Jerry Jones: Cowboys Can Make Playoffs

Added on Oct 20, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

It’s been an awful season for the Dallas Cowboys and after a loss to Minnesota on Sunday they’re now 1-4. After an initially pessimistic assessment following the game, Jones has changed his tune and has starting talking positive and being more supportive of head coach Wade Phillips and his staff. He’s now saying that the Cowboys can defy the odds and qualify for the playoffs despite their current record.

Here’s what JJ had to say on his weekly radio show on KRLD-FM in Dallas:

“A lot of people say the old saying, ‘You are what you are,’ when you look at 1-4. We are not that. Our team is doing some very good things.”

“I believe we can turn things around. While the odds are against us, we can make all the things happen that we wanted to do this year.”

“I believe in these guys. I believe in the coaching staff. I believe in Wade Phillips.”

“It’s going to be quite a challenge to be in the playoff hunt. Just look at it mathematically. We have a high percentage of our remaining games to win. This is a league that is real close. All you’ve got to do is look at the scores and see how close these teams are. So it’s a real challenge.”

“On the other hand, we’ve got a team that is playing well. This isn’t a rationalization, but we’re actually better each week. And we are playing better with the exception of the one thing that’s got us in this position, and that’s these unfortunate penalties. It’s not just the rack up of the yards, but it’s the plays being called back.”

If Dallas can roll off a few wins they’ve definitely got a shot to turn their season around. There’s not a dominant team in the division and they’ve got 5 games remaining against divisional opponents with 3 at home.

And why not take a positive approach, at least for the time being? He’s already said he’s not going to fire Wade Phillips during the season. From a motivational standpoint, its a better approach than having the team and coaches walking on pins and needles waiting for him to slice the hammer. From a marketing standpoint, its a lot easier to sell the ‘product’ to the fans that way. There will be plenty of time to clean house and be negative if necessary but for the immediate future no harm in keeping up a positive front.

The Cowboys host the New York Giants next Monday night and the erratic Jacksonville Jaguars on Halloween–both winnable games. The Cowboys’ biggest problem so far has been themselves–more specifically too many stupid penalties–but that’s something that can be corrected. Look for Jerry Jones’ ‘happy face’ to continue through at least next Monday night, win or lose.