EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – In the last four days, it was hard to imagine the defense being beaten up anymore.
Literally, they took their lumps the last two games. Figuratively, they've been crucified by the fans and media.
But Thursday night against the Giants, they took even more bumps and bruises, seeing their best players in the medical tent, in the locker room, limping off the field, hobbling around between plays. Yet, in true bend-but-don't-break fashion, the Dallas defense showed more grit, more fight and more heart Thursday night than we've seen all year.
The offense was sputtering, failing to break away from the Giants, who were dinking and dunking their way just enough to keep the game close. To me, it just felt like the Cowboys defense was that wet paper sack that was soggy at the bottom, and eventually it was going to bust – as in a Giants touchdown to finally take the lead.
But it never happened because the Cowboys wouldn't allow it. And the reason they didn't allow it was because of the run defense.
This 32nd-ranked run defense rose to the challenge. The Giants ran the ball 24 times … and gained 26 yards. That's a 1.1 yard average if you're scoring at home – and you should be because everyone has been complaining at home. This run defense has been rightfully crucified over the last two weeks, and I knew that we were really going to find out what they were made of in this game.
Giving up yards to Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry is one thing, but if it happened with Devin Singletary, Daniel Jones and the Giants, then we knew there would be major problems all year with this run defense.
And who knows, maybe it's not fixed, but for this game the Cowboys weren't going to allow the Giants anything on the ground. And other than an early big pass to Malik Nabers, the defense really didn't allow a deep ball over their head.
So if you're not giving up big plays in the passing game, barely giving up a yard per run on the ground, then it's hard for any offense to maintain rhythm. Better yet, it's almost impossible to score a touchdown, and the Giants never did.
Keep teams from scoring touchdowns and you usually win. The Cowboys did both on Thursday night.
But I just couldn't get over how physical this game was for the Cowboys, who had never played a Thursday night road game in franchise history on just four days' rest. I couldn't believe that stat was true, but it's amazing they have never had a short week like this. Coming off a physical loss to the Ravens, and then to play that game like that with the Giants, you knew it was going to be a grind.
But it was even worse than I expected. Micah Parsons, your best player on defense, found himself in the medical tent twice in the game. That might be the first two times in his career that I can recall, the second of which is the most concerning as he awaits an MRI on Friday on his ankle injury.
DeMarcus Lawrence suffered a foot injury and had to leave for the locker room. Trevon Diggs left the game in the fourth quarter with dehydration. DeMarvion Overshown and Marist Liufau both had to leave the game but returned to action. And that's not mentioning the fact the Cowboys were already down cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Caelen Carson, and safety Markquese Bell was out this week as well.
Yeah, I get it, the Giants aren't exactly going to be running clinics on offensive wizardry, but with all of the injuries the Cowboys endured, before and during the game, it was an amazing performance by this defense, one that had been taking its fair share of shots the last few weeks.
And they took a few more licks Thursday night. But not enough to break them.
