The Dallas Cowboys are back in prime time and host the AFC South-leading Houston Texans on "Monday Night Football" in Week 11.

The Cowboys (3-6) have lost four straight entering Week 11, most recently a 34-6 drubbing at the hands of division rival Philadelphia. With quarterback Dak Prescott out for the year, the offense struggled to a season-worst 146 total yards. They've gone from the top scoring offense in the NFL last season to 23rd in points and are closer to the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft than a playoff spot.

A loss to the Texans (6-4) could raise the temperature on Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy's already hot seat. Dallas did not extend his contract before the season, meaning they could have a new head coach in 2025 without owing McCarthy any money.

Here are the top candidates who could replace him in 2025 (all statistics entering Week 11):

Top NFL coaching candidates for 2025

Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

Johnson's one of the most respected offensive minds in the NFL. The Lions rank second in the NFL in points per game (31.6) and eighth in yards. Despite a five-turnover performance in Week 10, Detroit still ranks fifth in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per play at 0.09. He's built one of the best offenses in the league for multiple years. Johnson will have his pick of head coaching options for next season and Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb could be attractive options.

Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders offensive coordinator

Dallas could opt again to take a former head coach who took a year off from the NFL as their new head coach. Kingsbury is a candidate to return to a head coaching position because of how good the Commanders' offense has been at every level. Experienced linemen like Sam Cosmi are playing the best football of their careers, quarterback Jayden Daniels could set rookie passing records, and the offense is No. 1 in the league in EPA/rush (0.14). He may already be in demand elsewhere, though, and could opt for coaching a young quarterback over Prescott.

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

Brady's built a more diverse offense around star quarterback Josh Allen over the last year and a half. The Bills have the No. 3 scoring offense in the league scoring 29 points per game and one of the most efficient at 0.16 EPA/play (third in the NFL). They're second in EPA/pass (0.22) and EPA/rush (0.11). How he's taken a talented quarterback and molded the offense around him should be intriguing for the Cowboys.

Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator

It took some time but the Lions are winning with their defense, not in spite of it, with another year under Glenn. The former cornerback played two seasons with the Cowboys (2005-06) and had five interceptions in his time. The Lions boast the top scoring defense in the league entering Week 11 even without star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and are especially stout against the run, an area the Cowboys have struggled in during the 2024 season. If the Cowboys opt for a defensive mind after McCarthy, who specializes on offense, Glenn should get a look.

Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator

The Cardinals have become one of the better offenses in the league in 2024. They're ninth in EPA/play (0.07), ahead of offenses like Kansas City (0.06) and Green Bay (0.04). They're a top-five rushing offense again this season and rank 13th in points per game (23.8). If the Cardinals can win their first NFC West title since 2015, it'll be behind a strong offense, and Petzing will rightfully get head coaching interest. His creativity in personnel and development of players like Trey McBride bode well for a future head coaching position.

Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator

Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator before Coen – Dave Canales – earned the head coaching job in Carolina after one season. But the Buccaneers are playing better on offense this year under Coen despite losing top wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for multiple weeks and the season, respectively, before the halfway point of the season.

The Buccaneers jumped from the worst rushing offense in the NFL last season under Canales to 11th under Coen this year. They went from 17th in passing to sixth with the same quarterback and worse wide receiver health. By advance metrics, they're the eighth-best offense by EPA/play in the league. Coen deserves attention for how he's crafted an offense that maximizes its talent, even with subpar talent.

Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans offensive coordinator

The Texans' offense has cooled off this season thanks to injuries and shaky play at offensive line but Slowik will get some interest as a head coach. Wide receiver Nico Collins has turned into a Pro Bowl-caliber wide receiver under his tutelage and C.J. Stroud is one of the top young quarterbacks in the league under him as well. He already had interviews after last season from teams and Dallas may interview him again.

Mike McCarthy contract

The Cowboys did not extend McCarthy's contract prior to the 2024 season, meaning he is in the final year of a 5-year deal he signed in 2020. No specifics have been reported but it's estimated McCarthy is being paid $4-7 million per year on this deal.

Mike McCarthy stats

Through Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season, McCarthy's gone 45-31 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason. Here's how the Cowboys have ranked on offense and defense in his time as head coach:

2020 (6-10)

• Offense: 14th in yards, 17th in points

• Defense: 23rd in yards, 28th in points

2021 (12-5)

• Offense: 1st in yards, 1st in points

• Defense: 19th in yards, 7th in points

2022 (12-5)

• Offense: 11th in yards, 4th in points

• Defense: 12th in yards, 5th in points

2023 (12-5)

• Offense: 5th in yards, 1st in points

• Defense: 5th in yards, 5th in points

2024 (3-6)

• Offense: 21st in yards, 23rd in points

• Defense: 26th in yards, 31st in points

Dallas Cowboys 2025 cap space

If the Cowboys want to re-shape the roster after the season, they will have less cap space than most NFL franchises. The team has $24.02 million in cap space for 2025 at time of publishing per OverTheCap, which is 23rd in the NFL.

The biggest cap hits on the books next season for Dallas are Prescott at $89.89 million and Lamb at $35.45 million.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys coaching candidates: Who could replace Mike McCarthy in 2025