The Dallas Cowboys' reunion with Micah Parsons ended in a completely dissatisfying fashion. The Green Bay Packers were so afraid of the range of Brandon Aubrey that it appeared the team was more interested in preventing a loss than going for the win, resulting in a 40-40 tie. Not surprisingly, Parsons was one of the game's standout players, as he finished with a team-high eight pressures and a 94.3 pass rush grade on Pro Football Focus.
Most importantly, Parsons also made the play that prevented the Cowboys from winning this game. After an incredibly acrobatic catch set up first-and-goal in overtime, it seemed the game was in the hands of Dallas. However, on second down after a stuffed run, quarterback Dak Prescott scrambled out to his left with green grass in front of him and had every reason to believe he would be headed in for the score. Instead, Parsons tracked him down from behind and took the veteran QB to the ground, saving a touchdown (h/t @NFL).
Micah Parsons' Week 4 Performance Showed Cowboys What They're Missing
It isn't a hot take to point out that if Prescott scored on that play, the Cowboys would've won. That scenario didn't happen, though, thanks to the heroics of a player who should still be wearing a star on his helmet.
The entire game against Green Bay should simply serve as a reminder of what the Cowboys' defense is missing. Put Parsons on the other sideline, and is there any reasonable pundit who is picking against Dallas in this game? The Cowboys simply need an electric defensive playmaker to complete what is a surprisingly competitive roster through four games.
It doesn't help that, as of Monday morning, Parsons owns the fifth-best overall (90.1) and third-best pass rush (91.5) grades among 159 exterior defenders on Pro Football Focus.
Cowboys fans were hoping to see Parsons spend his entire career with America's Team. Instead, they were forced to watch their pass-rushing star make a game-saving play, left to imagine what the outlook of the team would be had owner/general manager Jerry Jones signed Parsons to an extension rather than trading him to the Packers.
Sunday's tie proved how badly Jones bungled a simple equation. All the 82-year-old billionaire had to do was pay Parsons a season ago when a contract was first due. It would've already aged well with Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt being paid in the year since, but the Cowboys took too long to make a deal and now must sleep in the bed they've made.
Jones preferred confrontation over a peaceful negotiation, leading the Cowboys to lose one of the best defenders they've ever had. There's no telling when they'll land another player like Parsons again, if ever, but Dallas fans are hoping that the front office won't mess that up when it happens.