Many Cowboys fans are feeling down after their team lost 30-24 to the San Francisco 49ers, making their record 3-4. They’re worried the season might be over. But Jerry Jones, the team’s owner, isn’t giving up hope. He thinks there’s still a lot to play for this year.
Jones believes injured players returning will boost the team.
During a chat on 105.3 The Fan, Jones expressed confidence in his players and coaches. He said, “I have a lot of faith in these players. I have a lot of faith in this coaching staff. … We’ll have some players coming back (from injury) that will play critical roles for us. We ought to get better. Seventeen-game season, let’s get this thing turned around and have a storybook ending to a rough start.” His optimism seems unshaken despite the rocky beginning.
The return of key players like Micah Parsons is expected to strengthen the defense significantly. Meanwhile, DeMarcus Lawrence and DaRon Bland’s comebacks will offer more defensive strategies against rival quarterbacks. However, the offense isn’t as fortunate. Brandin Cooks can return on Nov. 10 against the Eagles, but he’s not seen as a major game-changer. Although he might add some variety to Dak Prescott’s options, he won’t revolutionize the weekly offensive game plan.
What Jones truly needs is for his star players to perform at the level of their hefty salaries. Prescott, one of the NFL’s highest-paid athletes, has thrown just ten touchdown passes against eight interceptions this season. While he’s not solely responsible for the team’s current standing, he hasn’t provided the uplift expected from someone with his paycheck.
The blame also lies with Jones and his front office for resisting any significant rebuilds despite recent struggles. Some argue that Dallas should consider trading starters for valuable draft picks before the trade deadline. Yet, it’s clear that Jones prefers acquiring immediate talent rather than bolstering future drafts.
Jones is right; there’s still time to change course. A 3-4 record in a 17-game season doesn’t spell disaster for a team with such top-tier talent. Nevertheless, it might doom a roster lacking depth. It seems Jones might be overlooking this reality based on his comments after the loss to the 49ers.