It wasn't smooth sailing for the Dallas Cowboys under Mike McCarthy in his first season in 2020. The team dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and a plethora of injuries, resulting in a disappointing 6-10 campaign.

The table has turned for the Cowboys over the last two seasons. With their win this past Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans, the Cowboys notched their 12th win of the season, equalling their total from a season ago which also made it the first time they won 12 games in back-to-back seasons since 1994-1995.

The Dallas Cowboys have now won at least 12 games in back to back seasons for the first time since 1994-1995.

It has been 27 years since they were last this good in just two straight years.

How Mike McCarthy gets no credit or respect is beyond me.

— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) December 30, 2022

The fact that the Cowboys have done this is quite impressive when you peel back a few layers. Much like his first season in Dallas, McCarthy has had to win with a lot of key guys on the shelf the last two years. Quarterback Dak Prescott has missed six games, multiple offensive linemen have missed extended periods, and the Cowboys lost cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and Anthony for the year this season.

Regardless of what personnel you have that's a tall task to ask any coach, even one with McCarthy's resume. However, the Cowboys have been one of the best on both sides of the ball since the beginning of the 2021 season, and have a great shot at leading the NFL in turnovers on defense for the second consecutive year, something that hasn't been done since the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s.

The Cowboys still have an outside shot of winning the NFC East and earning the top seed in the entire NFC playoff picture although is likely they will be locked into the no. 5 seed which will take on the winner of the NFC South. However, when asked what was the plan for resting starters in the season finale versus the Washington Commanders, McCarthy gave an intriguing answer.

"I think I should probably answer that Monday for you," McCarthy said on Friday.

Of course, none of this matters unless McCarthy can lead the Cowboys to postseason success, something that has eluded the Cowboys consistently for almost three decades. But, he has more than shown that he's the right guy to coach the Cowboys going forward.

Feature image via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports