Jerry Closes the Coaching Door, Philly Loses Hurts, and the NFC East Is Wide Open: Monday Night Is Now a Must-Have for Dallas

By Jake "Star" Whitfield, RF Sports Radio Cowboys voice

Cowboys Nation, the owner has spoken, the opponent is wounded, and the division is a mess. That is the setup for Monday night in Philadelphia, and if Dallas cannot take advantage of this one, I do not know what we are doing here.

The facts

Jerry Jones said Wednesday at the NFL's fall meeting in New York that he does not anticipate any more coaching changes this season, per the AP's Stephen Whyno. Jones described the hiring of longtime defensive assistant Mike Pettine earlier this month as strategic and unique, and the AP reported that roster additions are another story, with the trade deadline still ahead.

Across the field, the Eagles are in worse shape than anyone expected. DallasCowboys.com reports that Jalen Hurts was placed on injured reserve after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, and he will likely miss the rest of the season. Tanner McKee is set for his second straight start. Saquon Barkley could return from a hamstring injury, Lane Johnson retired on Oct. 6, and Philadelphia traded Cam Jurgens to Baltimore. Both teams are 2-4. The Giants are 3-2-1 and Washington is 1-3-1, so a Dallas win would make the Cowboys 2-1 in the division.

The Cowboys' own numbers are ugly. Per the same storylines piece, Dallas has 29 points in its last two games, threw on 40 of its last 41 plays against Green Bay, and Dak Prescott has four of his five interceptions in the last two weeks. The defense has allowed at least 20 points in all six games, and the Packers converted 11 of 18 third downs. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who employed Christian Parker in 2024-25, said of his former assistant: "He'll get through it. He's a good coach."

There was also sad news Wednesday. Cornell Green, a Super Bowl VI champion who never missed a game in 13 seasons, died at 86, per DallasCowboys.com. He is still tied for fifth in team history with 34 interceptions.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: Jerry backing the staff is the right call, and it also removes every excuse. No more shakeups, no more new voices. Schottenheimer, Parker and this roster own Monday night. Good. Accountability is cleaner when everybody knows the guys in charge are staying.

The Hurts news is awful on a human level, and I hope he is healthy first. But football-wise, a backup quarterback behind a rebuilt offensive line is exactly the matchup Parker's defense needed. If Dallas cannot get off the field on third down against McKee, that is not a scheme problem anymore. That is a talent problem.

And on offense, 40 passes in 41 plays is not a game plan, it is panic. Run the ball early, stay in front, and let Prescott play from a lead for once.

My call: Cowboys 24, Eagles 17. That is a prediction, not a report. Dallas leaves Philly at 3-4 and right back in a division nobody has grabbed yet.

What to watch next

Watch for the first official injury report of the week, Barkley's status, and whether P.J. Locke's practice window opens. Kickoff is Monday at 7:15 p.m. Central. For Overshown's return and Schottenheimer's anger, read our Oct. 21 Cowboys column on Overshown's return, and follow every update on the Dallas Cowboys page.

Radio question: with Jalen Hurts out and Jerry standing pat, is Monday night the most winnable big game on the Cowboys' schedule?

Sources: AP / Washington Post — Jerry Jones doesn't see the Cowboys making any more coaching changes this season; Bleacher Report — Jerry Jones addresses stance on coaching changes; DallasCowboys.com — Big Picture: 10 storylines for Cowboys and Eagles; DallasCowboys.com — Cowboys Injury Roundup; DallasCowboys.com — Cowboys great Cornell Green dies at 86.