The Dallas Cowboys defense’ performance on Sunday was perhaps the biggest takeaway from a dominant Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns.
With the Cowboys hanging 33 points on the Browns using a combination of timely offense and explosive special teams plays, it was the defense that truly stole the show for for them.
New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer had his unit flying around, making plays, and looking comfortable while doing so. As good as it was, star cornerback Trevon Diggs spoke after the game and said that the fun was only just beginning for the group.
Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs Hints at Bigger Things Coming for the Defense
The Cowboys’ defense completely took control of their Week 1 matchup against the Browns. They kept the pressure on Deshaun Watson all afternoon, frustrated Cleveland in both the run and passing game, and kept the Browns’ offense completely out of rhythm for a full 60 minutes.
With two interceptions, a fumble, and six sacks under their belt, Dallas’ defense heads into Week 2 feeling good about the groundwork they have laid thus far.
However, according to Diggs, things can still get ramped up another notch.
“That was just a little sample,” Diggs said when talking about the packages Zimmer’s defense can deploy. “We’ve got like 50 calls. We only ran probably like three of them.”
If what Diggs said is true and Dallas was that dominant while only rolling out about 6% of its defense, it could be a scary sight for opposing offenses this season.
A New Era of Cowboys’ Defense Underway
With Dan Quinn now in Washington as the Commanders’ head coach, Zimmer is back in the fold as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. With only one game under his belt in 2024, the differences are noticeable.
Dallas limited the Browns to 230 total yards on offense and held them to 2-for-15 on third-down conversions for the day, while 10 of their 14 offensive possessions never crossed midfield.
In what was Zimmer’s first game back on an NFL sideline since 2022, his defense was very much the same. He rolls out a unit that will be fundamentally sound, with each of the 11 guys on the field understanding the assignment with one goal in mind.
Zimmer is known for being stern with his players and expecting perfection. That standard, mixed with his tendency to disguise and confuse opposing quarterbacks, has set the table for what could be an even better defensive group that was already a good unit.
“I feel like it’s a different crew now,” longtime veteran Eric Kendricks said. “We have different bodies. We have different guys. We have a different soul. But at the same time, the nucleus is the same, and we’re going to build off of today.”
Kendricks was the main piece brought in during free agency and has acted as a liaison for Zimmer as the Cowboys usher in this new system. The veteran linebacker knows Zimmer’s defense inside and out and has been an on-field teacher for the coach since joining the Cowboys this offseason.
“Zim was cooking,” DeMarcus Lawrence said. “The whole defense felt it. We were on the same page. It was a beautiful thing. Definitely happy we got Zim in our corner, calling the shots out there, seeing what we see.”
While the team enjoyed success during their time with Quinn, the change in play-callers has clearly been a breath of fresh air for the Dallas defense, with hope and excitement being the main feelings shared.
“It’s just Game 1,” Lawrence said. “We’ve got a long way to go. Lot of learning still to do. Lot of chemistry to bond together.”