ARLINGTON, Texas – The main goals for this season are now out of reach. We all know this as the Cowboys have been officially eliminated from the playoffs.
No division title. No wild card. No games past the first week in January once again for this Cowboys team.
Everybody knows this at this point. If you're one of those who don't really care about anything other than the playoffs, then maybe this isn't the column for you. Then again, you might not have clicked on this in the first place.
I get it. It's hard to care much about the game right now. For me personally, someone who witnessed three straight 5-11 seasons early in my time with the Cowboys, I guess I've learned to treat these games like actual events, without only looking down the road.
Maybe this piece will be a little bit of both.
But as I watched Sunday's game and saw how Justin Herbert carved up the Cowboys just like everyone else has all year, it got me thinking just how this defense is going to get better in the future.
How can they fix it? What needs to be fixed the most? And you can't say, "All of it." Well, maybe you can because just about everything needs to be fixed.
But let's focus on Sunday, with an eye toward the future. When you look at how the Chargers moved the ball, it was apparent this defense just doesn't have any of the qualities needed to be an average unit, much less a good one.
We've heard of bend-but-don't-break defenses. You know, the ones that keep everything in front of them and prevent big plays but give up a few yards. Usually, they also tighten up around the red zone and can limit teams to a field goal, if not a turnover.
The Cowboys defense definitely has some bend to it. The problem is, they also break. It's a bend-and-break defense, and that's the worst kind.
Sure, you don't want to just give up long touchdown passes or runs, but when you give up these 87-, 81- and 95-yard drives that eat up 16, 14 and 10 plays, two things are happening here. Not only are you staying on the field and giving up eventual points, but the best part of your team – your offense – is sitting on the side doing nothing.
Bending and breaking is what this team has done all year long. They just can't get off the field, and to me, it's always started with the pass rush.
We're still two games before the end of the season, so I don't want to get into a full 2025 wrap-up mode. But I think it's pretty safe to say what the theme of this year is going to be.
The Cowboys traded away not only their best overall player, but arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL. And in turn, they had one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They rank 22nd in sacks this year, and that's after being in the top 10 each of the four years Micah Parsons was here.
You knew it would be a huge loss as soon as he was shipped to Green Bay, especially this year considering most of the compensation was for future picks. However, the Cowboys told us you can always generate a pass rush even without a star pass rusher.
They didn't generate that pass rush. And that's where it all starts and ends with this team. Sure, the linebackers weren't that good this year. And the secondary has plenty of issues, especially considering not one of the regular starters played every game. In fact, Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Malik Hooker all went on injured reserve at some point.
Most of us had never heard of Trikweze Bridges or Reddy Steward, yet they played just about the whole year.
Moving onto next season, there are some pieces in place to build around, and it starts in the trenches. Obviously, Quinnen Williams, Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark have huge contracts, but there's a way to keep them all in the middle. Maybe one of them could be used in a trade scenario for draft picks, but I think they stay.
For the rest of the defense, there are players such as Logan Wilson, DeMarvion Overshown, DaRon Bland and Malik Hooker that figure into the plans. Trevon Diggs is under contract, but at this point, I'm done trying to predict that one.
My point is that there are some positions where you see some potential, but defensive end really isn't one of them. I think Donovan Ezeiruaku could be the only pass-rusher coming back next year, and I don't know if that's a bad thing.
There is plenty to fix on this defense, and it might involve changing coordinators – whether they sit in the booth or work on the sideline. One way or another, the Cowboys have to find some pass rushers who can get to the quarterback without having to blitz.
Find some of those, and maybe you can have a defense that doesn't bend or break. Right now, this 2025 version does both.
