It sure looks like Brian Schottenheimer has run out of excuses for Matt Aberfels.

Brian Schottenheimer clearly doesn't know what to say about Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.

This week might be the biggest phone call Jerry Jones has had from his defensive coordinator Matt Eberfluss.After Brian Schottenheimer's media availability Wednesday, it looks like he's on that train, too.

EVP Stephen Jones has been tougher on Eberflus, admitting the team ranks among the worst defenses in the league.Both Joneses seem to be running out of patience with Eberflus, and Schottenheimer appears to be not far behind.

Longtime Cowboys tight end Ed Werder asked Schottenheimer to put Jerry's pressure on his defensive coordinator.Schottenheimer tried to be as friendly as possible, but he had to tell the obvious truth.

"At the end of the day, we all understand what we're in for. This is the National Football League," Schottenheimer said."I think Flass is a great coach. We haven't played well enough in that area. But the biggest thing for me is that I'm Flass. I've gone through those guys saying, 'Hey, what about Scotty ...? That's part of it.'We are used to it.My job is to help Fluss and the whole staff come up with a good game plan and next week we'll try to play a best-of-three game."

Brian Schottenheimer acknowledges Matt Eberflus' defensive woes

This will go unnoticed by Cowboys fans.A "great" coach can have a team in the middle of the standings, but that's not the case in Dallas.The Cowboys have spent weeks battling the Bengals for the title of worst defense in football, and there's nothing "great" about that.

The Cowboys are ranked as the top offense in Week 15. It's been three months of Dak Prescott playing the best ball of his career and all the talent around him will be wasted.

Schottenheimer does his best to be gentle here.Eberflust is not going to throw him under the bus.This is not the culture he created.

The Cowboys put no pressure on Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy, who has struggled all season.The Vikings had little to play for other than pride, and with the Cowboys' season on the line, Aberplus' defense made McCarthy look like a Pro Bowl QB.

It's time for Jones to acknowledge the frustration fans have been expressing all season, and the timing couldn't be worse. They addressed the elephant in the room after the Cowboys' playoff hopes were all but gone. It sounds like Brian Schottenheimer is giving Matt Eberflus as much reprieve as possible, but the defense has taken too much damage at this point.

Assuming Jan. 4 is Eberflus' last game with the Cowboys, Jerry should allow Schottenheimer to hire someone he trusts.If that doesn't happen, expect the culture to stay the same.