ARLINGTON, Texas — For every bit of adversity the Dallas Cowboys' have been fated to face on any given week, they've recently mounted up and punched back until destiny tapped out. The latest loss came by way of another blow to the linebackers' corp as Eric Kendricks was sidelined against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Micah Parsons, Jourdan Lewis and others still beat Baker Mayfield into submission.
They hurried him, lots. They hit him, lots. They sacked him, lots.
And in situations wherein they needed it most, they took the ball away from his offense and in a fashion that can only be described as the scene in the movie "Life" when there was a discussion about Eddie Murphy's cornbread only, in the movie at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night, Eddie did indeed get his food taken.
"Yeah, absolutely. That's our job, to go take it," said Lewis. "Nothing has been given to us, especially this year. So we had to go out there and scrap and go get the ball. That was just amazing on all of our parts.
"We were going out there hitting people, and that's just the football, the brand of football that I love to see and I'm accustomed to on this defense."
From Lewis' bully-ball style interception on a go route against Jalen McMillan in the fourth quarter to the brutality of Marist Liufau's play to the relentlessness of Chauncey Golston's motor and much more, the Bucs' high-powered offense was under siege for the majority of the contest.
Never to be forgotten, as well, is the strip fumble recovery from DaRon Bland to seal the win just as Mayfield and Co. began to gain confidence and with a shot at driving to take what would've been their first lead of the entire game; and potentially delivering another gutting loss to the Cowboys at home.
And then there's Parsons, who notched another sack and, in the process, became only the sixth player since 1982 to produce 50 sacks in his first four NFL seasons — an air that features Hall of Fame names like DeMarcus Ware.
"Go take it," he said of the defensive mindset during the team's 4-1 record over the last five games, a stretch that has them leading the league in takeaways. "Be aggressive. Those were two huge plays, huge momentum shifting plays. We can't say we win that game without those two plays.
"Baker was doing Baker today. He was extending plays, he was finding ways to get the ball down to its weapons but, in the end, our best guys got the best of their best guys and that's what helps you win games."
And, with that, the Cowboys embrace Grinch season, having zero chance of making the playoffs but playing for both each other and the thrill of villainy as they attempt to ruin the holiday season for the Bucs, Eagles and Commanders to conclude 2024.
With their loss to the Cowboys on Sunday, the Bucs' playoff odds crater from 88 percent to 44 percent and, due to the Falcons defeating the Giants, Tampa Bay no longer controls its own destiny.
Up next is a chance to possibly rob the Eagles of the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff bracket, also forcing them into playing their starters in their finale against the Commanders (instead of resting them for the playoffs) and to then potentially lower the seeding of the Commanders — should the Cowboys sweep them to finish the year.
But, heavens be, what about tanking for a higher draft pick instead?
"This is football. This is what I love to do. That's loser talk," said Lewis in a scathing message to those upset at players and coaches (many of whom aren't under contract for 2025) scratching and clawing for wins to end the season. "I don't get into that. I wanna win no matter the circumstances. Whenever I put my cleats on, I'm gonna do my job.
"I wanna go out there and win. As far as tanking, or whatever they call it, I don't indulge in that. I just love football. It don't matter what contract year it is — I'm going out there to dominate."
You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel.
Insert evil grin here.
