In Arlington, Texas, the Dallas Cowboys showcased yet another stellar performance by their defense in a 43-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Once again, the standout player of the day was none other than Micah Parsons, a strong contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
In the first half, Parsons made a significant impact by sacking Matthew Stafford on a crucial third down play, leading to a blocked punt on the subsequent play. Additionally, he had what initially appeared to be a strip sack against Stafford, though it was later ruled a violent hit, effectively ending another Rams drive.
The sack that did officially count was a remarkable play where Parsons lined up, poised over Rams center Coleman Shelton, and executed a swift one-on-one move to beat him before putting pressure on Stafford.
Regarding this tactic, Parsons noted, “It’s special. It takes me away from the chip blocks, and it’s about finding ways to create one-on-ones. When I’m freed up one-on-one, I can win that matchup. I definitely know that’s not what opponents want to see when they look up.”
The momentum gained from this Sunday’s victory, following a bye week, will carry the Cowboys into a crucial divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday. This scenario is reminiscent of the Cowboys’ decisive win over New England before their game in San Francisco. However, this time, Parsons is more confident in the team’s ability to perform well on the road.
“We just can’t beat ourselves,” he emphasized. “A lot of people said that San Francisco was so much better than us, but I didn’t think so. I thought we beat ourselves and put ourselves in bad situations. We didn’t get off the field, and we gave up big plays that we usually wouldn’t concede.”
“We have to perform better in away games. Home-field advantage is a significant factor, but we must maintain consistency. It can’t be a one-week success and not the next. It has to be a consistent effort.”
The Cowboys will have an opportunity to demonstrate this consistency in Philadelphia when they face the Eagles. Following their impressive performance against the Rams on Sunday, the team is filled with optimism.
“Every week, we’re aiming to secure a win,” Parsons remarked. “But when you win as convincingly as we did today, it’s hard not to feel good about it.”