Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' seat has grown hotter with each passing week as his unit continues to be one of the NFL's worst. A Week 9 Monday Night Football showdown with the slumping Arizona Cardinals seemed like the perfect opportunity for Eberflus to get back on track, but that wasn't the case as the Cardinals' attack burned the Cowboys early and often.
By the time the final buzzer rang, Dallas had given up a whopping 340 total yards in the 27-17 loss to Arizona. It'd be one thing if the Cardinals were an offensive powerhouse, but that isn't the case, and Eberflus' obvious lack of preparation for Monday's affair is just another reason why the Cowboys must consider ending his tenure during their Week 10 bye.
Matt Eberflus Should've Been More Prepared vs. Cardinals
It's safe to say that second-year wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. was the main reason why the Cardinals had no issues exposing the Cowboys' secondary. The 23-year-old playmaker hauled in seven catches on 10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown score, often embarrassing cornerback DaRon Bland in coverage.
What's demoralizing about Harrison's performance is that Eberflus could've easily game planned for it. The Cardinals aren't exactly overflowing with gifted wideouts, as Michael Wilson — who's far from an overpowering threat — is the next-best option, and the talent falls off a cliff after that. There should've been a plan to shut MHJ down right away.
Additionally, the Cowboys even knew beforehand that they'd be facing backup Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett. Dallas' defense eventually slowed the veteran signal-caller down as the game continued, but that doesn't change he fact that Brissett still managed to pass for 261 yards, two touchdowns, and a 115.1 passer rating. Again, it was an instance of Eberflus being ill-prepared despite knowing Arizona's plans in advance.
While some of the Cowboys' defensive struggles should fall on the players' shoulders, Eberflus deserves the brunt of the blame. Dallas is on its third DC in as many years, and he was supposed to be a solution on head coach Brian Schottenheimer's staff. Instead, Eberflus has been one of the biggest problems, and fans wouldn't exactly complain if he were kicked to the curb before the season is over.
Mid-season firings aren't exactly owner/general manager Jerry Jones' thing, but one has to wonder how much more harm Eberflus will do if he isn't addressed right away. The longer he's with the team, the more bad habits the defense will develop, potentially setting his eventual successor up for failure.
Regardless, it's clear that the Cowboys' long-term success will be limited as long as Eberflus is at the defense's helm. Jones might have no choice but to swallow his pride and admit that hiring the ex-Chicago Bears HC was a mistake, potentially setting America's Team up for another DC search once the offseason arrives.