FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys went for it on fourth-and-inches on their own side of the field on the opening drive Sunday night, and coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday the decision was locked in days before kickoff. Dallas did not convert, and the New York Giants went on to win 28-20 at MetLife Stadium.
Schottenheimer said he arrived with a rule for the first possession.
“No, actually, it was one of those situations where I went into the game with this plan,” Schottenheimer said. “I was not going to put the defense out there in their very first drive on our side of the field. I just wasn’t going to do it. I wanted to make them have to go the long, hard road, and each week that’s going to be a little bit different. But I literally had that situation come up, and I don’t second guess that at all.”
The scenario had surfaced in a mock game call Sunday morning, and Schottenheimer said the discussion started the previous Friday with a member of his staff. What he did question was the execution around it.
“Tried to get them to jump,” Schottenheimer said. “If anything, the after action report for us was because it was close, we have abilities of changing tempos and going up on the ball and snapping it quick before it goes to replay assist. But in terms of the decision to do that, absolutely not.”
How Brian Schottenheimer Weighs Fourth Down
Asked to lay out the general framework, Schottenheimer started with field position and drew a line between himself and coaches who go for it by default.
“Well, area of the field, one. Two, what is the down and distance? I’m not cavalier,” Schottenheimer said. “I think there probably are some coaches that are cavalier that say fourth and six, fourth and five, fourth and seven, that they’re just going to go for it. I do trust our players’ side. I’m not saying I don’t, but I’m also a big believer in field position. This was a situation that was different because it was the first game of the year and I did not want to put the defense out there potentially. I did like the chance of trying to get them to jump, but they were disciplined enough to not jump off sides.”
Dallas went for it once on fourth down Sunday and did not convert.
“There’s a lot of things that go into it, but it’s very methodical. It’s very well thought out,” Schottenheimer said. “Sometimes it’s gut instincts as well.”
Brian Schottenheimer On The Play Call He Would Take Back
Schottenheimer volunteered that the sequence looked different to him on tape because of what happened on the snap before it. He said three Giants defenders were in the backfield on the game’s first run.
“Fourth and one, if I was playing that over and let’s say I hadn’t had that decision made up in my mind and the first run for the game there was three guys deep in the backfield, I might have thought about punting as well because they kind of controlled the line scrimmage on that first play call,” Schottenheimer said. “I hated that first play call, by the way. That was a shitty play call. There I go again, two days in a row. Sorry.”
Dallas rushed for 41 yards on 12 Javonte Williams carries. Dak Prescott completed 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and was not sacked.
Dallas hosts the Washington Commanders on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
