Matt Eberflus will be calling the defense from the box against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.
This week, the Dallas Cowboys decided to have defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus coach up in the box against the Los Angeles Chargers today at AT&T Stadium in Week 16.
After coaching from the sidelines this season, it's a little odd that the Cowboys are now making this sort of change, especially when 6-7-1 Dallas can't make the playoffs.
The move has been met with a snort of derision from Cowboys Nation, with the move feeling like a "Hail Mary'' attempt for Eberflus to salvage his reputation in Dallas. ...
Or worse, with our Mike Fisher characterizing the switch as "moving deck chairs on the Titanic.''
But amid the last-minute adjustments for this game, why did the Cowboys feel that making this kind of move now was the right one?
First to the inactives, and a big one to start: Quinnen Williams (with his neck now added to his concussion issue) is out. ... along with WR Jalen Tolbert, CB Caelen Carson, RB Jaydon Blue, OT Tyler Guyton and DT Jay Toia.
Williams was questionable entering game with the concussion. Big loss to Cowboys front
Now, as for the coach switch? Head coach Brian Schottenheimer laid it all out.
“We all understand that we need to play better on defense, that's not a secret, nobody's shied away from that,” Schottenheimer said. “As we look for options and ideas, it was something that Matt and I talked about. I've called plays for a long time in this league, there's no question you can see things better up in the box. You can make quicker adjustments.
"When Matt and I talked through this stuff, it became very clear that that's where we want to put them so that we can make some adjustments faster. I think it's going to be a great thing for us.”
Owner Jerry Jones made headlines when he stated that Eberflus is essentially coaching for his job in the next three weeks.
But what exactly can the former Chicago Bears head coach do in these final three games that will override the previous 14 weeks and give not only Jerry confidence that he is the right man for the job in 2026, but also the fans?
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That my friends, is an easy answer -- little or nothing.
We wonder if the die has been cast on Matt's future in Dallas. And no, what has transpired this season doesn't mean he's a bad coach. It just hasn't worked, and that's fine.
But what isn't "fine'' is bringing back a coach who has overseen one of the worst defenses in football.
And if Jerry does bring Eberflus back, no amount of PR spin and Arkansas salesmanship gibberish will have Cowboys Nation happy with the move.