Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman decided to skip his vacation in anticipation of the NFC championship showdown between the Cowboys and an opponent, likely in San Francisco.
The Dallas Cowboys faced an early exit from the 2024 postseason, losing to the Packers 48-32 in the Wild Card Round. This marked a historic upset, as the Cowboys became the first number 2 seed ever to be eliminated in the first round.
Speaking to Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Aikman expressed his surprise, stating, “I really anticipated Dallas would be playing in the championship game and figured that it would be in San Francisco, so I was planning on going to the game. Didn’t book a vacation after my season.”
Aikman also shared his thoughts on the Cowboys’ ongoing struggles in the postseason. He acknowledged the team’s talent but pointed out the consistent challenge of not performing their best when it matters most. Aikman spoke about the importance of playing well in the postseason to reach the Super Bowl.
He said, “They’ve put together some really great regular seasons, and they just have not, for whatever reasons, played their best football when the games matter most. That’s what you have to do. And that’s the key to winning in the postseason and then getting to the Super Bowl.”
Aikman expressed support for current Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott but acknowledged concerns about the team’s lack of playoff success.
Despite Prescott’s impressive regular-season performance in 2023, Aikman highlighted the challenges of overcoming past negative experiences in the postseason.
“I still believe in Dak. Until you do it, there’s always those criticisms,” Aikman noted. Prescott had a challenging game against the Packers, contributing to the Cowboys falling behind 27-0 in the first half.
Aikman wasn’t surprised that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decided to retain coach Mike McCarthy. However, he said that there won’t be second chances next season if McCarthy and the Cowboys don’t secure a successful outcome.
McCarthy is in the last year of his contract, and there won’t be an extension before the 2024 season.
“They had a solid year. They had a really good year,” Aikman said. “If you make a change, then you’re basically making a change for the same reason you made changes back a few years ago when you brought Mike in and you’re bringing in then somebody who you believe is going to get you over the top.”
The Dallas Cowboys boast a storied Super Bowl history, securing championship victories in 1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, and 1995.
With an impressive total of five Super Bowl wins, the Cowboys have participated in a total of eight Super Bowl appearances, standing as the second-most successful franchise in terms of Super Bowl victories in NFL history.
Troy Aikman, the first overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, played a pivotal role in the Cowboys’ success, winning three Super Bowls and receiving six Pro Bowl selections. He was also named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf14OMrx21Q
After retiring in 2000, he transitioned to a successful career as a color commentator for NFL on Fox from 2001 to 2021 and currently serves as the color commentator for Monday Night Football since 2022.
Aikman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
