NFL, you’ve been warned. The Dallas Cowboys are back and back in a very big way. While many outsiders are dwelling on Dallas losing three of their last five games, Cowboys Nation is focused on Dallas getting back to full strength. In many ways – for the first time all season.
People want to gloss over the fact that in November, the Dallas Cowboys were without three of their top-4 pass catchers at various points. They went under a major upheaval on the offensive line, and they even overcame a fairly significant injury to their most irreplaceable player, Dak Prescott.
If the National Media wants to gloss over the importance of those issues the Dallas Cowboys had to overcome on offense, then fine. With everyone appearing to be healthy and ready to go on Sunday, we’ll show the NFL what a fully loaded offense looks like again.
But what seems to be getting completely ignored is what’s happening on the defensive side of the ball. Not only is the current unit playing their best football of the season, but they are getting extremely significant players back themselves. Players that when matched together may be close to an unstoppable force.
The NFL hasn’t seen a fully healthy DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, and Randy Gregory play together for the Dallas Cowboys since Week 1.
Last week, DeMarcus Lawrence was able to get his feet wet playing his first action since early September. In limited snaps he made quite the impression, logging six pressures and a 24.1% pass rush win rate.
Tank’s return allowed the Cowboys leading pass-rusher, Micah Parsons, to slide back into an off-ball role last week. He was able to spy the QB and also mix in some pass-rushes along the way. The dynamic role allowed him to have an extremely productive day, logging four pressures and a sack for the Dallas D.
Micah Parsons is the 1st player with 70 tackles and 10.0 sacks through his team's 1st 12 games since James Harrison in 2010.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 3, 2021
He's on pace for over 100 tackles and 14.0 sacks this season. The last player to do both was Bruce Smith in 1993. pic.twitter.com/Sj69rry0az
Now Randy Gregory appears to be on his way back into the fold. The Dallas Cowboys are expecting him to be a full-go this Sunday against Washington. This will mark the first time since week 1 Dallas has started Lawrence, Parsons, and Gregory together.
Dan Quinn said DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons and Randy Gregory have been on the field for just 28 snaps this season.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) December 6, 2021
28 times. 28 times the Dallas pass-rushing trio has played together this season. That’s it. And think of how far Micah Parsons has come since that first game in Tampa. With a 24.4% pass rush win rate, Parsons has now become one of the most, if not THE most, feared pass-rusher in the NFL.
With a 24.4% pass rush win rate, Parsons has now become one of the most, if not THE most, feared pass-rusher in the NFL.
Lawrence, Gregory, and Parsons are all league leaders in pressure rate and all three will be deployed together in Washington. Did I mention starting defensive tackle Neville Gallimore is also expected to make his debut this week or next as well? That certainly can’t hurt.
Dallas detractors may want look past all of the issues Dallas had to overcome on offense over the past month or so, but they can’t ignore this pass-rushing trio. The Dallas Cowboys have been waiting for this moment all season, and now here in the regular season’s final stretch, Cowboys Nation gets to see it in action.
How many sacks do you think the Cowboys are going to get down the stretch?