191-0 Until Sunday: Dak Calls the Blame Game Cowardly, Stephen Jones Says 'We're Close,' and the Cowboys Head to Indy

By Jake "Star" Whitfield, RF Sports Radio Cowboys voice

Cowboys Nation, one number from Monday's fallout tells you how strange Sunday really was: 191-0. That was the Cowboys' home record, playoffs included, when leading by at least 14 points in the fourth quarter since 1991, per Sportradar via the AP. Then Arizona and a backup quarterback made it 191-1.

The facts

The 33-30 overtime loss matched the biggest blown fourth-quarter lead in franchise history, per the Elias Sports Bureau via the AP. Dallas is 3-5 and has now lost to backup quarterbacks twice, Gardner Minshew on Sunday and undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels of Tampa Bay earlier, per the AP. The Cowboys have had a winning record after just one of 25 weeks under Brian Schottenheimer, per the AP.

Dak Prescott pushed back hard when asked about his coach. "Don't put the blame on one person," Prescott said, per the AP. "I think that's weak. I think that's cowardly." Jerry Jones said "a lot of people let Brian down today," and pointed out that Wade Phillips in 2010 is the only coach he has fired midseason. "I don't see that here," Jones said, per the AP.

On Monday, Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan that Dallas is still open to adding at the Nov. 10 trade deadline. "We think we're close, we think we can get this ship righted," he said, per The Dallas Morning News. Schottenheimer said he is focused on Indianapolis and leaves deadline work to Jerry, Stephen and Will McClay, per Dallas Sports Journal.

The injury list is real. Safeties Caleb Downs and P.J. Locke are in the concussion protocol, per DallasCowboys.com. Jake Ferguson's ankle tests came back clean and he has a chance to practice and play. Schottenheimer said edge rusher Malachi Lawrence's ankle injury is more serious than those of Ferguson and Joey Porter Jr., per the AP. Dallas visits Indianapolis (2-6) Sunday at noon CT on FOX.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: Dak is right that it is never one guy, and I respect him for standing up for his coach. But 191-0 does not become 191-1 because of bad luck. It happens when a defense cannot adjust and an offense cannot pick up one first down to bleed the clock. That is coaching and execution together, and "consistency" is not a plan. It is a wish.

As for the deadline, I am fine with Stephen Jones saying they are buyers. Just do not buy a rental to save face. If a move helps this defense stop the run in 2026 and still matters in 2027, make it. If not, keep the picks. And for the love of the star, find George Pickens the football. The AP noted he is nowhere near his 2025 numbers, and that is on the game plan, not the receiver.

Indianapolis at 2-6 is exactly the kind of game a team with this many excuses loses. That is why it is the most important game of the season.

What to watch next

Watch Wednesday's practice report for Downs, Locke, Ferguson and Lawrence, and any trade calls before the Nov. 10 deadline. For our full breakdown of the collapse, read our Nov. 2 recap of the 33-30 overtime loss, and follow the season on our Dallas Cowboys page.

Radio question: after Monday, do you trust this front office to buy at the deadline, or should the Cowboys stand pat and see if Schottenheimer can fix it in Indy?

Sources: AP News (via WRAL) - The criticism mounts for Brian Schottenheimer as the Cowboys keep finding ways to lose; The Dallas Morning News - Stephen Jones: Cowboys looking to 'get the ship righted'; Dallas Sports Journal - Schottenheimer leaves trade deadline direction to front office; DallasCowboys.com - Updates: Ferguson's status; Downs in protocol; NBC Sports / PFT - Stephen Jones: We think we're close, still open to adding in a trade.