FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys defense allowed the least number of points they have all season with 22 against the New York Jets on Sunday, while their offense continued playing at a high level and putting up 37 points in the victory.
Giving up 22 points is not where Dallas wants to be defensively, but for the first time all year they showed what the unit could be when they had a consistent enough pass rush that affected the quarterback. In defensive tackle Kenny Clark's eyes, it was a step in the right direction.
"It's just been a long road, and we've been continuously just getting better," Clark said. "It all starts with practice, with how we walk through and everything. Just our process of what we're doing. We've just got to keep that going and keep holding each other accountable. We've got a lot of playmakers, and the more we do that, we can start making more plays on the field."
Clark pitched in half a sack to the Dallas' five against the Jets in his fifth game as a Cowboy since being traded from Green Bay before Week 1. The defense had only put up five sacks total in their four games prior. Finally being able to get home allowed them to play what ever team wants: Complimentary football.
"We've got a lot of rushers," Clark said. "Like I've been saying the previous weeks, our offense has been humming, if we can get some stops and get more teams to truly just drop back, you're going to see more numbers like that. We've got to just keep doing that."
While Justin Fields was constantly under pressure, the Cowboys did give up 180 rushing yards, including 135 to Breece Hall. It was their first game of the season allowing 100 or more yards to a single rusher.
They know they'll need to shore up ahead of facing off against former Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle next week, who is coming into the game off a 206 rushing yard performance against the Dolphins.
"We didn't play the run particularly well this week," Clark said. "But keep getting their offense in negative plays… getting them in more drop back situations, and we'll be able to hunt."
Speaking of being on the hunt, Clark was on one for his first interception when a Justin Fields pass bounced high into the air after it deflected off Dante Fowler's helmet.
Instead of having a chance at it, the ball hit the television broadcast's sky camera, changed course and fell incomplete. It was a disappointing ending for a play Clark certainly wanted to make.
"That was going to be my first one and my first touchdown," Clark said. "That was a crazy play. I thought I lost it in the sun, I thought I overread it or something. I knew I was tracking the ball well, and I guess it just hit the camera."
While head coach Brian Schottenheimer joked Clark wasn't entirely sure he could've outran Fields in a team meeting earlier on Monday, Clark was adamant that he would've returned the tipped ball for an interception.
He was also adamant about the team's practice being one of the biggest reasons the unit showed improvement on Sunday, and hope to continue doing going forward with the Panthers being their next road test.
"These last two weeks, we've been having great weeks of practice. Guys have really just been looking at themselves in the mirror and seeing what they can do better…" Clark said. "Just growing each and every week. That's the goal, just keep getting better each and every week."
