🔥 Stephen A. Smith Sounds the Alarm: Jerry Jones’ Cowboys Can’t Ignore Their Defense Any Longer
By [Your Name] — Dallas, TX | November 1, 2025
Dallas Cowboys Nation is at a crossroads. One side of the ball is electric, a highlight reel of NFL talent that could compete for the Super Bowl. The other is a glaring, unignorable problem — a defense that has been as leaky as a faucet left running in the Texas heat. And no one is calling it out louder than ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
“Defensively, y’all are awful. Just take the ‘D’ outta Dallas. That’s what you are right now,” Smith said on air, his voice sharp, unapologetic, and cutting through the noise like a linebacker blitzing the quarterback.
It’s not hyperbole. The Cowboys, despite boasting one of the league’s most explosive offenses, are 3-4-1, struggling to stay afloat after a humbling 44-24 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 8. Fans and analysts alike are asking: how can a team with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens fail to put the pieces together? The answer lies in the numbers — and in the decisions of one man: owner Jerry Jones.
⚡ An Offense Built for Greatness
Step back and look at what Dallas has on offense. Dak Prescott has been playing like an MVP candidate through eight games, completing 70.3% of his passes for 2,069 yards, with 16 touchdowns and a league-leading QBR of 79.5. He’s efficient, precise, and calm under pressure — the kind of quarterback who makes even the toughest defenses look manageable.
Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens have been nothing short of spectacular. Lamb’s route-running is crisp, his hands sure. Pickens, in just eight games, has already racked up 685 receiving yards and six touchdowns, flashing the kind of dominance that can tilt games in Dallas’ favor. Running back Javonte Williams has emerged as a reliable dual-threat, making defenders miss both on the ground and in the passing game.
Add it all together, and the Cowboys have one of the most dangerous offenses in football. They can move the chains, light up the scoreboard, and keep the opposing team on its heels.
But here’s the problem: all of that firepower is being asked to do the impossible — cover up a defense that simply cannot hold its own.
🛡️ A Defense in Crisis
The numbers tell the story:
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31st in total yards allowed — 404.6 per game
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31st in points allowed — 31.3 per game
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Only 10 sacks all season
The Cowboys’ defense is struggling to do anything resembling consistency. The vacuum left by Micah Parsons, traded to Green Bay before Week 1, has become painfully apparent. Parsons has thrived in Green Bay, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, a stark contrast to the Cowboys’ struggling front seven.
Without him, the defensive line has struggled to generate pressure. Linebackers have been slow to react, secondary coverage is spotty at best, and the team is bleeding points at a pace no offense can overcome.
“If you can’t find a way to get to the quarterback, who the hell knows what could happen?” Smith asked, cutting to the heart of the issue.
It’s a sentiment that resonates across Cowboys Nation. Fans aren’t just frustrated — they’re terrified that another season, full of potential, could be squandered.
💸 Jerry Jones’ Public Comments Spark Outrage
If the defensive woes weren’t enough, Cowboys fans had to digest Jerry Jones’ shocking admission in a Wall Street Journal interview. The team owner openly stated he was more focused on business investments than fixing the team’s defense:
“There’s $100 billion present value with gas out there. That’s why I’m talking to you on the telephone rather than trying to fix our defense,” Jones said.
Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back:
“What kind of ignorant statement is that? If the Cowboys miss the playoffs because they didn’t improve a defense that was clearly compromised once Micah Parsons was gone, they’re going to hold onto that quote, Jerry. You couldn’t have kept that to yourself?”
For fans, it was more than a head-shaker — it was a provocation. The offense is stacked, capable of putting points on the board against almost any opponent, yet management’s focus seems elsewhere. For Smith, this wasn’t just frustration; it was a call to action.
⏱️ The Clock is Ticking
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, time is running out. Several defensive players are rumored to be on the Cowboys’ radar. Names like Arden Key and Jeffery Simmons have surfaced, and Simmons, a three-time Pro Bowler, could provide the kind of pass-rush and leadership the Cowboys desperately need.
But there’s hesitation. The Cowboys would have to sacrifice draft capital or take on another large contract, and Jones’ past approach suggests he may be reluctant to do either.
Smith’s message is simple: doing nothing is the bigger mistake.
“You’ve got an offense that can win it all. You just need a defense that’s average, not great, just middle of the road. You’ve got to help your offense somehow, someway.”
It’s a warning, a plea, and a blueprint all at once. The team can’t rely on Prescott, Lamb, and Pickens alone. They need support. They need balance. They need a defense that can at least hold the line.
🏈 Monday Night Football — More Than Just a Game
The Cowboys’ next matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football is being framed as a must-win. Fans know it’s more than a game — it’s a litmus test for whether this team can truly contend.
The Cardinals’ offense isn’t pushovers, but the Cowboys’ high-powered attack should, in theory, match up favorably. However, history has shown that without a competent defense, no offense can carry a team through the gauntlet of the NFL season.
The stakes are clear: a loss here would deepen frustration, increase pressure on Jerry Jones, and escalate criticism from analysts like Smith. A win could buy time, but the underlying issues remain.
🌪️ Cowboys Nation Watches and Waits
Fans are caught in a whirlwind of emotion. Every touchdown Prescott throws, every spectacular reception by Lamb or Pickens, is a reason for hope. Every defensive breakdown, every blown coverage, every point allowed is a reminder of the team’s fragility.
Social media is ablaze with calls for action. Commentators debate trades. Fans question coaching adjustments. And above it all, Stephen A. Smith’s voice rises, a mixture of anger, urgency, and passion that echoes through the hearts of everyone watching.
“Jerry’s my buddy, but the man ain’t getting younger, he’s 83. The clock’s ticking. You can’t be standing pat, talking to the Wall Street Journal about gas deals, while your defense is straight trash.”
It’s a message that can’t be ignored.
🔥 The Crossroads
The Cowboys are at a critical juncture. They possess an offense capable of contending with any team in the league. They have young stars, established veterans, and a fan base ready to roar. But they are hampered by a defense that struggles to execute basic responsibilities, a lack of urgency from management, and a ticking trade deadline.
The choices Jerry Jones makes in the coming days could define this season — and potentially this era of Cowboys football. Will he invest in defense, trade for impact players, and give Prescott and the offense the support they desperately need? Or will he let another season slip through the cracks, letting explosive talent be undone by systemic neglect?
Smith’s warning is crystal clear: action is required, and time is short. The offense can’t do it all. The defense must improve, and the owner must step up — before another promising season turns into another frustrating one.
🔊 The Final Word
For Dallas Cowboys fans, the message is equal parts sobering and galvanizing. The offense is there. The talent is there. The stars are performing. But without a competent defense, the dream of a Super Bowl remains just that — a dream.
Stephen A. Smith’s words will echo:
“You’ve got an offense that can win it all. You just need a defense that’s average, not great, just middle of the road. You’ve got to help your offense somehow, someway.”
Cowboys Nation can only watch, wait, and hope that the owner, the management, and the team hear the call before it’s too late.
The clock is ticking. Monday Night Football looms. The trade deadline approaches. And the question hangs over Dallas like the shadow of the stadium lights:
Can the Cowboys finally build the team that their offense deserves — or will history repeat itself?
