Overview
- The Cowboys enter Week 18 with the NFL’s worst scoring defense at 29.8 points allowed per game and bottom-tier rankings across pass defense, third down, red zone, takeaways and yards.
- Matt Eberflus said he takes full accountability for the failures, acknowledged the impact of losing an All-Pro pass rusher, and added he wouldn’t change his approach in retrospect.
- Micah Parsons replied to Eberflus’ remarks with laughing emojis on X and accused Jerry Jones of having slandered his name during months of contentious negotiations.
- Jerry Jones publicly reflected on the decision to hire Eberflus and later offered a measured response to Parsons, saying Dallas prioritized multiple players over re-signing him and referencing the star’s sensitivity.
- Parsons was traded to Green Bay for two first-round picks and Kenny Clark, signed a four-year, $188 million extension, posted 12.5 sacks before a season-ending ACL tear, and now watches as Dallas misses the playoffs while the Packers clinch a wild-card berth.