The Green Bay Packers emerged victorious against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving in a matchup that had significant implications for the NFC North race and could ultimately determine who would claim the division title.
The most formidable challenge standing between Jared Goff and a win was Packers standout Micah Parsons. Before the start of the season, the Dallas Cowboys stunned the league by trading the All-Pro pass rusher to Green Bay in a blockbuster deal. The Packers star recorded 2.5 sacks against the Lions on Thanksgiving and played a huge role in his team’s 27-13 win.
Micah Parsons’ Trade Details
In return for Parsons, Dallas received defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. The Cowboys used one of those first-round picks to land Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets before the trade deadline.
A simple look at the stat sheet doesn’t do Parsons’ impact justice, but he has been a driving force behind the Packers’ defensive rise. His nonstop pressure and ability to line up anywhere in the front have turned him into the centerpiece of Green Bay’s pass rush, helping the defense develop into one of the league’s toughest units.
Green Bay is only allowing just 18.8 points per game, and is the ninth-best unit in the league based on PFSN’s Defense Impact metric.
In 12 games with the Packers, Parsons has recorded 18 solo tackles, 12.5 sacks, 24 quarterback hits, and 12 tackles for loss. While Parsons has been everything the Packers have hoped for, the Cowboys also have a reason to be happy with their haul.
Dallas Defense Improved After Trade Deadline
If the Cowboys were going to trade Parsons, they ensured the return included a disruptive defensive tackle, along with valuable draft capital. Kenny Clark has stepped into a key role along Dallas’ interior and has helped solidify their run defense this season. Even with the defense struggling at times, Clark has not been part of the problem and has been one of the more reliable pieces on the front line.
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The Cowboys’ defense has taken a noticeable step forward since adding Williams and Logan Wilson ahead of the trade deadline. At this point, dealing Parsons appears to be paying off for Dallas, as the move netted them valuable draft capital and created the cap flexibility needed to keep George Pickens in the fold long-term.