Start of Cowboys 2024 season was ‘extremely humbling’

The Ravens did a masterful job of getting Parsons in foul trouble, often using him as a defender to ensure Dallas’ best player would be wrong no matter who he attacked. If the rest of the Cowboys defense can’t improve, more and more teams will put Dallas in such a blender.

Opposing offenses have called run plays against the Cowboys on a league-high 51% of plays this season, +11.4% more often than expected (fourth highest in the NFL), according to Next Gen Stats. The Cowboys have allowed a league-high 54.4% success rate against designed runs and +24.3 rushing EPA, more than triple the next closest team (Rams: +6.1).

Poor play was contagious in Dallas as the Cowboys defense totaled 17 missed tackles against the Ravens, more than Weeks 1 and 2 combined (15). The Cowboys also allowed 158 yards on their missed tackles, the most in a game by any defense this season.

“The start to the season wasn’t great, but like I said, it was humbling. This is our test, because without a test there is no testimony,” said Parsons. “I still dream of being a Super Bowl champion. I still have dreams and ambitions to go as far as possible this year and obviously reach that Super Bowl.”

If the Cowboys want to keep those Lombardi hopes alive, the defense must turn things around, starting with Thursday night’s matchup against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.