Jones: ‘We missed’ Prescott
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is admittedly not in a feel-good mood after witnessing the 38-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday.
It was a game in which Jones said the Cowboys were simply outplayed in all areas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
And it left Jones openly acknowledging that the team missed quarterback Dak Prescott, who is out for the season with a fractured ankle.
Many of the things that plagued the Cowboys against the Cardinals have been season-long problems, particularly the turnovers and poor defense, but Prescott was able to rally the team and make the games competitive.
That was not the case with former TCU star Andy Dalton at the helm as the Cowboys suffered their worst loss since a 39-9 setback to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017. The Cowboys committed four turnovers, two fumbles by running back Ezekiel Elliott and two interceptions from Dalton, who completed 34 of 54 passes for 266 yards.
“We missed Dak,” Jones said Tuesday on his DallasFort Worth radio show. “Yes, we missed Dak. That was a glaring difference out there last night. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. On the other hand, we can get the most out of our team, and it could be enough with Andy Dalton. We didn’t last night. And he contributed to the turnovers early.”
Jones said he is OK with defensive coordinator Mike
Nolan even though his unit gave up at least 34 points for the fifth straight game and is on pace to set a new club record and potentially challenge the NFL record for points allowed.
He is also not inclined to heap any blame on head coach Mike McCarthy, who he believes can figure out a solution and is not part of the problem.
“He has great football fundamental basics,” Jones said. “I am not concerned about him analyzing and
knowing how to address the problem.”
Jones also refused to blame the talent, although the Cowboys are now without six starters for the season in Prescott, tackles Tyron Smith and La’el Collins, tight end Blake Jarwin and defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Trysten Hill.
And that was before they lost All-Pro guard Zack Martin in the first quarter against the Cardinals because of a concussion.
“I think we don’t have the
talent that we planned on, but you have the talent, if you don’t have setbacks early, to win ballgames,” Jones said.
And he takes no solace in still being in first place in the NFC East with a 2-4 mark.
“I’m not in the feel-good mood, frankly, that we’ve got manna from heaven being in the East,” Jones said. “When you’re not playing any better than we are, it’s hard (to) get excited about ... ‘we may be slow, but we’re better than you’ syndrome.”