense (250.6 ypg) and the second-ranked offense (401 ypg), and both were on display in last week’s 41-7 rout of Seattle. Eli Manning threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns and New York combined to rush for 197 yards.
There are some health issues, however. The offensive line could be without Shaun O’Hara (sprained foot) and tackle David Diehl (hip, hamstring). Also, receiver Steve Smith could miss this contest after suffering a strained pectoral muscle in practice on Thursday.
The Giants are looking to win four straight over Dallas for the first time since a six-game winning streak from Sept. 18, 1988 to Sept. 30, 1990.