SANTA CLARA, Calif. — There’s nothing subtle or quiet about the Dallas Cowboys, and on Sunday night, “America’s Team” nearly pulled off a surprise win against the San Francisco 49ers, with their time at Levi’s Stadium beginning and ending dramatically.

This time, the usually vocal Jerry Jones found himself caught off guard. Arriving in a three-SUV convoy, the 82-year-old team owner and his wife, Gene, passed through security uneventfully—until a sudden bang interrupted their entrance. A raised barricade struck the vehicle behind them, injuring their daughter, Charlotte, and son, Jerry Jr.

“It’s a safety device designed to stop a car,” Jones said, visibly shaken on the sidelines before the game. “Well, let me tell you — it works.”

Later, after a late-game comeback effort fell short and the Cowboys lost 30-24, cornerback Trevon Diggs confronted a Dallas TV reporter who had posted on social media questioning Diggs’ effort during a 43-yard catch by 49ers tight end George Kittle. As Diggs left, he responded to the reporter’s request for further discussion with, “Talk about deez nuts,” and didn’t return for media interviews.

With the Cowboys, it’s all football — except when it isn’t.

Otherwise, it was a routine night for a team known for its drama and falling expectations. With kicker Brandon Aubrey juggling jury duty in a felony case, speculation about Mike McCarthy’s job security, and Dak Prescott’s two interceptions before millions of viewers, the Cowboys have plenty of issues to address.

Seven games into a season that Jones labeled as “all in,” Dallas sits at 3-4, yet the tension feels like it’s 3-and-400.

“We’re the most visible team in sports,” said veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott after the game. “This comes with the territory. We’ve just got to tune it out.”

That won’t be simple. Recently, Jones made headlines for threatening local radio hosts who didn’t shy away from criticism during his regular appearances on their show. After smoothing things over, he attributed the Cowboys’ offensive struggles to “bad plays” or “poorly designed concepts” by McCarthy’s team.

McCarthy, who led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl win at the Cowboys’ stadium, has posted 12-5 records for three seasons but faces an uphill battle in 2024. The Cowboys’ struggles are stark: they hold the league’s worst rushing offense and, along with the Carolina Panthers, allow more rushing yards per game than anyone. Add in their third-worst turnover ratio, and a quick turnaround looks daunting.

“We’re green,” McCarthy said as he headed toward the team buses. “We have young players and veterans adjusting, so our continuity isn’t there. It’s affecting both our run defense and offense. We can’t play wide open yet; we need to grind it out.”

Sunday’s first half against the 49ers (4-4) held promise, as Dallas led 10-6 at halftime despite missing key defenders Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. But the third quarter proved costly, with San Francisco scoring three touchdowns to go up 27-10, recalling last October’s blowout.

This time, Dallas rallied, with Prescott finding CeeDee Lamb for two fourth-quarter touchdowns that showcased McCarthy’s effective play design. “He was schemed open on both,” Prescott said. Lamb’s standout moments served as a response to recent critiques by Cowboys legend Troy Aikman.

Following Lamb’s second touchdown, Aubrey’s extra point closed the gap to 30-24, keeping the Cowboys in contention. The kicker, however, had missed practice to attend jury duty, where he was selected for a felony trial. Undeterred, he trained solo in the evenings, even kicking in the dark when high school games occupied the main field.

Had the Cowboys completed their comeback, it could have erased their frustrations. Instead, after regaining possession with 3:05 to go, Prescott’s four consecutive incompletions dashed their hopes.

Afterward, Prescott and Elliott sounded determined, expressing belief in the team’s resilience. “It’s a tough league and a tough business,” said Prescott. “We’ve overcome worse.”

Elliott added, “We’ve got strong leaders, and I’d go to battle with Dak any day. Things could look different in a month.”

That shift may be unlikely, given their next four games are against teams with winning records. Following a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions two weeks ago, McCarthy urged his team to stay united amid outside criticism. But as Diggs’ confrontation with the reporter demonstrated, it’s easier said than done.

“I have a bad feeling this could be one of those years,” a Cowboys executive commented.

Sometimes, barriers — both literal and figurative — are simply too great to overcome. Jones, while absent from postgame interviews, likely won’t forget his turbulent visit to Levi’s Stadium anytime soon. Medical personnel checked out Charlotte and Jerry Jr., who were able to watch from the suite, though they may have sustained rib fractures and a possible concussion.

The incident added a surreal tone to an already challenging season, and when players learned what had happened, they struggled to process it.

“Unreal,” Prescott said, shaking his head in disbelief. “The Cowboys just can’t catch a break.”tt said as he sat at his locker, shaking his head. “The Cowboys can’t catch a break.”