The Dallas Cowboys' trip to Brazil ended in heartbreak, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer is pointing the finger at himself. After a stunning 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on a last-second field goal, Schottenheimer admitted he made a critical mistake in the final moments that cost his team a shot at victory.
With less than 30 seconds left and the ball at the Ravens' 2-yard line, the Cowboys had a golden opportunity to take the lead. But a series of miscues—an incomplete pass, a false start, and a throwaway on third down—forced Dallas to settle for a field goal, tying the game at 25. That left just seven seconds on the clock, enough time for Lamar Jackson to engineer a game-winning drive and for Justin Tucker to drill a 42-yarder as time expired.
Schottenheimer, visibly frustrated, took responsibility for the crucial third-down call that saw Dak Prescott throw the ball away instead of attacking the end zone. "I've got to call some better plays to get it in," he said postgame, per ESPN. "We thought we were going to score a touchdown. We've got to find a way to punch it in."
The loss drops Dallas to 1-2 on the season, while Baltimore improves to 2-1. The Cowboys had fought back from a 12-point deficit, tying the game late, but the final sequence left a sour taste. "At the end of the day, I just really feel bad for the players," Schottenheimer added. "We played hard, we fought back, after a long trip, and we had our chance to win. Unfortunately, we didn't get it done."
The coach was quick to praise his team's effort, even as he shouldered the blame. "So proud of this team, this group of young men. They laid it all on the line," he said. "I don't ever question these guys. Watch the way they play. This team doesn't have quit in them, but they're hurting right now. I'm hurting. I felt like we made enough plays to go win the game, but we didn't."
The loss was compounded by the unusual circumstances of playing in Brazil, where the Cowboys were confined to their hotel while the Ravens enjoyed more freedom. Fans have also voiced their frustration with Schottenheimer's play-calling, with many calling for changes after the baffling decisions. The officiating also drew criticism, with referees under scrutiny for several calls that went against Dallas.
Despite the setback, Schottenheimer remains confident in his team's resilience. "I heard from the guys in the locker room, they put a lot into this. It's a long trip, but, I mean, no one cares," he said, acknowledging the harsh reality of the NFL. The Cowboys will look to bounce back in Week 4 when they face the Houston Texans, a division rival that will pose another stiff test.
For now, Schottenheimer is left to ponder what might have been. "We thought we were going to score a touchdown and move the ball really well down there," he reiterated. "We've got to find a way to punch it in." The Cowboys' season is far from over, but this loss will sting for a while—especially knowing that a single play call might have changed everything.
