Cowboys owner Jerry Jones makes a stunning admission following Dallas disappointing season opener
Following this week's game against Washington, the Cowboys will play in Brazil in Week 3
The 2026 NFL season did not start well for the Dallas Cowboys , who were thoroughly dominated by the New York Giants in a 28-20 defeat. The Giants controlled the clock for a staggering 36:40 minutes of game time, starving the Cowboys' offense of opportunities and limiting them to just two possessions in the entire second half.
This opening stumble proved that "America's Team" still carries glaring defensive vulnerabilities from a dismal campaign a year ago, where Dallas allowed more than 20 points in all but one game, surrendered 30 or more points in nine separate contests , and ranked dead last in franchise history for points allowed per drive.
Offensively, the squad struggled to find any rhythm as quarterback Dak Prescott managed just 175 passing yards, while the ground attack sputtered and finished with fewer than 70 total yards.
Jerry Jones Stark Admission After Cowboys' Disappointing Loss
Following the sobering defeat, outspoken Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones appeared on Dallas radio station "105.3 The Fan" on Friday to deliver a remarkably candid assessment of his team's shortcomings.
Jones admitted that Dallas drastically underperformed while acknowledging that the Giants simply outplayed expectations. "They just did a good job all over," Jones confessed . "And I will tell you, they were better than we thought they were. We didn’t play as well as we should play and can play, but they played better than I thought they could."
When directly pressed on whether the Cowboys themselves are simply not as talented as anticipated , Jones conceded the point with a stark warning to the coaching staff and roster, noting that the squad is currently operating well below its envisioned standard.
Pointing to the massive scale of the franchise's offseason roster overhaul as a primary contributor to the sluggish start, Jones watched as his team self-destructed with eight penalties costing 85 yards , complementing a defense that yielded 28 points.
Second year head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn't mince words either, describing the overall execution as "pretty poor" in the aftermath.
Eager to wipe the slate clean, the Cowboys are packing their bags and returning home for Week 2, where they will host the division-rival Washington Commanders on Sunday inside AT&T Stadium for their highly anticipated home opener.
