Parker's defense looked as bad as Eberflus' in Week 1, but the first-time coordinator isn't interested in comparisons.
One thought that many had this entire offseason was that Christian Parker's Dallas Cowboys defense couldn't be as bad as Matt Eberflus' last year.
Well, after the Week 1 debacle, we can't exactly say that anymore.
All of the things that plagued the defense last season were there for all to see in Week 1, in what was a truly deflating performance from Parker's unit.
An offseason of positivity had all been erased after four quarters from Cowboys Nation as the defense got obliterated by the New York Giants, and it looked very Eberflus-like, something that is nightmare fuel to even think about.
So it is only natural for some fans to think that this is the second coming of Eberflus' defense, as literally nothing appears to have changed under Parker.
But what does the coordinator think about those comparisions?
"I would say that's not our business, we weren't here, this is the 2026 defense, and it's our responsibility to fix our performance on Sunday, not performances from 2024, 2025, is for us to fix our performance from Sunday," Parker said.
"I think everybody has been accountable and responsible for that. Our preparation has to tick up in terms of us having urgency to get those things fixed, but nobody's walking around hanging their head. Guys know what we have to do, we look forward to being able to respond.”
One way to end the comparisons is to put on a show at AT&T Stadium against the Washington Commanders, which Cowboys Nation hopes will happen.
While the defense doesn't have to be perfect, just show improvement from last week, and that might shift the narrative that is currently attached to Parker's unit.
They aren't Eberflus' unit; they are better. That is what the overriding thought has to be coming out of Sunday's game.
Right now, we aren't sure they are better, and yes, it was only one game, and it was likely going to be the worst Parker's defense would look under his guidance, but now improvement has to come, and quickly.
All week, the messaging has been that the team is working to improve and get better, but talk is cheap; we want to see it on the field.
Eberflus' defense left the fan base deflated, and if Parker's defense produces what it did in Week 1 again, we aren't sure where the franchise can turn to get the improvement needed.
