The Dallas Cowboys showed drastic improvements defensively in their 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. It came in response to a franchise icon's stern remarks. But now what?
The Dallas Cowboys' defense still ranks 30st in opponent yards given up and 31st in opponent points given up per game, but the resounding 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11 - Dallas' season-low for points allowed in a game - was enough to potentially turn the tides after new acquisitions shined.
For franchise legend Emmitt Smith, however, it's one of the constants in this unit that he still hasn't gained faith in: coordinator Matt Eberflus.
"Man, do we look like we are completely lost,” the three-time Super Bowl champion told CowboysWire before the morale-boosting win on "Monday Night Football." "I am befuddled at all of the things that are going wrong on the defensive side of the ball. We look very basic and very fundamental. And very amateurish, if you will. Nothing sexy about it. And still the mistakes are being made, which is to me is a sign of poor coaching, defensively."
Well, Eberflus' response? Stuffing any and all Raiders running lanes to allow just 27 yards rushing - more than 100 below their average. Dallas also held Las Vegas without a touchdown until the fourth quarter, when the outcome was all but decided.
Eberflus' return this season as Dallas' third new coordinator in as many years has rightfully garnered some disgruntlement, but is a performance like this enough to at least quiet the noise momentarily? Especially after the immediate impact of trade-get tackle Quinnen Williams?
The fact that Eberflus remains in charge may be what has Emmitt saying "no".
“You have to start looking at coaches at some point, and every coach is not a genius," Smith said. "And every defensive coordinator is not a brilliant defensive coordinator or a great schemer. Some people hide behind some of the greatness of the people that left before them, and then when their time has come up, they’re nowhere near the caliber of coach that they thought they were.
"When I think about our defense right now, I know these guys are working hard. I’m not questioning that,” he continued. “I know they’re trying, but I don’t know if the coaching or the personnel is there for them to do the things that they’re doing. … That’s part of the challenges that teams face when they rotate new coaches in and old coaches out.”
Eberflus had to deal with a disastrous Micah Parsons situation for the entire offseason and has not seen his unit at full strength yet. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown returned, but cornerback Trevon Diggs remains on IR.
Those excuses don't carry all of the burden, so with how the Cowboys have regularly fell below expectations it's worth wondering if any more performances like Week 11 can save Eberflus from getting fired come February.