3 mind-blowing stats that defined Cowboys' historic defensive performance in Week 1
By Jerry Trotta
Did the Dallas Cowboys make a statement with their 40-0 thrashing of the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football? Just ask DeMarcus Lawrence.
“That’s for y’all to write,” Lawrence said postgame. “Only thing we do is go out there and play the game. If y’all feel like a statement was made, go ahead and put that mug on the front page, bold letters. I definitely feel like we did our job to the maximum of our ability. And I feel like we can still learn and get better from it.”
Pretty easy to read between the lines there.
A confidence-soaked Micah Parsons wasn't as obscure as Lawrence, but it's quite obvious the Cowboys' sent a message to the NFL.
It's nearly impossible to recap a defensive performance of that magnitude, but these three mind-blowing stats did that, and then some.
3. Dallas dominates player pass rush win rate
The Cowboys sacked Daniel Jones seven times, but the pass rush's dominance went beyond quarterback takedowns. Jones had no time to throw all night, as the entire Dallas defensive front lived in New York's backfield.
Per Next Gen Stats, Dallas had three players rank in the top 10 of pass-rush win rate for Week 1 leading into Monday Night Football. Dorance Armstrong, who finished with two sacks, was tied with Titans DL Arden Key for the top spot.
Dante Fowler and Sam Williams checked in tied for six, ahead of Defensive Player of the Year candidates Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt.
You have to think Micah Parsons is somewhere near the top 10, but the two-time All-Pro navigated double teams (by design) for most of the night that allowed his teammates to overwhelm their individual matchups.