Dallas Cowboys owner and G.M. Jerry Jones admitted that the New York Giants were better than he anticipated following a 28-20 loss in the regular-season opener at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Speaking Friday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, Jones acknowledged that the Giants just did a good job all over
and noted that they played better than he thought they could. While Dallas managed to close the gap to within a touchdown during the fourth quarter, they were unable to regain possession late in the game, resulting in the defeat.
Challenges with Coaching and Personnel
Jones stated that the Cowboys are not currently at the level he expected them to be. He attributed this struggle to several factors, including a conceptually new coaching staff and a defensive scheme that is new to many of the players. Although Jones asserted that the players are absolutely capable of doing what is being asked of them, he noted that the team is still changing how they operate.
According to Jones, the volume of changes to the coaching staff, personnel, and the team is the most he has seen since the first year Jimmy Johnson served as coach, a season in which the team won only one game. Jones explained that while modern teams can enter a season with less experience than in the past, it remains a challenge to assemble the team and get them ready for competition.
Outlook for the Season
Jones expressed that he is anxious to see how New York continues to play throughout the season. He characterized the season opener as a combination of the Giants playing better than expected and the Cowboys failing to play as well as they should.
The Dallas Cowboys will look to improve their level of play in Week 2. Jones noted that the Washington Commanders could similarly present a significant challenge when Dallas hosts them this Sunday at AT&T Stadium.