Jerry Jones, the Cowboys’ owner and General Manager, didn’t mince words after his team fell to the previously winless Buccaneers on Thursday night, stating he was “extraordinarily, extraordinarily disappointed” by the outcome. This wasn’t just a tough loss; it was a stunning upset that clearly hit hard for the man running the show. For a team with their sights set on big things, dropping a game like this, when it was “there to take,” is a gut punch.
The Lines Were Blown Away
Jones’s frustration started right in the trenches. He went into that game thinking his offensive and defensive lines would bring the physicality. Instead, it was the Buccaneers who dominated, especially in how they ran the ball. Jones admitted he was “really surprised” by how well the Bucs ran it, particularly between the tackles. The expectation was if Tampa Bay was going to run, they’d try to go outside, leaving the pressure on their quarterback. That plan completely backfired, as the Buccaneers just smashed it inside, taking control of the line of scrimmage.
Rookie QB Shines in an Unexpected Way
It gets wilder when you look at who was under center for the Bucs. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, making only his second start in place of the injured Baker Mayfield, actually led his squad to a huge victory. Jones fully expected his defense to play better against Daniels, and he thought putting it on the quarterback’s shoulders would be the winning strategy. Instead, Daniels, the Buccaneers’ staff, and all their players absolutely earned that win. It was a complete reversal of what Jones anticipated, turning what he thought was a chance for his team to take a step forward into a significant step backward. This is the kind of loss that makes you question everything early in the season.
This was a tough loss for the Cowboys, plain and simple. Jones himself said he’s “been so disappointed before,” which just tells you the level of frustration bubbling after this one. They had an opportunity to build some momentum, and instead, they let a winless team out-physical them. The team needs to figure out fast what went wrong if they want to get back on track.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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