DPOY Debate: Did Cowboys' Micah Parsons Get Leapfrogged By Myles Garrett?

Defensive Player of the Year Debate: Did Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons Get Leapfrogged By Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett?

ARLINGTON - The Defensive Player of the Year Debate is on ... and maybe it will be determined not only by the excellent performances of stars like the Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons and the Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett ... but also by the "when'' and "where'' details of their accomplishments.

That's the thesis here, and it is based on this: The Browns just raised their profile by clinching a spot in the AFC playoffs by pummeling the New York Jets, 37-20. The 11-5 Browns did so on national TV, on "Thursday Night Football'' ...and they did so with dynamic edge rusher Myles Garrett recording three tackles and a sack.

And suddenly? According to FanDuel, Garrett is now the odds-on favorite to win the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Parsons is listed as a close second choice.

But now Micah, who has 13 sacks in 15 games and who - despite the argument about how many times he's held by O-linemen without getting "deserved'' calls get to the QB with insane frequency - gets his shot in the spotlight.

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"America's Team'' never goes unnoticed. But here comes "Saturday Night Football'' on ESPN, a high-profile outing against a contending Lions team with the Jimmy Johnson Ring of Honor induction part of the buzz ... and Parsons has a chance to leapfrog right back in front of Garrett, who has 14 sacks - but in 16 games.

Other players in the conversation for the defensive honor include T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers and Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings.

But between the "numbers'' and the notice''? Yes, this seems like "Micah vs. Myles'' to us.