Despite being out of the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys still have at least one aim going against the New York Giants in the season finale: avoid becoming the first defense in team history to allow 30 points per contest. The Cowboys’ defense has disappointed this season in every aspect under the new defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus. And now, it has boiled down to the team’s CEO and executive vice president, Stephen Jones, voicing discontent.

“We got to get an identity on the defensive side of the football. I don’t think we ever established what we were as a defense,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “We just got a lot of work to do on that side of the ball. I think everybody knows that. We’ll go all in. Whether it’s Coach (Matt) Eberflus or whoever it is, we have to create an identity.”

Dallas entered the 2025 season vying for a Super Bowl appearance after at least three decades. However, while the offense, under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, ranks fourth in points scored and first overall in yards, the defense hasn’t been nearly as good. And it is understandable why many have pointed fingers at Eberflus.

Although the former Chicago Bears head coach entered the Lone Star believing that the five-time Pro Bowler pass rusher Micah Parsons would lead the defense, his own failures cannot be ignored. For one, once Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers, Eberflus seemingly did not tweak his strategies to tailor the present group of personnel.

Eberflus’s inability to move away from his pre-set strategies became even more uncertain since acquiring three-time Pro Bowler, Kenny Clark, and four-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro, Quinnen Williams. Moreover, the reduced time Logan Wilson had did not help him in that position either.

Already, his fit in Dallas was questionable, but it only got worse when the numbers came out. Here are some facts to consider:

• After 17 weeks, the Cowboys rank 32nd in the passing defense, allowing a league-high 4,057 passing yards with 33 touchdowns
• They faltered in the rushing defense as well, with rivals scoring 23 rushing scores against them in 1,972 yards, second-highest in the league
• They are 31st in the league with only six interceptions
• The Cowboys’ defense is 31st in red zone defense, and
• They are 30th in third-down defense, takeaways, and yards.

But not everyone is standing against Eberflus. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has been critical of the defense this season. However, he also confessed last week on 105.3 The Fan, “It’s not all Eberflus. At all. That’s a teamwide breakdown for us to not play better defense than we have. It’s not an Eberflus breakdown, per se.”

America’s Team hoped to win a championship this year, but they failed to qualify for the playoffs. Wrong decisions played a critical role, forcing the defensive coordinator to speak out.

Matt Eberflus sets the facts straight over the 2025 challenges

Eberflus was candid and seemingly took shots at Jerry Jones for jeopardizing the defense by letting Micah Parsons go.

“Obviously, you had an All-Pro pass rusher that wins really quick,” Eberflus said. “That is going to help any defense. If it’s Micah or if it’s Myles Garrett. That impact player is always going to help. You can’t look back. It is what it is.”

Top Stories

NFL Makes Final Punishment Decision on Shedeur Sanders Incident in Week 17

Chiefs Coach Abruptly Leaves Andy Reid’s Staff Amid Titans’ Rumored Interest in Matt Nagy

Jerry Jones Finally Acknowledges the Dak Prescott Gamble Hasn’t Paid Off; Confirms Painful Changes Ahead for Cowboys

NFL Announces Double Punishment on Incidents Against Josh Allen’s Bills

Sources: John Harbaugh-Lamar Jackson Rift Growing as Ravens HC Could Exit in 2026; Plus Mike Tomlin Update

The coordinator may have been forced to speak out after the blame started mounting on him. Recently, the Cowboys also made another move when they released Trevon Diggs towards the end of the regular season, after a season of injuries and uncertainty. Just like Parsons, the Green Bay Packers signed Diggs as well.

During his previous seven-year Cowboys stint from 2011 to 2017, Matt Eberflus exceeded expectations. He guided the linebacker groups efficiently, including DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, to repeated success against the rivals. Everyone expected the same outcome this season.

Now, with rising concerns and shifting blame after another heartbreaking season, things may play out differently this time around.