So, there’s a bit of understanding there. There is also this positive: The Cowboys are second in turnover margin (+12).

But no matter how outsiders view the unit — as a beleaguered group fighting to hang on, or an under-performing group lacking depth and positive results — the only opinion that matters is that of owner Jerry Jones. For his part, he’s sticking by defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and line coach Rod Marinelli.

“To fix what we’re doing, there’s nobody I’d rather have than him and Rod Marinelli, and where we are today to get this fixed over the next week, two weeks, three weeks,” Jones said on 105.3-FM The Fan. “There’s nobody I’d rather have than him to fix it. First of all, he knows what we’re doing better than anyone, and if there are adjustments to be made, he’s the right man for the job right now.”

After the Cowboys were routed by the New Orleans Saints, Jones also hinted that he wished he’d not gotten rid of current Saints DC, Rob Ryan. Perhaps this is a case of making the most of the cards in your hand. He ditched Ryan and has to have a tough chin while dealing with countless defensive shortcomings under Kiffin — even if they aren’t all Kiffin’s fault.

“He takes it personally. It’s hard on him. It’s very hard on him,” Jones said. “He’s been doing it a long time at his age and he’s had a lot of different experiences. He doesn’t in any way reject the responsibility. As a matter of fact, he invites it on himself.”


TRESTMAN: CUTLER LEADING MAN


Look at the numbers: 27-of-36, 348 yards, four passing touchdowns and rushing score. Oh, and a 45-28 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Josh McCown is tearing it up in his backup role, keeping the Chicago Bears afloat while Jay Cutler recovers from an ankle injury.

So, why is McCown only biding his time?

Coach Marc Trestman endorsed Cutler as his leading man upon his return.

“There’s no change in the plan,” Trestman said Monday night, according to ESPNChicago.com. “We’ll see where Jay is this week. He’ll have to be released by the doctors. When Jay is ready to play, he’ll be playing."

That doesn’t leave room for misinterpretation. McCown is an emergency quarterback who has saved the day. Cutler is the elite quarterback who can turn a pretty good team into something more. He’s also the one getting paid to be a franchise player.

McCown has a nice $865,000, one-year salary. Cutler is raking in $50.37 million over the course of his five-year contract. This is the final year of that deal.

So, while McCown has been heroic and impressive in leading the Bears to a 3-2 mark in emergency action — he also has thrown only one interception — Cutler is the one getting those big paychecks.

Cutler will demand a higher salary during free agency, and the Bears may have a hard time coughing it up considering the job McCown has done. Of course, McCown could leave, too. The Bears have many options, including drafting a quarterback.


RODGERS STILL IN PAIN


Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanted to play last week, but the pain wouldn’t allow him.

Rodgers has a fractured collarbone and is eager to get back into action. He hasn’t been cleared to play this week, either.

“I shouldn’t be having pain doing simple movements,” Rodgers revealed on his weekly radio program on WAUK-AM. “It didn’t get better as the week went on. I tried a lot on Wednesday, it didn’t feel good.”

That’s not a good sign for the Packers, who may have to play another week with Matt Flynn.

Rodgers added that the collarbone as of last week had not healed enough, so the discomfort wasn’t just a matter of finding toughness.

“It’s frustrating, very frustrating,” he said. “I was trying to push it before science tells you it’s possible.”

He’ll practice again this Wednesday and take it from there.


PETERSON DOUBTFUL FOR WEEK 15


The Minnesota Vikings are expected to be without running back Adrian Peterson for their Week 15 home game against the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN.com reports although Peterson will avoid surgery on his sprained right foot, he likely won't play this Sunday.

Peterson, seen in a walking boot at the Vikings' facility on Monday a day after getting hurt in the Week 14 game at Baltimore, told reporters that tests showed no ligament tears and there's no danger of his mid-foot ailment being a Lisfranc injury.

As Minnesota goes into the Eagles matchup at 3-9-1 and eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC, there's no reason to rush Peterson back and instead let him heal before even thinking about playing him in one of the final three games this season. Backup Toby Gerhart looked great in relief of Peterson against the Ravens, rumbling for 89 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. He also picked up chunks of yards in recent games against the Seahawks and Packers.

While Gerhart is also battling a hamstring tweak, the Vikings need to lean on him, given the third option currently on their roster is fullback Matt Asiata. Expect Gerhart to get the bulk of the work, with the wrinkle of using speedy rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson as a change of pace out of the backfield.


BEARS-EAGLES MOVES TO PRIME TIME


The NFL will move the matchup between Chicago and Philadelphia to the prime-time slot on Sunday, Dec. 22.

The Bears (7-6) will travel to face the Eagles (8-5) at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

The New England Patriots game against the Baltimore Ravens will move to 4:25 p.m. on CBS.

Contributors: Rana L. Cash, Vinnie Iyer, The Associated Press