FRISCO, Texas — Brian Schottenheimer wants AT&T Stadium loud Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys coach said Wednesday at The Star that the fans give Dallas a huge advantage, and that crowd noise matters more to the defense this week than simplifying the plan.
The Cowboys open their home schedule against the Washington Commanders after a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Dallas did not take an overly complicated plan into New York, Schottenheimer said.
“We’re aware for all contingency. I hope it’s really loud. Our fans are listening. I know they give us a huge advantage,” Schottenheimer said. “So crowd noise is a big thing. It becomes a lot of nonverbal. I mean, that’s real. So I think it’s more of that than simplifying.”
“I don’t think [we] went into the last game with an overly complicated plan,” Schottenheimer continued. “I just think at the end of the day, it was not our best day of operating and executing across the board. But in terms of simplifying, I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Brian Schottenheimer Expects Better Communication At AT&T Stadium
Dallas made defensive calls against New York but did not make or receive them every time, Schottenheimer said. The Cowboys signal their calls, and players should show with hand signals that a call has been received.
Schottenheimer said he did not lose sleep over the communication and that there will be challenges at home.
“You want me to say it again? I mean, disappointed. Yeah. I mean, we were disappointed,” Schottenheimer explained. “But am I sitting here saying we’re going to communicate poorly this week? No. We’re going to communicate better this week. And so did I see it coming? No, absolutely not. Do I think some of it was, like I said, guys getting caught, not sharing enough information or being loud enough and things like that? Absolutely.”
“But in terms of did I sleep last night because I’m worried about communication? No. I will be very surprised if we don’t communicate at a much higher level in this game,” Schottenheimer added. “But, again, there will be challenges to it, because we are playing at home with the noise and the fans cheering their heads off.”
New York converted 9 of 11 third downs and scored touchdowns on all four of its red-zone trips. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who wore the green dot in the opener, is working back from a hamstring strain.
Dallas Cowboys Home Opener Against Washington Commanders
Sunday is the second straight division game for Dallas. Some of the offensive adjustments Dallas made at halftime in New York were really good, Schottenheimer said, and so was some of the kickoff coverage.
“But all in all, we’re excited to get back to work today. And we’re excited to get another division opponent,” Schottenheimer said. “And it should be a great way of opening the season at home.”
Dallas beat Washington 44-22 at AT&T Stadium last October and won 30-23 on Christmas Day. Washington lost 24-22 at the Philadelphia Eagles in its opener, with Jayden Daniels throwing 2 touchdown passes. Both teams are 0-1.
FOX will carry the game, with Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady in the booth. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT. Dallas then faces the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27.
