Jason Garrett is One of the Worst/Most Overrated Coaches in History

So I've been away for a while, but after watching the Sunday night NFL game this evening, and the Dallas Cowboys over the past several seasons, I had to vent about a point I have made to friends for a few years now - Jason Garrett is not only a bad coach but one of the worst I've seen. To wit, he has had two really talented quarterbacks and excellent supporting casts at his disposal for much of his 10 seasons in charge, but compiled a record of 82-63 (made worse by the mediocre level of most of the NFC East over the period), with two excellent seasons padding those numbers. He has had only four winning records over those 10 years, finishing 8-8 on three separate occasions, winning only two playoff games (and losing three) in that decade in charge. And, though I could not find specific statistics to support this, has a long history of losing close games - both in the regular season and playoffs, often through bad decision-making and clock management. 

Tonight epitomized all that is wrong with him as a coach in close games. The Cowboys were down 4 and driving toward what could well have been a winning TD. At second and 3 with less than 1:30 left, and inside the 15-yard line he elected to run Ezekiel Elliott, one of the best running backs in the league, but a player who had been stuffed all night (his yards per carry for the night was 2.4 yards), not once but twice. I understand trying to run some time off the clock, but do it on first or second down (the first run was thus okay, though not great). But on third down? What in the hell was he thinking?

Not only did Elliott not get the first down, he lost yards on third down and then put incredible pressure on Dak, who had a spectacular night, to get the first down on fourth down. A great play from a Vikings cornerback stopped the Cowboys quarterback from doing so and the Cowboys ultimately lost the game by four points. At 5-4 and with a much tougher schedule over the last seven games than an Eagles side they are now tied with at the top of the NFC East, there is a strong chance they will miss the playoffs yet again. 

Please, Jerry Jones, finally do the right thing and get rid of Garrett now. And while you're at it, please hand a pink slip to yourself. You've been trying to prove you could win without Jimmy Jones for 25 years now and though you've made yourself and the league boatloads of money, let's admit you have failed miserably at putting a winner on the field every Sunday. Garrett has to go if we are not to waste the incredible talent and thus opportunity to win that is now at our disposal. Jason, if Jerry won't do it, axe yourself ...