Jerry Jones on Cowboys' slim playoff odds: 'I know how to count'

The Dallas Cowboys' chances of making the playoffs all but vanished when they suffered a 34-26 loss to a Minnesota Vikings (6-8) team that was eliminated from postseason contention before Sunday night's game between the two clubs kicked off. 

Shortly after the Cowboys fell to 6-7-1 under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones acknowledged the harsh reality of Dallas' situation.

Jerry Jones comments on "disappointing" result, season

"We certainly didn’t think we’d be here in this kind of shape with three games to go and be behind the eight ball the way we are," Jones explained, per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "It’s very disappointing. I’m really, obviously, very disappointed for our fans. I’m disappointed for these players. I didn’t expect that. I thought we could come out here and on both sides of the ball make a better accounting of ourselves. Minnesota did the best job out there today on both sides of the ball."

As ESPN's Todd Archer pointed out, the Cowboys can only qualify for the playoffs by winning the NFC East over the 9-5 Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia is just one win or one Dallas defeat away from claiming the division title. The Eagles next play at the 4-10 Washington Commanders this coming Saturday. 

As of Monday morning, the ESPN Football Power Index gave the Cowboys a 0.6 percent chance to make the playoffs. At that same time, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Eagles as six-point favorites over the Commanders.

Dak Prescott "definitely surprised" by Cowboys' back-to-back losses

Dallas acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, and the Cowboys then notched three straight wins to get to 6-5-1. However, the Cowboys defense left much to be desired in its play, as evidenced by a 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions on Dec. 4 and again on Sunday night in front of a home crowd. 

"Yeah, definitely surprised, especially after the bye week and the trades got rolling like we did for those few weeks, and then watch the confidence just skyrocket," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said after Sunday's defeat. "Stopped teams, scoring, scoring at will, coming back from 21 points. Just a lot of good wins there to be in this position. Just reminds you that every play matters. It's a hard game. Those guys get paid, too. They practice throughout the week and prepare no different than we do. It's tough. I'm definitely surprised, hurt, p— off, frustrated, but all I can do is get better tomorrow."

The Cowboys next host the 10-4 Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 21. Jones seems to understand that game could essentially be meaningless for his team.

"I don't know how to describe a miracle," Jones added about Dallas' chances of making the playoffs. "I know that it would take very tight circumstances to get us in, and we expected that. We thought we'd have to win out to have a little room, but not a lot. Now, of course, I know how to count."