By Gio Gennero | Sports Writer
The Dallas Cowboys are legit.
Through the first four games of the season the Cowboys are 3-1 and have no sign of slowing down. The offense is firing on all cylinders, the defense has a nose for the ball and even with injuries, the team has managed to look solid in every outing so far. If this play continues, the Cowboys should be a lock to win the NFC East.
Quarterback Dak Prescott has showcased his $75 million arm. He has surpassed 1,000 passing yards and is currently tied for third most passing touchdowns in the league with 10. Prescott is fourth in quarterback rating and has only thrown two interceptions this season. His ability to pass efficiently with few mistakes opens up the run game for running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
Elliott has done something almost unheard of for a running back in the NFL; he has actually improved in his sixth season. By no means am I implying Elliot is better than he was in 2016, but from last season to this season he has made a big leap forward. In his last game against the Carolina Panthers, he rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown against a Panthers defense that had only given up 135 total yards on the ground going into the game. It was Elliott’s highest rushing game since 2018 and he broke his longest run since 2016 with a 47-yard run. The big playmaker, Pollard, added his own 67 yards rushing on only 10 attempts. The two make for one of the best running back duos in the league.
Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the rest is covered by cornerback Trevon Diggs. Diggs has five interceptions in four games, and is tied for most consecutive games with an interception in the Cowboys’ history. Diggs leads the league in interceptions, and if he were a team by himself, he would be tied for fourth most interceptions in the league. Diggs was named the Defensive Player of the Month for September, then followed that up by starting October with two interceptions in the Cowboys’ first game of the month.
Another sensation for the Cowboys has been rookie linebacker Micah Parsons. While the statistics don’t jump off the screen, all it takes is watching a game to see how much his presence alone makes an impact. He has been a do-it-all player for the Cowboys, lining up both a linebacker and defensive end. Whether it’s tackles, pass deflections or quarterback pressures, Parsons seems to be involved one way or another in every good defensive play for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys haven’t had the hardest schedule so far, but they haven’t had the weakest either. To start the season, they scored 29 points against a top defense in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defending Super Bowl champions, only losing the game by two. They beat the Los Angeles Chargers, a promising young team that beat the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys then followed it up with a dominating performance against the Philadelphia Eagles and a win over the undefeated Panthers.
The Cowboys are doing this despite the loss of multiple key players. Offensive guard Zack Martin missed a game, offensive tackle La’el Collins was suspended, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence broke his foot and even wide receiver Michael Gallup has been out since week one. Regardless, the Cowboys have not missed a beat and continue to roll as the season continues.
The Cowboys are averaging over 30 points per game and have the second most takeaways in the league. Not to mention, they are 3-1 with a relatively easy schedule ahead of them. The Cowboys’ offense is clicking as much as I expected them to, and the defense is playing even better than I could’ve predicted. If this keeps up, they will win the NFC East and will have a good shot at making the NFC Championship.
