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The Dallas Cowboys secured a crucial 38-21 victory over the injury-depleted Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, snapping a two-game losing streak that had drawn heavy criticism. The win provided relief for head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who remains at the helm in Dallas.
Following the game in Philadelphia, Schottenheimer addressed reporters for only 4 minutes and 15 seconds—a notably shorter session than usual. His answers were concise, and his demeanor was composed rather than celebratory after a divisional win. When asked if he was okay, he replied, "I'm great. Excited for our guys."
After the team returned to Texas on Tuesday, Schottenheimer clarified that his brevity was not a slight against the media. "No, I'll be honest. I really do a good job of blocking you guys out," he said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. "I think it was a big game for us. We're motivated as a football team. I'm motivated as a head coach to get our guys playing to the standard that I know they're capable of playing. So, no, it was more just my focus was getting the team to be focused and motivated. And I think you saw that (Monday) night, so I'm proud of our group."
The two-game skid had generated negative headlines around Schottenheimer and the team, making his desire to move on quickly understandable. He acknowledged that criticism is part of the job. "But no, at the end of the day, in this business you get paid to deal with the criticism and things that come with the job and that never (plays a role)," he said. "Remember, you're talking to a guy that grew up for 25 years in a household with a head coach in the NFL."
Key Analysis
Schottenheimer's explanation underscores his focus on the team's remaining goals. With a strong chance to win the NFC East and host a playoff game, the Cowboys must block out distractions. They will next host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT.