Dallas Cowboys defense: new era can only get better

In addition to backup quarterback Cooper Rush winning his third consecutive career start, the Dallas Cowboys have won two games in a row as underdogs and are now favored to win three in a row against their archrival, the Washington Commanders, this week.

That’s right, after opening the season up as true underdogs in its first three games, the Cowboys are favorites to beat the Commanders this upcoming Sunday, but it’s not solely because Rush is playing well. Nope. The primary reason for the Cowboys being 3.5 favorites against the Commanders has more to do with the Cowboys dominant defense.

Ranked 8th in defense for points allowed at 17.3 a game, that stat line doesn’t do this Dallas Cowboys defense any justice. They’re absolutely relentless to attacking quarterbacks, stuffing running backs, and forcing turnovers. And the Cowboys pass rush is becoming something quite special before our own eyes. The Cowboys defense is becoming this team’s sole identity.

Finally, the Dallas Cowboys have a stout and reliable defense that it can rely on to put opponents away.

Although it is four weeks into this young NFL season, it doesn’t take a genius to recognize a team’s strengths and weakness and what they have improved on from the previous season. The Dallas Cowboys defense is a prime example of defense that has clearly taken a positive step forward with its defense.

Dallas’ defense made major improvements last season from its previous one in 2020 where it had the worst defense in the league. Last year they led the league in takeaways (34), but now Dallas’ defense has added another layer of trouble to its defense with its vaunted pass rush. For good measure, Dallas is getting to the quarterbacks with four linemen! Read that again four! No blitzing to be seen.

Dallas defense leads the league in sacks with 13, and is getting help from everyone that is capable of making a play. Against the overhyped New York Giants, “War Daddy” DeMarcus Lawrence recorded three sacks, had six tackles, three quarterback hits, and three TFL (tackles for loss). Fellow edge rusher Dorance Armstrong got in on the action with one sack, giving him three for the season. But what makes this defense even more special is that safety Donovan Wilson contributed with 11 total tackles, a timely sack, two quarterback hits, and one pass defended.

To have a versatile safety like Wilson making those types of plays equates to a defense playing great at all three levels. Followed by Trevon Diggs game-ending interception and the rest of Dallas’ secondary shutting down the Giants wideouts. I didn’t even mention Micah Parsons impact and the rest of Dallas’ linebacking corps who were flying all over the field.

Dallas has not fielded a defense this good and talented in two decades. No, I’m NOT suggesting this Dallas defense is as talented as the ones from the Super Bowl-winning 90’s teams, but its undoubtedly the last time Dallas has had two dominant pass rushers with a very talented supporting cast to boot.

The key to Dallas’ defense is its ability to get to the quarterback with four linemen, and Parsons is truly the unicorn that can lineup anywhere on the field like a lion roaming the Sahara Desert. My Gawd!

Let’s get back to the pass rush.

Dallas’ pass rush is playing so good right now that players like Armstrong, Dante Fowler, Jr, and rookie Sam Williams are looking as good as advertised. Of course, Parsons and D-Law are playing a role in that with their ability to take on double teams, but when the supporting cast can step up and show out with sacks, hits, and quarterback pressures, it speaks volumes about the overall talent and depth of Dallas’ defensive line.

Like site expert Reid Hanson said about Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, he played good enough to win, but Dallas’ pass rush made it impossible for Jones to complete passes with out of those sacks and hits. And whenever Jones did complete a pass, a Dallas defender was there to make a tackle, deflect the pass or intercept it like Diggs. Dallas having a formidable pass rush open ups all possibilities for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn because he has the unicorn/chess piece in Parsons.

Dallas can rush four and let Parsons play off the ball and wreak havoc in the flats on those tight ends and running backs or spy on an athletic quarterback like Jalen Hurts. Better yet, the fearsome pass rush allows Dallas’ secondary to feast on opposing quarterbacks mistakes because they surely are to happen with errant passes and trying to force it before the pressure comes. Either way, it’s a win-win scenario for the defense

Dallas’ defense has only given up three touchdowns to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, and New York Giants. And the Giants touchdown was nothing to be ashamed of because Sequan Barkley is just that talented to break a long run at any moment.

The good news for Dallas ‘defense is that starting safety Jayron Kearse will be back to join Wilson and Malik Hooker in the secondary, and Dallas has other raw, athletic defensive players ready to make an impact in their own right or already doing it, like Jabril Cox, Osa Odighizuwa, Neville Gallimore, Trysten Hill, and Quinton Bohanna.

Sidenote: With a promising defense, Dallas still needs to add another good player to make it even stronger. There is no need to be satisfied. Add another good player to make Dallas one of the best defenses in the league with the opportunity to make a deep playoff run.  

In summary,

At 2-1, the Dallas Cowboys can honestly say that it’s their defense that is carrying them until Dak Prescott returns. Like I stated earlier, Rush deserves all the praise and credit for his decent quarterback play, but Rush is doing exactly what he’s capable of doing and allowing Dallas’ defense to do the rest. What a relief.

In years past, the Dallas Cowboys defense would have been the weakest link on the team and folded against the Bengals and Giants, and the offense would have to do all of the heavy lifting with no defense to lean on. Not anymore.

With Dallas prepared to play two of their next three games on the road against the Los Angeles Rams and the evil Philadelphia Eagles, it will realistically rely on its defense to carry the load while the offense take advantage of whatever the defense gives them. Whether Dak will be back for the Rams and Eagles game is still up in the air, but at least finally, the Dallas Cowboys have a fearful defense that it can depend on in tough games.

The defense represents a new era in Dallas that will only get better!