Schottenheimer Says 'Rio Doesn't Define' Cowboys After Taking Blame for Loss Before Win vs. Texans

After a disappointing loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Rio Game, the Dallas Cowboys managed to bounce back with a dramatic 34-30 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who shouldered the blame for the team's Week 3 loss, told reporters after the game that he was motivated to get his team back on track in the midst of a tough stretch.

"Rio doesn't define us as a football team, as a coaching staff here," Schottenheimer said, per ESPN's Todd Archer. "I think I was very upfront and honest with that, but I wanted this game. Why? Because these guys came back off a 10-hour trip. The Ravens, I think, played at home today. We played on the road. We play Thursday night [against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers]. We'll play anybody anywhere and we're looking forward to that, but Rio had nothing to do with this game. This game stood by itself."

The Cowboys escaped with a win over their in-state rivals thanks to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb with 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Schottenheimer previously said he "didn't do very good in the last 28 seconds" of the loss to the Ravens, so Sunday's win surely boosted morale in Dallas.

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"The way I look at this thing, man, is we're hypocrites as coaches if when we make mistakes we don't own up to it," Schottenheimer told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. "Obviously, players take a lot of criticism. They take a lot of coaching. And this is a situation where, look, we didn't handle it very well. And if I'm not able to lead from the front and be accountable, then how can I stand up in front of them and ask them to be accountable? It wasn't a fun week, in terms of going through the stuff that comes with it. But I know my players love me."

Schottenheimer will try to build off the momentum of Sunday's win when the Cowboys (2-2) quickly return to action on Thursday Night Football against the Buccaneers (0-4).