Before halftime, the Dallas Cowboys led the Arizona Cardinals 14-3, and Christian Parker’s defense played lights-out. Something changed in the second half, and the defense gave up four straight touchdown drives to end regulation, and the Cowboys lost in overtime.
Through it all, Jerry Jones said he still believes in his defense and sees the unit trending in the right direction.
Jerry Jones on Cowboys’ defense: ‘I like the way we’re trending’ – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
The Cowboys owner and general manager still believes in Christian Parker.
“We’ve been changing,” Jones said. “We’ve changed
out on our defense, we’ve changed out our coaching staff, complete coaching staff. We’ve changed out the majority of the players, really. And in today’s building of a team, you do it with a combination of draft, which draft picks have to have a little seasoning most of the time.”
“And therein lies the inconsistency that we’re seeing, even within a game where we played so well in the first half and came back and didn’t play as well in the second half. That is a disappointment, but not a surprise… It does not call for massive, or not massive, it does not call for very succinct, important changes because I like the way we’re trending.”
The Cowboys’ defense is turning 30-point games into losses. And jeopardizing jobs – Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Will the Cowboys’ continued disappointment cause a shake-up in the coaching staff at the end of the season?
Jerry will not fire Schottenheimer during this season, but after it feels plausible. Schottenheimer is in the second year of a four-year contract, and while Jerry hates the idea of paying a coach to not coach, he will not want another year of what he’s currently watching. The problem remains the same as it has been for years. The defense under first-year, first-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker continues to play at a level that is no longer bewildering but a state that will get people fired, most notably himself.
Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey problem is affecting them in more ways than one – Levi Dombro, The Landry Hat
Brandon Aubrey hasn’t been the same clutch long-distance kicker this season.
Although Aubrey’s kickoffs are undeniably the best in the league, which give Dallas better field position than any other team in the NFL, his field goals have been an issue. On Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, he had makes from 31, 35 and 41, and he made all three extra points.
He missed from 61, though.
Download the SB Nation app today!
- Fewer ads
- Seamlessly jump between communities and conversations
- Faster commenting and posting experience!
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
George Pickens Could Force the Cowboys to Trade Him – Michael Gallagher, Heavy on Cowboys
The Cowboys would net some quality draft capital if they moved on from George Pickens.
Pickens is playing on the one-year franchise tag ($27.3 million), and a second tag next offseason would cost Dallas about $32.8 million. That’s a problem. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is also playing without an extension and wants upward of $30 million per year — and the Cowboys only get one tag.
An extension won’t be cheap either. Solak estimates Pickens would command north of $33 million per year, worryingly close to the $34 million CeeDee Lamb makes.
Past/Present: Oklahoma names Jason Witten offensive coordinator for remainder of 2026 season – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
It’s the year 2028, and Jason Witten is being introduced as the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten was named the offensive coordinator and play caller for the remainder of the 2026 season by the University of Oklahoma. Witten was hired as the Sooners’ tight ends coach at the start of the year for his first collegiate coaching job, and now takes over the offense after Oklahoma’s decision to dismiss offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
