Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t even trying to sugarcoat it, folks. He’s laying the blame squarely on his coaching staff for the absolute meltdown in the final seconds of that brutal 34-31 Week 3 loss against the Baltimore Ravens. You just cannot give up a game like that, especially when the owner comes out swinging right after.
Jerry Spills the Beans on the Air
Jones went on his radio show and didn’t hold back, talking about what went wrong with the game management. When asked why there were still precious seconds left on the clock after their tying field goal, allowing Baltimore to get that game-winning kick, his answer was stone cold: “There is no explanation you’re satisfied with. None.” Talk about a mic drop! He even added that the coaches themselves “don’t have one that they’re satisfied with.” He’s convinced they “made mistakes during that time,” and while there’s “no explanation,” they are definitely doing “an evaluation of how not to make the same mistakes again.” You gotta wonder what kind of conversations are happening behind closed doors when the owner is this direct. He did try to put a positive spin on it, saying they “will be better from this experience” and that the comeback “makes us realize we really are just at the beginning of what I hope is an exciting year for us.” But man, that initial gut punch of blame was loud.
The Clock Management Horror Show
Let’s rewind to those insane final moments. Dallas was trailing 31-28, driving, and had a first down at the Baltimore 2-yard line with only 23 seconds on the clock. Dak Prescott tossed an incomplete pass into the end zone. Then, a false-start penalty on tight end Luke Schoonmaker pushed them back. Prescott scrambled to the Baltimore 5, and Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer, who is also the playcaller, had to use his *final* timeout with only 14 seconds left. Schottenheimer apparently told Prescott to either throw a quick out to wide receiver George Pickens or just throw the ball away, knowing they couldn’t stop the clock again. Prescott went with the throwaway, and the play took a quick four seconds. After Brandon Aubrey nailed the tying field goal, seven seconds were left. *Seven seconds!* That’s where the defense absolutely collapsed, leaving a massive gap right where the Ravens needed it. Lamar Jackson hit Zay Flowers for a 27-yard pass, a timeout got called with one second remaining, and then Tyler Loop drilled a 56-yard field goal for the win. Brian Schottenheimer, in his second year as a head coach after decades as an NFL assistant, and Christian Parker, a 34-year-old making his debut as defensive coordinator, are clearly facing a ton of heat. Jones’s comments guarantee it.
A Chance for Redemption
The Cowboys are now sitting at 1-2, but it’s not all doom and gloom. They actually caught a small break in the NFC East when the two-time defending champion Philadelphia lost to Chicago, led by backup QB Case Keenum. Plus, the New York Giants are tied with the Eagles at 2-1, but they just lost quarterback Jaxson Dart for the rest of the regular season to a knee injury. So Jones isn’t wrong when he says, “We are very much in the hunt.” He believes in his team, saying his feeling about them is “as much or more than what’s happening with the other teams.” They’re heading to Houston this Sunday to take on the 0-3 Texans. That’s a huge opportunity for a road win and to show they can bounce back from this Week 3 shocker. Let’s see if those “evaluations” lead to some better game management, because those coaches are under the microscope now!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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