'You Just Witnessed the Best Defense in the World! 2-0 Cowboys 'Smother' Jets

Mike McCarthy and his offense may draw the headlines, but Dan Quinn's defense has been the difference for Dallas to open the season as the Cowboys are 2-0.

Through two weeks of the 2023 NFL season, the primary story for the Dallas Cowboys has not been the transition to Mike McCarthy as the team's offensive play-caller. It's been centered on Dan Quinn's defense.

Quinn's arrival in Dallas for the 2021 season brought immediate changes to the Cowboys, but if the first two games of this season are any indication, his unit may finally be elite in the league, especially up front. Even with an impressive offensive performance in Dallas' 30-10 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, the Cowboys defense is what continued to jump off the page.

Said defensive leader DeMarcus Lawrence: "You just witnessed the best defense in the world!''

Through two weeks against the two teams who call The Meadowlands home, Dallas' defense has accumulated seven turnovers and 10 sacks, including seven sacks of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in Week 1, good for a loss of 47 New York yards. In Arlington on Sunday, the Cowboys once again dominated a New York team up front, only this time it was the Jets team led by young quarterback Zach Wilson in lieu of the injured Aaron Rodgers.

It didn't take long for the Cowboys to pick up where they left off in New Jersey a week ago. The Jets' first drive on Sunday saw Lawrence blow up Breece Hall in the backfield for a four-yard loss, and Micah Parsons (one of the league's best young storylines over the last two seasons) flew into Wilson for a sack to conclude New York's opening possession.

Cowboys star Micah Parsons headlined his team's defensive effort on Sunday, tallying two sacks of Jets QB Zach Wilson. 

In the second half of action, Parsons stripped Jets running back Dalvin Cook to force a fumble, and it appeared he had a scoop-and-score as a result, but he was ruled down after the recovery. Even so, that play and others helped hold the Jets to just 13 yards of offense in the third quarter, a noteworthy achievement after some large runs from Zach Wilson late in the first half and a 68-yard touchdown pass.

At the end of the game on Sunday, the Jets had turned the ball over four times and seen their quarterback sacked three times for a loss of 19 yards.

Said Micah of Dallas' defensive work: "Finishing games. Closing them out. Smothering people. Not giving them that hope and dream that they can come back in this game. That’s the type of things you want to see.''

Mike McCarthy is an experienced offensive play-caller. Although his "Texas Coast" offense brought some changes in terminology and scheme for quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys' offense doesn't appear to be a concern early in the season. 

Prescott has looked sharp, seeming to take seriously his promise to not lead the league in interceptions again in 2023. Tony Pollard has continued to rack up yards after contact and has even become a weapon for Prescott in the passing game. Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert and Brandin Cooks (who was out with injury on Sunday) continue to look impressive.

But what will likely be the difference for Dallas this season won't come on offense. Everyone knows that there are weapons there. You want to pass the potent Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East? That starts up front, and Dan Quinn's unit may finally have a complete picture on that side of the ball.