When the Dallas Cowboys hired Mike McCarthy in January 2020, the expectation was for the organization to become a significant player in the NFC with his coaching pedigree. That was all fine and dandy until a major roadblock occurred, the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the NFL switching to the virtual route which canceled normal offseason activities, McCarthy didn't get to see his team in person until late July. Coupled with a laundry list of injuries, highlighted by quarterback Dak Prescott missing 11 games and left tackle Tyron Smith missing 14, the Cowboys never recovered and went 6-10.

This certainly wasn't the ideal beginning for McCarthy in Dallas, but since the start of the 2021 season, he's shown a great knack for holdings things together during difficult times.

McCarthy's challenges in year two started immediately. Wide receiver Michael Gallup suffered a calf strain that kept him out until November, and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence broke his foot the following week in practice which kept him on the sideline until December.

These weren't the only setbacks when it came to key players on the Cowboys. Prescott missed a game with a calf issue, Lamb missed one with a concussion, former wide receiver Amari Cooper missed two due to COVID, and Tyron Smith sat out for five. Despite this, McCarthy kept the Cowboys not just afloat, but they went 12-5 and won the NFC East, clinching their first playoff appearance since 2018.

McCarthy didn't do himself any favors after the Cowboys' first-round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers when he stated that his team was "nervous" before going into battle. However, with the number of key contributors that missed significant time, McCarthy did a great job getting the Cowboys to the postseason.

Eight games into the 2022 campaign, McCarthy has once again shown his niche when it comes to holding down the fort. The aforementioned Smith hasn't played so far, Prescott missed five games with a fractured thumb, and safety Jayron Kearse missed three games as well. Despite this, McCarthy has the Cowboys right where they need to be.

Dallas went on a four-game win streak from Week 2 to Week 5. After stumbling against the rival Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys have won their last two games, improving their record to 6-2 on the year.

McCarthy hasn't had the smoothest road since becoming the Cowboys' head coach. However, considering some of the circumstances he's had to deal with, he has shown why the Cowboys chose him to be their head man. Of course, McCarthy won't get the ultimate validation in Dallas until he wins a Super Bowl, but a tip of the hat should be given to him for what he's managed to overcome up until this point.

Feature image via Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

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