Upon Further Review: Could Cowboys' Defense Be Worse? Opponents Sense Vulnerability
The Dallas Cowboys' defense, already the NFL's worst in 2025, has shown no signs of improvement in 2026, raising serious concerns about the team's future. Despite a high-profile offseason overhaul—including the addition of edge rushers Rashan Gary and Von Miller, linebacker Dee Winters, and safeties Jalen Thompson and Caleb Downs—the unit remains a liability, surrendering a league-worst 168 rushing yards per game and failing to record a single interception in five games.
The Cowboys' struggles became glaringly obvious in a primetime loss to the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where an undrafted rookie quarterback orchestrated a 15-play, 10-minute drive that exposed Dallas' defensive fatigue and lack of discipline. The Bucs capitalized with a 24-16 victory, dropping the Cowboys to 2-3 and leaving owner Jerry Jones to call the performance 'mind-boggling.' With Dak Prescott and the offense still scoring at a high rate (27.6 points per game), the defense's shortcomings are the only factor holding Dallas back in a competitive NFC East, especially as they prepare to face the Packers in Green Bay—a team that has thrived without All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who was traded away from the Cowboys last season.
In a desperate move, Dallas recently acquired cornerback Joey Porter in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick, signaling the urgency to stabilize a unit that remains stagnant under defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
