Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus again on the hot seat

FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott led the Dallas Cowboys to touchdowns on their first two drives against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Justin Herbert easily answered both times against a Dallas defense that tops the list of reasons the Cowboys will miss the playoffs for second year in a row and could finish with a losing record in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the last of three straight in 2002.

Matt Eberflus moved to the coaching booth from the sideline before the 34-17 loss to the Chargers, a few days after owner and general manager Jerry Jones had some cryptic words for the first-year defensive coordinator on his radio show.

Jones' tone hadn't changed much when he saw reporters after the game.

Eberflus was a valued defensive assistant in Dallas a decade ago, and could have been the defensive coordinator then under different circumstances. Instead, he went on to Indianapolis in that role before landing the head coaching job with the Bears, who fired him midseason a year ago.

Now, the Cowboys face a difficult choice with a known and trusted coach. Jones said Eberflus wouldn't be fired before the Cowboys (6-8-1) finish the season on the road against Washington (Thursday) and the New York Giants (Jan. 3 or 4).

The outspoken and ever-present owner fell far short of endorsing Eberflus. A change would mean a fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons in 2026.

"I might not couch it as difficult," Jones said when asked how difficult a decision he faced with Eberflus, who was on the Dallas staff for seven seasons ending in 2017. "Now, that's not uncommon to evaluate at this time of the year your entire coaching staff. And obviously the target's on him because of our statistical as well as actual play on the defensive side of the ball. But that goes with it."

Herbert was playing his third full game with a broken non-throwing (left) hand heavily protected. The Chargers didn't get to 300 yards total offense in either of the first two. They had a season-high 452 against the Cowboys, and Herbert completed a season-best 79% of his passes.

"I thought it was OK. I thought it was fine," first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer said of Eberflus' move to the booth. "I know we need to get more pressure on the guy and didn't do a great job getting pressure on him. And I thought both quarterbacks played great today. And unfortunately, their guy got the win."

Sack-free zone

The Cowboys have been shut out on sacks in consecutive games for the first time since 2017. Not getting to Herbert was particularly egregious considering he has been dropped a career-high 49 times and the Chargers have used a makeshift offensive line because of injuries.

Key number

27.8% — Dallas' defensive QB pressure percentage is among the best in the NFL, and yet the Cowboys are in the bottom third in the league with 29 sacks. They're having trouble getting quarterbacks on the ground.

Next steps

Even though they're already eliminated from the playoffs, the Cowboys can finish 5-1 in the NFC East with victories over the Commanders and Giants. They would also be the second team to finish 8-8-1 since the NFL went to 17 games in 2021. Washington did it three years ago.