Cowboys, Eagles Respond to Criticism and Adversity with Veteran Confidence
As the NFL regular season barrels toward its final stretch, both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles find themselves under the microscope - not just for their performances on the field, but for how they’re handling the noise off it. From questions about effort to comparisons to past collapses, the spotlight is burning hot. But inside both locker rooms, the message remains clear: stay the course.
Jerry Jones Backs George Pickens: “That’s Madness”
In Dallas, wide receiver George Pickens has become a lightning rod for criticism after a performance against Detroit that left fans and analysts questioning his effort and involvement. But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t buying into the narrative.
“I think the criticism of this last ballgame is being hard on him. Not justified,” Jones said. “There was more to it than met the eye.”
Jones didn’t dive into specifics, but he made it clear that Pickens’ performance - or at least the perception of it - is being unfairly scrutinized. The absence of CeeDee Lamb in that game only magnified every miscue, every missed opportunity, and every route that didn’t end with a target or a catch. But Jones isn’t jumping on the bandwagon of blame.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a body of work or a season dismissed as quickly as it was with Pickens getting criticized against Detroit,” Jones said. “And that’s madness.”
What’s more telling? Jones says Pickens has responded with a strong week of practice - a sign that the second-year wideout is putting his head down and grinding, even as the spotlight intensifies. For a Dallas team with postseason aspirations, that’s exactly the kind of response they need.
Eagles Stay Steady After Third Straight Loss
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Eagles are navigating their own rough patch. A third straight loss - this one to the Chargers - has stirred up memories of 2023, when the team started 10-1 only to stumble down the stretch and finish second in the NFC East.
But inside the building, there’s no panic. Just perspective.
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith summed up the team’s mindset with a mix of honesty and optimism.
“When we’re not shooting ourselves in the foot, we operate pretty well,” Smith said. “We always make a big splash and then do something stupid.”
That self-awareness is key. The Eagles know they’re capable of explosive plays and dominant stretches - they’ve shown it all season.
But it’s the self-inflicted wounds that have kept them from stringing together consistent performances. Smith pointed to improved tempo and communication as positives, and despite the recent slide, he’s not hitting the panic button.
“How many games have we lost? Five.
We’re alright. We’re in a good spot,” Smith said.
“We just have to continue to go out there and play our brand of football.”
Jeffrey Lurie: “We Were Just a Couple of Plays Away”
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie echoed that sentiment, reflecting on the narrow loss to the Chargers with a sense of disbelief - and a reminder of how close the margins can be in the NFL.
“In 32 years, I don’t think we’ve ever lost a game we were about to win, like on a missed field goal or a last-second catch,” Lurie said. “I expected us to do it again. We were just a couple of plays away.”
That kind of loss stings - not just because of the result, but because of how familiar it feels. The ghosts of 2023 are still hanging around, but not everyone in the locker room is haunted by them.
Saquon Barkley and Brandon Graham: This Isn’t 2023
Running back Saquon Barkley, in his first season with the Eagles, doesn’t carry the baggage of last year’s collapse. But he knows the team’s veterans do - and he expects they’ve learned from it.
“A lot of people bring up 2023,” Barkley said. “I wasn’t here.
A lot of guys weren’t here. And the guys who were here would be crazy not to learn from that.”
It’s a fair point. For all the comparisons to last season, this is a different team - different personnel, different mindset, and, most importantly, different leadership.
Veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, one of the longest-tenured Eagles, isn’t buying the doom-and-gloom talk.
“Nah - this ain’t no crash at the end,” Graham said. “It’s just the way it’s going right now.
We’ll get it right. I’m not worried at all.”
Graham pointed out a key difference from last year: coaching continuity. In 2023, the Eagles lost both offensive and defensive coordinators. This time around, they still have Vic Fangio running the defense, and that stability matters.
“This isn’t 2023. We’re definitely gonna get it right,” Graham said.
“I just know that how we handle this right now is key. Let people talk.
While they keep talking, we’ll just keep working.”
Bottom Line
Both the Cowboys and Eagles are facing questions - some fair, some overblown - as they head into the most critical part of the season. But the message from inside both organizations is the same: trust the process, block out the noise, and keep grinding.
Whether it’s George Pickens trying to shake off a rough outing or the Eagles trying to avoid a repeat of last year’s late-season slide, the focus isn’t on the past - it’s on what comes next. And in December football, that mindset can be the difference between a playoff run and an early exit.