Jerry Jones, owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, just couldn't believe it Sunday night.
His club once again experienced defeat in a playoff game, a constant for several years. This time the Texas team lost 48 to 32 to the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the postseason.
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“I’m stunned,” said Jones, whose comments were reported by CBS.
“This is one of my biggest surprises since I’ve been in this sport,” said the 81-year-old afterwards. It seems to me [la défaite en éliminatoires] The most painful thing was because we all had high expectations for this team. We were in tune with each other and in great shape…”
The loss to the Packers (10-8) was the first for the Cowboys (12-6) at their home stadium at AT&T Stadium in 2023, who had been perfect at home in eight regular-season games.
Dallas also finished the campaign ranked first and fifth in the NFL in points scored and points allowed, respectively.
The Cowboys have won just one walk-off game since 2019 and this is the eighth time since 1997 that the team has been shown the exit door in its first playoff game.
Coach fired?
Mike McCarthy has been the Cowboys' head coach since 2020. He posted a 42-25 record on the season but was 1-3 in the playoffs. Jones wasn't exactly reassuring towards him after his team's recent loss.
“Nothing has been decided on this topic yet,” he said when asked about his coach’s future. I planned to be with him tomorrow to discuss how we played and how we will play next week. After all, I’m supposed to have the end-of-year meetings tomorrow.”
Let's just say that with the number of big-name head coaches that have become vacant in recent weeks, McCarthy is unlikely to have the confidence to keep his job.
“I don’t think anyone expected this,” he said after his team’s humiliating setback. We couldn’t get the job done, no matter what phase of the game.”
“First and foremost, we are disappointed,” McCarthy added. I haven’t thought about what the outcome of this game will mean.”