Jerry Jones on Cowboys' 3-4 start - 'Rougher go than I anticipated' - ESPN

FRISCO, Texas — Despite the free-agent losses, the lack of free-agent additions and the reliance on in-house improvement, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones never anticipated his team would be 3-4 after seven games.

Speaking on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Friday, Jones was asked about the play of right guard Zack Martin and right tackle Terence Steele, but took on a broader view of the roster.

«Well, I think we're having a rougher go than I anticipated. Let's put it like that. Let's don't couple that with just those two,» Jones said. «But having me in the loop has to be there. It is rougher and I did not anticipate the challenges that we're having with this team, but I am reminded of teams that I've seen that have had a lot of success and put themselves in position to take a shot and they were 3-4.»

The Cowboys take on the NFC South leading Atlanta Falcons (5-3) on Sunday as they start a four-week stretch against teams that are a combined 22-10 in the Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and Washington Commanders.

On Thursday, Dak Prescott called Sunday's game a must-win.

«Hell, I mean to me every game is but obviously I mean, 3-4, as I've said, a lot of season left, but the first start to be able to say that confidently is getting back even, especially, right, having a couple of home ones after that,» Prescott said.

Jones does not have to look far for reasons to the team's under .500 start.

«When I look at the whys that we're here, I really have a tough time getting past just sheer youth, sheer inexperience in the offensive line and I have a tough time getting past that turnover (ratio). I'm telling you when you look at that and knowing what turnovers will do for you, we've had through seven