With back-to-back seasons totaling 12 wins, the Dallas Cowboys have as much pressure as any team in the playoffs and are expected to make some noise, although that hasn't been the case regularly for almost 30 years.

The Cowboys will need their best players to be at their peak performance when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, and edge rusher Micah Parsons is at the forefront of the list. The two-time All-Pro spoke earlier in the week about his mindset heading into his second playoff game.

“Honestly, I feel like as far as we go, these are going to be my best games," said Parsons on Thursday. "That’s just because I want it. Regular season is cool. You guys get all hyped up. But this is where legends are made.”

Parsons did what he always does in 2022, and that's dominate the competition. He registered 13.5 sacks (six games with multiple sacks), 27 quarterback hits, 14 tackles for loss, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. The last third of the season was a bit different as Parsons only logged 1.5 sacks over the last six games and recorded five tackles just once.

With how much Parsons was used banging in the trenches as an edge rusher this season, it was visibly taking a toll on his body. Also, he's missed practice due to an illness and recently wore a wrap on his hand because of a laceration.

Parsons has some battle scars, but that's part of football. With the playoffs approaching, Parsons will be needed more than ever and he feels things are about to pick back up as far as his production.

“I feel like I’ve hit my second wind," Parsons said. "I feel better now than I have the past couple weeks, just because of how anxious and excited I am.”

The Cowboys laid an egg versus the Washington Commanders in their season finale. On both sides of the ball, the Cowboys looked awful and did so against mostly backup players.

For Dallas, who go into the playoffs losing two of their final four games, it's gut check time, and Parsons called everyone to the frontline after their showing in Week 18.

"Everybody should look at themselves in the mirror," Parsons said. "And say, 'What do we really want? What are we really doing this for?' If people are doing this for stats, Pro Bowls, whatever that is, then we might as well just hang it up now."

"I'm playing this for the long run. I'm not gonna be young forever. I already realize that. I wanna win while I've got this chance. I'm gonna look at myself in the mirror, everybody's gonna look at their self in the mirror, and say, 'What do we really want out of this? Do we really want to go far?' Because these type of performances can't happen."

Parsons is certainly rigaboutith the Cowboys having to face the ultimate football winner in Tom Brady. If the Cowboys are ever going to get back to postseason success, the time is now.

Feature image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports