The stands at AT&T Stadium grew noticeably thin in the fourth quarter of the Dallas Cowboys’ stunning 48-32 upset loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Many fans took to social media to vent their frustration at yet another first-round exit by America’s team. The Cowboys have won just three playoff games in the last ten seasons despite qualifying for the postseason six times.
Sports commentator and unabashed Cowboys fan Skip Bayless called the Cowboys‘ performance “gutless.”
In a video posted to X, Bayless gathered jerseys and other Cowboys memorabilia, placing each item in his kitchen trashcan, including the Cowboys ball cap he was wearing.
“I am DONE with these gutless, heartless, playoff frauds,” Bayless captioned the video.
Bayless was not the only person to post on social media. Fans posted messages like “Hang the banner” on a post showing a flag that reads “We Haven’t Won Anything Since 1995,” as reported by Fox 4 KDFW.
Others posted comments alluding to a possible head coach change with Bill Belichick recently leaving the Patriots organization. Belichick has cultivated a relationship with Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones over the years and could be tabbed if Jones decides that current head coach Mike McCarthy cannot get the job done.
There is also the specter of the “Cruz Curse” hanging over the loss. Sen. Ted Cruz is often accused of cursing teams he supports, notably the Houston Astros, who lost the World Series after Cruz attended the game. On Sunday, Cruz tweeted support for the Cowboys shortly before the game.
One poster commented, “Making my millions by betting against everyone Ted Cruz roots for,” per Fox 4.
Even the temperature inside AT&T Stadium took the blame for the Cowboys’ failure to defeat the Packers despite entering the game with a massive +7.5 point favor. One poster commented that “we just aren’t a good cold weather team” on X. Outside, the game time temperature was 23 degrees, one of the coldest games in Cowboys history, but inside the stadium, the temperature was a balmy 72 degrees.
The Cowboys now head into the offseason with numerous questions to answer. Several key players will enter free agency this offseason, and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is likely to be in the mix for one of several head coaching gigs that are available.
The Cowboys have not advanced beyond the second round since 1995, which was also the last time the team won a Super Bowl. The Cowboys will now have to watch as the NFL Playoffs continue without them as they prepare for the 2024 season to begin this summer.
