Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys are 2-4 after losing four of their first six games. Despite starting the season with Super Bowl-level high expectations, they have back-to-back games, falling 24-16 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 23-13 to the Green Bay Packers last week. The loss against Green Bay was especially tough to watch, as Dallas failed to score until the third quarter after trailing 17-0 at halftime.
Their shocking slide puts second-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer under serious pressure. As Dallas prepares for a Monday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, executive vice president Stephen Jones addressed whether the game is a must-win for the team.
Jerry Jones’ son Stephen addresses situation ahead of Eagles game
Facing a crucial divisional test on the road, Stephen recently downplayed the high stakes during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan.
“When we’re this early in the season, I don’t think anything is a ‘must-win’ (game). … We just got to take care of our own business and I think good things will happen for us,” he said.
Stephen also spoke about the defense, which defensive coordinator Christian Parker runs. While the unit ranked near the bottom of the league last season, the team’s struggles have shown little progress. Under Parker, the unit ranks 30th in the NFL in total defense, giving up 382.5 yards per game.
The run defense is the weakest link, ranking last in the league by giving up 149.8 yards per game. Still, Jerry Jones said Parker had checked in with the staff on both sides of the ball.
“I’ve been visiting with our staff on both sides of the ball. I think Christian (Parker) is feeling better and better each week. Certainly, I’m not saying we’re gonna go out there and be the Doomsday Defense or anything like that, but I do feel like we’re getting better each week,” Stephen added.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan: “When we’re this early in the season, I don’t think anything is a ‘must-win’ (game). … We just got to take care of our own business and I think good things will happen for us.”
“I’ve been visiting with our staff on both sides of the ball. I think Christian (Parker) is feeling better and better each week. Certainly, I’m not saying we’re gonna go out there and be the Doomsday Defense or anything like that, but I do feel like we’re getting better each week.
“And I think certainly the offensive staff, is aware of what we gotta solve for, and I think we’ve got some really top minds in that room. Obviously (Brian Schottenheimer) is the play caller, and does an amazing job. And then the rest of his staff, I think we’ve got the right guys for the job.
“At the same time, I think our players have the resolve. They’ve got the mindset to get this right.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 23, 2026
Their offense looks equally out of sync. Under Schottenheimer, the attack is completely one-dimensional. The ground game has completely stalled, managing only 456 total rushing yards for a weak 3.7 yards per carry.
This lack of balance allows defenses to sit back and choke the passing game, forcing the team into predictable plays that average just 6.7 yards per attempt. But Stephen backed his team’s coach as well, and the rest of the staff.
“And I think certainly the offensive staff, is aware of what we gotta solve for, and I think we’ve got some really top minds in that room. Obviously (Brian Schottenheimer) is the play caller, and does an amazing job. And then the rest of his staff, I think we’ve got the right guys for the job. At the same time, I think our players have the resolve. They’ve got the mindset to get this right,” he said.
He was also asked Monday whether Schottenheimer has the team’s support. He replied, “Absolutely. There’s not any question in Jerry’s and I’s mind. He has the team.”
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones tells @OThankKevin and @inthemageors that he and Jerry “absolutely” believe in Brian Schottenheimer:
“There’s not any question in Jerry’s or my mind. He has the team. There’s no question they want to go out there and execute and make things happen. Feel really good about our coaching staff. We just got to have it continue to evolve and get to a point to where we can win these football games.”
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) October 19, 2026
Though Stephen sounds like everything is okay. Schottenheimer faces extreme pressure. He holds a lackluster 9-13-1 record over 23 games in Dallas, following a disappointing 7-9-1 campaign last year.
The upcoming Monday night matchup against the division rival gives the Cowboys a massive break, especially with Eagles franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts sidelined for the rest of the season due to a blood clot issue. Facing a backup quarterback gives Dallas a clear window to turn their season around, but another failure on Monday night could effectively end the Cowboys’ season early.
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The post Jerry Jones’ Son Addresses Must-Win Talk Amid Cowboys’ Slow Start appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.