We’re in the final week of October, but for the Dallas Cowboys, it feels like déjà vu from Week 1. Their defense just can’t catch a break. Sunday’s 44-24 beatdown by the Denver Broncos was another chapter in the same story—so much so that Joe Milton III ended up taking snaps in garbage time while Dak Prescott watched from the sideline. And in the process, the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus just earned a record no coach would ever want.

Through eight weeks, the Cowboys have given up 250 points, per ESPN research. It’s the third-most in franchise history at this stage. The other seasons? 1960 and 2020, when Dallas surrendered 272 and 266 points, respectively.

Just a week before, Dallas dismantled the Washington Commanders 44-22 during their Week 7 matchup. Naturally, the optimism was high from Eberflus’ defense against the Broncos. But in reality, Dallas returned to its old habits.

The Cowboys gave up 44 points, which were the most in a game since their 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions in the 2024 season. In the process, they allowed Denver to pile up 426 total yards. 247 came through the air while 179 came on the ground.

To put it in perspective, this was the second time this season Dallas has given up 40-plus points, the fourth time they’ve allowed over 400 total yards, the fourth time opponents have racked up at least 25 first downs, and the second time the Cowboys’ defense has surrendered four passing touchdowns, per ESPN.

The Broncos, on the other hand, absolutely shredded Eberflus’ defense. Denver averaged 7.5 yards per play, scored on seven of their 12 drives, and ripped off five plays of 25 yards or more. It was a full-on clinic against a struggling Cowboys unit. Coach Brian Schottenheimer summed up the struggles.

“When you look at it, I’m not just gonna start with the defense,” the first-year head coach said. “I don’t think any of us coached or played well enough. We knew we had to come in and own the line of scrimmage and it started up front and you got to give Denver a lot of credit. They moved us around pretty good, had some big explosive runs.”

With that being said, things don’t seem to get better from here on the defensive side of the ball. Well, unless Jerry Jones makes some trade moves ahead of the November 4 trade deadline.

One defensive player won’t help Jerry Jones’ team

“Surprised is a good word to use,” Prescott said after the 44-24 loss to Denver. “Frustrated as well.” And you can tell why.

The Cowboys had to rest Prescott with just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in favor of Milton. The signs were clear: Even though their quarterback is playing on an MVP level, their defense just won’t allow them to win games, at least not two games in a row. Which naturally raises a question:

Will Jerry Jones pull the plug and trade for a defensive player ahead of the November 4 trade deadline? Well, after trading Micah Parsons before the season, it feels like trading for just one player won’t help the team. And Jerry knows it very well.

“I don’t know what’s realistic,” the Cowboys owner/general manager said. “Could one better player — if we didn’t pay too big a price to have a better player on defense to possibly help? I’m not trying to be cute, but that’s why you’d go get him because you think that you could go help your defense. Are we one player away on defense? I think we’re not. I think we’re more than that away, but what we’re closer to than it looks, in my mind, is executing better on defense.”

The Cowboys have been exploring potential trades, per multiple sources. Think of Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson. But so far, they haven’t found any common ground to seal a deal. The big question now is, will it be for just one player or a package of players? Right now, the odds lean toward multiple moves. But then again, it’s Jerry Jones and the Cowboys we’re talking about.

The trade deadline is surely right around the corner. But expect some drama, juicy headlines, and the Cowboys’ defense under scrutiny till the owner finally makes a move.