Latest loss leaves Jones fit to be tied
Jerry Jones tried ripping the Cowboys’ coaching staff after the first loss in the current three-game skid, then took the gentle approach after the second.
The team’s owner and general manager just looked mad at the world on an embarrassing night in Chicago and didn’t seem to care that Dallas was still in first place in the NFC East after a 31-24 loss to the Bears that wasn’t nearly that close.
“Until we can win a football game, I don’t care what kind of contention we’re in,“Jones said. “We’ve got to start playing and winning a football game so that we can play better than we played tonight.”
The anger was still evident a day later when Jones didn’t like the way his radio show started Friday and cursed several times. He appeared to hang up after one of the expletives, but it was explained that the system cut off the call because of the language. Jones was reconnected, and the mood wasn’t much lighter for the rest of the show.
“Now, go on with your question, but I’m going to give you the answer I’m going to give you this morning,” Jones said early in the call. “I don’t like your attitude. I’ve been traveling all night and I don’t have the patience to jack with you today.”
The Cowboys (6-7) never have made the playoffs in a season with two losing streaks of at least three games. The first skid came after a 3-0 start. Despite seven losses in 10 games, Dallas will be no worse than tied with Philadelphia for the NFC East lead with three games remaining.
Just as he did after a Thanksgiving loss to Buffalo, Jones said he wasn’t going to fire coach Jason Garrett before the end of the season. A 24-7 deficit to the Bears fanned those flames, and led to questions of whether Garrett’s players have quit on their coach, who’s in the final year of his contract.
“That’s false, false as ever,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “And when you get to the playoffs, all of that is gone. It is washed out the window. We believe in our coach. We believe in his message.”
Stock up
WR Michael Gallup made several nice catches, including one on fourth down to extend a touchdown drive, and had 109 yards receiving. He’s tied with top receiver Amari Cooper for the team lead with four 100-yard games.
Stock down
It’s hard to imagine the Cowboys will keep K Brett Maher after another critical miss, his third in two games and NFL-leading 10th of the season. They tried out three kickers during the week but decided to keep Maher. If they bring in somebody else, it figures to be the replacement kicking next game.