RK As Dallas hits the BYE WEEK, the pressure is MOUNTING inside The Star — and multiple big-name players are officially ON THE HOT SEAT!

As the Cowboys hit their bye week with a losing record, pressure is mounting on key players and coaches whose performances are falling far short of expectations.

As the Dallas Cowboys hit their bye week sitting at 3-5-1, frustration is bubbling over-and for good reason. This is a team that, on paper, should be performing far better.

The offense, led by a resilient Dak Prescott, has shown flashes of fight and fire. But the defense?

That’s where things start to unravel. And while the record tells part of the story, it doesn’t fully capture just how many winnable games this team has let slip away.

Despite the struggles, there’s still a sense that this Cowboys squad is more talented than their record suggests. But potential doesn’t win games-execution does. And right now, there are three key figures whose underperformance has become impossible to ignore.

1. Matt Eberflus – Defensive Coordinator

Let’s start with the man calling the shots on defense. Matt Eberflus entered the season with a clear mandate: stabilize a unit that had the tools to be competitive, even dominant at times.

But instead of progress, the Cowboys’ defense has cratered. If not for the Cincinnati Bengals’ own implosion, Dallas would be dead last in both points and yards allowed per game.

That’s not just a red flag-it’s a five-alarm fire.

Yes, the loss of Micah Parsons is a massive blow. You don’t just replace a player of his caliber overnight.

But even accounting for that, the defense has looked lost-disorganized, reactive, and often overmatched. There’s been little in the way of adjustments or creativity from Eberflus, and that’s especially glaring when the offense is doing enough to keep the team in games.

With one of the league’s most productive offenses on the other side of the ball, the defensive collapse becomes even more frustrating. This isn’t a team that needs to pitch shutouts-it just needs to be competent.

So far, that bar hasn’t been met. If the Cowboys want to salvage the season, Eberflus will need to engineer a dramatic turnaround.

Otherwise, the front office may be left with no choice but to make a change.

2. DaRon Bland – Cornerback

Two years ago, DaRon Bland was the breakout star of the Cowboys’ secondary. He was a pick-six machine, snagging nine interceptions in a single season and returning five of them for touchdowns. That kind of production doesn’t just happen-it marked Bland as a rising star and earned him a hefty four-year, $92 million extension with $50 million guaranteed.

But this season? That version of Bland has vanished.

His 61.7 PFF grade only scratches the surface of the drop-off. The eye test shows a corner who’s lost confidence, often a step behind in coverage, and giving up too many big plays. The regression has been stark, and it’s come at the worst possible time for a defense already stretched thin.

The Cowboys paid Bland to be a cornerstone of their secondary, not a liability. And while the contract means he’ll be around for a while, that doesn’t guarantee playing time if the performance doesn’t improve. At this point, the coaching staff has to consider all options, especially if they’re serious about turning things around in the second half of the season.

3. Jalen Tolbert – Wide Receiver

While the defense has taken most of the heat, there’s one offensive player who hasn’t kept pace with the rest of the group-Jalen Tolbert.

Coming off a career year in 2024, Tolbert was expected to solidify his role as the team’s third receiver behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Instead, he’s struggled to find any rhythm.

With just 172 receiving yards and a single touchdown to his name, Tolbert’s production has fallen off a cliff. His catch rate has dipped, and his impact has been minimal.

That’s a problem for a team that needs reliable depth in the receiving corps. Prescott has done his part, distributing the ball and keeping the offense moving, but without a trustworthy third option, the passing game becomes easier to defend.

Tolbert was supposed to be that guy. So far, he hasn’t delivered.

And with this being a contract year, the stakes are high. Right now, there’s little reason for the Cowboys to commit to Tolbert beyond this season. If he doesn’t step up down the stretch, the team may look elsewhere for that WR3 role.

Bottom Line: The Cowboys aren’t out of the playoff picture just yet, but they’re running out of time-and patience. The offense has shown enough to keep hope alive, but the defense needs answers, and fast.

Whether it’s Eberflus dialing up a new game plan, Bland rediscovering his form, or Tolbert finding his footing, something has to give. Because if this team is going to make a run, it starts with accountability-and ends with execution.