Jerry Jones’ manic tantrums have Derrick Henry and Ravens written all over them

Derrick Henry has officially broken Jerry Jones, and subsequently the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys Introduce Head Coach Mike McCarthy
Dallas Cowboys Introduce Head Coach Mike McCarthy | Tom Pennington/GettyImages

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry’s Week 3 performance was a reality check for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.

As Baltimore left AT&T Stadium with a 28-25 victory, Henry’s 151 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 23 receiving yards weren’t just stats, they were a reminder of what Jerry let slip away.

This wasn’t just any free agent Dallas missed out on. Henry wanted to be a Cowboy.

He was open to playing in his hometown, but the front office didn’t even pick up the phone. Jones, sticking to his usual script, claimed Dallas “couldn’t afford” Henry, and the 30-year-old running back wasn’t a good “fit” in Mike McCarthy’s offense.

In classic Jerry fashion, he made excuses for a decision that now looks disastrous.

Derrick Henry broke Jerry Jones' confidence—and the Cowboys

Since joining the Ravens, Henry has led the league in rushing, racking up 873 yards in seven games - 410 more than the entire Cowboys roster. While Henry is running wild in Baltimore, the Cowboys are dead-last in rushing yards per game, averaging a dismal 77.2 yards per outing.

Jerry’s decision not only looks bad, it looks downright foolish.

Jones, never shy about addressing the media, explained his logic behind the Henry miss: “I don’t know if he’d be having a career year in our situation.” This is the kind of head-scratching excuse that only fuels the fire among Cowboys fans.

To make matters worse, Jones insisted salary cap management was the primary reason for not pursuing Henry: “He didn’t fit managing the cap.”

But the Ravens snagged Henry for a modest two-year, $16 million deal.

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky couldn’t resist calling out Jones after these comments, saying on Get Up, “If Derrick Henry doesn’t fit your offense, change your offense.”

And he’s right. You don’t pass on a generational talent because your scheme can’t accommodate him - you adjust the scheme to maximize his impact.

Jerry Jones' meltdown at the hands of Henry and the Ravens is hilarious

The Week 3 game against Baltimore was a meltdown moment. The Cowboys’ offensive woes can be traced back to that game, as it became painfully clear their rushing attack was going nowhere.

Dallas' inability to establish any ground game has left Dak Prescott facing heavy pressure week after week, and the offense has plummeted to the 20th-ranked scoring unit in the league.

But perhaps the most telling part of this saga is Jones’ stubbornness. Instead of admitting a misstep or showing some regret, Jerry doubled down with more excuses. It’s become clear Henry didn’t just break through the Cowboys’ defensive line, he broke Jerry’s confidence. He shattered any illusion the current roster and scheme were playoff-ready.

For Cowboys fans, Henry’s success in Baltimore has been a weekly gut punch. Each time Henry rips off another big run, it’s a reminder of what could have been.

Instead of having Henry, Dallas is stuck in a run game rut, relying on an aging Ezekiel Elliott and an unproven Rico Dowdle. Meanwhile, the Ravens boast the NFL’s most dominant ground attack. It’s a stark contrast impossible for Cowboys Nation to ignore. Derrick Henry didn’t just outplay Dallas, he unraveled their season. And as the Ravens keep winning, it’s only getting harder for Jerry to justify his decisions.

Derrick Henry fit everywhere else but Dallas, according to Jerry Jones. And that’s precisely why the Cowboys’ season is slipping away, one missed rushing yard at a time.

The truth is simple: Derrick Henry fits everywhere, including Dallas.

More Ravens news and analysis

Schedule