The Dallas Cowboys avoided disaster against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. Quarterback Dak Prescott led the Cowboys down the field for the game-winning touchdown while trailing inside of two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
But the 27-23 dramatic victory for Dallas is hardly something to brag about Monday morning. At least, that’s how The Athletic’s Candace Buckner approached it.
Instead, she took it as another opportunity to rip into the organization, focusing mostly on the man who runs it — Jerry Jones.
“To say the Cowboys improved to 4-5 after beating the Colts would be generous, yet they still have hope of competing in the NFC East. Beyond that? Surely a one-and-done playoff team, because again, under Schottenheimer, a first-time head coach who makes less money than many college quarterbacks, the Cowboys have many flaws,” wrote Buckner.
“Jones will scoff at those who would say that a better, more compensated coach can make a difference in wins and losses. ‘Put that in your hopper and smoke it,’ he’ll say on one of his weekly radio hits.
“Then again, the Cowboys have only four playoff wins in a quarter century, so what exactly is this man smoking?”
Should Cowboys Still Get Criticism After Beating Colts?
The NFL is a results-driven league. Because of that, fans sometimes allow the result to determine whether players, coaches and even owners get praise or blame after a game.
Buckner broke that cycle, though, after the latest Cowboys game. CBS Sports’s John Breech did a little as well although he allowed the victory to give him Dallas a passing grade for its Week 9 performance.
“After blowing it last week against the Cardinals, this was a game the Cowboys couldn’t afford to lose. They did just enough to pull out the win,” wrote Breech.
But doing “just enough” against a team already in the midst of a fire sale before the NFL trade deadline shouldn’t impress anyone. The Cowboys still sit a game below .500 thanks in large part to early-season losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals.
After Sunday, those two clubs owned a combined 4-12 record against other teams besides the Cowboys. The Colts nearly became the next team at least three games below .500 to beat Dallas.
Cowboys Remain Stuck in Middle as NFL Trade Deadline Approaches
The Cowboys must now defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10 to get back to the .500 mark officially. That’s not ideal with the 49ers sitting at 7-1.
But even before that contest, the Cowboys have decisions to make at the league’s NFL trade deadline.
Despite their record, Dallas is in the NFC East race. But the team is also not in an ideal spot with the NFC North occupying all three wild card spots.
To make the postseason, the Cowboys will likely have to win their division. They are three games back of the New York Giants in the loss column, and the Giants have already defeated the Cowboys this season.
To become more legitimate contenders, Dallas probably has to make another move at the NFL trade deadline. Acquiring a defensive starter is the most ideal option on the table.
But the Cowboys already acquired cornerback Joey Porter Jr. this season and seen little dividends from the deal. Will Jones really double down?
It’s not out of the question given the team’s needs. Yet, it would also be more than appropriate for Jones not to make another significant move because it’s getting close to the point that the Cowboys are what they are where.
Nothing on the trade market might be able to change that.
Jerry Jones Under Fire Even After Cowboys Beat Colts