Jerry Jones delivers blunt message on Cowboys’ defensive collapse
After another high-scoring loss in Week 15, the Dallas Cowboys’ owner acknowledged a season-defining flaw.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not known for hiding his feelings, and following another disappointing defensive showing, his frustration is becoming increasingly evident.
“That’s telling”: Jerry Jones calls out Cowboys defense
Through 14 games, the Cowboys’ defense has struggled to stop just about anyone. Dallas has allowed 30 or more points in seven games, including consecutive losses in which the unit was overwhelmed by the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The results have pushed the Cowboys into a precarious spot as the season winds down.
Statistically, the numbers paint a grim picture. Dallas sits near the bottom of the league in most major defensive categories, including total yards allowed and scoring defense. The passing defense, in particular, has been a glaring weakness, ranking last in the NFL in yards surrendered through the air.
Those issues were once again exposed on Sunday night, when Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy enjoyed one of the best performances of his young career. McCarthy threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, consistently finding open receivers with little resistance. Dallas generated almost no pressure, finishing the game without a sack and rarely forcing McCarthy off his spot.
This trend of opposing quarterbacks looking far more comfortable against Dallas than they do most weeks has not gone unnoticed by the Cowboys’ owner.
“We let their quarterback have a big day on us, and that wasn’t the plan,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan. “We could have used more pressure, without question. The result was that we let him make some pretty significant plays.”
Jones went a step further, acknowledging that the problem has become recurring.
“It seems like we’re always saying that about quarterbacks on the other team,” Jones said. “Some of them hadn’t played as well, but when they play us, they play better. I think that’s telling.”
According to Jones, the defensive shortcomings have directly altered the trajectory of the Cowboys’ season. Despite boasting one of the league’s most productive offenses, Dallas has repeatedly been forced to play from behind or win shootouts, a formula that hasn’t consistently worked.
“Candidly, if we could have gotten this defense in better shape earlier, I think we’d be sitting here with a different kind of record,” Jones said. “That’s just being honest about it.”
With about a 1% chance of making it to the postseason now, the Cowboys keep their eyes forward, looking to this week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
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