'Himothy, Times Two!' Buffalo Bills OT Dion Dawkins Praises Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins is well aware of the challenge that Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons will present in Week 15.

Beating the Dallas Cowboys likely requires shutting down arguably the league’s best pass rush. In a critical Week 15 contest at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, the Buffalo Bills will have their hands full with this elite group.

Only three teams generate a sack on a higher percentage of passes, and just two – the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns – have higher-graded pass rushes, per Pro Football Focus. The common denominator? Having an All-World edge rusher.

Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons is in the conversation for best defensive player in the sport and, outside of quarterback Dak Prescott, poses the biggest threat to Buffalo on Sunday.

Cowboys EDGE Micah Parsons rushes the passer against the Tennessee Titans / Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins explained what makes Parsons such a feared defender.

“For him to be that strong and that physical and to be that size – not calling him little, but he’s smaller than the average guys, compared to like a Myles Garrett – so those guys are always the anomaly,” Dawkins said. “Because they're drastically different, and they’re great players. But Parsons is ‘Himothy,’ times two, so we understand.”

Parsons and his 6-3, 245-pound frame is notably smaller and lighter than Garrett, but his 4.39 Pro Day 40-time stands out. When one packs a punch as strong as Parsons and complements it with more quickness than any offensive lineman can offer, he is rendered nearly unblockable.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn plays into this as well. Dallas isn’t afraid to move their X-factor around to find matchups, play with protection rules, or open up opportunities for other defenders.

“Just keeps us on our toes,” Dawkins said. “Keeps us dialed in because we have to be aware of where he is at all times because he can play linebacker, he can play [defensive] end, he could play [defensive] tackle. Shoot, probably could play corner. We just gotta keep our eyes up and figure out where 11 is.”

Parsons is firmly among the favorites for Defensive Player of the Year and is on track to set a career-high in sacks. After posting 13 and 13.5-sack seasons in his first two years, the Penn State product has 12.5 with four games left to play. They aren’t empty sacks, either. Per Pro Football Focus, Garrett is the only qualified edge rusher in the sport to post a better pass-rush win rate and pass-rush grade than Parsons.

What helps, though, is having additional talent around him. Doubling Parsons means giving opportunities to veteran edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence or breakout tackle Osa Odighizuwa, among a crop of quality rotational rushers.

Dawkins made sure not to overlook Dallas’ talent.

“Not to say it’s just 11, their whole front is great, their whole defense is great,” Dawkins said. “I don’t want to single out Parsons as if we’re only playing Parsons. They have great players.”

Cowboys 'Disrespect' As Underdogs At Bills? Explaining the Odds

Great players make great teams, and the Cowboys, having just blown out the Philadelphia Eagles 33-13, certainly look like one.

Limiting the impact Parsons has on quarterback Josh Allen will be a priority for the Bills, but just a step in maintaining a fairly healthy playoff standing. With his ability to move around the formation and proclivity for finding quarterbacks, expect Parsons and Allen to see a lot of each other in Buffalo on Sunday.