ARLINGTON, Texas — Jerry Jones knows this season’s failures are ultimately on him. As Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager, he is most responsible for a second consecutive non-winning season and missing the playoffs for the fourth time in the last seven years.

“From what we expected and what we thought, absolutely (we underachieved this season),” Jones said following Dallas’ latest loss, 34-17 to the Los Angeles Chargers at AT&T Stadium on Sunday. “We all underachieved, really. And the fact we’re not in the playoffs says that for you. But I thought we’ve done some things out there that, frankly, we can carry forward with us. It’s always the case that there’s some positive things.

“The question is: Can we make some changes where we need to? That’s pretty thorough and a lot of multiplication there with the way we played this year.”

It’s becoming more and more likely that one of those changes will be at defensive coordinator. The Cowboys again struggled to get pressure on the opposing quarterback. Justin Herbert entered the game tied for the league lead with 49 sacks. The Cowboys didn’t bring down the Chargers QB once.

Los Angeles also amassed a season-high 452 yards of offense, scoring touchdowns on all three of its first-half possessions. When the Dallas defense stepped up in the second half, holding the Chargers to two field goals and a punt on their first three possessions, the Cowboys offense that hummed in the first half completely stalled.

But the offense has been one of the NFL’s best all season. The defense has consistently been among the league’s worst. The last time Dallas was this bad defensively was 2020, Mike McCarthy’s first year as head coach. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan was fired after that season, his only one in Dallas.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer met with Matt Eberflus last week and determined that it would be best for him to move off the sideline and into the coaching box, which he did Sunday.

“I thought it was OK,” Schottenheimer said. “I thought it was fine. Again, I think we’ll watch the film and see how everything went. I know we need to get more pressure on (Herbert) and didn’t do a great job getting pressure on him.

“… Absolutely, we need to affect the passer. Especially when you’re playing tight man-to-man and there’s guys running across the field. You got to affect him and make him make some off-target throws. And we didn’t do a very good job of that today.”

Jones told reporters after the game that he would not make a defensive coordinator change with two games remaining. He will evaluate everything after the season. He also noted that he doesn’t necessarily consider it a “difficult” decision.

“It’s certainly something that we have to do,” Jones said, “and that is look at the entire year and look at what our options are and how to correct not being here at the same time next year.

“Now, that’s not uncommon to evaluate at this time of the year your entire coaching staff. And obviously the target’s on (Eberflus) because of our statistical as well as actual play on the defensive side of the ball. But that goes with it. That’s the life that the guys have chosen, and they know that you’re under the gun almost every game, much less for a full season as a coach. That goes with the profession.”

Jones said it’s completely fair to point the finger at him because he’s the one who hired Eberflus. In regards to potential future defensive coordinator candidates, if they decide to move in another direction, Jones said they have “accessibility to the greatest choices that you could have regarding coaches.”

“That doesn’t mean you can get them all, because they may be committed in other ways,” he added. “But one of the great things about where we are and what we got is we can get good coaches. That’s not crossed my mind, as far as the inability to effectively do something different if that’s what we decide.

“We’ve got a team that has a top future as far as next year’s concerned, when you look at starting with the offense, starting with Dak (Prescott) as we stand here today. And I think we got the bones of a heck of a defense out there as well.”

The Cowboys arrived at AT&T Stadium on Sunday morning already eliminated from playoff contention. That was decided on Saturday when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders to secure their second consecutive NFC East title.

That result also meant the Cowboys’ Super Bowl drought has officially extended to 30 years. Dallas hasn’t even advanced beyond the divisional round during that stretch. Certainly not something Jones would have expected when the Cowboys won three Super Bowls in his first seven years as the team’s owner and general manager.

“I’ll admit that the Cowboys management has played a big role (in that drought),” Jones said sarcastically. “But seriously, I’m very disappointed that the way we’re structured and my role puts us here tonight. I’m tremendously disappointed.”

Jones has no plans of giving up the GM title. He continues to say that he is not the same general manager he was in previous seasons and that he is constantly evolving. The results on the field clearly say otherwise.

He’ll have a busy offseason, which includes potential coaching staff changes, how to handle star wide receiver George Pickens’ contract situation and improving the roster in free agency and the draft.

“I really am better when I’m getting my ass kicked than I am when I’m having success,” Jones said. “And I will eat the cheese. When it’s not there and when you’ve got some hard things to do, then I do know how to change. And that’s frankly how I got here. For better or for worse, that’s how I got here.

“I’ve seen some of the decisions I’ve made work. I have seen them work. And I have seen us do some good things. And I have been a part of things that have worked. And I’ve seen them work in different areas. … We get one team that gets to go to that Super Bowl every year. Two that get to go to those (conference championship) playoff games. I’m looking forward next year to getting back in that championship game and maybe beyond. And then I’ll be right at the top of the list of how long it’s been since you’ve been to one. And that’s how you do it. Right at the top. And this will all go away.”

Prescott has been around Jones for 10 years. He said he has recently seen “a lot of fire” from the 83-year-old.

“Maybe as much here recently as I’ve seen,” Prescott said. “And whether it’s him against the clock (in life) and him knowing, which he’ll tell you that, or the deals and the things that we’ve done have been invigorating. You can tell he’s excited to help this team to make moves and do whatever he can in his power.”