Jerry Jones Sounds the Alarm on Cowboys Defense After Loss to Vikings
The Dallas Cowboys are running out of runway, and Jerry Jones knows it. After a 34-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings dropped the Cowboys to 6-7-1, the longtime owner didn’t hold back when assessing his team’s defensive struggles - particularly against Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Speaking on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, Jones voiced his frustration with how the defense allowed McCarthy - who’s had his share of growing pains this season - to find his rhythm and deliver a strong performance.
“We let their quarterback have a big day on us,” Jones said. “That wasn’t the plan.
We could have used more pressure, without question, at different times. The result was that we let him make some pretty significant plays out there, plus, he played pretty well.”
Jones didn’t name names, but the message was clear: defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and the Cowboys’ defense didn’t get the job done. And this isn’t the first time Jones has seen an opposing quarterback turn in a better-than-expected outing against Dallas.
“It seems like we’re always saying that about these (opposing) quarterbacks,” Jones added. “Some of them hadn’t played as well, but when they play us, they play better. I think that’s telling, too.”
It’s not just talk. McCarthy, who entered the game averaging 3.5 sacks taken per game, stayed upright all afternoon.
The Cowboys failed to register even a single sack - a surprising stat for a defense that prides itself on pressuring the quarterback. McCarthy finished 15-of-24 for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception - a clean, efficient outing that kept the Dallas defense on its heels.
Minnesota didn’t light up the scoreboard, but they were consistent - putting up a pair of 10-point quarters and controlling the tempo. For a Dallas team trying to stay in the NFC East race, it was a gut punch. The loss not only dropped them below .500, it also opened the door wider for the Philadelphia Eagles to take control of the division.
Jones, ever candid, pointed to the bigger picture - suggesting the Cowboys’ defensive issues go beyond just one game.
“Candidly, just to be very up front about it,” he said, “I think if we could have gotten this defense in better shape earlier that we could be sitting here with the kind of wins that would’ve not had us in this tight spot.”
That tight spot is exactly where Dallas finds itself now. At 6-7-1, the Cowboys don’t control their playoff destiny.
For them to sneak into the postseason, they’ll need to win out - and hope the Eagles lose out. It’s a long shot, but not impossible.
The road ahead is anything but easy. Dallas hosts the 10-4 LA Chargers in Week 16 - a team that’s been rolling offensively.
Then it’s back-to-back divisional games to close the season: the 4-10 Washington Commanders in Week 17 and the 2-12 New York Giants in Week 18. On paper, those last two are winnable, but nothing has come easy for this Cowboys squad.
The bigger concern might be whether the defense can rise to the occasion. The talent is there - Jones made that clear - but the execution hasn’t matched the roster. If the Cowboys are going to make a final push, it’ll have to start with getting back to basics: pressure the quarterback, win the line of scrimmage, and stop letting struggling QBs look like Pro Bowlers.
Time is running out. And Jerry Jones knows it.