Dallas Cowboys have to take a hard look in the mirror

As we look back on this 2026 season, when this is all over and done with after the 17 games, if the Cowboys, sorry, when the Cowboys do not make the playoffs, this game has to be the one that's looked back on as the most indicting result of the Brian Schottenheimer tenure to this point. The Cowboys leading by 10 points 27 to 17 with 2:30 remaining in the ball game. Not only blew it in regulation, but then blew it again in overtime when afforded an extra opportunity by a missed PAT, by Chad Ryland, the Cardinals kicker. It's unreal. It's against a 2-5 team in Arizona that came in reeling with offensive issues, reeling with injuries on both sides of the football, and yet still. Unable to get a win here at home and a perfect opportunity that was laid out for the Cowboys multiple times. It was a great first half, headed to the break up 17 to three. The defense showed a lot of consistency, stacking drives together. And it forced starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett out of the ball game for the Cardinals. Gardner Minshew comes into the mix and leads four consecutive touchdown drives. Goes three and out to start overtime and then wins the game with a second drive in overtime. You gotta look at the offensive side of the ball for the Cowboys too. How they were unable to put this game away in the fourth quarter and then given a chance in overtime, just needing three points to win the ball game. They go three and out. They have to punt it away to Arizona, and they never see the football again. The Cowboys are down to three and five, and they're down to not a lot of answers left to try to figure out how to get this thing back on track. Bad teams show us who they are, and we can't be looking past these type of results any longer. The Tampa Bay game, losing to Jalen Daniels, the backup undrafted rookie quarterback for the Buccaneers. And then in this ball game, allowing a backup quarterback to come into the game and storm a comeback on your home field. We've got to start looking at the Brian Schottenheimer tenure and seeing where is the confidence. I asked him that in the postgame. He said he believes in the staff, he believes in the players, but what more can he say? He's got, let's see, nine games to try to get this team into the playoff picture. If he doesn't, I'm not sure how you come away with this thinking that he's going to be here in 2027. Nick Harris for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Another disappointing, inexcusable Cowboys loss here at AT&T Stadium.