Jerry Jones Comments on Packers Loss, Cowboys' Future

The Dallas Cowboys clearly have more problems aside from the health of Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones hadn’t conceded such until after the team’s 28-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. 

Nearly one year removed from the site of Dallas' heartbreaking divisional-round playoff loss last season, Jones candidly admitted the Cowboys’ struggles run well beyond Romo’s absence, per David Helman of DallasCowboys.com:

"

We’ve got a lot of work. I want you know that there’s some things that we have to do better for us to have a healthy Romo and have an effective [wide receiver] Dez Bryant. There’s some things we’ve got to really address and do better as we look over these last few games and the future. We need to do them.

"

Romo suffered a broken left clavicle in Week 2, missed seven games and then returned in Week 11 only to reinjure his shoulder to the point where he’s been ruled out for the season.   

The Cowboys split Matt Cassel and Brandon Weeden at quarterback in Romo’s stead, though the offense barely sputtered with each.

Weeden, whom Dallas has since released, averaged 184.5 yards per game with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Cassel is tossing 177 yards per contest with a 59.2 completion percentage and more interceptions than touchdowns (six to five). 

SportsCenter shared how the team has fared with both under center: 

The Cowboys are 4-9 but just two games out of first place with three to play in a porous NFC East—where the division winner could realistically finish with .500 record or worse—yet there is seemingly no sentiment this team can win out against the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins and cling to hope of continuing its season in January. 

Even Jones admitted that when asked how slim the Cowboys' chances were, per Helman:

“Very. Very. I’m not trying to be smirky when I say it, but very slim,” Jones said. “But that’s not for me to say for these guys that put it out there.”

The Dallas offense is sixth-worst overall (325.6 yards per game) and third-worst in scoring (17.7 points), and it appeared lifeless against the Packers—particularly Cassel, per Ed Werder of ESPN:

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With Matt Cassel, #Cowboys were 1-13 converting third- and fourth downs. #Cowboys ran 30 fewer offensive plays than GB, which had 37:48 TOP

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) December 14, 2015"

“We had a good opportunity to start this game off and get a leg up and get some momentum going with that initial run, and we didn’t do it,” Jones said, per Helman. “That’s us, though—that’s this team. It’s not an injury there. It’s having the ball 1st-and-goal, and when you don’t get that done, there’s no injury to blame."

Even in a league as cyclical as the NFL, it’s remarkable how far the Cowboys have fallen in just one season. Last year, they finished tied for the NFC’s best record at 12-4 and were a controversial call away from defeating the Packers at Lambeau Field in the playoffs—an incredibly difficult and rare feat. 

Last offseason, they allowed the reigning NFL rushing champion, DeMarco Murray—who head coach Jason Garrett believed was the catalyst of last year’s seventh-best offense—to walk in free agency and sign with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News also argued that Jones completely misfired on Romo’s backup, and instead could’ve gone with what he believed were better available options such as Colt McCoy, Josh McCown and Austin Davis.

Jones has admitted his share of fault in the overall demise, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com.

"It was a combination of things, and I contribute a lot—a lot—to find ourselves in this shape," Jones said.

They aren’t mathematically eliminated, and Jones and Company won’t concede until they are. But there clearly need to be some major offensive changes next spring, and it’s encouraging to see leadership admit so.