ARLINGTON, Texas – As soon as the schedule came out back in May, this week was the first thing circled by just about everyone.
Really? The Cowboys play the two teams from last year's Super Bowl in a four-day stretch? That's going to be the toughest part of the schedule.
And every single week, when quarterbacks like Bryce Young, Russell Wilson, Bo Nix and Jacoby Brissett carved up this defense, all I could wonder was what Patrick Mahomes was going to do against them.
Guess what? Those guys didn't play against THIS defense. Nope, THIS defense is something we haven't seen until a few weeks ago. THIS defense is absolutely relentless, no matter what the deficit is on the scoreboard, and no matter what injuries they sustain. Plain and simple, THIS defense is undefeated.
Sure, I know it's been three games, but they've been three crucial games for a team that was 3-5-1 heading into the bye week and then forced to deal with the most tragic loss of all with one of their brothers.
But it's THIS defense that has come together with a combination of new players like Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson, and the return of others such as DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel for the first time this year and then injured vets such as Malik Hooker and Donovon Wilson.
If it looks like a new defense out there, it's because it is. And it definitely starts with Williams, who has been an absolute manchild in the middle. You think it's a coincidence that Osa Odighizuwa has come alive the last three weeks? Or that we're seeing more pressure off the edge in the form of Jadeveon Clowney? Even Sam Williams and Dante Fowler are playing their best ball of the year.
Quinnen Williams is eating up double-teams and beating them as well. So far, this has been an incredible trade for the Cowboys because they didn't just get one great player, they're seeing enhanced play from about six or seven (don't do it) other players on this defense. When you add that up, it's no wonder the defense has come alive here in the last three games.
If you've heard any of my podcasts on Cowboys StoryLine or maybe some of the radio hits on 105.3 The Fan, I've been pretty consistent talking about what this team has needed. It wasn't exactly a great player in the middle like Williams. It wasn't the need to get two or three more sacks a game or forcing two turnovers a game. All of those things are great and all, but what this team needed more than anything was just stops! Nothing fancy, just good old-fashioned stops on third down to get off the field.
That's it. Get about three or four more stops on defense per game and imagine how good this offense would be.
Well, we don't have to imagine that anymore. That's exactly what has happened here in the last three weeks. The Cowboys are getting off the field – without any points scored – and the offense is taking advantage.
In this game Thursday, the Chiefs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the game. Last week, the Eagles did it three straight times.
But once again, THIS defense has amnesia. They don't care what has happened a few plays ago. They certainly don't care what's happened earlier this year. This is a different group, and they know how to make adjustments on the fly.
After the Chiefs scored on the first two drives, they punted four straight times, and that was the difference in the Cowboys getting the lead and getting to play in front for most of the day.
Now, let's be honest here. The defense wasn't perfect. It did allow 28 points to the Chiefs, and when they were down, Mahomes engineered some quick scoring drives to keep themselves in the game the way you'd expect a two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP to play.
But what did happen – all game long – was the constant pressure. And it's not just from the guys up front. There were some coverage sacks that suggest this banged-up secondary is still playing good football.
Another thing to point out: Some of those drives that stalled for the Chiefs were due to penalties. How many holding calls did we see in this game because the Chiefs simply couldn't block them up front? I know they were banged along the O-line, losing a key player in Trey Smith and then both tackles as well. OK, sorry. It happens because we've seen it happen this year with the Cowboys, who also played without their starting left tackle.
But of the five drives that ended with punts, four were due to Kansas City penalties. I don't think it's just mental mistakes by them, but more about the playmaking ability of this defense, and the way Kansas City had to try to contain it.
This defense is just relentless and they have – all of a sudden – become a major problem for opponents. Add that to an offense that has been a problem for defenses all year long and some of the best special teams players in the NFL, and you've finally got a complete team, a team that is playing its best football here in the last few days.
If you're old enough to remember the Bill Parcells days around here, you would remember that he would also dismiss any discussion about playoff pictures or division standings until Thanksgiving, basically saying it's too early to try to figure things out until then.
Well, we're here now … and the Cowboys have positioned themselves in the hunt.
For that, that's something to be thankful for.
