newsweek
Following the Dallas Cowboys' surprising 33-30 overtime defeat to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, owner Jerry Jones made it clear that he has no plans to make any major coaching changes. Jones affirmed his confidence in head coach Brian Schottenheimer, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.
Jones referenced his past decision to change coaches mid-season, specifically the dismissal of Wade Phillips, but indicated that he does not see a similar situation arising now. "I'm not proud of it, but I made a change with Wade Phillips during the middle of the season," Jones said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. "And I don't see that here."
The Cowboys had built a 14-0 lead over the Cardinals before ultimately falling in overtime. The game reached the extra period only because Arizona missed an extra point after tying the game in regulation.
Dallas now sits at 3-5 overall and 1-2 at home. Schottenheimer is in his second season as head coach, having led the team to a 7-9-1 record last year.
Jones placed the blame for the loss on the entire team rather than on Schottenheimer. "I will say that a lot of people let Brian down today," Jones said. "And so, whatever criticism we want to have of Brian, we gonna all get in line. That was a total team effort out of us. We have to be better than that when we got our hands on a win and then dropped the ball."
The Cowboys have now lost three of their last four games and have yet to win consecutive games this season. Their upcoming schedule features matchups against the Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans. Among these opponents, only the 49ers currently have a winning record, which could provide Dallas with an opportunity to turn their season around and solidify Schottenheimer's standing with the organization.
Key Analysis
Jones's public support for Schottenheimer comes at a critical juncture for the Cowboys, who have struggled with consistency. By absolving the head coach of sole responsibility, Jones aims to maintain stability and deflect criticism from Schottenheimer. The upcoming stretch against mostly sub-.500 teams presents a chance for Dallas to rebound and potentially secure Schottenheimer's future with the franchise.
Originally reported by newsweek.