Everything Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said after win over Commanders
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 44-22 on Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Here’s everything Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said to the media after the loss:
On the difference today for his defense
“I mean they played really hard like they always do. I thought we affected the quarterback the way that we had in New York. I think that’s huge. It wasn’t just the four sacks, it was the hits. I thought our run defense really was great. (Marcus) Mariota got us for a couple runs. But man, they were swarming the ball. We were sticky in coverage, and that was all great to see.”
On if playing more man to man got the defense more comfortable
“Yeah, I mean again look at the end of the day this was a team we wanted to play man to man against. There were numbers and analytics that said that, you know that was the right way to play these guys. And each week is different. But I thought we played man to man very well today. But you know, we got to improve our zone coverages as well. Just proud of the guys, man. The defense, they’ve taken a lot of bullets, deservedly so in some regards. I was just proud of them. They played really hard. They tackled well. We knew the turnover was going to happen, we tried to manifest that two weeks ago and didn’t get it. And there goes DaRon (Bland) doing what DaRon does.”
On staying positive despite cornerback Trevon Diggs being out
“You guys know me. I mean I am who I am, and I don’t change. Again, I’m disappointed for Trevon. You know he wants to be out there playing with these guys. But again, I liked the plan on both sides of the ball. I thought we executed the plan on both sides of the ball. It was great to see guys step up and make plays. I mean, Trikweze (Bridges) did a really good job for us. And again, just a couple guys got banged up and they came back. I mean, that just shows you the toughness of that group. Man, K-9 (Kenneth Murray) and Kenny Clark and it was great to see Ez (Donovan Ezeiruaku) get his first sack and Jadeveon (Clowney). That was really cool. So just really proud of the group. But it’s one game. It’s just a championship opportunity that we seized and we got another one coming up next week.”
On the decision of playing certain guys with Diggs out
“Yeah, again once everything happened with Trevon (Diggs) it’s like, Tri (Trikweze Bridges) is a guy that we really love. We like the way he plays. And, you know DaRon (Bland) gives us a lot of flexibility. I thought Kaiir (Elam) played stickier today. I thought that was great to see, really good confidence. I thought we were really good on fourth down. Just seemed like it. I think they had a couple, but you know complimentary defense today man. I thought we won first down. I mean Jayden (Daniels) went to pull a couple things. We had guys coming across and crashing down a little bit and scraping over the top. And it just was a very, very good plan. But plans are plans man, we got to execute and we did that today.”
On if he feels positive with the current record of 3-3-1
“I’m excited about the win today. I’m excited about how we played. I thought the offense, you know, it’s great to get the running game going again. I mean, let’s talk about Javonte Williams for a second. I mean, just the physical style of runs that he plays with and it was great to have CeeDee (Lamb) back. We caught them on a quick count. They were trying to get to a tricky two and it wasn’t even the route CeeDee was supposed to run, but just the way the coverage played out, he kind of, we call it mailbox, he stuck his hand up and Dak (Prescott) found him, and then they ran into each other. But you know me man, I take each game, one game at a time because no one cares that we’re 3-3-1 right now. We’re going to care about where we are in January, and that’s what’s going to motivate us.”
On if he thinks this is the best complementary football they’ve played this season
“Without watching the film, I would say yes. I think that’s just because we fed off the energy of the defense getting some early stops. I mean, the two-minute drive at the end of the first half was huge for us. Again, there goes Javonte (Williams) with another long run right at the end of a two minute. And so, I would say yes, but there’s things to clean up. I mean don’t fool yourselves, I’m not standing up here going, man, we’re the greatest team in the world. There’s things to clean up, and we’ll get right to work on that in the morning.”
On Jadeveon Clowney
“Yeah, incredible. He’s so happy to be here. He’s having fun playing football again. I think for me that’s important because of the culture that we’re trying to build here. You know it was good to see him get a sack and a cover fumble. And, you know, I think that’s why you saw us go out and get him. I probably downplayed it a little bit, just his ability to impact games. But I wanted to wait for a moment like this to give him the acknowledgement of what a fine, fine football player he is.”
On if he anticipates Diggs being available next week
“I don’t know. There’s a whole process where he’s got to go through the protocol and things like that. We’ll get a lot more information tomorrow when we see him.”
On if he feels like his secondary is settled now
“No, I don’t think your roster is ever settled. I just don’t think it’s in any spot. I mean, you see a couple guys go down today. What I want to speak to is what the toughness and the grit of a K-9 (Kenneth Murray) get a pretty good ankle. Tape it up, get back in there. I mean that’s the mentality and that’s the fight of this football team. That’s the brotherhood that we’ve built in that locker room. And that’s not for me, it’s for one another. I mean the roster is always going to be moving, and there’s, elevations and guys you have to put down. We got a few guys banged up that we thought could go today and couldn’t. So we had other guys step up, and that’s great to see as a football coach.”
On if he has any added information on Diggs’ accident
“No, not yet.”
On the offense’s performance with everyone healthy
“Dak’s playing really well. You know, I’m not trying to not make a big deal about he’s playing great, but that’s what we expect from Dak, and he’s got incredible weapons. I thought the throw to Fergie at the end of the two minute was awesome. It was like his third progression. He got off the front side two-man combination and, I mean, just stuck an absolute laser right in Fergie’s chest. And I thought that was awesome. But you see the trust that he has in these guys. And I’ve talked about it a lot but watch his back foot. He got hit a lot today, and I didn’t like that, and he didn’t like that, and probably needed to get him a few more completions midway through the second quarter, because he was getting popped pretty good. I think I got a little bit aggressive. I was getting pissed with the penalties and on too many shots, and that’s on me. And I told him that, and I said, ‘hey, I’ll be better,’ and that’s what we did.”
On talking to the former Cowboys on the field before the game
“I’m a football historian, man. I get a chance to go talk to Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson. Why would I not do it? But like, that’s important to us. I wanted those guys out there. I want those guys around. They’ve paved the way for these guys to do what they love to do and make a ton of money doing it. Those guys didn’t make nearly the money that our guys make and that we make as coaches, but it doesn’t lessen the love of the game. But I also want our players to see you can have success when football is over. And a lot of those guys are incredible businessmen, and they’ve got potential internships and things like that for our players, because I want our players to go on to have amazing lives when they’re done playing the game, not just, you know, have great football careers. Life’s way more important than just football. And so I don’t know how many there were. I know there’s a bunch. It took me a while to get through the line, but I just wanted them to know I was thinking about them and how much I appreciate them being out there.”
On if this groove that the offense is in is the best that he’s been involved in while calling plays
“I don’t think so. I didn’t think the second quarter, I didn’t think I called a great game. I kind of just spoke to that. I was getting… I don’t want to say pissed again. I just did. I was mad, you know, and so I kind of let that get the best of me. And so, you know, when you got great players, man, you know, you call plays with a lot of confidence. I call plays with a lot of confidence, knowing they’re going to execute. And again, Dak the throw to Turp on a check down. We run a little action pass, and had a free runner. Man, he just knew right where the check down was. And then, the one thing we are is explosive. Man, we got speed and guys that can make people miss. And as a coach, it makes you excited. But hey, look this offensive staff, Klayton Adams, Steve Shimko, Ken Dorsey, could go up and down in the list. Junior Adams with what he’s done with those two receivers and Turp, I’m a blessed man to lead from the front of a great group of guys on both sides of the ball and special teams as a staff.”
On what goes into executing on late drives to end the first half
“Well, I’m going to tell you guys again, and maybe you guys have done it, maybe you haven’t, but you guys need to talk to Ryan Feder. The guy is an incredible football coach. He’s our game management guy. He just makes me at peace. He makes me comfortable. He’s great with his communication of what we’re thinking. We practice it every day. He changes up the looks. We literally practice that look on Thursday, the touchdown to Fergie was a different call in practice, but it was that exact look where you’ve got 13 seconds, or whatever it is, and you want to get all your shots, is what we say. Get all your shots, so what that means is, if one and two, he’s not going to get past the third progression, which would Fergie does, because you want to throw the ball away so you get all your shots. But I got to give Ryan Feder a ton of credit. And then so our guys are prepared. Tommy’s my point. And then again, because you practice it so much, and you emphasize that, they’re just very comfortable executing those calls.”
On the defense’s performance
“Yeah, they’re aware of what’s being said about them, and they don’t like it. There’s pride in that room. There’s great players in that room. There’s great coaches in that room. And again, like I said, middle of the week, this is not going to be the worst adversity that we’ll go through this season. So what do you do? You get back to work, you make changes, you make adjustments, and to go out and put a performance like this together is really good for confidence. But at the same time, I thought the communication today was outstanding, and we talked a little bit about that. You know, you can’t just say close, right one time. You have to holler, you have to scream it, and again, I’m going to say it again. Matt Eberflus and that defensive staff put together a hell of a plan. I thought Matt called a hell of a game, and the players went out there and executed.”
On Diggs
“Yeah, yeah. I mean, I’m a Trevon fan, you know, and I’m excited to get him back, and hopefully it won’t be, you know, too long.”
On deciding not to kick a field goal from the 50 with Brandon Aubrey
“Our goal is to win the game. And, of course, I thought about it, but with the score where it was, I wanted to try to pin them back. But, I mean, let’s talk about the weapon. I mean, what’s the record, most 60-yard field goals in a career? I mean the guys incredible. I mean, he really is. He’s incredible. Dak and I kind of laugh, because literally when we get the ball, it’s like, he’s like, 50. I’m like, yeah, 50. He’s like, that’s crazy. It’s like, yeah isn’t it. Oh yeah, OK, what play are we doing? So, he’s just, he’s amazing.”
On a favorite moment in this game
“I will say the interception by DaRon was really a powerful moment for our football team. How much time and effort we put into talking about all about the ball and winning the turnover battle. That was really cool to see. We have been talking about that for a couple weeks, Sydney, in terms of trying to manifest it to happen. And then, of course, when he got it, I actually was chuckling a little bit with badass Tyler. It was great to see. Because again it was like kind of the stamp on it, for all the things that those guys have done and going through. That was a cool moment.”
This story was originally published October 19, 2025 at 9:14 PM.
