After seven weeks of lackluster defensive performances, the Dallas Cowboys finally delivered a dominant showing against a depleted Washington Commanders team over the weekend. While a win is a win, and you can only beat the team in front of you, the Cowboys’ suffocating performance left little room for the Commanders to maneuver. Washington’s 22 points included a safety and a late touchdown when the game was already out of reach, underscoring the Cowboys’ defensive control. However, this standout performance wasn’t enough to shift owner and general manager Jerry Jones’ perspective on defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
In his post-game comments, Jones pointedly credited head coach Brian Schottenheimer for the defensive turnaround, offering faint praise for Eberflus. “To some degree, we didn’t have no way to go but up on defense. But I didn’t expect this kind of performance from our defense. So, kudos to (DC Matt Eberflus) and certainly Brian Schottenheimer. He had a lot of fingerprints on this (Sunday),” Jones said, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. “He’s the head coach, obviously he calls the (offensive) plays, and there he is spending a lot of [last] week working with the defensive coordinator. That’s a coach. That is a coach right there.”
Jones’ remarks suggest Schottenheimer, who lacks a defensive background, was instrumental in pushing Eberflus to make critical adjustments. The 83-year-old billionaire doubled down, praising Schottenheimer’s work ethic while conspicuously sidestepping Eberflus: “This was a big day for Brian. A lot of people would say there’s not enough minutes to go around to cover all that ground. He’s so engaged and he’s so appreciative of his chance to be doing this that I believe he would spend 36 hours a day if he needed to, do a little work back in the equipment room (if needed). Give him a lot of credit here.”
Schottenheimer’s ability to identify and address defensive shortcomings deserves recognition, but Jones’ refusal to give Eberflus meaningful credit speaks volumes. The omission feels like a public vote of no confidence in the defensive coordinator. While Jones didn’t explicitly call for Eberflus’ dismissal, his comments paint a clear picture: he’s far from impressed, and Eberflus’ position appears increasingly precarious.
As the season progresses, Eberflus faces an uphill battle to win over Jones and prove his worth. With the Cowboys’ defense finally showing signs of life, the question remains whether this performance was a turning point or a fleeting bright spot. If Eberflus can’t sustain this momentum, Dallas may be searching for a new defensive coordinator for the third consecutive offseason. Time will tell if Eberflus can steer this ship to safety—or if it’s already sinking.