The Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Jets 30-10 in their first home game of the season.
With the Cowboys playing at the level they are, the bar is being set higher and higher every week.
Winners
Micah Parsons
At this point, we are in an endless cycle with Micah Parsons.
Every week, we ask ourselves, “How can Parsons get any better?” Then he does.
MORE: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings
Parsons is the ultimate competitor who made it difficult on Zach Wilson with every play he was in.
In fact, Parsons let his presence be known on the Jets’ first drive, sacking Wilson on third down and forcing a three-and-out.
Just ridiculous, @MicahhParsons11 🦁
📺: #NYJvsDAL on CBS⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/uZrWxO8lhX
— NFL (@NFL)
Parsons had two sacks, four combined total tackles, and four quarterback hits. His pressure on Wilson led to Jayron Kearse’s first interception of the 2023 season.
This @DallasCowboys defense is just stacked with playmakers @Jayronkearse8
📺: #NYJvsDAL on CBS⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/aVXg0KC0ko
— NFL (@NFL)
Dak Prescott
Do you hear that? That’s the silence from Dak Prescott critics, as the QB has had zero interceptions this season.
Prescott came into the year with a nonstop conversation about his high interception rate last season.
However, Prescott has played efficiently throughout the last two games.
He went 31 of 38 (81.6% completion rate) for 255 yards and two touchdowns against the Jets.
When Prescott was asked about it, he questioned why this wasn’t a topic of conversation in years past, saying, “Last year is last year, and it’s something I’ve left and, you know, the interceptions, all that.
“I guess when you leave the league, you’ll never go away. But as I stated last year, one of them has their story. But that’s not where my mind is. It’s not something I think about.”
He is on an uphill battle to polish the offense under his lead.
Tyler Biadasz
Biadasz is one of the most underappreciated players within the Cowboys offense.
The center has had two crucial ball recoveries in the last two weeks.
Biadasz ran downfield as insurance after CeeDee Lamb had a 33-yard reception. Lamb fumbled the ball, and Biadasz quickly recovered it, saving the play and keeping the Jets off the scoreboard early in the game.
Tyler Biadasz, man. #DallasCowboys https://t.co/v2qd2m52Yc pic.twitter.com/h1WMgAl8HA
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt)
This was what Tony Romo called a “winning play” on the CBS broadcast, but Biadasz is what we call a “winning center” within the Cowboys’ locker room.
Brandon Aubrey
The Cowboys have found their guy in kicker Brandon Aubrey.
After weeks of everyone waiting for Aubrey to have a perfect game, it finally happened. The kicker has worked to silence the critics since the team signed him during training camp.
He went 5 for 5, with his longest kick being a 54-yard field goal.
On Sunday, Aubrey became the fourth rookie kicker to make at least five field goals in a game, making him the first since Dan Bailey made six against Washington in 2011.
If he stays on this path, the Cowboys could have the long-term kicker they’ve been searching for.
In the middle
Michael Gallup
Gallup still has not had the opportunity to be as productive as he can be. He was targeted twice during the game, hauling in just one.
The Jets’ defense was covering Gallup as much as possible, especially with the expectations around him without Brandin Cooks in the game.
They also played physically and hit him hard when he did get the ball.
Losers
Cowboys Red-Zone Offense
With another dominant performance from the Cowboys, finding “losers” in the game is hard.
The offense showed what they can do with head coach Mike McCarthy calling the plays.
They were productive, with 134 rushing yards, 255 passing yards, and two touchdowns.
However, the team struggled to score on four drives that could have ended in a touchdown but were saved with successful kicks from Aubrey.
When McCarthy was asked about the amount of field goals in the end zone, he stated, “I could’ve been better, first-and-goal on the 6-yard line. The first call, they actually lined up, with Hunter (Luepke) being new and so forth. There was definitely an alignment that we weren’t expecting. But yeah, we definitely want to punch those in.”