Brett's Cowboys Corner

The Cowboys defense will look to move onto the Chicago Bears after shaky performance by the Dallas secondary last week against New York.

The Cowboys are a zone coverage defense, utilizing zone 96.2% of the time which is a league high. Last week, they allowed more than 100 passing yards when playing Cover 2 (177 yards), Cover 3 (165, TD), and Cover 4 (109 yards, 2 TD).

There was confusion it seemed after every play. Players pointing at each other, unsure of who had what assignment. This should have been a long week in the film room in anticipation for Chicago.

“We have to play better team defense,” defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said. “We’ve all got to be on the same page, we’ve got to do a good job of alignments and key technique, and playing clean football…”

“When you give up big plays, I don’t think they’re minor. Those are major things, and we have to do a better job of all 11 players, including the coaches, executing on the certain play… they have to execute, and that’s the coaches and the players.”

Matt Eberflus emphasized being prepared this week, and not treating this game any different. Though there will be the internal storyline for Eberflus. This will be his first game back at Soldier Field since being fired as the Bears head coach.

“There’s always hard moments in coaching,” Eberflus said. “You always are disappointed when you lose because you put so much into it, the players put so much into it, and you’re most disappointed for the players. Then once that settles in and you work towards the next day, the sun comes up and you move forward.”

Spending three seasons in his only head coaching gig, Eberflus went 14-32 and was fired after week 13 in 2024. His time in Chicago was anything but memorable, and he told the media that he hasn’t thought much about how his reception will be taken.

As for the defense, they will continue to try and bring the pressure. Now adding NFL veteran Jadeveon Clowney to the edge room. Dallas has the 11th highest pressure rate going into this game. And for Chicago, Caleb Williams is still one of the most pressured quarterbacks in the NFL despite having a brand new offensive line.

The DLine and linebackers need to be prepared for more QB runs once again. Caleb Williams has scrambled to run on 11.3% of his dropbacks this season (9 of 80), a significant increase from his rookie season (7.1%). Williams has gained 85 rushing yards on scrambles through two games, trailing only Patrick Mahomes (123) and Josh Allen (87). He has picked up a first down on 6 of his 9 scramble runs, tied for the 2nd-most in the NFL. 

As for the secondary, Trevon Diggs managed to play 90% of defensive snaps last week and should be good to go for full participation this week. Diggs was not targeted across 20 coverage snaps in Week 1 against the Eagles but allowed 4 receptions for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns across 5 targets faced in coverage in Week 2 against the Giants.

On the other side, Kaiir Elam has allowed a league-high 235 yards and 15 receptions across 19 targets this season (0 passes defensed), including a league-high 165 yards on targets over 10 air yards. He has been targeted on 24.4% of his coverage snaps, more than triple the rate of Trevon Diggs (7.9%).

The Cowboys desperately wait the return of DaRon Bland for the cornerback room. As well as waiting on the highly anticipated rookie Shavon Revel Jr to be ready from his rehab.

This week we will see what positive changes Matt Eberflus makes to his scheme as the Cowboys prepare for DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.