Despite the Dallas Cowboys’ rough stretch, owner Jerry Jones firmly believes head coach Mike McCarthy has not lost the confidence of his team. In the aftermath of the Cowboys’ 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans, Jones addressed concerns about McCarthy’s future, insisting that claims of McCarthy losing the locker room were “overblown.”
“The idea of losing the team, that’s so overblown,” Jones stated, defending McCarthy’s leadership. “These guys are natural competitors… They are disappointed in how they executed but that’s not anywhere near the same as giving up.” Jones emphasized that his players remained focused and committed, despite the setbacks.
The Cowboys kept the game within reach during the first half, trailing 17-10 heading into the third quarter. However, a pivotal moment came when quarterback Cooper Rush was strip-sacked early in the final period, leading to a Texans scoop-and-score touchdown. Rush completed 32 passes for 354 yards, adding one touchdown but also throwing an interception. Despite a solid individual performance from Rush, Dallas struggled in other areas, including the running game, failing to reach 100 yards rushing for the seventh time this season.
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The loss extended the Cowboys’ losing streak to five games, their longest since 2015. The team also made an unfortunate piece of NFL history, becoming the first to trail by at least 20 points in six consecutive home games, a streak that dates back to last season’s wild-card playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
McCarthy, who is in the final year of his contract, expressed frustration following the loss. “It’s frustrating for everybody — players, coaches, and fans,” McCarthy acknowledged. “We have a lot of moving parts right now, and we need to be cleaner and more detailed in critical moments. We’re not executing well enough, and that’s hurting us.”
The 61-year-old coach has led the Cowboys to a 42-25 record since taking the job, but this season has been a significant challenge. McCarthy’s worst season as a head coach came in 2018 with the Green Bay Packers when he finished 4-7-1 before being let go. Now, with Dallas struggling, the pressure is mounting to turn things around before the season slips further.
Despite the current adversity, Jerry Jones remains confident that McCarthy can overcome the challenges. As the Cowboys work to snap their losing streak, it remains to be seen if they can regain their form and start executing on all fronts.
