![Top Legendary Cricketers Who Retired Without a Farewell [Updated 2025]](https://sportspromax.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-300x200.webp "Top Legendary Cricketers Who Retired Without a Farewell [Updated 2025] 2")
The Dallas Cowboys’ early-season struggles hit another low point on Sunday. Their defense was exposed once again in a 31-14 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams torched Dallas’ secondary, averaging 15.7 yards per completion while throwing four touchdowns on 19-of-28 passing. It marked the first game of his career where he wasn’t sacked, a troubling sign for a Cowboys defense that has now allowed 13 completions of 25 yards or more in just three games. This is the most over any such stretch in the past 25 years, according to ESPN.
The Bears exploited Dallas repeatedly with explosive plays, including a 65-yard flea-flicker touchdown to rookie Luther Burden and a 35-yard strike to Rome Odunze. To make matters worse, Chicago capped its dominance with a backbreaking 19-play, 76-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that chewed nearly 10 minutes off the clock. It was the longest scoring drive the Cowboys have allowed this century in terms of time of possession.
“It’s a bad combination, we weren’t getting there, plus we weren’t covering them,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said afterward. “That’s inordinate to have that many big plays. We’ve got to get better.”
The struggles raise further doubts about whether new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus can steady the unit. Dallas has given up five touchdown passes of at least 25 yards, the most in the league through Week 3. Opposing quarterbacks are completing nearly 74% of passes against the Cowboys, who have only managed four sacks all season.
The loss drops Dallas to 1-2 on the year, with Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers set to visit next Sunday in what already feels like a critical test.
Read Also: 49ers Star Nick Bosa Suffers Season-Ending ACL Tear in Team’s NFL Week 3 Victory Over the Cardinals
“We didn’t play well enough to win”: Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer on Humbling Loss
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn’t mince words after watching his team collapse in Chicago. According to him, the Cowboys’ latest defeat wasn’t about bad luck or missed opportunities; it was about fundamentals.
“This can be a humbling business,” Schottenheimer said. “If you don’t take care of business, you don’t play well, then you’re not going to win. We’ve got to stop giving up big plays on defense, and we’ve got to stop turning the ball over on offense. It’s a bad formula.”
The Cowboys tied the game at 14 late in the second quarter but never scored again, allowing the Bears to rattle off 17 unanswered points. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 251 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, while star receiver CeeDee Lamb exited with an ankle injury and did not return.
For Brian Schottenheimer, the defeat boiled down to execution, or rather, the lack of it. According to him, the Cowboys did not play well enough:
“We didn’t play well enough to win,” he said. “That’s why we’re sitting here with a loss. They converted third downs; we didn’t. They protected the ball; we didn’t. They hit explosives; we didn’t. This game is one of those games you look at and, yeah, it’s humbling, it sucks, but we didn’t play very good. Got to play better to win in this league.”
Historically, the Cowboys have missed the playoffs the last three times they’ve allowed 90 or more points through three games. The defense must therefore find answers quickly. Otherwise, their season could unravel before it ever takes off.
Read Also: Buccaneers Hold Off Jets to Secure First 3-0 NFL Start Since 2005
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is the Cowboys’ defense struggling so badly this season?
The Cowboys have struggled with communication, execution, and generating pressure. They’ve recorded just four sacks in three games, while opponents are completing nearly 74% of passes and consistently hitting explosive plays against their secondary.
How significant is Micah Parsons’ absence for Dallas?
Parsons’ departure to the Green Bay Packers has been a major blow. Without his pass-rushing presence, the Cowboys’ defensive front has struggled to disrupt opposing quarterbacks, exposing weaknesses in the secondary.
What role has new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus played in the struggles?
Eberflus was expected to stabilize the unit, but so far the Cowboys have allowed 13 passing plays of 25+ yards and a league-worst five long touchdown passes. The defense hasn’t found a balance between coverage and pass rush under his system.
Who do the Cowboys face next, and why is it important?
The Cowboys host the Green Bay Packers in Week 4, a matchup that brings Micah Parsons back to AT&T Stadium in Packers green. It’s an early test that could either steady the Cowboys’ season or deepen their struggles if the defensive issues continue.
