The Cowboys laid another egg against a quality opponent Sunday, failing to find the end zone in a 13-9 road loss to the Patriots. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones was rather unhappy with Dallas' showing.
The 77-year-old didn't hold back in his post-game media session, voicing his frustration with a team and coaching staff that was expected to produce Super Bowl contender this year but instead is just a game above .500 at 6-5.
MORE: Takeaways from Dallas' loss
Jerry Jones: "It is a significant setback for our team. We needed this win. We needed to win against an opponent like this. We haven't had them. Consequently, we're very aware of that."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 25, 2019
Jerry Jones: "Where my statements go, is when you come into New England on a day like today, against this team, and this era, you need to win this to establish what you're about for a season. You dealt yourself a pretty narrow window to come out of here smiling."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 25, 2019
Jerry Jones when asked if the Patriots out-coached the Cowboys: "I really think it speaks for itself...I think you're gonna get out-coached during this era when you come to New England. ... My point is, don't get yourself in a spot where you have to come up here and beat him."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 25, 2019
Jones talked rather extensively about Dallas' special teams. New England's first and only touchdown was set up by a blocked punt, and the Cowboys missed a field goal and struggled to cleanly field kickoffs and punts.
Jerry Jones describes himself as frustrated and disappointed - in performance vs Patriots and all the failures leading up to it being so important. Of ST, Jones said, “Thats 100 percent coaching. One hundred percent coaching.”
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 25, 2019
Coach Jason Garrett is in the final year of his contract, and between the team's underperformance and comments such as these from Jones, signs are pointing to Dallas having a new leader in 2020.
Jerry Jones: "This is very frustrating. It's frustrating just to be reminded that some of the fundamentals of football and coaching were what beat us out there today."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 25, 2019
Jerry Jones was just asked if he’s ever been this frustrated with a first-place team: “With the makeup of this team, I shouldn’t be this frustrated.” And that line, after a poignant and cutting session with the media, both concluded and summarized the whole vibe.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) November 25, 2019
If the Cowboys do fire Garrett by season's end, at least one report suggests he could land with the division-rival Giants. NFL Media noted Sunday morning that New York has "emerged as a real and legitimate potential landing spot for Garrett" should Dallas fire its coach and the Giants also fire Pat Shurmur.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio speculated later Sunday that the Giants report could have been leaked by Garrett's camp in an effort to maintain leverage.