Dallas Cowboys show off elite defensive front on latest win
The 2021 Dallas Cowboys have given birth to a very fun weekly tradition. I'm talking about trying to find new ways to discuss Micah Parsons and how dominant he's been. We've been through guaranteeing him Defensive Rookie of the Year, the Lawrence Taylor comparisons, to putting him in the conversation for Defensive Player of the […]
The 2021 Dallas Cowboys have given birth to a very fun weekly tradition. I'm talking about trying to find new ways to discuss Micah Parsons and how dominant he's been. We've been through guaranteeing him Defensive Rookie of the Year, the Lawrence Taylor comparisons, to putting him in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.
It's been a fun ride. We all expected Parsons to be a good linebacker for the Cowboys. But little did we know he would become one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league while also playing linebacker.
And although the rookie's performance isn't anything new, it's now being complemented by the entire defensive line. On Sunday's win over Washington, the Dallas Cowboys finished with five sacks.
Parsons got two, while Neville Gallimore, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Randy Gregory got one each. But it's more about just sacks.
"Back like I never left!" said Gallimore after a strong performance on his welcome back game. His sack on Heinicke was the ultimate example of a well-executed bull rush.
Right from the get-go, the Cowboys' defensive front was winning the battle in the trenches. It seemed evident the punishment the Washington OL was receiving would catch up in the second half.
What continues to be even more impressive is that Dan Quinn is using his play-makers in creative groupings. The Dallas Cowboys will frequently play defensive ends inside. Even from the first play against Washington, Lawrence lined up inside with Parsons next to him.
Coming into Week 14, the Cowboys ranked 4th in the NFL in pressure rate. And they've been able to do so without a strong blitz rate as they ranked 13th in the league at 23.7%, via Pro Football Reference.
For more on the Cowboys' win over the Washington Football Team, check out my nightly show A to Z Sports Dallas Primetime.
Featured image via Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
