What happened: Dallas lost 28-20 in Christian Parker's first game running the defense. Ed Werder wrote that the unit looked like the versions that led to one-season exits for Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus, and he added that the Cowboys lacked possessions on offense.

Why it matters: The result puts immediate pressure on Christian Parker after Dallas turned to another new coordinator on defense. A rough opening on that side of the ball sharpens attention on whether this change can stop the cycle Werder referenced.

What to watch: The next read is whether Parker changes the approach after an opener that quickly revived comparisons to Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus. Dallas also needs a steadier offensive complement after Werder's critique that possessions were too hard to find.