Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he likes the team’s current standing better than at this point in the previous two seasons, even as the club sits at 2-3 after five games in 2026.
Jones made the comments during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan. When asked what grade fans might give him for the team’s performance, he referenced the record directly.
“Our grade speaks for itself. We’re 2-3,” Jones said. “What I would tell you is, I like where we are today as opposed to this time last year or, frankly, this time the year before.”
The Cowboys opened the season with high expectations after adding pieces on both sides of the ball and hiring Christian Parker as defensive coordinator. Through five games they have alternated results: a loss to the New York Giants, a win over the Washington Commanders, a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a win at the Houston Texans and a home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dallas ranks third in the NFC East. The Giants hold the division lead at 3-1-1, while the Philadelphia Eagles also sit at 2-3. The Cowboys have scored 138 points, an average of 27.6 per game that ranks seventh in the NFL. They have allowed 136 points, or 27.2 per game.
The offense has leaned heavily on the passing game. Quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown for 1,381 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb (507 receiving yards) and George Pickens (355) have provided the bulk of the production. The ground game has been less effective, totaling 408 rushing yards at 3.8 yards per carry.
Defensively the numbers show clearer issues. Dallas has allowed 168.4 rushing yards per game, the highest figure in the league. The team is the only club in the NFL without an interception through five games. Opponents have completed passes at a high rate and controlled the line of scrimmage in several contests, including a 241-yard rushing effort by the Buccaneers in the most recent loss.
The organization responded by adding veteran coach Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant to support Parker. Pettine, who previously worked with Parker in Green Bay, will provide input on game plans and serve as an additional voice from the coaches’ box on game days.
Jones’ comparison to prior seasons comes after the Cowboys finished 7-9-1 in 2025 with one of the franchise’s worst defensive performances in points allowed. The year before that they also missed the playoffs. The owner has pointed to the current roster construction and staff as reasons for measured optimism beyond the early win-loss total.
The Cowboys next face the Green Bay Packers on the road Sunday night. The matchup offers an early test against a team that has started 3-2. Dallas holds a 1-10-1 mark in its last 12 meetings with Green Bay.
Consistency remains the immediate task. The club has shown it can score in bunches but has also surrendered large yardage totals and failed to force turnovers. With 12 regular-season games remaining, the margin for further inconsistency is limited if the team hopes to stay in the NFC playoff picture.
Jones has framed the early portion of the season as a period of evaluation rather than a final verdict. Whether that view holds will depend on how the defense responds to the recent staff addition and whether the offense can maintain its production against stronger opponents.
