Cowboys’ Linebacker Struggles Loom Large as Playoff Hopes Hang by a Thread
With four games left and playoff hopes dangling by a thread, the Dallas Cowboys are officially in must-win territory. There’s no more wiggle room. Every snap matters, every assignment has to be executed, and every player has to show up-especially on a defense that’s been leaking points at an alarming rate.
Thursday’s 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions wasn’t just a setback-it was a spotlight on a defense that’s been struggling to find its footing. It marked the third time this season Dallas has surrendered 40 or more points, a troubling trend for a team that was riding a three-game win streak just a week ago.
That win streak had sparked hope, largely thanks to a pair of bold trade deadline moves by Jerry Jones. One of those trades, for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, has paid off in a big way.
Williams has been a force in the middle, commanding double teams, disrupting the pocket, and giving the Cowboys a legitimate anchor up front. But the other deal?
Not quite the same story.
Logan Wilson Trade Not Paying Dividends
When Dallas sent assets to Cincinnati for linebacker Logan Wilson, the hope was that he’d bring stability and playmaking ability to a linebacker corps that had been shaky all year. But so far, Wilson’s impact has been minimal. He’s struggled to find a rhythm in Dan Quinn’s system and has yet to make the kind of splash plays that could help turn things around.
And he’s not alone in that struggle.
Kenneth Murray Jr., acquired in the offseason, has been the Cowboys’ green-dot linebacker for most of the year-the guy calling the plays and setting the defense. But his performance has been underwhelming, to say the least.
Whether it’s missed reads, poor angles, or a lack of physicality, Murray’s tape has raised more questions than answers. Social media has been quick to circulate clips of his missteps, and the numbers back it up-Pro Football Focus currently ranks him 82nd out of 85 qualifying linebackers.
Wilson, meanwhile, hasn’t done much to shift the narrative either. In Thursday’s loss, the two linebackers combined for just five tackles while Detroit averaged nearly 7.5 yards per play. That’s not just a bad day-it’s a red flag.
Coaching Staff Sticking to the Script-for Now
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged the ongoing competition at linebacker, especially with DeMarvion Overshown now healthy and Jack Sanborn working his way back from injury. But his comments, while optimistic, didn’t quite match what we’re seeing on the field.
“It’s a good comparison,” Schottenheimer said of Murray and Wilson. “I think both players have attributes that we really like. The run and hit ability of [Murray], the physicality he plays with, definitely jumps off the film, and I think Logan has done an incredible job coming in here and learning the system.”
That’s the kind of coach-speak you expect in December, but the film tells a different story. The linebackers aren’t just underperforming-they’re actively hurting the defense. And with Overshown, Sanborn, and rookies Marist Liufau and Shemar James waiting in the wings, the leash has to be getting shorter.
Cowboys Radio Voices Don’t Hold Back
On the Cowboys’ flagship station, 105.3 The Fan, the frustration boiled over.
“I just want whoever is in charge of deciding Kenneth Murray should be on the field that much and that he was a good enough player to trade for, that guy should be gone,” said Gavin Dawson.
Zach Wolchuk didn’t mince words either: “It seems like coaching malpractice... This guy is a net negative on the field.”
That’s strong language, but it echoes what many fans are seeing. The linebacker play hasn’t just been inconsistent-it’s been a liability.
Jones Still Believes... For Now
Jerry Jones, ever the optimist, isn’t ready to hit the panic button. Not yet.
“We have a better team than we played last night. We do,” he said Friday.
“Can we literally win out? Of course we can win out.
Is it going to be hard? Double of course it is.
A lot of crazy things happen.”
He’s not wrong. The Cowboys need to run the table against Minnesota, the Chargers, Washington, and the Giants-and they’ll need some help, too. Specifically, they’ll need the Eagles to go 2-3 or worse down the stretch.
But none of that matters if Dallas can’t clean up its linebacker play. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, a former linebackers coach himself, has to find a way to get more out of this group. Whether that means reshuffling the rotation, dialing up different schemes, or simply putting more trust in the younger guys, something has to change.
Because right now, the Cowboys’ playoff hopes aren’t just riding on the offense or the pass rush-they’re riding on a linebacker unit that’s been anything but reliable.
And with four games left, there’s no more time to wait for things to click. It’s time to perform-or pack it in.
As Schottenheimer put it: “Special group of guys. They’re not gonna let that happen. … We’ll pick ourselves up and go back to work.”
They’d better. Because the clock’s ticking, and the margin for error? It's gone.