Cowboys' Jerry Jones opens up about Brian Schottenheimer with playoff chances just about gone

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones previously acknowledged that his 6-7-1 team will need a "miracle" to make the playoffs. 

During a Friday appearance on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, Jones also suggested that first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer will remain in his role through at least the start of next season. 

Jerry Jones "very pleased" with Brian Schottenheimer despite record

"He’s had an outstanding year," Jones said about Schottenheimer, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. "…He’s technically as sound as you can draw up. We really like his philosophy of how to play football. We’ve had some adversity this year. He’s met it head-on. …Bottom line is, I’m very pleased with his first year as coach."

Jones stripped Schottenheimer of the club's best overall defensive player when the Cowboys traded star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round draft picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark in late August. While the Cowboys later bolstered their defense by acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, those moves weren't enough to keep Dallas from surrendering a total of 78 points over back-to-back losses this month. 

Those defeats and other results left the Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) a win over the Washington Commanders (4-10) this Saturday away from clinching the NFC East division title. Such a result would eliminate the Cowboys from postseason contention before their home game versus the Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) gets underway this Sunday. 

Jerry Jones knows Brian Schottenheimer has dealt with "setbacks"

Schottenheimer's finest moments of his debut season serving as Dallas' head coach may have involved the way he brought his team together following the shocking passing of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland in early November.  

"He’s the busiest guy in town," Jones added about Schottenheimer. "Not only is he calling the plays, but at the same time, he’s had the kind of challenges that you can’t draw up, relative to the team, relative to individual issues on the team, relative to some of the setbacks that we’ve had. He’s had it all. …Boy, he’s made progress, and we’ve got a great future ahead." 

Jones seems to have chosen defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as the person to blame for all that went wrong with the club's defense this season. That said, it sounds like Schottenheimer has nothing to worry about regarding his short-term future ahead of Christmas.