The Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff publicly acknowledged errors in game management during the final moments of their Week 3 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, with head coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner Jerry Jones taking direct responsibility for the defeat.
Schottenheimer admits to 'overcoaching' in final 28 seconds
On Tuesday, Schottenheimer held a press conference to address the Cowboys' missed opportunities, stating that his decision-making in the final 28 seconds of the game contributed to the loss. The Cowboys, trailing 31-28, had three consecutive offensive chances from the Ravens' 2-yard line with 28 seconds remaining but were forced to settle for a game-tying field goal. Schottenheimer later called a timeout with 14 seconds left, instructing quarterback Dak Prescott to either throw an incomplete pass or throw the ball away to preserve time. Prescott executed the latter, leaving seven seconds on the clock after the field goal.
"Well, I didn't do very good in the final 28 seconds," Schottenheimer said. "I really think if you look at the two games that we've lost, we haven't finished. I was a big part of this one. I think I overcoached Dak on third down. It kind of affected his decision making a little bit. And I let that bleed over into my decision about kicking the ball."
Jerry Jones echoes criticism of coaching decisions
During his Tuesday radio show, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones emphasized that the coaching staff's mistakes in the final seconds were unacceptable. Jones noted that the team had no satisfactory explanation for the defensive breakdown that allowed the Ravens to set up the game-winning field goal.
"There is no explanation you're satisfied with. None," Jones said. "They [coaches] don't have one that they're satisfied with. We made mistakes during that time. There's no question about it."
Jones highlighted specific moments, including a false-start penalty against tight end Luke Schoonmaker that pushed the Cowboys back from the Ravens' 2-yard line, and Prescott's decision to throw the ball away with 14 seconds remaining. The defense then allowed a 27-yard completion to Ravens receiver Zay Flowers, setting up the game-winning 56-yard field goal by Tyler Loop as time expired.
Mike Tomlin criticizes Cowboys' 'negligent' end-game sequence
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, appearing as a TV analyst on Sunday Night Football, also weighed in on the Cowboys' loss. Tomlin described the Cowboys' end-game strategy as "somewhat negligent," arguing that their decisions played directly into the Ravens' hands.
"The sequence played by the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the game was somewhat negligent," Tomlin said. "Baltimore gets the ball on the 35-yard-line, and they had this really significant play down the middle of the field to their No. 1 receiver, Zay Flowers."
Tomlin criticized the Cowboys' defensive alignment, stating that they were "caught in some one-on-ones" with Flowers, allowing him to win the matchup and set up the winning field goal attempt.
Coaching staff under scrutiny amid second consecutive loss
Schottenheimer, in his second season as a head coach after 25 years as an NFL assistant, and defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who is in his first season in the role, now face heightened scrutiny. Both have been criticized for their decision-making in high-leverage moments, particularly in back-to-back losses to the Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2.
The Cowboys' offense, which had three chances to score a touchdown from the Ravens' 2-yard line in the final minute, settled for field goals on two occasions. Prescott's decision to throw the ball away with 14 seconds remaining left the defense vulnerable to a long completion, ultimately sealing the loss.
Schottenheimer acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "I'll take accountability for it. It's football and life. It is what happens. But I hurt our chances to win that game. I'll be better, I am better than that."