Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has publicly shouldered the blame for the team’s narrow 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, specifically citing errors during the final 28 seconds of the game. Following the defeat at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Schottenheimer admitted that his own coaching decisions hindered the team’s ability to secure a victory.
Schottenheimer Accepts Accountability for Final-Minute Decisions
I didn’t do very good in the final 28 seconds,
Schottenheimer said during a press conference. I hurt our chances to win that game. I’ll be better and I’m better than that.
The coach’s admission follows a series of high-stakes plays in the closing moments of the match. With 14 seconds remaining and the Cowboys trailing 31-28, the team faced a third-and-goal situation at the Baltimore 5-yard line. Instead of aggressively pursuing a touchdown, quarterback Dak Prescott threw the ball out of bounds. While receiver George Pickens was open near the front pylon, Schottenheimer confirmed he had provided specific instructions to Prescott that influenced the decision.
I felt like I overcoached Dak on third down, kinda affected his decision making a little bit,
Schottenheimer explained. He noted that he had instructed the quarterback to prioritize throwing the ball away if the intended target was not open, rather than risking a play that could lead to a turnover or leave the team short of the goal line.
Internal Review and Team Response
The fallout from the game has been significant within the organization. Team owner Jerry Jones remarked that there is no explanation that you’re satisfied with
regarding the sequence of events that saw the Cowboys move from a first-and-goal position to ultimately settling for a 23-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey. That kick tied the game at 31-31 with seven seconds remaining, but the Ravens responded with a 27-yard pass from Lamar Jackson to Zay Flowers, setting up a 56-yard game-winning field goal by Tyler Loop as time expired.
Schottenheimer acknowledged that his coaching errors during the final minute had a compounding effect on his subsequent decisions, including how the team handled the kickoff following Aubrey’s field goal. He drew a parallel to a rule his father once taught him: one mistake should not be allowed to impact the next decision.
I let that kinda bleed over to my decision about kicking the ball,
Schottenheimer said. I’ll take accountability for it. It’s football and life, that’s what happens.
Moving Forward After a Painful Loss
Despite the criticism, Schottenheimer emphasized his continued trust in Prescott, noting that the two held a conversation during the team’s flight back to Dallas. The coach expressed that he is prepared to face the backlash from the defeat, stating, Do I deserve the criticism? Absolutely. I deserve the criticism. I take the criticism.
The Cowboys, who now hold a 1-2 record, are looking to shift their focus toward their upcoming Week 4 matchup against the Houston Texans. Reflecting on the loss, Schottenheimer stressed the importance of the team improving its performance in the fourth quarter to avoid similar outcomes in the future.