IRVING (AP) - Jason Garrett stood before the Dallas Cowboys on Monday and gave them their marching orders for the offseason. He encouraged them to watch the playoffs and to be frustrated over not being a part of it. He talked about things they can do to become a playoff team next year.

He sure sounded like a guy who plans to remain in charge.

Garrett has acted like a permanent coach since he became the interim leader two months ago. So the image he projected at the season-ending meeting was no surprise. However, team owner Jerry Jones even allowing Garrett to address the club could be the latest indication he will be returning.

Garrett certainly built a strong case, taking a club that had been 1-7 and going 5-3. The losses were by a total of seven points.

"The last eight games spoke for themselves," said linebacker Bradie James, a defensive captain. "That's why he was able to address us today. If they wouldn't have went the right way, he wouldn't have been up there. It would've just been Jerry."

League rules require Jones to interview a minority candidate. He is expected to meet with receivers coach Ray Sherman, who is black. He's talked about meeting with outside candidates, too. He also said he plans to keep the pool small and wants to decide soon. When asked Sunday about the new coach's involvement on hiring assistant coaches, Jones may have revealed his intentions by replying, "That is certainly something that Jason needs to have input in."

"We've always had the feel that he's our head coach since he's taken over," said third-string quarterback Stephen McGee, who led Dallas to a victory over Philadelphia on Sunday in his first career start. "It's never been a guy just filling in or a guy that's going to be temporary. He got everybody to buy in from the very beginning. ... I think everybody that's played for him believes in him and would love to play for him."

Jones spoke to the club Monday, too, and brought up his favorite subject: the Super Bowl.

Failing to make this one extends Dallas' drought to 15 straight seasons, the longest in franchise history. This failure hurts more because the game will be played in Cowboys Stadium.

"I encourage every teammate to watch it and let your stomach boil a little bit," tight end Jason Witten said. "That's what it's about, the playoffs and seeing those teams celebrate and go for the ultimate prize."

Jones was counting on the Cowboys becoming the first team to play in a Super Bowl at home. It seemed realistic coming off a division title and a playoff win.

But the season spun out of control early, forcing him to fire coach Wade Phillips midway through. He promoted Garrett from offensive coordinator for a two-month audition. All he was asked to do was make the team competitive again.

Witten recalled Monday how strong Garrett was from Day 1.

"He started from scratch," Witten said. "It wasn't, `Hey, we're 1-7, it wasn't our year. Let's finish this thing off.' It was, `Let's go win.' I think that mentality is something he's stressed, of giving it your best today and winning today to give you your best chance to win this weekend, on Sunday. That's the mentality he takes. He took it today -- `This is what we're going to do to give us our best chance to be successful in 2011.' I think when you have that mentality from your leader, it's easy for players and everybody else to go out and play and execute their best."

Witten wasn't surprised by Garrett's approach or his success after playing for him the last 3 1/2 years. But guys on defense hardly knew him.

He won them over quickly by setting out his demands and what would happen if they weren't met.

"He brought a lot of structure, a lot of organization and fire," James said. "Us older guys -- since I'm in the older category now -- definitely appreciated it because it set a standard. It was easy just to follow. He made everything black and white, and we played. We were in every game."

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)