It isn’t every day that a birthday message sounds more like a reality check. When the Dallas Cowboys slumped to the Carolina Panthers in Week 6, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones got a present wrapped in regret. The kind of gift you don’t ask for, but you remember. Dallas was banking on fireworks from its offense, hoping scoring would hide defensive flaws. It didn’t. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith took this opportunity to put it all on Jerry live on air.

“Jerry was hoping that Dak Prescott and the offense was going to be so prolific that he would win games scoring 30+ and that would offset what they aren’t defensively,” said Smith. “As his Libra buddy, I’ve tried to tell him this on several occasions… You’ve got to value these moments… you’ve got to go all-in. He should have kept Micah [Parsons]. You still have [George] Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. You should have kept Rico Dowdle for the extra $3 million cause he went to Carolina on a 1-year $6 million… the bottom line was Dowdle was Dowdle and one year at $6 million, just $3million is why you lost yesterday to a brother who dropped those numbers on you after telling you to buckle up. This is not a good birthday for Jerry Jones. But happy birthday anyway.” Smith’s sarcasm, mixed with the stinging truth, outlined the disaster Dallas faced in Week 6.

Their former running back, Rico Dowdle, issued a strong challenge ahead of the game and followed through on it by decimating the defense. Dowdle’s unstoppable 239-yard campaign tore through Dallas and even brought in a touchdown. Post-game, Dowdle had just one thing to say to his former team: “They weren’t buckled up.” Shipping Dowdle off to Carolina was only the latest roster move that’s come back to haunt Jerry Jones.

One year, $6.25 million, most of it coming through performance-based incentives, that’s all Carolina needed to unleash their new running back. If Jerry was trying to save a few bills, it ultimately cost him the game, and Smith highlighted this with no hesitation.

Week 6 was another déjà vu for the Cowboys Nation, watching franchise quarterback Dak Prescott play on an MVP level, wideout George Pickens taking up the WR1 role in style. But the defense has kept on lagging, allowing close games to slip away. This season, there’s no clear sign that saving dollars in depth is paying off. And even the energy around Jerry Jones has felt off these days.

Jones is used to being the voice of the franchise, taking the heat when things go sideways, offering optimism in the face of defeat. But after displaying immense confidence ahead of Week 6, when the final whistle rang, Jerry broke that tradition.

Jerry Jones’ regrets and media silence

Jerry was fined a whopping $250,000 for his obscene gesture directed at the crowd when Dak Prescott got Dallas their 4th touchdown of the game against the New York Jets in Week 5. Jones had clarified that it had been a mistake, and even joked later on that he had taped his fingers to not repeat that mistake. When in Charlotte for Week 6, he confidently waved at the crowds and gave them a thumbs-up pre-game. He also fired off a sarcastic sound bite at Rico Dowdle’s challenge, noting: “I can’t even get our guys to come to the field–they’re shaking so bad.” But that 30-27 close defeat left a bitter taste.

Jones broke an age-old tradition post-game. For years, he’s been the post-game spokesman, giving quotes and spinning the story, handling the pressure. Not this time. After that Week 6 loss, he was nowhere to be seen. Not a word for reporters. Not a sound for his birthday. And that silence spoke louder than any catchphrase. Was he just frustrated? Or was he pondering another shakeup following all the firing calls that were mounting against his defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, on social media? The team, however, seems firmly rooted behind Eberflus.

As head coach, Brian Schottenheimer had noted, “I’ve been a coordinator. I’ve been where people are calling you out, saying you don’t know how to coach. He’s a damn good football coach. We’re gonna ride this thing out, and we’ll play better.” Still, the silence from Jerry Jones rang louder than anything.

Maybe the next moves aren’t just about roster swaps or soundbites. Maybe they’re about leadership. For the Cowboys, questions pile up about tactics and next steps. The thing to watch now? What Jerry Jones is planning for the Cowboys’ future post Week 6.