Jerry Jones Backs Brian Schottenheimer After Collapse: 'A Lot of People Let Brian Down'
The Cowboys owner ruled out a coaching change after Dallas blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead at home to Arizona
Jerry Jones isn't making a coaching change. After the Cowboys blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in a 33-30 overtime loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, the owner and general manager said firing Brian Schottenheimer is "not in my mind at this time."
Jones spread the blame around instead. "A lot of people let Brian down today and so for whatever criticism we want to have of Brian, we can all get in line," he said, per ESPN's Todd Archer. He also called the loss "an indictment of the whole show."
Jerry Jones: “I will say that a lot of people let Brian (Schottenheimer) down today.”View on X →
Jon Machota (@jonmachota): Jerry Jones: “I will say that a lot of people let Brian (Schottenheimer) down today.”
The collapse was historic. Dallas led 24-10 with 14:20 left after a Dak Prescott touchdown run, and before Sunday the Cowboys were 202-0-1 at home when leading by 14 or more in the fourth quarter. It matched the largest blown fourth-quarter lead in team history, and Dallas became the first team this season to lose after leading by at least 14 in the fourth. Gardner Minshew came off the bench to lead Arizona back.
Jones has made only one in-season head coaching change, replacing a 1-7 Wade Phillips with Jason Garrett in 2010. "I don't see that here," he said.
Prescott backed his coach just as firmly. "Don't put the blame on one person. Simple as that. I think that's weak. I think that's cowardly," he said.
Schottenheimer is now 10-14-1 in Dallas. The Cowboys are 3-5 and still in the NFC East race mostly because the division has struggled, though they slipped further behind the 4-2-1 Giants. They visit the Colts on Nov. 8.