Through seven weeks of the NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys’ defense was — hold on. I’ve used putrid. I’ve used awful. I’ve used demoralizing.
Google: synonym for bad. Results: Deficient. Inadequate. Substandard. Dreadful.
Whatever negative word you could possibly use, it probably fits. The unit entered Week 7 dead-last in yards allowed per game (401.6) and third-to-last in points allowed per game (29.4), and has been the cause of multiple losses through the first third of the season.
Heading into a divisional matchup against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, it was clear that there would be a different approach. Jerry Jones promised more man coverage. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus spoke about more pressure and playing more to the strengths of his personnel in place. Then, it was all backed up.
Against man coverage on Sunday, Commanders quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota were 5-for-15 for 67 yards. Against zone coverage, they were 11-for-17 for 152 yards and one interception. It was the most passing attempts against man coverage that a Cowboys defense has had all season.
“We were able to play fast out there,” cornerback DaRon Bland said. “We showed who we are out there. It was a great day. As a cover guy, I like to be playing man.”
The changes weren’t just made in the back end. Despite linebacker Jack Sanborn returning from a concussion this week, rookie Shemar James kept the starting job over him and turned in the best performance of his young career with a strip sack of Daniels to go along with seven tackles.
“It means a lot,” James said. “Because it means the coaches trust you to keep you in there and allow you to do your thing. That’s what I’ve been trying to do since I’ve been here, just earn the coaches’ trust, show them I can play and show them I can be for all 11.”
Up front, the pressure was dialed up even more as well. On the 40 dropbacks for the Commanders, the Cowboys sent a blitz on 17 of them. They were able to get home for four sacks, including the first for rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku.
“Amen,” Ezeiruaku said. “First of many. ... I finally got that first one, and the guys were hyping me up. I’m happy and grateful that today was the day I got one.”
The changes were seen on all three levels. From more man coverage to personnel to more pressure, Eberflus’ adjustments on the defensive side of the ball were felt Sunday, and it allowed the Cowboys to play their most complementary game of the season.
But can it last?
“There’s definitely things that we got to clean up,” defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa said. “We’re always chasing the perfect game, but this is definitely something to build off of.”
“Our main thing is being consistent,” cornerback Trikweze Bridges. “We’re going to keep going with that, and just be consistent.”
That’s the key to all of this: consistency. If the Cowboys can achieve that elusive word, then maybe we’ll have to start Googling synonyms for that one as well.
Through seven weeks, we know what the offense is and what it can be. But what is the defense? Was Sunday a mere anomaly, or is it the sign of what’s to come under these new changes?
If it’s an outlier, then this team is right back to losing against teams it shouldn’t be.
But if it’s the latter, there’s no reason to not believe that the Cowboys are poised to go on a run. With an upcoming slate of games that will see them take on the up-and-down Broncos next week before a two-game stretch against the lowly Cardinals and Raiders, a consistent defense during that stretch can very easily create a four-game winning streak.
If it does, remember the Sunday afternoon against the Commanders. It just may end up being the “get-right” game.