It’s been a roller-coaster ride since the Cowboys’ bye week. After three weeks of raised hopes and expectations, it’s come crashing down after two ugly losses. This is a team struggling for answers, so it’s a good time to look at some of the bigger questions. While the Chargers are still on deck for Sunday, […] It’s been a roller-coaster ride since the Cowboys’ bye week. After three weeks of raised hopes and expectations, it’s come crashing down after two ugly losses. This is a team struggling for answers, so it’s a good time to look at some of the bigger questions. While the Chargers are still on deck for Sunday, and the Commanders and Giants scheduled for the final two games, many of us are on to 2026. There are valuables to mine out of these final three games, especially if some backups get more playing time. But while we’re curious about what Joe Milton might do with more reps, the next offseason is of far greater concern. So, in full acknowledgment of where this season is, our questions focus on the big picture. Is this coaching staff in trouble? Some of it certainly should be. The defense is a well-documented disaster, and only so much of that can be blamed on the Micah Parsons trade. Perhaps the greatest irony is that it’s Dallas’ linebackers, the position that Matt Eberflus came up coaching, who are the biggest liability. But the defensive backs aren’t much better; all of them being put in difficult positions because of a seemingly bad scheme fit. There’s no question that the Cowboys’ lack of defensive talent, especially after injuries, has limited some of Eberflus’ ability to succeed. But Detroit and Minnesota made it clear that Quinnen Williams, while still a great addition, far from solved Dallas’ problems. They need more across the board, especially at the second and third levels, to contend. Special teams also needs a long, hard look. The Cowboys have looked far worse in coverage and in their own return game since Nick Sorensen’s arrival. Granted, John Fassel is a tough act for anyone to follow. But Sorensen was a relationship hire for Brian Schottenheimer, having worked together in Seattle and Jacksonville. It’s a black mark for Schotty that he may have to erase this offseason. That’s assuming Schottenheimer returns in 2026, of course, but it seems highly likely. The offense, while not perfect, is what’s worked best this season. His relationship with Dak Prescott is strong. Given how glaring the issues have been elsewhere, Dallas’ front office will give Schottenheimer a chance to keep growing into the role while strengthening the other components. What’s up with Trevon Diggs? Your guess is as good as ours. There’s obviously some disconnect between the player and the decision makers, but what it really comes down to is hard to say. They’re quick to bring up the medical side of things, but it feels like there’s more beneath the surface. Here’s what we do know. In 2026, Diggs is scheduled to count over $18 million against the salary cap with only a little under $6 million left in dead money. That means Dallas can release him outright for about $12.5 in cap savings, even without using the June 1st provision. If they intend to swing for the fences this offseason, that is a big chunk of change to add back to the coffers. With Bland locked up and Shavon Revel poised for more responsibility next year, it’s not hard to imagine a future without Diggs. It was a thought even before the season started, and all of the junk since just seems to be making it inevitable. And it may be just that simple; Dallas intends to release Diggs in a few months and doesn’t want to risk any kind of injury now that could get in the way or cost them more money. Who else is on the chopping block? It’s hard to say on defense. If they do give Eberflus the boot, then it may depend on the next guy and the scheme he’s bringing in. But regardless, it’s hard to imagine Kenneth Murray getting a new deal. We could also see some turnover at safety with Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson turning 30 and 31, respectively. The key on defense will be adding more talent via free agency and the draft, and finding the right coaches to do the cooking. On offense, the glaring need for change is at right tackle. Terence Steele is a perennial liability in pass protection. Yes, he’s a good run blocker and has a modest contract. But just about every team has at least one great pass rusher, and that guy consistently has success lining up across from Steele. If they do move on from Steele, it creates some flexibility in the replacement strategy. Tyler Guyton played right tackle in college, so maybe you move him over there and find a new guy on the left side. Guyton was showing improvement this year, but maybe not enough to remain Dak Prescott’s blind side protector? If they want to keep working with Guyton at left, the good news is that it’s easier to find a new right tackle. It may even be a fit for current prospect Nathan Thomas. See More: Dallas Cowboys analysis

Dak Prescott and starters will remain in for Cowboys even if playoff hopes die – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram The Cowboys won’t pull their main players no matter the outcome for the remainder of the season. As the Dallas Cowboys cling to the smallest of playoff hopes (less than one-percent odds after Sunday’s loss […] Dak Prescott and starters will remain in for Cowboys even if playoff hopes die – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram The Cowboys won’t pull their main players no matter the outcome for the remainder of the season. As the Dallas Cowboys cling to the smallest of playoff hopes (less than one-percent odds after Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings), head coach Brian Schottenheimer is not planning on making any major changes to the lineup with three games left in the season. While some teams tend to lean into personnel changes to evaluate the full roster when already eliminated from playoff contention, Schottenheimer said doing so would deviate from the team mantra all season: compete every day. Even though losing games would benefit draft positioning, Schottenheimer wants to do everything possible to win the team’s final three games. “It doesn’t change,” Schottenheimer said on Wednesday. “We get judged on winning and losing, and we haven’t won enough games. Doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be things when we look back that we’re like, ‘Hey, we’ve built this and this is great. We really upgraded this position.’” “I’m going to stay in the moment. I’m going to be all about the Chargers. After we go and play the Chargers, and hopefully win, I’m going to be all about the Commanders and then the Giants and see what happens. We’ll take a broader, bigger picture at that point.” Cowboys WR George Pickens on recent criticism: ‘It’s starting to get kinda old’ – Jon Machota, The Athletic George Pickens fires back at recent comments concerning his effort. FRISCO, Texas — George Pickens didn’t talk with reporters last week leading into the Dallas Cowboys’ Sunday night game against the Minnesota Vikings. The star wide receiver didn’t talk after the game, either. Pickens did speak outside of the locker room after Wednesday’s practice at The Star. The criticism he received for his lack of effort in Dallas’ Week 14 loss at Detroit is something he is trying to move past. “I’m kind of more focused on the Chargers, honestly,” he said of the team’s Sunday opponent. “Everybody has a job to do. Some people’s job is to do that, tear down character, see how many clicks they can get. I’m just here to play football and help the team.” But while responding to a follow-up question, Pickens added: “It’s starting to get kinda old, honestly.” Pickens averaged 95 receiving yards per game and scored eight touchdowns over the first 12 games of the season. During the last two, he has no touchdowns and averaged 35 yards per game. Pickens said that drop-off in production can be attributed to him seeing more double coverage. “Just keeping a guy inside and keeping a guy outside,” he explained, “or keeping a guy over the top and having a guy underneath, just on one side of the field, which is a huge product of CeeDee (Lamb) is going crazy, (Ryan Flournoy) is going crazy. I’m super proud of them guys.” Pickens is playing in the final year of his rookie contract, but the Cowboys have no plans of letting him leave. They will either work out a long-term deal or use the franchise tag. The Cowboys are pretty banged up heading into Week 16. FRISCO — The Cowboys had a lengthy injury report for Wednesday’s practice that included two significant new additions. Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb missed practice due to illness, while cornerback DaRon Bland missed practice with a foot injury, according to the team report. There were two expected absences, as well. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and fullback Hunter Luepke are still in concussion protocol. Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton also missed practice as he continues to work back from an ankle injury he suffered on Nov. 23 in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s missed each of the last three games. Second-year tackle Nate Thomas has started in place of Guyton, though he didn’t play the full game in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Thomas suffered a shoulder injury, forcing veteran Hakeem Adeniji into action. Thomas was a full participant in Wednesday’s padded practice. Cowboys corner Trevon Diggs was a limited participant due to a knee injury designation which was one of the reasons he was originally placed on injured reserve. There’s a lot of attention on Diggs, a former All-Pro corner for the Cowboys, as the deadline for him to be activated this season nears. If Diggs isn’t activated by Saturday he’ll revert back to injured reserve for the rest of the season. 6 players Cowboys must evaluate in final 3 games including playmaking QB, RB – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire Dallas should take the last several weeks to get some good film on some of their younger players. QB Joe Milton The Cowboys have one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Dak Prescott. The issue is that Prescott hasn’t been able to stay healthy for two seasons in a row since the 2018 and 2019 seasons. When he plays, he’s one of the best in the league, flirting with MVP consideration. When he doesn’t, the team tanks. This past offseason, Dallas traded a late-round pick in hopes of finding a young, athletic backup when they acquired second-year man Joe Milton from the New England Patriots. He didn’t look good initially in the preseason, but Joe Milton’s stock went up based on the final 2025 preseason performance. It’s time to let Milton play and find out what they have in him. Chances are, the backup is going to be called upon for several games next season, and the staff needs to know what they have in the

The Dallas Cowboys are at home once again this week and this time playing host to the Los Angeles Chargers. They are still in search of their first win since Thanksgiving Day, putting themselves in an even more intense bind relative to their playoff aspirations. In order for the Cowboys to reach the playoffs they […] The Dallas Cowboys are at home once again this week and this time playing host to the Los Angeles Chargers. They are still in search of their first win since Thanksgiving Day, putting themselves in an even more intense bind relative to their playoff aspirations. In order for the Cowboys to reach the playoffs they must win out and have the Philadelphia Eagles lose out. This would give Dallas the NFC East title which is their only possible entry at this juncture. Unfortunately, the Eagles play the Washington Commanders on Saturday so the Cowboys could be eliminated before their own game even begins. If the game carries meaning then Dallas will have their work cut out for them. Brian Schottenheimer, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Quinnen Williams, and all of the rest are going to have to simply find a way against a very good Chargers team. The Chargers are likely headed to the playoffs and don’t exactly need this game. The AFC West is out of reach for them in all likelihood, but they are very likely to earn a Wild Card spot. Still, Justin Herbert and Co. will be no easy task. This post will serve as our story stream for it all. Let’s see what happens on Sunday.

Reality is starting to set in. After the Dallas Cowboys lost yet another home game to a lesser opponent, the Cowboys are starting to realize that their window to make the postseason in 2025 is closing. The franchise still has to evaluate their roster over the final three games of the season, regardless of whether […] Reality is starting to set in. After the Dallas Cowboys lost yet another home game to a lesser opponent, the Cowboys are starting to realize that their window to make the postseason in 2025 is closing. The franchise still has to evaluate their roster over the final three games of the season, regardless of whether they make the playoffs or not. Here’s the latest news on the team’s health entering Week 16 against the Los Angeles Chargers. To start, the Cowboys opened the 21-day practice window for multiple players today. Josh Butler (knee), Phil Mafah (shoulder), and Payton Turner (ribs) returned to practice after stints on injured reserve. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) was also at practice in position drills. All three were listed officially as limited on Wednesday. Still recovering from a high-ankle sprain, offensive Tyler Guyton (ankle) was with the rehab group and didn’t work into team activities, earning a DNP on today’s report. Also, not practicing today was CeeDee Lamb, who was sidelined with an illness, as well as cornerback DaRon Bland who sat out with a foot injury. Finally, Hunter Leupke and Quinnen Williams didn’t participate in today’s practice as they are both in the league’s concussion protocol. See More: Dallas Cowboys Injuries

Each week we dive into each team’s rookie class and compare how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com) Dallas Cowboys Tyler Booker (OG) First Round Booker’s Week 15 tape against Minnesota looked as though he was a stabilizing force. In pass protection, […] Each week we dive into each team’s rookie class and compare how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com) Dallas Cowboys Tyler Booker (OG) First Round Booker’s Week 15 tape against Minnesota looked as though he was a stabilizing force. In pass protection, the simplest stat tells the story: Dallas surrendered two sacks, but none were credited to Booker. As a run blocker, Booker had a tougher assignment but held up. Dallas still ran it 30 times for 138 yards, so there were lanes to be had, but a lot of those yards came through persistence rather than consistent movement at the point of attack. On the win-rate board, Booker shows up as a legit run-game piece. He’s sitting at a 75% Run Block Win Rate, good enough to land in the top-10 among interior linemen on their leaderboard. Now the Chargers matchup is where the temperature rises, because this is a defense that hunts quarterbacks even when it doesn’t look pretty doing it. Los Angeles is at a 38% team Pass Rush Win Rate, and the production is real, the Chargers have piled up 40 sacks, sixth-most in the league. The Chargers defense is also running a 36.2% pressure rate generated, so the heat is steady. Grade: 71.5 Donovan Ezeiraku (DE) Second Round Ezeiruaku comes into the Chargers game looking like one of the better young edge defenders in the league, even if the box score doesn’t scream star yet. Through Week 15 he’s sitting on 36 total tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble, and nine tackles for loss. PFF has his grade at 76.9 overall grade (22nd among all edges) with a solid pass-rush grade pretty 69.3 (4th among rookie edge defenders). Since Week 5, when Ezeiruaku really started to find his feet, he’s posted a 14.7% pass-rush win rate, best among rookie edges in that time. Now for Dallas as a unit. The Cowboys front is sixth in run-stop win rate (32%) and 12th in pass-rush win rate (39%). So even though the sack total is modest, the underlying win-rate data say Ezeiruaku is winning a lot of one-on-ones, affecting the pocket and holding up well on early downs. The matchup with the Chargers is a classic above average pass rush versus a very shaky protection game. Offensively, L.A. is productive, they’re averaging 357.8 yards per game (11th) and 22.5 points per game (19th). Justin Herbert has thrown for 3,191 yards and 23 touchdowns (5th-most), with 12 interceptions (3rd-most), while also adding 419 rushing yards. But he’s been hit a ton. Officially Herbert has been sacked 49 times, most in the NFL, and that’s six more than the guy at second-most. On the ground, the main backs are Kimani Vidal with 147 carries, 620 yards, three TDs, and Omarion Hampton back from injury with 94 carries for 431 yards and two TDs. So Ezeiruaku has to respect the run game and Herbert’s scrambling, not just pin his ears back. The real opening for Ezeiruaku is in the trenches where the win-rate rankings have the Chargers all the way down at 32nd in pass-block win rate (54%) and 31st in run-block win rate (69%), meaning this Chragers line loses a lot of reps up front even though the offense still moves the ball. Jamaree Salyer, who’s moved from guard to left tackle, is their steadiest lineman in pass protection, but his pass-block grade is only at 67.7, giving up four sacks this year and 19 pressures. Trevor Penning has had his struggles this year, but Zion Johnson now holds the left guard position and has given up three sacks this season. Mekhi Becton leads the team in total pressures allowed and hasn’t had a clean game all year. All of that sets up nicely for Ezeiruaku where he can use his spike in pass-rush win rate and strong run-stop ability against a Herbert-led offense that can score but is last in the league in the very protection metrics he’s built to exploit. Grade: 76.9 Shavon Revel Jr. (CB) Revel comes into the Chargers game still very much learning on the job. On paper his cornerback stats are light as he’s sitting on 20 total tackles, with zero interceptions and just one pass defensed so far, but let’s be fair, he’s only played five games this season. PFF has him graded at 35.7 overall with not enough snaps to qualify among full-time corners, which basically says the tape is mixed and the sample is still small. Against the Chargers, he’s walking into a very real challenge in coverage. Justin Herbert is throwing at a high rate and is still one of the league’s more aggressive downfield passers even behind a battered line. His main targets are Ladd McConkey (61 catches, 715 yards, five TDs), Keenan Allen (68 for 680 and four TDs), and Quentin Johnston who has a team-high of seven TDs. This gives the Chargers a mix of receivers with Allen as the route-running technician, a shifty separator in McConkey, and a vertical/YAC threat with Johnston. With the constant unrelenting pressure Herbert is under, routes can break down into scramble drills, which is tough for any corner, but the ball also has to come out on time, giving a long press corner like Revel chances to disrupt timing if his technique is clean. So the asks for Revel are clear, tackle in space when Herbert checks down, stay disciplined versus double moves from savvy vets like Allen and speed guys like McConkey, and avoid the penalties and missed tackles that have dinged his early game tape.

The tide is turning, though not in a good way. The Cowboys’ latest loss has all but eliminated them from the postseason. The Vikings had been eliminated hours before kickoff, but it didn’t stop them from winning in Dallas. The worst part is that J.J. McCarthy, the de facto rookie quarterback who has struggled mightily […] The tide is turning, though not in a good way. The Cowboys’ latest loss has all but eliminated them from the postseason. The Vikings had been eliminated hours before kickoff, but it didn’t stop them from winning in Dallas. The worst part is that J.J. McCarthy, the de facto rookie quarterback who has struggled mightily this year, had his best game yet. It’s once again put all the pressure back on defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and, in some ways, added some pressure to Brian Schottenheimer. A month ago, Schottenheimer doubled down on his coordinator, and he briefly looked like a genius for it. The defense appeared to be genuinely turning a corner after the trade deadline, and Eberflus had made some necessary changes to assist in that regard. Last week’s loss to the Lions was forgivable, albeit still frustrating. Detroit has been an offensive powerhouse and the Cowboys looked tired after playing three games in 12 days. But a bounce back was expected, especially against Minnesota. Instead, they rolled over, and Eberflus reverted back to his worst, timid tendencies when push came to shove. Schottenheimer still isn’t firing any coaches, or hinting that he might, but his tune has changed. After Jerry Jones came dangerously close to saying he wanted to make a change, Schottenheimer more or less echoed his sentiment of needing to prove it over the final few weeks of the season. Eberflus has completely run out of excuses at this point. He was lacking talent early on, but not anymore. Quinnen Williams has been as advertised, DeMarvion Overshown looks better each week, and Shavon Revel flashes potential the more he plays. The edge rushers have all gotten better in recent weeks, and Donovan Wilson has made strides as well. Even DaRon Bland recovered from his rough night in Detroit to hold Justin Jefferson to just one catch. Eberflus was also running into the issue of his scheme not fitting his players well. Even after the influx of talent, it wasn’t much of a fit. He tweaked some things – blitzing more, using more press man coverage, and adopting five-man fronts to get the most out of his stacked defensive tackle room – and they started to work. Then, for some reason, he went away from it all against the Lions. And, for reasons that make even less sense, he continued to go away from it against the Vikings, a game where the season was on the line. The stubbornness of Eberflus to do what it takes to win with what he has amounts to a fireable offense. Perhaps the most concerning part about this defense is how it’s performed against the NFC North. Of course, Eberflus spent the past three seasons in that division as the Bears head coach. For most of the last two seasons, he called plays on defense, too. There’s no group of teams Eberflus knows better than the Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings. Yet the Cowboys went 0-3-1 against them; every single one of them topped 31 points, with two of them dropping 40-burgers. To put it in further perspective, the Cowboys defense is averaging 0.145 EPA/play allowed for the season. That’s 30th in the NFL, just slightly ahead of the Commanders and Bengals. But against teams in the NFC North, Dallas is allowing 0.277 EPA/play. They’re nearly twice as bad against the teams Eberflus knows best. There’s simply no excuse for that, and Schottenheimer knows it. He was caught delivering a fiery (and, perhaps, not safe for work) criticism in the direction of Eberflus after burning a timeout against the Vikings when the defense was visibly confused on the play call. Schottenheimer isn’t the kind of person to publicly degrade one of his assistants, but there seems to be hints that his patience is nearly out. The Cowboys have been in this spot before. Mike McCarthy’s first year on the job brought with it the Mike Nolan Experience, and that ended after just one year. That was a bit of a stunner, because McCarthy and Nolan went way back in their relationship; it was certainly not easy for McCarthy to fire Nolan, but he did. Schottenheimer has no such ties to Eberflus, as the two had never been part of the same staff before this year. That may suggest whose idea it was to bring Eberflus back to Dallas, but whether or not that’s true, it doesn’t change what must be done from here. Another point that feels worth mentioning: the Mike Nolan Experience was also the last time Micah Parsons didn’t play for the Cowboys. While Eberflus deserves plenty of blame, and Schottenheimer must absolutely do what needs to be done, the current state of this Dallas defense goes way beyond X’s and O’s. See More: Dallas Cowboys coaching staff

There’s not much left to root for in the Dallas Cowboys 2025 season. Sure, there is the mathematical possibility of making the playoffs, but the reality is that the season is effectively over and Cowboys Nation turns its lonely eyes to the draft and… free agency? Well, at least the draft part. We’re going to […] There’s not much left to root for in the Dallas Cowboys 2025 season. Sure, there is the mathematical possibility of making the playoffs, but the reality is that the season is effectively over and Cowboys Nation turns its lonely eyes to the draft and… free agency? Well, at least the draft part. We’re going to ask you if you are confident in the direction of the team. Most weeks we ask this, it’s just a reflection of how the team is doing in that week. Wins create a rise in confidence, losses create a dip. But now, with so little left in the 2025 season, let’s look ahead. The Cowboys offense is solid. The core is there, even if there are decisions to be made about George Pickens, Javonte Williams, and the issues out at the tackle positions. It’s the defense where things break down. And special teams. It feels like the Cowboys need to do some firing in those phases of the team and renew themselves. There is also the fact that they have two first-round picks in the draft, and they have Quinnen Williams, who is a stud. One impediment to optimism is always Jerry and Stephen Jones. They seem determined to sabotage themselves every time things get going in a positive way. Anyway, looking ahead, are you confident the Cowboys are headed in the right direction, or has another season without the playoffs soured you on anything that is in the Cowboys’ future? Vote in the poll then hit the comments. Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cowboys fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. See More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

The Matt Eberflus experiment with the Dallas Cowboys sounds like it’s reaching a crossroads moment to end the season. During his weekly interview with Shan & RJ of 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was particularly blunt with how disappointed he’s been with the defense this season. Ever since Week 2, when the Cowboys […] The Matt Eberflus experiment with the Dallas Cowboys sounds like it’s reaching a crossroads moment to end the season. During his weekly interview with Shan & RJ of 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was particularly blunt with how disappointed he’s been with the defense this season. Ever since Week 2, when the Cowboys welcomed the New York Giants to AT&T Stadium, almost every team Dallas has faced has been a “get right game” for their offense. When Eberflus came in to replace Mike Zimmer, the Jones’ were hoping they were getting the same hot-name coach who left the team after the 2017 season to become the defensive coordinator in Indianapolis with the Colts. Eberflus went on to have enough success with the Colts to land him a head coaching job with the Chicago Bears. In his nearly three years with the Bears, his defenses were hit-or-miss, but for the most part were not the weakest part of the operation—that fell on the shoulders of the offense, and his lack of experience as a game manager in big-game moments. It felt like a natural transition to hand the keys over to a coordinator who was familiar with Dallas and lend a helping hand to a first-time head coach, Brian Schottenheimer. However, for a variety of reasons, the wheels fell off early and often, leaving Dallas with a historically bad defense for most of the season. There will be ample time to discuss the major flaws in Eberflus’ scheme, but the most disappointing aspect is how the Cowboys performed against the NFC North. Allowing opponents to score an average of 38 points per game is unacceptable. Allowing this to occur against teams from your old neighborhood is grounds for dismissal. The NFC North should be a division Eberflus is well familiar with, given that he coached in it for three years. Okay, so maybe the Bears can be an exception given having a first year head coa……… oh, wait. Ben Johnson moved just four hours west of where he had his claim to fame as the offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions, so Eberflus had no reason not to be ready for the offensive play callers in the division. The familiarity goes both ways. Johnson, Matt LaFleur, and Kevin O’Connell are used to playing an Eberflus-led defense, too. If the Cowboys want to contend with the top teams in the conference, including the Lions and Packers, they need a coordinator who can keep up with the NFC North. Look at Mike Macdonald in Seattle. A major reason he was hired as head coach was that his defensive scheme gave the Seahawks a fighting chance against Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan in the NFC West. When the Cowboys’ schedule came out, it felt like having Eberflus in the building would have given Dallas a fighter’s chance against the teams in his former division. Instead, Dallas’ defense lost by knockout a didn’t manage to win a single game. See More: Dallas Cowboys coaching staff