Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy gets brutally honest about one of the biggest flaws on the team

The Dallas Cowboys are 3-3 to start the season after an unacceptable 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions that felt over by halftime, a common theme for the team when playing at home in 2024.

Considering the Cowboys racked up three consecutive 12-win seasons entering this year, many are asking: Does this team's record reflect who they really are?

For Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, there is no doubt.

"You are what your record is," McCarthy bluntly told reporters postgame . ""I think we've had some out-of-balance games that, when you get in out-of-balance games and you're on the wrong side of it, you have the numbers that we have. Our turnover ratio is as low as I can ever remember it here."

McCarthy elaborated on the Cowboys' turnover ratio, which got significantly worse on Sunday upon turning it over five times with zero takeaways to show for it on defense.

"You have to have ROI," a visibly upset McCarthy said. "I don't care what level of football you play. Football's not going to change, and that's why they call it football. We're not taking care of the football, and we're definitely not taking it away, so we need to improve there. We've had what, seven turnovers in seven days? Maybe eight."

The Cowboys' turnover woes have largely contributed to an 0-3 record at home, which paired with a 3-0 record when playing away is leading to a conversation about the team potentially being better on the road. McCarthy is having none of it, as he got brutally honest about the team's issue.

"It doesn't matter if you play at home, away, or in the parking lot," McCarthy said. "If you give up the damn ball five times and you're not taking it away, you're not going to win the game. So that's irrelevant with the way we're playing."

Up next is a bye week for the Cowboys, and it's an important time for it. The team will visit the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8 and there's a lot of work for the team to get done. Based on McCarthy's comments, that'll start with working on taking care of the ball and forcing takeaways on defense.

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