Jerry Jones Calls Out Cowboys Defense After J.J. McCarthy, Struggling QBs Play Well

Jerry Jones offered his two cents on Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy throwing for 250 yards and two touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys during Sunday's 34-26 win for Minny.

"It seems like we're always saying that about these quarterbacks—some of them that haven't played as well, but when they play us, they play better," Jones told reporters. "I think that's telling."

McCarthy also rushed for a touchdown against the Cowboys.

The Dallas defense has been poor all season (which certainly wasn't bolstered by the shocking decision to trade Micah Parsons). The Cowboys rank 29th in yardage allowed (374.9 YPG), 31st in points allowed (30 PPG), 32nd in pass defense (254.8 YPG), tied for 28th in takeaways (11) and tied for 20th in sacks (29).

Those numbers are damming, and they've likely condemned the Cowboys to a second straight season without a playoff appearance and a 30th straight season without a title.

Jones seemed to be sending warning shots in the direction of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after the Vikings loss, saying the defense "could have used more pressure, without question, at different times" and suggesting that fixing the defense earlier in the season might have led to a much different outcome than the team's current 6-7-1 record.

"Candidly, just to be very up front about it, 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," he told reporters.

Part of that comes down to personnel, of course. Trading Parsons sacrificed one of the most disruptive pass-rushers in football. The secondary has been poor all season, a situation amplified by the bizarre situation surrounding cornerback Trevon Diggs, who hasn't played in two months.

There is plenty of blame to go around, and it won't be surprising if the axe falls on Eberflus. But Jones and the front office have to take their portion of the blame for the defense's struggles as well.