Cowboys pulled off feat they hadn't in almost 50 years
Something is different about this Dallas Cowboys football team and you might've noticed it after four games of the regular season. And no, it's not that they're winning, exactly. It's not that they've been able to go on a three-win streak with a backup quarterback. For the past three weeks, we've been talking about the […]
Something is different about this Dallas Cowboys football team and you might've noticed it after four games of the regular season. And no, it's not that they're winning, exactly. It's not that they've been able to go on a three-win streak with a backup quarterback.
For the past three weeks, we've been talking about the Cowboys needing to turn games into ugly, low-scoring affairs in order to win. The conversation for the last three games was surprisingly similar. Get to the quarterback, take care of the football, and go win tough games.
That's shown up in the scoreboard, too. In fact, that's exactly what feels different about this time.
They just did something they hadn't done since 1973, about 48 years ago. According to Michael Gehlken from Dallas Morning News, that was the last time the Cowboys started a season allowing 19 points or fewer in each of their four games.
I'll say it again in case it didn't register. The last time the Cowboys did that was in 1973!
That was before the 90s dynasty!
That was when Bob Lily, Lee Roy Jordan, and Mel Renfro led the Cowboys' defense (the three went to the Pro Bowl that year). That year, Tom Landry had Ernie Stautner as defensive coordinator and a staff that included Mike Ditka.
The '73 Cowboys finished as the seventh best defense in points allowed and the fifth best in yards allowed, per Pro Football Reference.
Hopefully, the 2022 Cowboys don't follow the exact path laid down by that team, though, as they allowed 28 points or more over the next three games before not allowing more than 10 in six out of its last seven games.
The 2022 Cowboys have the eighth-best defense in EPA/play and have solidified themselves as one of the best pass rushes in the league. The next two weeks will feature tougher challenges as the team readies itself for games against the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles.
On Sunday, they simply didn't allow the Washington Commanders to get going. Dan Quinn's defense finished the day with two interceptions and allowed only 4.2 yards per play.
Whether or not the streak of not allowing 20 points in a game continues, they should be well-positioned to compete. Micah Parsons is a legit contender for Defensive Player of the Year, DeMarcus Lawrence is being moved around and making plays, and Trevon Diggs looks even better in coverage!
Featured image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
