Despite an ugly first half, the Dallas Cowboys prevailed over the Houston Texans on Sunday, overcoming a 10-point halftime deficit to win 34-30 after Dak Prescott engineered a game-winning drive in closing minutes.
Moving to 2-2 is all that matters, but Dallas' defensive woes continued. Sure, there were some things for Christian Parker's group to feel good about, but they gave up 30 points (again), and the lack of presence on the edge continues to be an issue.
It makes you wonder why the Cowboys were so against bringing back Jadeveon Clowney. Well, Jerry and Stephen Jones got an up-close look at Clowney in the win, and it's safe to say they should be questioning the decision to let him walk.
Returning from a knee injury, Clowney only played half of Houston's defensive snaps, but he finished third on the team with four pressures and tied for third with three defensive stops, which are plays that constitute a loss for the offense.
Clowney's impact was felt throughout the game, and he showed up at critical junctures.
The Cowboys sure could use Jadeveon Clowney on their defense
On 2nd-and-5 from the Houston 21 in the first quarter, Clowney collapsed the pocket and split a sack with defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy. Dak Prescott could not locate Pickens on third down and the Cowboys had to settle for a Brandon Aubrey field goal.
Will Anderson was the best defensive player on the field Sunday, but Clowney's fingerprints were all over Dallas' slow start offensively.
On 2nd-and-8 early in the second quarter, Clowney got into the backfield and rushed Prescott into a throwaway. Prescott was lucky not to take a sack, but he probably should have, as he was called for intentional grounding. His pass never made it back to the line of scrimmage. Dallas punted a few plays later.
Clowney's biggest moment came in the third quarter, when he stuffed a first-and-goal handoff to Javonte Williams from the Texans' one-yard line. If not for Kamari Lassiter's second pass interference penalty on George Pickens, Dallas would have come away empty-handed in a 23-20 ballgame, with Clowney's goal-line stop looming as the defining play of the possession.
That stop deserves more justice.
John Owning clipped the play, and it shows that Clowney got the best of Jake Ferguson and Brevyn Spann-Ford. A subtle stutter sent Ferguson flying without even touching Clowney. The 33-year-old then easily displaced Spann-Ford before engulfing Williams at the line of scrimmage.
That'd arguably be the best play of any Dallas outside linebacker this season.
Fit be damned, Dallas should have re-signed Jadeveon Clowney
You're telling me that Clowney isn't a fit in this defense? That's all we heard from Stephen Jones whenever he was asked about re-signing the three-time Pro Bowler.
Here's what Jones said regarding Clowney at the owners meetings in February:
“We’re gonna work through with (new DC Christian Parker). A lot of it will happen this coming week, in terms of the type of player (we’re looking for). We’re gonna continue to have those talks, and then we’ll make final decisions on who we think will be productive in this particular system.”
There's some merit to Clowney being a questionable fit in Parker's scheme, but the Cowboys were never in a position to be picky. Accounting for the entire season, Clowney was Dallas' best defensive player in 2025. And you know what? He'd probably be their best edge defender right now.
Rashan Gary had his best game as a Cowboy on Sunday, but he had underwhelmed before then. Where was Donovan Ezeiruaku? Von Miller might as well be inactive. Malachi Lawrence has flashed exciting potential as a pass rusher, but those flashes have been too few and far between to make a meaningful impact.
The Joneses, Parker, and Brian Schottenheimer completely overthought this one.
Clowney wanted to come back, filled an obvious need, and was coming off a productive season. Nobody expected him to transform the pass rush, but proven edge depth is a premium.
The Cowboys may have emerged victorious, but the win was a pretty compelling reminder that Clowney should have been among the first players who got re-signed in the offseason.
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