Brian Schottenheimer clearly still has a lot to learn as an NFL head coach.
The Dallas Cowboys lost a 34-31 thriller to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in the NFL Rio Game. Dallas fell on a game-winning field goal by Ravens kicker Tyler Loop as time expired at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
TYLER LOOP WINS IT FOR THE RAVENS pic.twitter.com/fqMQ09xGYI
— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2026
Preceding Loop’s game-winner, the Cowboys had just tied the game on a field goal of their own by Brandon Aubrey with seven seconds remaining. But the Dallas head coach Schottenheimer made multiple questionable clock management decisions that unintentionally helped set up the Ravens’ game-winner in the first place.
First, Schottenheimer called timeout with 14 seconds remaining after a 2-yard run by Dak Prescott in a goal-to-go situation (instead of bleeding a few more seconds off the clock). Then thanks to Prescott airmailing a throw to the end zone on third down, there were still 10 ticks left when Aubrey came out for his kick.
Finally, Schottenheimer curiously decided to have his team kick the ball through the back of the end zone for an automatic touchback and a spotting at the 35-yard line (with no time coming off the clock). Because the Cowboys did not do a squib kick and force the Ravens to burn at least some time with a return, Baltimore had just enough time for a 27-yard completion and immediate timeout to stop the clock at one second for Loop’s game-winner.
Schottenheimer (deservedly) heard it from critics over social media. Many were baffled at how his clock (mis)management made it perfectly possible there for the Ravens to win the game in regulation.
why are you calling this timeout here with :14 left?? you only have 1 play??
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 27, 2026
let the clock tick, just absurd
next play was a quick incompletion that left :10 on the clock, just enough time for the Ravens https://t.co/JPjhHudBNL pic.twitter.com/GoIQVVaPEk
why are you kicking this out of the end zone, preserving the entire game clock?? https://t.co/i0LcPY4FMJ pic.twitter.com/c5l384Y0U9
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 27, 2026
I'm out on Brian Schottenheimer. You had a timeout and didn't run the ball. That game was over. He's an idiot
— Matthew J. Lenix (@StarConscience) September 27, 2026
Coaches with no head coaching experience don’t know how to handle clock management, end of game scenarios etc. and it shows.
— Open Run Sports (@OPRNsports) September 27, 2026
Fire Schotty
Embarrassing clock management. Burned their last timeout for no reason. Should be running it down close to zero and calling a timeout before the FG.
— Alex (@88Gump) September 28, 2026
Also why on earth do you kick the touchback? Run the clock, geniuses.
Schottenheimer, 52, is now 1-2 as the head coach of the Cowboys in what is shaping up to be another long year for Dallas fans. He was already an unpopular hire when he first got the job last winter and just gave his detractors a lot more ammo with his disaster-class in Week 3.
