Through the first three weeks of the 2025 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys' offensive attack has been one of the best in the league, ranking fourth in total yards per game (393.7), 11th in rushing (125.0), third in passing (268.7, and ranking 10th in scoring (24.7).
The Dallas defense, on the other hand, has been an absolute disaster and is easily the main reason why America's Team is 1-2 thus far. Truth be told, the Cowboys should probably be 0-3, but thanks to some outstanding play from Dak Prescott and, of course, Brandon Aubrey's big leg, they escaped Week 2 with a 40-37 overtime victory against the rival New York Giants.
The biggest hole in Matt Eberflus' unit has clearly been the secondary, specifically the cornerback position. Yes, the oft-injured Trevon Diggs has appeared in all three games but has been battling several ailments (he added a shoulder injury this past Sunday against the Chicago Bears) and still doesn't look quite like himself. And former first-round pick Kaiir Elam hasn't been much help either, earning a 54.7 overall PFF defensive grade in his first three games with the Cowboys.
Cowboys might get DaRon Bland back in Week 4
The big absence here, of course, has been DaRon Bland, who suffered a right foot injury during the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and hasn't taken the field since. According to Jerry Jones, however, the 2023 First-Team All-Pro is trending toward playing this Sunday night when the Cowboys welcome Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers to AT&T Stadium.
"I don't want to get out over our skis here. It's a good possibility we'll have him (against the Packers)," Jones told 105.3 "The Fan" on Tuesday. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said pretty much the same thing in his press conference on Monday.
And the Cowboys can't get him back soon enough. Through Week 3, the Dallas defense has allowed 288.0 yards per game, easily the most in the league. For reference, the Baltimore Ravens have given up the second-most yards in that department at 266.0 per game.
With Bland on the field in Week 1 against Philly, the Cowboys allowed just 144 passing yards, which would currently rank fourth had they been able to maintain that number. In his absence, however, they allowed 402 to the Giants and another 298 in this past Sunday's 31-14 loss to the previously winless Chicago Bears.