Cowboys vs. Jets: The Good, Bad & Ugly from Week 2 Domination

The Dallas Cowboys have dominated in back-to-back weeks against quality opponents, this time with a 30-10 victory over the Jets in which 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly' is a challenging game to play.

FRISCO - Once a team has accomplished what the Dallas Cowboys have in back-to-back dominant performances against two supposedly worthy opponents, it's difficult to play the game of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.''

But even in Dallas' 30-10 victory over the New York Jets in Sunday, Cowboys coaches will surely watch Week 2 film and find some sort of tiny imperfection. So, let's attempt the exercise ourselves, while thinking that even the "bad'' and the "ugly'' are pretty "good'' ...

THE GOOD - Micah Parsons. He's not just a Defensive Player of the Year candidate; The "Lion-backer'' is an NFL MVP candidate.

Micah Parsons of the Cowboys
Micah Parsons of the Cowboys

Yes, he sacked Jets QB Zach Wilson twice, helping the Cowboys to a total of 10 sacks through two games. But he also cleverly forced and recovered a fumble (and almost got credit for a defensive TD return). And the interception by Jayron Kearse? That was the Micah presence. 

Indeed, a prediction for Cowboys coaches grading: Parsons' snap-by-snap impact might approach a Lawrence Taylor/Aaron Donald/Reggie White-level high.

“I’m just hungry,'' the Lion-backer said in the winning locker room. "This organization changed my life, so I’m trying to give back to the fans and Mr. Jerry Jones.”

THE BAD - O-Line Injuries. You'll notice we're not saying "O-line depth'' as a problem, because every time we think that, Dallas rolls out another guy off the bench ... and he fills in just fine.

Zack & Dak

For the second straight week, vet journeyman Chuma Edoga played in place of the injured Tyler Smith at guard. But he hurt an elbow … so UDFA rookie T.J. Bass jumped in.

And then Zack Martin went to the sideline with an ankle issue … and rookie fifth-rounder Asim Richards entered.

Dallas can push you around while playing two unheralded rookie linemen? The injuries are unfortunate. But this “bad” turned “good” …

“I’ll be all right,'' Martin said in the postgame locker room. "I would have stayed in there if it was a tight game.”

THE UGLY - That "Cheap S*** Touchdown!' The Cowboys offense is having fun being greedy; Dak Prescott says those five Brandon Aubrey field goals need to be TDs. And the defense?

Dallas Doomsday 

The Cowboys seem a bit bothered to have given up even the 10 points, especially on the king Garrett Wilson score against broken Dallas coverage,

"You just witnessed the best defense in the world,'' Dallas' DeMarcus Lawrence said, adding that New York's lone touchdown came "on some cheap s*** like that, too.''


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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983 and the Dallas Cowboys since 1990, is the author of two best-selling books on the Cowboys.