Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images

Cowboys must make major changes to their defense

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Oct 28, 2025 12:32 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys are not having the season they'd hoped for heading into Week 9, sitting second in the NFC East at 3-4-1 and wasting an MVP-like season from quarterback Dak Prescott. With polar-opposite seasons on offense (second in the league, 384.1 yards), while having the 31st-ranked defense (404.6 yards), head coach Brian Schottenheimer promised there would be changes.

Brian Schottenheimer promises changes to Cowboys defense

The Cowboys now have three losses on the season where their defense has allowed 30 or more points, and they can't afford to keep sacrificing the production of Prescott and the rest of the offense, which is keeping them afloat in the NFC. After allowing Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix to throw for 247 yards (19-for-29) and four touchdowns Sunday while giving up 179 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, Schottenheimer promised he would be making changes.

"There's always reasons to change, and there will be change," he said Monday, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I can promise you that. I can show you that. We've already had meetings, and we've talked about those changes. We're in the mode right now of where we've got kind of a one-game season."

Cowboys defense is what's holding them back

After trading away linebacker Micah Parsons, who was their leading pass-rusher, the Cowboys hoped defensive tackle Kenny Clark would have filled the void he had left, but he hasn't done so. With seven solo tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season, Clark has failed to live up to expectations.

The Cowboys' best pass rusher, defensive end James Houston, has done slightly better than Clark, producing 10 solo tackles and 3.5 sacks on the season. The overall lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, though, could force the Cowboys to add another rusher to their defensive front ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline.

Schottenheimer also hinted that a change in scheme, as well as changing personnel, could be in order.

"The solutions are making adjustments to scheme, changes to personnel -- giving this guy a little bit more playing time and all that. Those things will play themselves out,” Schottenheimer said, adding, "I just say that because we've got Arizona before the bye and, really, bigger changes to our style will happen over the bye week. That's when we get a chance to say, 'OK, now we're looking back at nine games. What were those issues and did we get them corrected?' No? Well, now we need to do this and we need to do that."

With a bye during Week 10, the Cowboys will have much to figure out to get back into the playoff race.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. You can find my other work on Southside Showdown from FanSided and at Chicitysports where I cover all Chicago sports. When not watching sports, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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