Jerry Jones: Give 4-0 Broncos Credit, Rather Than Bash 2-2 Cowboys

Posted Oct 04, 2009 9:40PM By Nancy Gay (RSS feed)

DENVER -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tried to drown his sorrows in orange slices Sunday, grabbing them for sustenance in a stunned Dallas locker room as he contemplated his team's 17-10 loss to the undefeated Denver Broncos.

The NFL's top-ranked defense had harassed quarterback Tony Romo all afternoon at Invesco Field, stuffed Dallas' rushing attack and openly challenged cover cornerback Champ Bailey time after time. That proved to be the Cowboys' biggest mistake in a game filled with them.

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With one second remaining, Bailey swatted down what might have been a game-tying Romo touchdown pass to Sam Hurd at fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, sending the crowd of 76,440 into a frenzy over their 4-0 team in Denver.

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And Jones -- who could not have imagined his franchise could be 2-2 at this point -- tried to deflect what will be a difficult week of scrutiny for Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and Romo, who missed receivers badly, threw an interception, lost a fumble and was sacked five times.

"We're 2-2 and I'm not going to sit here and look like we've lost the Super Bowl," Jones said. "That's just not called for here. It's not in me. I'm going to give Denver a lot of credit. There is a reason they are 4-0. They hung in there. Stayed with it."

Dallas, despite rushing 25 times for only 74 yards and getting a 1-yard touchdown run from gimpy running back Marion Barber (11 attempts, 41 yards) maintained a 10-7 advantage until 5:58 of the fourth quarter.

The Broncos tied the game on a 28-yard Matt Prater field goal, then jumped ahead on Brandon Marshall's eye-popping 51-yard touchdown catch from Kyle Orton with 1:46 remaining.

"We could possibly have gotten up another score while we had that lead, and didn't. Give (the Broncos) some credit," a red-faced Jones said in a staggered Dallas locker room. "We knew before we played them that they were going to be tough to move the ball on. Whatever the reason, we didn't run the ball well – obviously I don't need to tell you that – in the second half."

Barber, who is nursing a thigh injury, had only one touch in the second half. Jones said he didn't know if anything was wrong with his top running back.

"Not that I'm aware of," said Jones, who conceded he was surprised by that because Barber had played well in the opening quarter. "I haven't had time to be surprised; I know of nothing (wrong with Barber) and I usually know. I didn't hear anything that I needed to know about Marion."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

10-04-2009 @ 9:56PM

baldy40644 said...

americas overrated team

10-04-2009 @ 9:58PM

joserydesagain said...

I heard on ESPN that Romo missed so many receivers, that when he got to the sidelines, he missed the bench when he tried to sit down...

10-05-2009 @ 2:33AM

RUSS said...

its jerry jones fault for giving romo a big contract.......too many over paid players well maybe jones will bring in joe montana from retirement lol

10-05-2009 @ 7:54AM

rigocolon said...

I heard that too. Tony Romo is the worst QB in the NFL. The guy is lacked of accuracy and consistancy. He can't read details around him. He just play the ball by instinct, which is not good enough to win game. Please bench him before it is too late for Dallas Cowboys,

10-04-2009 @ 10:01PM

nexxtlevell said...

As a Broncos fan, I am happy. But it is not lost on me they have a rough schedule ahead from this point on. Good game.

10-04-2009 @ 10:30PM

rjkauffmann said...

I'm a giant fan. Jerry Jones & Troy Aikman act like they won two or three super bowls recently. Ever
heard Troy say anthing bad about the Cowboys. Ever
hear the Mars talk in person, they don't because
they have class. Without the Mara, Rooneys and
the original franchises there would be no Cowboys.
As for the Broncos, they got a good team. Should be
a good game with my Giants on Thanksgiving. Hard to
win in Denver. We haven't been there since 9/10/01
when we won. Everyone will always remember the
next day, 9/11

10-04-2009 @ 10:49PM

pelahatchie21 said...

i'm a cowboys fan and romo sucks!!! he had plenty of time he just stood there and pattied the ball looklike he was drew bledsoe to me i say bench him and bring on kitna and take the play caling away from garrett he don't know when to throw it or run it going to be a long year for us with the offense we have

10-04-2009 @ 11:18PM

txlaurat said...

My thoughts exactly sit Tony Romo on the bench... and let Kitna play... can't do any worse... I think it would be the best thing for the team. Romo is an embarassment.

10-04-2009 @ 10:53PM

williewunderlich said...

Finally! An AOL sports article about the 2009 Denver Broncos that gets it halfway right. Denver is playing great 3-4 defense this year under DC Mike Nolan, and none of the AOL Sports "experts" other than Nancy Gay seem to have a clue thus far. Cincinnati barely scored 7 points against Denver's "D" in the final minute of the Denver-Cincy game-- but Cincy racked up points against Pittsburgh and Green Bay.. Watch out for the NFL Denver firm of Bailey & Dawkins in 2009. These guys have won all of the cases they defended this season.

10-05-2009 @ 12:03AM

Pimp Daddy said...

AND THEY SAID T.O WAS THE PROBLEM.IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE ROMO IS THE PROBLEM.

10-05-2009 @ 12:06AM

I ALSO HEARD HE MISSED T.O

10-05-2009 @ 4:24AM

zavolas said...

Red faced Jerry Jones....you just gotta love it....lol

10-05-2009 @ 8:51AM

LaKeeta said...

lol would have loved to seen that.

10-05-2009 @ 6:30AM

rwkhealth said...

Dallas made my Sunday by losing, they and Tony are overrated every year. Now the season is far from over, but they have not played some of the tougher teams yet, including the NFC east teams. They will not win all those games, maybe the loseskins. Wade is finish if he does not win enough games and go to the playoffs, bye, bye. Hey maybe Jerry should sell the team and get a real owner there.

10-05-2009 @ 7:05AM

joecrpschrst said...

Once again, it's open-season on the Cowboys and I'll tell ya what, it's tough being a fan too! I would surely have to put the blame mostly on Garrett. Yes I know it's a team effort but you have to lead them in the right direction. I say keep Romo, fire Garrett and definitley our cream puff, pats you in the hiney coach!!!

10-05-2009 @ 1:20PM

cjohn2112 said...

ive told u many times joe....yall's problem is the 1 person u cant cut, trade, or fire....
as long as jerry "the moron" jones runs things in dallas, yall aint doin squat

dabernababy said...

Face it Cowboy fans. The team sucks, The coach sucks, The playcalling sucks, the secondary sucks, The OWNER SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jerry Jones knows he needs to get rid of Phillips, but his overblown ego won't allow him to admit it. How does 8-8 sound in that billion dollar stadium.

10-05-2009 @ 8:58AM

wackenpuss said...

Romo has been average . He has made some plays in the clutch .
He put the cowboys ahead of the Giants the last time he had the ball in that game. He also made a big 4th down play in the last minute yesterday. Overall the pass protection sucks and the receivers don't get open. Everything looks like it taking to long to develop.

In both loss's the defense choked and got burned for a big play when they had to get a stop. It seems no matter how well the D is playing you always get the feeling that they can't make a key stop when its on the line.

10-05-2009 @ 9:22AM

greg said...

Jerry Jones may know how to build a stadium with the taxpayers' money, but he certainly doesnt know how to build a football team without Jimmie Johnson.