After a loss Sunday night to the Minnesota Vikings that all but evaporated any chance of the Dallas Cowboys making the playoffs, owner Jerry Jones has begun to finally voice some frustration around the makeup of the defense.
In the loss, the Cowboys allowed first-year Vikings starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy to throw for a career-high 250 yards, becoming the fourth quarterback to post a season-high total against the Dallas defense in 2025 (Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Caleb Williams). Two more have posted the second-highest totals of their respective seasons (Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts).
The criticism has circled around Cowboys first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus all season, but it seems as though the pressure is beginning to close in.
“We let their quarterback have a big day on us,” Jones said on his weekly radio interview on 105.3 The Fan. “That wasn’t the plan. We could have used more pressure, without question, at different times. The result was that we let [McCarthy] make some pretty significant plays out there. Plus, he played pretty well. It seems like we’re always saying that about these quarterbacks. Some of them hadn’t played as well, but when they play us, they play better. I think that’s telling, too.”
Jones has been in Eberflus’ corner for most of the season, crediting the defensive issues to the product of having three coordinators in as many seasons (Dan Quinn in 2023, Mike Zimmer in 2024, Eberflus in 2025). But after the recent struggles, the tune seems to be changing.
“Bottom line, I’d say we’ve been pretty off-balance,” Jones said. “Because of the way our defense has presented and the issues regarding our defense, which I didn’t expect.”
The front office has made it clear that there won’t be any changes made before the end of the season, even with postseason hopes all but gone. But with three games remaining to evaluate the personnel and staff in place, Jones said there will be a close eye on what happens against the Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders and New York Giants the rest of the way.
“I think that should be a big criteria,” he said. “Because these three games ... are important to us.”
In 2025, the Cowboys’ defense is 29th in the NFL in yards allowed per game (374.9) and 31st in the NFL in points allowed per game (30.0). While the run defense has improved since the bye week after the trade acquisitions of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson, along with the injury returns of rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, the overall run unit has reverted to the lower half of the league (18th, allowing 120.1 yards per game).
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.
