The Dallas Cowboys went to Washington this week to face off against the Washington Football Team in a game crucial in deciding the division. The Cowboys went up early in the first half leading by 24 points at one point, mostly thanks to the defense. Dak Prescott and the running game struggled throughout the game but the Cowboys defense saved the cowboys time and time again to help secure the win.
Cowboys Defense Defeats the Washington Football Team in Heated Division Matchup
Welcome Back Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence
For the first time this year since week one, Dallas’s main pass rush duo started the game together healthy. The impact was immediate. Early in the game, Randy Gregory was able to get his hands on a tipped ball and come down with it for an interception. In the fourth quarter, Gregory iced the game with a strip-sack. Demarcus Lawrence played phenomenal run defense and provided needed support for other linebackers to run free. He was a major part in limiting Antonio Gibson to only 36 yards rushing on the day. Lawrence also recorded a sack against Taylor Heinicke. Neville Gallimore made his first start of the season, aiding in rush defense and bull-rushing his way to a sack, adding to the abuse that Heinicke had to endure all day.
Micah Parsons Strengthens His Case for Defensive Player of The Year.
The true story about the Dallas Cowboys defense was the impact Micah Parsons had on the game. Early on, the Washington Football team was chipping and double-teaming Parsons to try and contain him. Rookies hardly ever get this type of attention, and it forced the Football Team to leave Gregory and Lawrence one-on-one. Thus, they were forced to give him one-on-one looks. Dan Quinn also did a great job of moving Parsons around the field to blitz from different looks. Parsons ended the day with three tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. On the year, Parsons has 12 sacks and three forced fumbles with a sack in six consecutive games. As it sits right now, Parsons already has more Sacks, Tackles, Tackles for Loss, and Quarterback hits than Khalil Mack has in his entire DPOY season in 2016.
The Lawrence Taylor Comparison
Lately, Micah Parsons has been compared to Lawrence Taylor by analysts around the league. The main reason for that is because Taylor is the only player in NFL history to win Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) as a rookie. Micah Parsons has a chance to do just that. In Taylor’s rookie year, he recorded one interception, two forced fumbles, and 9.5 sacks (unofficial). Through 13 games Micah Parsons has zero interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 12 sacks. While it may be too early to say Parsons will have the same All-Pro, Hall of Fame Career that Lawrence had, it is not unreasonable to say he has a shot to win the Defensive Player of the Year this year with the pace that he is on.
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