It feels like every week we're waiting for the game where the Dallas Cowboys are going to live up to their potential on defense. Things haven't gone according to plan for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, and the longer it takes for things to improve, the smaller the margin for error gets.
It's funny because at the time, everybody loved the Parker hire, and preached to the choir that he would be the young, innovative defensive mind Dallas needed. And it's not like the personnel he's working with is all that bad, as it's a nucleus defined by ascending talent plus Quinnen Williams.
Through six weeks, the Cowboys rank 31st in the NFL in both defensive EPA per play and total EPA, while they boast the fourth-worst EPA success rate. So while they had their most promising performance of the season last week against the Packers, they need to sustain this going forward.
And that starts with a favorable matchup in Week 7 against the division rival Eagles. Parker spent time working under Vic Fangio in Philadelphia, so given all of his familiarity in that building, there is no excuse to turn in another good defensive performance, especially given the circumstances.
Christian Parker will face the ultimate test against the Eagles in Week 7
For all the flak this Cowboys defense has received for being an absolute mess, this Eagles' offense might prompt you to say, 'Hold my beer.' They're just as bad. Their offense is 31st in the NFL in EPA per play and total EPA and 30th in EPA success rate, so this is a winnable matchup for Parker and Dallas.
The Eagles have one of the worst offensive lines in football, they've been virtually unable to run the football and they don't have much of a passing game. And I almost forgot: Jalen Hurts is out for the year due to blood clots, so backup quarterback Tanner McKee will get the start on Monday Night Football.
Even with Saquon Barkley set to return on primetime, the goal is still the same. If Parker can't get his unit ready to take advantage of a matchup against McKee, the issues are much deeper than we thought. At that point, will they ever get it right? Would Jerry Jones consider firing him in-season?
Perhaps. But also perhaps not. We should have expected there to be some growing pains for a first-time play-caller and despite whatever disconnect is going on in regards to Parker upstairs, they should still believe in him... at least for now. But a bad showing on national TV would leave a sour taste.
The Eagles are currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak where they're averaging just 14.5 points per game. On paper, this should be the ultimate get-right game for the 34-year-old and another chance to prove why people were so excited about him in the first place.
Parker should be familiar enough with their personnel and coaching staff after coaching with/against them in practice to have an idea of how to stop them.
A good performance could continue to help Christian Parker buy goodwill with the Joneses (and the fanbase), but a bad one will raise some uncomfortable questions. And how he handles what should be an advantageous matchup with his former team will either make the noise get louder or silence it.
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