Eberflus takes 'full accountability' for Cowboys' poor defense

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is more than willing to shoulder the blame for the team's disappointing defense.

"Ownership and accountability is right with me," Eberflus said Thursday, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "I'm the defensive coordinator. It's always that. So if there's things that need to be improved, it falls on the coach and it falls on the assistant coaches and working with the players, making sure we're doing the best we can to put them in position. I take full accountability for that."

No team has allowed more points than Dallas (29.8 points per game) this season. Eberflus' unit allowed 40-plus points in three games and surrendered 30 or more points in eight of the team's 16 games.

The Cowboys' defense lost its franchise player before the season with the trade of star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Eberflus said he wanted to stay in the present rather than explore the ramifications of Parsons' departure.

"I don't know if it changed that much," Eberflus explained. "Obviously, you have an All-Pro pass rusher that wins really quick, that's certainly going to help any defense if it's Micah or if it's Myles (Garrett) or whoever it might be. That impact player is always going to help to a certain degree on pass downs and other downs. Again, you can't look back. It is what it is and you just focus on where you are."

Parsons reacted to Eberflus' remarks with laughing emojis on X.

Eberflus, who previously served as head coach of the Chicago Bears, is in his first season as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator. Dallas is 7-8-1 and wraps up its season against the New York Giants on Sunday.