The Dallas Cowboys are 1-2 through the first three games of the 2025 NFL season, and they will have a tough matchup on Sunday when the Green Bay Packers, who are now equipped with former Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons, come to town.
The Packers have arguably the best defense in the league so far, thanks to Parsons’ arrival. Therefore, they will pose a stiff challenge for a Dallas offense that may have more talent all-around than it has had in a few years.
While the team’s offense has shown some potential, its defense has been a much different story. Dallas ranks 27th in points allowed, 29th in passing yards given up and last in opponents’ net yards gained per pass attempt.
Obviously, losing someone such as Parsons will hurt any team’s defense. But Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones had some constructive criticism about how the squad can improve from within on that side of the football.
“I’m confident. We just met with the staff. I think they’ve done a good job this week of doing a lot of different things in terms of how we can execute better.
“We’re not getting the job done there and they know it, our players know it, our staff knows it. And I think they’ve done a great job this week of really doing some things that I think will make it easier for our guys to execute and play and play at a high level.”
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The Cowboys’ defense was embarrassed last Sunday when it gave up 31 points to the struggling Chicago Bears. Quarterback Caleb Williams, who has had more than his share of issues since being taken No. 1 in last year’s draft, went 19 of 28 for 298 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks.
The Sunday before that, the Cowboys allowed Russell Wilson of the New York Giants, another signal-caller who has struggled this season, to complete 30 of 41 passes and log 450 passing yards and three touchdown passes. While they managed a 40-37 win in overtime, it was a definite red flag.
In particular, the Cowboys have given up a number of big-yardage receptions this season. According to Elias Sports, they have surrendered 13 completions and five passing touchdowns of at least 25 yards through three games, which is the most they have allowed in the last 45 years.
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When Dallas traded Parsons to Green Bay, Jones said that defensive tackle Kenny Clark, the main piece the team got back in that trade, could help make up for the loss of Parsons. While Clark is a three-time Pro Bowler, it seemed like a foolish thing to say at the time, and it sounds even more foolish now.
As a team, Dallas has four sacks, which ranks 28th in the NFL, and it is 29th in opponents’ pass completion percentage and next-to-last in opponents’ passer rating.
