Mayes Yousef
Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is standing firmly behind head coach Mike McCarthy, despite the team's disastrous 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, a defeat that marked the worst home loss since Jones took control of the franchise. "I haven't even considered that," Jones said when asked about the possibility of firing McCarthy. "Just so we're clear, I'm not considering that." The comments came after a humbling defeat that dropped the Cowboys to a .500 record at 3-3 as they enter their bye week.
Despite boasting a perfect 3-0 road record, the Cowboys have struggled mightily at home, losing all three of their games in Dallas. They're also sitting third in the National Football Conference (NFC) – Eastern Division, trailing both the Washington Commanders (4-2) and the Philadelphia Eagles (3-2). The only team with a worse mark in the conference is the Carolina Panthers (1-5), who have allowed an even more staggering 203 points.
Jones acknowledged the disappointment of the team’s current standing but took a measured approach to blame. "We're disappointed that we're 3-3," he said. "The three losses, I don't necessarily put all the blame on McCarthy. The players will tell you they had something to do with it. His staff will tell you that too. And the owner will tell you, I had a hand in it, too. It's not just him." Sunday's loss to the Lions came without several key defensive players, including All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle), Pro Bowl cornerback DaRon Bland (foot), and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who was leading the team with 3.0 sacks before suffering a foot injury two weeks ago. Lawrence has since been placed on injured reserve.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, who has had his share of struggles this season, offered his support for McCarthy, saying that the players are firmly behind their head coach. McCarthy is in the final year of his contract after guiding the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-5 seasons, but his job security has been a point of contention given the team’s recent performance.
In the loss to Detroit, the Cowboys' offense was largely ineffective, failing to score a touchdown in the first three quarters for the second consecutive game. The previous week, they barely escaped with a 20-17 win over Pittsburgh, relying on 14 fourth-quarter points. That victory was part of a troubling stretch for Dallas in which they’ve struggled to generate offensive momentum, especially after the third quarter against the New York Giants.
Trailing 27-3 in Detroit, the Cowboys’ running game was quickly abandoned, finishing with just 53 rushing yards — their third game in the last five where they’ve failed to top 70 yards on the ground. The lack of a consistent ground game has been a growing concern, especially in the face of mounting deficits. "Generally speaking, I think my message is — I know you don't need to hear me say this — but I'm well aware that we're in the proverbial s--- right now," Jones said, expressing the frustration that has built up in the wake of the blowout loss.