Christian Parker’s seat looks hotter by the minute after Thursday night, and two former NFL defensive tackles made sure the criticism landed hard.
The Cowboys led the winless Buccaneers 10-7 at halftime, but the third quarter turned into a disaster. Tampa Bay ripped off 17 straight points, including two rushing touchdowns, and Dallas walked out with a 24-16 loss. For a defense that already came into the game allowing the second-most rushing yards in the league, it was the kind of outing that invited a pile-on.
Breiden Fehoko did not hold back.
"He got earrings and Versace glasses on. Please get him out of Dallas on the next flight. This defense is pathetic."
That came after a performance that left Dallas’ defense looking overwhelmed and exposed, especially after the break.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer had recently tried to put a positive spin on Parker’s unit after a 34-30 win over the Houston Texans. He pointed to the defense’s success in key spots, but also acknowledged the costly breakdowns.
"I try to point out the facts. Third-down defense, outstanding; run defense, excellent; bunch of three-and-outs.
You point those things out, but we also talked about the plan to win. We gave up too many explosives, and we wanted to take Nico Collins out of the game.
Well, we did a piss poor job of doing that.
"So, when you lose, it's painful, and it hurts. When you win, you celebrate. So, I think you find the positives because you want to celebrate those things."
Fehoko wasn’t the only former defensive lineman taking aim at Parker. Gerald McCoy, a multiple-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler who spent much of his career with the Buccaneers, said the issue was less about roster building and more about how the group is being used. Speaking on Dan Patrick's eponymous show earlier this week, McCoy said:
“The execution is what was bad. What they had done, and I won’t blame Jerry and Stephen for the people they brought in, because they brought in all the right pieces.
They drafted well. Kenny and Quinnen and Rashan Gary and the guys you drafted, you just traded for a cover corner, and you’re doing everything necessary.”
Dallas now gets ten days before its next chance to reset. The Cowboys will try to get back to .500 when they visit the Green Bay Packers, with kickoff set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
In Other News...
Jerry Jones Gets Pulled Back Into A Familiar NFL Firestorm
Colin Kaepernick is back on the book-tour circuit with fresh reasons to revisit one of the NFLs most polarizing sagas, and Jerry Jones was inevitably part of the conversation. The former quarterbacks memoir, A Perilous Fight, was released Sept. 15, and he used the moment to criticize the Cowboys owner while discussing Joness long-remembered response to Kaepernicks national anthem protests.
For Dallas fans, it is another reminder that Jones can still find himself at the center of league-wide arguments long after the original flashpoint has passed. The Cowboys owner had already made his views known during the protests, and Kaepernicks latest public comments have pulled that old friction back into view, even as the book tour keeps pushing the story into new territory. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Head Into Bucs Game With One Huge Line Question
Tyler Smiths possible return has become one of the biggest pregame storylines for the Cowboys as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The All-Pro guard is in line to potentially make his 2026 season debut, but his availability still hinges on how his thumb holds up, a reminder that Dallas is trying to piece together its protection plan while sorting through a longer list of injury concerns heading into a short week.
Jerry Jones underscored how much Smiths hand matters to him being able to play at a high level, and the timing only adds to the pressure with several other Cowboys already listed as questionable or out. Quinnen Williams also pointed to the quick turnaround between games, which leaves Dallas trying to recover, regroup and get answers up front before kickoff in Tampa. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Suddenly Face Another Secondary Concern After Joey Porter Jr. Absence
The Cowboys secondary was already getting adjusted to one new face, and Thursday night brought another setback before kickoff. Joey Porter Jr. was listed as inactive against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of illness, a frustrating turn after he had just made his debut on Sunday night and looked positioned for a larger workload in a short span.
Porter arrived at the stadium visibly unwell, and the team sent him home to avoid spreading whatever was going around the room. For Dallas, it was another reminder of how quickly a defensive backfield can get thinned out, especially on a short week when every available body matters and roles can shift fast. [Read more 🡒]