‘Mamba Mentality!’ Cowboys D ‘Best In The Business!' - Jayron Kearse

Safety Jayron Kearse and the Dallas Cowboys' defense are riding high after a dominant start to the season. ... and using a Kobe Bryant-inspired "Mamba Mentality'' to be the NFL's best.

Through two games, the Dallas Cowboys' defense has been nothing short of dominant.

After shutting out the New York Giants in Week 1, the Cowboys then allowed just 10 points in another dominant win over the New York Jets. Dallas' defense now leads the league in several major statistics, including points allowed, yards allowed, passing yards allowed and turnovers. The Cowboys already had one of the league's better over the past two seasons, but this year, the unit has been performing on another level.

According to safety Jayron Kearse, there's no debate over who the best defense in the league is.

"Coach Mike [McCarthy] is calling the right things and understanding that we have a defense that's opportunistic, and we're gonna go out there and make a play, create a play, whatever," Kearse said. "I probably just used the wrong word. We're not 'opportunistic.'

"We're just the best in the business."

Cowboys Kearse, Lakers Kobe

Of course, the Cowboys' secondary has played a huge part in their defensive success. Dallas has led the league in turnovers each of the last two seasons, and with seven of them in the first two weeks, they're well on their way to doing so again. The secondary alone is off to a blazing start with five interceptions on the season.

"I get a pick, then Malik [Hooker] gets a pick, and then Trevon [Diggs] gets a pick," said Kearse, who has noted that the team is taking a "Mamba Mentality'' in terms of intensity, modeled after the late Kobe Bryant. "I was laughing like, 'Let me be great by myself.' But around here, that's just how things go. We get that ball.

"The past two years, we've been the best in the business at it and we're just trying to continue that."

Not to be outdone, the front seven has also been fantastic so far. The Cowboys are allowing just 86 rushing yards per game, ninth-best in the league, and have the most sacks in the league with 10, tied with the NFC East-rival Washington Commanders. With the front dominating, it makes work a lot easier for the secondary.

"You've got a lot of guys up front that's making it easy for us on the back end. … And not having a lot of missed tackles,'' said Kearse, who as it happens was ill and missed the Wednesday workout in preparation for Sunday's Week 3 at Arizona, but is expected to be OK. "It all starts with those guys up front. We knew what we had to work on. Last year, that run game caused us a lot of havoc."

The Cowboys have come up short in the playoffs the last two years, but if the defense keeps it up, they can certainly end their long Super Bowl drought. ... using their "Mamba Mentality'' to be the "best in the business.''