By Reice Shipley

Copyright newsweek

Very little defense was present in the Week 4 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, which resulted in a 40-40 tie. But shockingly, longtime Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t come to the same conclusion that most did after the game about his defense.

The Cowboys’ defense has been among the worst in football through the first four weeks of the season, allowing a league-high 420.5 yards per game and 33 points per game, which is the second-worst, ahead of the Baltimore Ravens.

But instead of being discouraged by the Cowboys’ defensive effort on Sunday night, Jerry Jones instead shared excitement about his belief that the defense got better as the game went on, which was what he was hoping to see.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 21: Owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

More news: Bengals QB Joe Burrow Receives Head-Turning Prediction From Kevin Durant

“If you felt it, even though they scored 40 points, our defense improved as that game went along right before your eyes,” Jones said, via the team website. “And we did make some stops that were out there that were key stops against a fine offensive football team in Green Bay. So, I think your eyes didn’t betray you, and that we got better as that game went along. That’s what you’re looking for.”

In Jones’ defense, the Cowboys’ defense did at least hold the Packers to just a field goal in their lone overtime possession and not a touchdown, which would have resulted in a Packers victory.

But with that being said, the team’s Week 4 defensive effort should in no way be “what you’re looking for”, given that they gave up 40 points and 489 yards of offense in the game.

More news: 49ers Could Help Replace Nick Bosa With Intriguing Trade Suggestion

Fortunately for Cowboys fans, Dak Prescott and the offense have been a true bright spot this season, consistently keeping them in games despite having to deal with a defense that consistently gets gashed for big plays.

The worrying part about Jones’ comments is that his rather delusional assessment of where the defense is at could mean that he is content enough to not make any significant moves at the NFL trade deadline on defense, which would seemingly be a big mistake on paper.

Whether the Cowboys do make defensive improvements or not, the next two games against teams with struggling offenses could go a long way in giving the Cowboys’ defense a chance to right the ship.

In Week 5 and Week 6, the Cowboys will face off against the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, who each rank in the bottom half of the league in most important offensive metrics, including yards per game and points per game. So maybe the Cowboys defense will rise to the occasion and prove their overly optimistic owner right.

For more on the Dallas Cowboys and all things NFL, head over to Newsweek Sports.