The Dallas Cowboys’ defense is under the microscope, and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is responding with a major late-season shift. With Dallas clinging to slim playoff hopes, Eberflus announced Thursday that he will coach from the booth for the final three games of the season, a move designed to give the struggling unit a new perspective after months of defensive setbacks.
This change arrives just days after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made headline-grabbing remarks about defensive performance and coaching evaluation down the stretch. With jobs potentially hanging in the balance, the final weeks of the regular season may define the future of the Cowboys’ coaching staff and defensive philosophy.
Dallas defense in crisis, Eberflus under pressure
Eberflus spent the first 14 games calling plays from the sideline, but he has worked from the booth previously in his career. With Dallas ranking 31st in points allowed (30 per game) and 29th in total yards allowed (374.9 per game), change has become urgent.
Though the Cowboys added defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline, the results haven’t followed: the defense has surrendered 28 or more points in three straight games. The offseason trade that sent All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay still looms over the unit’s inconsistencies.
When asked on Tuesday, December 16th, on 105.3 The FAN whether Eberflus’ future depended on the final three games, Jones didn’t mince words:
I think that should be a big criteria because these three games are vital to us… how we play over these next few weeks will be a big criteria.
Jones added that health should no longer be an excuse, saying:
I think, really, we’re at one of the peaks of our healthiness right now.
Eberflus acknowledged those comments Thursday, embracing the scrutiny:
This is the NFL. Everybody is being evaluated throughout the whole league. That’s part of the job.
Eberflus spent two seasons as the Bears’ head coach and previously coordinated the Colts’ defense. He is in his first season with Dallas after replacing Mike Zimmer.
Cowboys’ coaching futures at stake
At 6-7-1, Dallas faces what analysts describe as “near impossible” odds to reach the postseason. The Cowboys must win out and hope Philadelphia loses its remaining schedule. Failure to make the playoffs will mark their second straight absence and fourth miss in five seasons, raising questions about staff stability.
The Cowboys face the 10-4 Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, beginning a stretch that may determine Eberflus’ fate and potentially shake up the defensive leadership heading into 2026.
Whether the booth shift sparks improvement remains to be seen, but Eberflus’s move signals urgency, and the final three games may serve as his evaluation tape. With Jones publicly stating evaluation criteria and the defense still leaking yardage and points, the stakes in Dallas stretch far beyond the scoreboard.
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