Locked On Cowboys - DISASTER: Dallas Cowboys CRUSHED by Chicago Bears | Sinking Ship?

Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Podcast Network: Locked On Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode addresses the Dallas Cowboys' devastating Week 3 blowout loss against the Chicago Bears. Marcus and Landon explore whether this defeat signals a worrying turning point for the season. They break down what went so wrong for both the defense and the offense, question the coaching direction, and consider the long-term implications for the Cowboys' playoff hopes and future roster construction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Tipping Point for the Season

• The manner of the loss was alarming, not just the loss itself. "It feels like kind of a tipping point in the season and it did not go in the Cowboys direction." (Landon, 01:43)
• Marcus notes this was a "diverging roads sort of game" that revealed the team's trajectory, not a blip but a worrying pattern.

2. Defensive Collapse After Micah Parsons Trade

• The defense, already expected to be weak after trading away star Micah Parsons, was even worse than anticipated.
• Landon: "When you traded Micah Parsons, it took away all of your margin of error. Now when you've got guys missing tackles and blowing assignments... that's how blowouts like this happen." (04:13)
• Both acknowledge this game will likely not be an outlier, predicting more defensive disasters ahead.

3. Historically Bad Pass Defense

• Marcus shares True Media charts highlighting the severity of the problem:
  • Cowboys are top 4 in offensive success rate, but near-32nd in defensive success rate.
  • "Their defensive success rate is so poor... the Cowboys defense is potentially historically bad." (Marcus, 05:07)
  • EPA (Expected Points Added) metrics put them "by orders of magnitude" worse than most NFL defenses, particularly against the pass.

4. Personnel Aging and Declining

• Landon breaks down which position groups are failing:
  • Both safeties "got really old in one offseason... Hooker and Wilson."
  • Linebackers "very disappointing."
  • Cornerback Kyrie Elam called "a disaster" (06:56).
  • Micah Parsons’ absence only highlighted these problems, which are deeper than one player.

5. Coaching Concerns and a Call for Change

• Marcus: "It's holistic, you know, it's coaching too, right?" (07:44)
• Eberflus' scheme is not adjusting; Landon notes, "I just don't feel like there were a ton of adjustments... it felt like more of the same." (18:01)
• Both debate whether it's time to fire defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus: "If you're serious about saving the season... I would take the temperature of the locker room." (Marcus, 18:01)
• Landon cautions: "You're not going to fire the DC and suddenly become a top-five ranked defense... it's just going to be the same menu, probably called by a different person." (19:20)

6. Third Quarter Meltdown

• The game slipped away in the third quarter:
  • Cowboys' lone possession: 7 plays, 18 yards, punt.
  • Bears: "19 play, 76 yard drive that took off 10 minutes of the clock... There was hardly any resistance." (Landon, 15:57)
  • Marcus: "One of the most frustrating drives I've witnessed... just truly demoralizing." (16:39)

7. Offense: Stalling and Predictable

• In the second half, the Cowboys offense was shut out. Only 14 total points: "If I told you... only 14 points against this banged-up Chicago defense, you would have said no way." (Landon, 24:17)
• Contributing factors:
  • Early game plan worked until CD Lamb was injured.
  • Post-injury, offense became "six and seven yard gains and there's really no big plays." (Landon, 26:24)
  • Dak locked onto short throws, especially to Ferguson, with little success after the catch.

8. Scheme Similarities to Prior Struggles

• Landon compares this game to their 2024 matchup with Dennis Allen's Saints: "It's unbelievable how similar this game was to last year when the Cowboys played Dennis Allen." (26:24)
• Without a true second wide receiver, the opponent can blanket Lamb and funnel the rest underneath.

9. Stats—the Big Picture

• Cowboys gave up:
  • 31 points, 298 passing yards, 6.8 yards per play to Chicago.
  • Caleb Williams averaged 14.9 yards per attempt in the first half.
• The defensive collapse was so total, Marcus asks, "Is this going to get way worse before it gets better?" (20:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Back-Breaking Bears Drive:

  • Landon: "I think if the field was 400 yards long, Chicago could have walked down there. There was hardly any resistance." (15:57)
  • Marcus: "It just made it even more frustrating... truly an inflection point on the season." (16:39)

• On Defensive Coordinator Eberflus:

  • Marcus: "His way of playing... got blown to hell when Parsons got traded." (18:01)
  • Landon: "You might get marginally better for a couple weeks because guys are more on their toes because of the firing." (19:20)

• On Aging Roster:

  • Landon: "It seems like both of your safeties got really old in one off-season... Your linebackers have been very disappointing... Kyrie Elam has just been a disaster." (06:56)

• On Offense Post-CD Lamb Injury:

  • Marcus: "Once the Bears kind of knew the Cowboys were throwing the ball, Cowboys had some success, but then CD Lamb got injured and that kind of threw things even further out of loop." (24:17)
  • Landon: "It feels like it has to be a bunch of six and seven yard gains and there's really no big plays." (26:24)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Episode Setup, Why the loss matters (01:18–02:49)
• Defense's expected decline after Parsons trade (04:13–05:07)
• True Media/Analytics breakdown – historical defensive ineptitude (05:07–07:44)
• Personnel breakdown: safeties, linebackers, corners—roster aging (06:56–07:44)
• Coaching, Eberflus' inability to adjust (18:01–19:45)
• Third quarter, game slipped away—Bears' 19-play drive (15:57–16:39)
• Receiving outlook and offensive stagnation after Lamb injury (24:17–26:24)
• Postgame summary/statistics (20:06–20:44)

Conclusion & Tone

The hosts adopt a candid but exasperated tone. They warn fans against overreacting, but also admit the situation may be even bleaker than the 1–2 record suggests. Both Marcus and Landon see fundamental, potentially unfixable flaws in both roster construction and coaching on defense. The offense, beset by injuries and schematic predictability, can't overcome the defense's failures.

Final Thoughts:

• "Just a really ugly loss all the way around. The offense was sloppy, the defense was worse. Up next, Micah Parsons in the Green Bay Packers in week four." (Landon, 28:53)

For Cowboys fans: This episode pulls no punches—a sobering reflection on a loss that feels like the start of a downward spiral, with roster, coaching, and schedule concerns looming large.