Questions about Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching decisions intensified after the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Baltimore Ravens on the final play of their international game in Rio de Janeiro. The defeat left Dallas with a 1-2 record and placed added attention on the coaching staff after both of the team’s losses this season.
One disputed sequence came during the Cowboys’ final goal-line possession. Dallas had two incomplete passes, a Dak Prescott scramble and a false-start penalty by Terence Steele. A review cited by Blogging The Boys questioned why the team did not give Williams a rushing attempt while a timeout remained available.
Another analysis included in the report said Schottenheimer, who is both the head coach and offensive play-caller, made decisions that limited the offense late in the game. That assessment also said the coaching staff’s performance had prompted questions about Schottenheimer’s hiring.
The report noted that Dallas’ running game had been one of the more productive parts of the loss, while Prescott continues to seek his first victory against a non-division opponent since last Thanksgiving.
The Cowboys also came out of the game with injuries in the secondary. Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke are expected to miss more than four weeks, according to the timeline cited in the report. Malik Hooker was considered hopeful to return this week, while the team was expected to look for ways to add depth at safety during the absences.
