FRISCO, Texas — Every player on the Dallas Cowboys defense has to ask what he can do better after Sunday’s 28-20 loss to the New York Giants, Kenny Clark said Tuesday. The defensive tackle said his own answer starts with preparation during the week.
“Just finding ways to do more,” Clark said. “And everybody got to look in the mirror and just ask what can I do better and fix it.”
New York ran for 165 yards on 37 carries at MetLife Stadium. The Giants converted 9 of 11 third downs and held the ball for 36:40. Clark finished with 2 tackles, both solo.
Clark does not think the issue was physicality. In his view, the front played blocks well.
“I don’t think it was a problem with the physicality,” Clark said. “I think our front, we really played the blocks well. Most of the guys, what we’ve been talking about too, is just finding ways to do more. So we got to just do more.”
Fellow defensive tackle Quinnen Williams finished with 2 tackles and a forced fumble. After the game, Williams put the responsibility on the full unit.
“We got to look in the mirror as a defense,” Williams said. “We have the guys on this defensive unit to be accountable and to get better.”
Kenny Clark Says Doing More Starts With Preparation
Pressing is not a concern for Clark. He thinks Dallas has the right kind of players in the room.
“I don’t think that would be an issue,” Clark said. “I think we got the right kind of guys. I mean, it’s just the main thing is just being able to do more.”
A defensive lineman might have to play a gap and a half on a given snap, and Clark said that falls under the same heading.
“Preparation, just attacking the week, it all starts there,” Clark explained. “And then we get out on the field, making the plays that come to us, and playing with more violence, energy, and effort. You might have to [play] gap and a half. You might have to, whatever it is, whatever it is, just do more as an individual.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday that Clark and Williams will be two of the players hardest on themselves this week.
“Played okay. They didn’t play to the dominant ability that they have,” Schottenheimer said. “I think they’ll be two of the guys that are going to be self-critical, so I don’t have to worry about them. But overall, I thought they were solid. But again, we expect more from them.”
Williams signed a three-year, $105.9 million extension this offseason that runs through 2030. Dallas allowed a franchise-record point total in 2025.
Kenny Clark And The Cowboys Face Another NFC East Opponent
Dallas acquired Clark from the Green Bay Packers before the 2025 season in the trade that sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay. The Packers also sent Dallas two first-round picks. Green Bay drafted Clark in the first round in 2016 out of UCLA, and his Cowboys teammates voted him a captain this season.
Urgency is how Clark wants this season to look different from the last one.
“Just the urgency, urgency, leaning on our work, come in and attacking the week the right way, having a great week,” Clark said.
Washington is the second straight division opponent on the schedule. Clark wants the win.
“Every week got to be urgent,” Clark said. “We got another divisional opponent. We got to get the dub this week for sure.”
The Washington Commanders lost 24-22 at Philadelphia in Week 1. Dallas hosts Washington on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
