- NFL
- NBA
- MLB
- NHL
- World Cup
- Betting
- SN 140
- Archive
- NFL
- NBA
- MLB
- NHL
- Soccer
- NCAAF
- NCAAMB
- NCAAWB
- WNBA
- Boxing
- MMA
- WWE
- F1
- NASCAR
- Golf
- Tennis
- College
- High School
- Darts
- Horse Racing
- Olympics
- More Sports
- Fantasy
- Betting
- Prediction Markets
- Watch
- The Scene
- Tickets
- Stadium Guides
- United States [English]
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brasil
- Canada
- India
- 日本
- México
- 대한민국
- España
- ไทย
- United Kingdom
- United States [Español]
- Việt Nam
- About Us
- Careers
- Privacy Preferences
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys drew criticism after the United States Men’s National Team opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday with a win. The U.S. delivered a historic 4-1 win, marking the first time since the tournament began in 1930 that the Americans have scored four goals in a single World Cup match.
Folarin Balogun became the clinical finisher the U.S. has often lacked in previous tournaments, netting two goals before halftime. On the other side, Paraguay’s defense fell apart just seven minutes into the match, which triggered a reaction from sports commentator Skip Bayless, who drew a comparison to the Cowboys’ 2025 defensive struggles.
“I don’t closely follow World Cup buildup, but from what I just saw, either Team USA is better than I expected - a true contender - or Paraguay’s defense is no better than last year’s Cowboys',” Bayless tweeted.
Similar to Paraguay’s disjointed and overwhelmed performance against Mauricio Pochettino’s high-tempo system, the 2025 Cowboys defense was plagued by structural issues. While the offense remained strong, the defense was among the worst in the league, finishing 30th overall by allowing 377 yards per game and a league-worst 30.1 points per game.
The Cowboys ranked last in passing defense at No. 32, giving up 251.5 yards and 35 passing touchdowns. They also allowed 125.5 rushing yards per game and an NFL-high 24 rushing touchdowns, ranking 23rd against the run.
However, with the arrival of promising young talent like Caleb Downs, the Cowboys are hoping to correct those defensive issues and rebound from last season’s collapse.
More NFL news:
- Jerry Jones confronted with uncomfortable truth about why the Cowboys keep falling short
- No excuses for Dallas in 2026 with the second-best wide receiver group in the entire NFL
- Cowboys may have just answered their biggest backfield question without even trying
- Maxx Crosby’s comments show there’s no chance he’s getting traded to the Bears
- Rest of the NFC East is handing Cowboys a golden opportunity they can't afford to waste
Sami Haider
Sami Haider is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. His coverage spans the NFL, NBA, MMA, boxing and NASCAR, with work featured in Sports Illustrated, EssentiallySports, College Football Network and Pro Football & Sports Network. Haider covers breaking news, game recaps, player updates, previews and predictions, and historical features across Texas sports.
Source: Sporting News
