{"id":96183,"date":"2025-09-21T09:56:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T09:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=96183"},"modified":"2025-09-21T09:56:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T09:56:06","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8%f0%9f%9a%a8%f0%9f%9a%a8cowboys-cracks-dallas-defensive-struggles-are-suddenly-the-talk-of-the-nfl-with-fans-and-insiders-flooding-feeds-with-hot-takes-memes-and-panic-over-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=96183","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8COWBOYS CRACKS?: Dallas\u2019 defensive struggles are suddenly the talk of the NFL, with fans and insiders flooding feeds with hot takes, memes, and panic over a unit once hyped as elite. Every missed tackle and blown coverage is fueling debates on whether the Cowboys\u2019 Super Bowl dreams are already leaking air. The drama isn\u2019t just about stats \u2014 it\u2019s about whether \u201cAmerica\u2019s Team\u201d can fix its biggest weakness before it\u2019s too late."},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Cowboys'<\/p>\n

CHICAGO — Brian Schottenheimer celebrated with his wife and kids over pizza and drinks after picking up his first victory as a head coach.<\/p>\n

He hopes to make it two in a row when the Dallas Cowboys visit Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys went from dealing with spit and a weather delay in a tight season-opening loss to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to pulling out a 40-37 overtime win over the New York Giants last week. Brandon Aubrey kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired in OT after nailing a 64-yarder on the final play of regulation to cap a fourth quarter that included five consecutive lead-changing touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Schottenheimer wasn’t exactly breathing easy this week — not after the Cowboys let Russell Wilson throw for 450 yards. With Micah Parsons now in Green Bay following a trade before the opener, they weren’t able to generate much pressure of front. And the secondary wasn’t exactly locking things down, either.<\/p>\n

“It was not the standard,” Schottenheimer said. “I think there are a lot of things we can clean up. I think that’s what I’m excited about. This is not a multiple week thing. This is something that we think we can correct. I felt like it was a lot of different pieces, a lot of different parts.”<\/p>\n

Chicago has issues, too.<\/p>\n

The Bears got embarrassed at Detroit 52-21 after blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter of their season-opening loss to Minnesota. It’s not the sort of start they were looking for under new Coach Ben Johnson.<\/p>\n

Quarterback Caleb Williams looked good early in both games, only to fade after that. The defense nearly set a franchise record for points allowed while giving up more than 500 yards against Detroit, and star cornerback Jaylon Johnson might miss the rest of the season because of a groin injury after leaving the game.<\/p>\n

EBERFLUS MEETS BEARS<\/p>\n

Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus goes against the Bears for the first time since they fired him as head coach last November. He was 14-32 in two-plus seasons.<\/p>\n

Eberflus said he “cherished” his time in Chicago. He said it didn’t take long to realize he wanted to get back into coaching quickly rather than take a year off.<\/p>\n

“I love coaching players,” he said. “I love working with the players. And that’s something that I’ve always loved to do and I wanted to get back in.”<\/p>\n

The Bears let him go the day after a Thanksgiving loss at Detroit, when he froze in the final seconds rather than call a timeout. The founding NFL franchise had never fired a head coach during a season before that.<\/p>\n

“No. 1, he’s a terrific football coach,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s an incredible man. Strong Christian, just a good person. He and I have competed a lot, but I’ve loved getting to know his wife and his daughters. I think that’s important. But in terms of this week, it’s no different. He’s put together a hell of a plan with his defensive staff.”<\/p>\n

TIGHT END INVOLVEMENT<\/p>\n

The Bears expect to get big production from their tight ends. It hasn’t happened yet.<\/p>\n

Veteran Cole Kmet has been targeted just six times and has three receptions for 60 yards. Colston Loveland, the No. 10 overall draft pick, has caught two of the three passes thrown his way for 12 yards.<\/p>\n

Johnson said some of that has to do with his play calling. But Williams also blamed himself.<\/p>\n

“Also, it’s me when I’m out there on the field being able to drop back, see the coverage and maybe pop the ball down to one of those guys,” he said. “Even when it’s one of those situations where we’re trying to fight back, get back into the game, it’s still just one play at a time and how you come back in games is taking it one play at a time.”<\/p>\n

\n

\"Defensive<\/p>\n

Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) kicks a game-winning field goal in overtime of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jeffrey McWhorter)<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Defensive<\/p>\n

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ryan Sun)<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Defensive<\/p>\n

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ryan Sun)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO — Brian Schottenheimer celebrated with his wife and kids over pizza and drinks after picking up his first victory as a head coach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":96184,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8COWBOYS CRACKS?: Dallas\u2019 defensive struggles are suddenly the talk of the NFL, with fans and insiders flooding feeds with hot takes, memes, and panic over a unit once hyped as elite. Every missed tackle and blown coverage is fueling debates on whether the Cowboys\u2019 Super Bowl dreams are already leaking air. 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