Cowboys boss Jerry Jones calls 48-32 blowout loss to Packers the most ‘painful’ of his 35 years as owner… but stays mum on the futures of coach Mike McCarthy and QB Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wasted little time in declaring Sunday’s 48-32 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers the most ‘painful’ of his lengthy career. ‘This seems like the most painful [playoff loss] because we all had such great expectation and we had hope for this team,’ Jones told reporters. ‘Thought that we were aligned and in great shape and it didn’t happen for us.’
Jones may be a three-time Super Bowl winner, but his club is now best known for postseason disappointment. With the loss, Jones’ Cowboys is just 5-13 in the playoffs since beating Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX for the franchise’s Lombardi Trophy. Although Jones did not get into specifics, head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott both appear to be on the hot seat after Sunday’s dreadful performance.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wasted little time in declaring Sunday’s 48-32 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers the most ‘painful’ of his lengthy career
Prescott threw two interceptions before three mostly empty touchdown passes
‘I know where the responsibilities start and end and I’ve got that real clear and I know that,’ Jones said, refusing to address any personnel or coaching decisions. When asked about McCarthy’s future, he said he hasn’t thought about it for ‘one second.’ There are no shortage of potential replacements, with Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh believed to be looking for an NFL return and six-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick’s departure in New England.
Prescott threw two interceptions before three mostly empty touchdown passes in another playoff flop for him and the No. 2 seed Cowboys (12-6). The first home loss for the Cowboys since now-retired Tom Brady and Tampa Bay beat them 16 months ago was also the most points the franchise has allowed in a postseason game. The previous high was 38.
The Cowboys, who haven’t reached an NFC championship game since the most recent of their five Super Bowl titles 28 years ago, didn’t trail by more than eight points at AT&T Stadium this season before falling behind 27-0 in the first half.
The loss will raise questions about the future of Dallas coach Mike McCarthy after the Cowboys lost their playoff opener at home for the second time in three postseasons under the former Green Bay coach. Dallas is the first team to win at least 12 games in three consecutive playoff seasons without making a conference title game.
The Cowboys surged to the NFC East title in the final two weeks and had a chance to be home at least twice this postseason. Instead, they head into a suddenly uncertain offseason. ‘Just shocked, honestly,’ Prescott said. ‘From the beginning of the game, we got beat. There’s no which way around it. There’s no way to sugar coat it. Shock.’
