It never seemed like the Dallas Cowboys had a chance in their humbling 44-24 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Dak Prescott and the offense weren't as good as they have been this season, but the defense took a massive step (or two) backwards after looking better against the Washington Commanders a week ago.
Still, as defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus struggled to orchestrate any resistance to Bo Nix and the average Broncos' offense, CBS color analyst and former Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo made a case for him being the guy moving forward.
Tony Romo had a maddening Matt Eberflus take during Cowboys' blowout loss
During the third quarter of CBS's coverage of the game, Romo stated that he believed Matt Eberflus is a good coach and the right man for the job, even as the Broncos moved the ball up and down the field at will.
Yes, Eberflus and the defense were scrambling to get healthy bodies on the field throughout, particularly in the secondary, which was worn down to the bone with injuries. Still, the constant lack of communication and blown assignments contributed to 44 points allowed on 426 yards of offense. Prescott and crew never had an opportunity to make it a competitive game.
Nix is a fine young quarterback who appears to be a long-term solution for Sean Payton and the Broncos, but he threw for four touchdowns on Sunday, and only one of them (the 24-yard dime to Pat Bryant on the pylon route) was even contested.
RELATED:Jerry Jones finally admits what Cowboys fans have been screaming about the defense
It's difficult to nail down exactly what Romo was citing as Eberflus' defensive units in Chicago in 2023 and 2024, which were both in the middle-of-the-pack when he was their head coach. And as the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-2021, his defense was only once among the top 10 (seventh) in yards allowed per game.
Maybe the former Cowboy-turned-broadcaster puts a lot more stock in the loss of Micah Parsons and his effect on opposing quarterbacks than others. Nevertheless, Jerry Jones and Cowboy Nation can't be satisfied with the product being run out onto the field each week so far this season.
But Jerry has proven time and time again that the opinions of the fans have little to nothing to do with how he manages his roster and hires coaches.
For whatever it's worth, however, Eberflus has Romo's stamp of approval even as this defense ranks 31st in the NFL in yards per game, passing yards per game, and points allowed per game.
Maybe Romo didn't want to come down too hard on Eberflus, who was Dallas' linebackers coach for Romo's final four seasons as the Cowboys' starting quarterback. That might've influenced Romo's defense of Eberflus, because there's no way someone with Romo's football IQ can watch what's unfolding every Sunday and believe Eberflus is the answer.