FRISCO, Texas — No team in the NFL allowed more points last season than the Dallas Cowboys. Christian Parker‘s first Dallas defense opens Sunday night against a quarterback who runs.
Brian Schottenheimer said he feels very different about this defense going into game one than he did a year ago.
“I just want to see them play hard. I think they’ll do that. I think the play style has been evident throughout the preseason without our vets,” Schottenheimer said. “I think the one thing that if you talk to CP about, the play style is real. We’ve got speed at every level. Jalen Thompson’s fast, Dee Winters, maybe he’s one of the fastest linebackers in the league. He can really run. Demo, obviously great speed. So when you have these athletic edge pieces, that’s one of the reasons why you invest in a guy like Malachi Lawrence, and all that.”
“That’s where this game has gone. A lot of these mobile quarterbacks that are athletic and they can extend plays and they can beat you scrambling, they can beat you throwing,” Schottenheimer continued. “Jaxson Dart does a great job when he gets out scrambling and scrambling to run and making plays and keeping things alive. We’ve got to be really good with our pass rush and integrity and keep them in the pocket, but the team speed on defense does help us.”
Jalen Thompson signed a three-year, $33 million deal with Dallas this offseason. Dee Winters and DeMarvion Overshown are the linebackers Schottenheimer named for speed. Overshown is in a contract year and has worked at MIKE in Parker’s defense, wearing the green dot, after spending most of his career on the weak side.
Malachi Lawrence was the Cowboys’ first-round pick in April. Donovan Ezeiruaku, a second-round pick in 2025, is in his second season. Rashan Gary came over from the Green Bay Packers. Von Miller signed a one-year deal on Aug. 16 and leads all active players with 138.5 career sacks. Schottenheimer said Monday he sees no physical reason Miller could not play against the Giants.
Miller had 9 sacks for the Washington Commanders in 2025 and is entering his 15th season. Ezeiruaku had his rookie season in a rotation that finished last in the league in points allowed. Lawrence was the second of two Cowboys first-round picks in the 2026 draft.
The Dallas Cowboys Front And Secondary Christian Parker Inherited
Quinnen Williams anchors the interior alongside Kenny Clark. Dallas traded for Williams last November, then gave him a three-year, $105.9 million extension on Aug. 10. He was credited with 9 quarterback hits and 19 pressures on 275 defensive snaps in seven games with the Cowboys and has 41.5 sacks in 105 career games.
DaRon Bland, Caleb Downs, and Malik Hooker are in the secondary with Thompson. Derrick Ansley coaches the defensive backs. Schottenheimer said the job opposite Bland has not been decided and will come down to packages and plans.
Parker replaced Matt Eberflus this offseason. Dallas finished 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for a second straight year.
Jaxson Dart And What The New York Giants Do With Him
Jaxson Dart is entering his second season. He accounted for 262 total yards and 2 passing touchdowns in the New York Giants‘ 34-17 win over Dallas in last season’s finale at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys had won the first meeting 40-37 in overtime.
Matt Nagy is the Giants offensive coordinator. Brian Callahan, fired as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, is the passing game coordinator and coaches Dart. John Harbaugh brought both in this offseason. Cam Skattebo is in the backfield.
Schottenheimer went 7-9-1 in his first season as a head coach and split two games with the Giants. Dallas has not won a playoff game since the 2022 season.
Dallas practiced Monday and is off Tuesday. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
