The Dallas Cowboys are getting set to host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving. Cowboys legend DeMarcus Ware will be at the game, both to cheer on his former team and, more importantly, give back this holiday season.
Ware spoke with FanSided via The Landry Hat podcast on behalf of Crown Royal, the official whiskey partner of the NFL. The Pro Football Hall of Famer teamed up with the North Texas Food Bank with the goal of donating 10,000 meals to families in need this holiday season. Ware will be in Lot 3 at AT&T Stadium before the game, accepting donations and signing autographs.
"We teamed up with the North Texas Food Bank, and we're gonna be able to give those items to the North Texas Food Bank," Ware said. "So if it's rice, if it's beans, if it's pasta, those types of items for the game, we're gonna put them on that truck (the Crown Royal rig), take them to the North Texas Food Bank, and do something great in the community."
Host Zac Lee then asked Ware about the Cowboys' huge win over the Eagles this past Sunday, which tied the biggest comeback win (21 points) in franchise history. Like the entire Cowboys fan base, Ware was blown away by Dallas' performance in the trenches, both on offense and defense.
Cowboys legend DeMarcus Ware pointed out Dallas' new identity
"That's where it starts, you know, just talking about the offense and defensive line with Quinnen (Williams) coming in, him being an anchor for the middle," Ware said. "If you start in the middle, if you can stop the run, you can get pressure. You can see that, you know, they started off, you know, stopping a run at the beginning. They were able to get pressure in the second half, and that's what we needed to get pressure on Hurts."
"And then the offensive line, it starts with the middle again, a great center and guards. They were able to run the football against a really, really good Philadelphia Eagles defense. So then they set up for the big plays for (CeeDee) Lamb and (George) Pickens. It starts with the ground game, the ground and pound is what they call it. So, if they can play like that, and control the clock, control the trenches, and just keep the chains going, they're gonna win a lot of football games."
Ware hit the nail on the head.
The Cowboys dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis were completely neutralized. Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Booker did an exceptional job creating running lanes and not allowing Carter and Davis to collapse the pocket when Dak Prescott dropped back to pass. Javonte Williams and Malik Davis combined for 111 rushing yards on 23 carries, good for 4.8 yards per tote.
On the other side of the ball, what more can be said about Quinnen Williams? He tallied a career-high eight pressures in the game, followed closely behind Osa Odighizuwa's five pressures and sack of Jalen Hurts on 3rd-and-2 with two minutes left in the game. That gave Dallas the ball back with a chance to win the game, and Prescott, George Pickens, and Brandon Aubrey did the rest.
It's taken a while, but the Cowboys finally have a roster that is capable of winning in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The offensive line is back to playing at a high level following a rebuild, and the defensive line is suddenly a force to be reckoned with following the Quinnen Williams trade.