FRISCO, Texas – Two games of allowing nearly 500 rushing yards – at home – a place the Cowboys were so dominant over the last two years.
And yet, they were obliterated on the ground in a way that tests more than just their talent, but pride.
That alone has Micah Parsons saying enough is enough.
"I feel like a competitor, at some point you've got to be prideful enough to say, 'I'm not going to allow this to happen to me,'" Parsons said on Tuesday in the locker room. "I just feel like some people are just allowing them to keep getting smacked in the face. Like, when are you going to stand up?"
The perfect time for that would be Thursday night, when the Cowboys play at the New York Giants, who enter the game with an identical 1-2 record having beaten the Browns on the road, the same win the Cowboys have under their belt.
But for some reason, it doesn't sound like the Giants are having the same type of questions about their team, especially a defense that was dominant over the browns, getting nine sacks and 17 quarterback pressures.
But yes, the Cowboys looked rather impressive against the Browns as well back in Week 1. In fact, Parsons had one of his best games of his career, recording a sack and 11 pressures on Deshaun Watson in a 16-point win.
Since then, the defense has looked anything but. In fact, it's been rather bad as they now rank last in the NFL in rush defense, allowing 185.7 yards per game, including 273 last week against the Ravens.
Parsons said the goal remains the same this week: "we have to go out and dominate."
But to do what he does best – rush the quarterback – Parsons said the Cowboys must get them in passing situations. And to do that they have to be able to stop the run.
"People have to pass the ball," Parsons said, when asked why the pressures have been down the last two games. Parsons has just three pressures each the last two weeks after the 11 he had in Cleveland.
Parsons was very vocal after the Ravens loss, talking about the accountability that is lacking by some of his teammates. When asked if he feels like the rest of the players have received the message, he said it's not easy to gauge at the moment.
"Everyone says it, but we have to see what happens on Thursday," Parsons said. "It's very hard to tell. Everyone nods their head in agreement. We'll see."
At 1-2, Parsons was asked about the Giants game being a rare "must-win" game in September.
"I feel like every game is must win," he said. "The last two years, we were one game off the No. 1 seed. I think every game has equal importance. But I think I would like to get the ball back rolling again. We've got to get back to the win column and get the ball rolling."
And while every season is different, perhaps playing the Giants will help the Cowboys do just that, considering they've won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including a 40-0 and 49-17 win last season.
But then again, the past is the past. Because if Parsons and the Cowboys are adamant about putting the last two games behind them, the last few seasons are way in the rear-view mirror as well.
