Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones in Shock Over Playoff Loss: ‘Beyond My Comprehension’

Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 5, 2017. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Longtime Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was stunned after his team’s Jan. 14 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Mr. Jones said that the disappointing showing “seems like the most painful” one he’s had to endure since he purchased the Cowboys in 1989. The Cowboys lost 48-32 in a wild-card stunner in  Dallas.

“This is beyond my comprehension,” he added.

Mr. Jones elaborated that it “seems like the most painful because we all had such great expectations, and we had hope for this team.”  The Cowboys were the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

“I thought that we were aligned and in great shape, but it didn’t happen for us.”

Another reporter asked him about the Cowboys’ defense, which allowed the Packers to score on six of their first seven possessions.

“Didn’t see that coming at all,” Mr. Jones said. “If you had told me (before the game) that we had scored 32 points, I would have thought we had won.”

When asked about head coach Mike McCarthy’s future at the organization, “I haven’t thought one second,” he said.

Earlier this week, the team owner said that Mr. McCarthy is under contract for the 2024 season.

As for Mr. McCarthy, the coach also appeared stunned after the loss.

“I don’t think anyone saw this coming,” he said. “We didn’t get it done in any of the phases.”

“I think the biggest thing is we’re disappointed,” he replied when asked whether he thinks he will remain as the team’s head coach. “I got a whole team in the locker room that’s hurting. I haven’t thought past the outcome of this game.”

The Cowboys, who were 12-6 for the season after the Jan. 14 loss, have had three, consecutive 12-win seasons and playoff trips in four years under Mr. McCarthy.

He was hired to coach Dallas after 12 seasons in Green Bay because of his ability to get the Packers deep into the playoffs. In 2011, his Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

Now the Cowboys are looking at 29 years since the franchise’s last trip to the NFC championship game. It was in the 1995 season, when the Cowboys won their fifth Super Bowl title—the team’s third after Mr. Jones took over the team.

Quarterback Defends His Coach

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott defended Mr. McCarthy’s coaching after the game. The All-Pro quarterback threw two interceptions, including one that was run back for a touchdown by the Packers’ Darnell Savage in the second quarter.

“I’ve had the season that I’ve had because of him,” said Mr. Prescott of his coach.

“This team has had the success that they’ve had because of him. I understand it’s about winning the Super Bowl. That’s the standard of this league and [darn] sure the standard of this place. I get it, but add me to the list, in that case.”

“We had it all lined up three hours ago,” he added. “This is the last place that anybody in this organization, especially in our locker room, would have thought that we were going to be. That’s why I keep using the words ‘shocked’ or ‘stunned.’”

And regarding Mr. Prescott’s future with the team, Mr. Jones gave a similar answer.

“I really haven’t thought about this at all, so I won’t comment on it since I haven’t thought about it,” he told reporters.

“My complete thoughts for the last several weeks have totally been around anticipating and planning on advancing from this game to another game here at the stadium since we found out we were going to have this home field.”

Mr. Prescott is reportedly signed through the 2024 season and is slated to count about $59 million against the Cowboys salary cap.

Green Bay (10-8) will now visit the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers (12-5) in the NFC divisional round this coming weekend.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.