The Dallas Cowboys watched their playoff hopes take another major hit after falling to the Detroit Lions, a game that exposed many of the defensive issues that plagued them earlier in the season. Dallas’ recent surge had created optimism, but the inconsistency returned at the worst possible time.

In Brian Schottenheimer’s first year at the helm, the Cowboys have battled uneven play and a roster that entered the season with obvious shortcomings. Schottenheimer didn’t exactly generate the same offseason buzz that bigger-name coaching candidates would have after Mike McCarthy’s exit, but within the building, his approval remains surprisingly strong.

Schottenheimer has injected energy into the franchise, yet the Cowboys’ roster flaws have been difficult to overcome. Dallas attempted to patch the defense with late-season additions before the trade deadline, but those efforts now look like they won’t be enough to salvage the team’s postseason hopes.

So where does that leave Schottenheimer heading into 2026? Despite the outside noise around the NFL coaching landscape, Cowboys fans should expect him to remain on the sideline in Dallas next season.

Despite Disappointing Season, Schottenheimer Is Safe From the Hot Seat

Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report recently released a league-wide coaching “temperature check,” and Schottenheimer landed in the “1st-Year Cool” tier — essentially the second-most secure category behind “Ice-Cold.”

“The Cowboys’ leadership has shown patience with head coaches going back to the Dave Campo days, and Schottenheimer likely earned additional security thanks to the team’s three-game winning streak after the bye, even with the latest loss to Detroit,” Gagnon wrote on December 5, 2025, in his piece, Hot Seat Check for Every NFL Head Coach.

For perspective, the coaches placed in the more pressured “Warm” or “Burning-Hot” groups included:
Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals), Raheem Morris (Falcons), Kevin Stefanski (Browns), Mike McDaniel (Dolphins), and Mike Tomlin (Steelers).

Dallas Now Has a 91% Chance of Missing the Playoffs

The Cowboys’ defeat at Detroit dropped their postseason odds to just 9% at 6-6-1, according to The Athletic’s projections. Even running the table in the final four games likely wouldn’t be enough to get Dallas into the playoffs — meaning the team is staring at a 91% probability of missing out.

The NFC’s strength — especially with the Philadelphia Eagles sitting at 8-4 atop the NFC East — has also complicated Dallas’ path. Still, quarterback Dak Prescott says the locker room is far from discouraged.

“These guys aren’t down; they’re angry,” Prescott told reporters after the loss, via ESPN. “We’ve just got to channel that the right way and use it as motivation.”

With postseason hopes nearly gone, the Cowboys may spend the rest of the season laying the groundwork for 2026. Schottenheimer, however, insists that the latest setback won’t derail the team’s progress.

“It’s a special group. They’re not going to let this define us,” Schottenheimer said on December 5, according to The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “We’ll regroup and get back to work.”