Mike Tomlin didn’t waste any time delivering a blunt verdict on the Cowboys after their latest collapse.
Dallas dropped to 3-5 with a 33-30 overtime home loss to the Cardinals, and the defeat quickly became about more than just the final score. Coach Brian Schottenheimer’s team was left dealing with questions about personal responsibility, while Dak Prescott tried to absorb some of the heat and keep it away from his head coach. Then Tomlin stepped in during his Sunday Night Football appearance and went straight at the Cowboys.
Ari Meirov shared Tomlin’s comments, and there was nothing softened about the message.
“I saw a bunch of blinkers, and what I mean by that, if you're a blinker, cut your eyelids off. What I mean is, you gotta relish the thick moments, you gotta want to make the play, as an individual or particular units that wanted to grab the bull by the horns and win the game. Certainly their defense, we can spend a lot of time talking about that two-minute drive and things of that nature, but their offense had a short field when they had an unsuccessful onside kick at the end of regulation, and then they went three-and-out in overtime, and so I see a team that doesn't have anybody that wants to be the unit to secure victory, they gotta cut their eyelids off.”
The Cowboys also took a hit when tight end Jake Ferguson left early, and that helped contribute to a passing day from Prescott that finished under 200 yards. Javonte Williams led the ground game with 56 yards, but it still wasn’t enough to steady a team that was already spiraling on a day that also featured a NSFW explosion from Jerry Jones.
Tomlin’s criticism landed hard, but it matched the way the Cowboys have been playing. At 3-5, they still have a path to make a move in a weak NFC East, though they’re not looking like a team many will trust to make real noise in the playoffs, even if they get there.
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