Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) breaks through the Dallas Cowboys defense during the first half an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
How can you tell how good the Cowboys actually are? Recently, three games has been a good sample size. The Cowboys have either been 1-2 or 2-1 through three games in each of the last six seasons. The three years they started 2-1 they made the postseason. The three seasons they started 1-2, they didn’t.
That would suggest Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil is pretty important for the 1-1 Cowboys.
Here are five final thoughts before the Cowboys and Ravens kickoff in Rio de Janeiro:
Article continues below this ad
Production for the money?
The Cowboys made it clear they traded for Quinnen Williams last season with the future in mind. They wanted Williams to be the face of their defensive transformation and a foundation for years to come. That’s why they gave up multiple picks, including a first-rounder in 2027, for Williams at the deadline before signing him this offseason to an extension worth $105.9 million in new money.
So far, the Cowboys have struggled to stop the run. The defensive interior looks vulnerable. Williams has been no exception.
Williams said after Sunday’s 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders that he’s been a little “banged up,” though Cowboys owner Jerry Jones later said on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) that Williams wasn’t. He said Williams has played “outstanding.”
So far, Williams has seven tackles, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble and two quarterback hits in two games. He has a 49.1 grade on Pro Football Focus, which is deemed below average on their scale.
Article continues below this ad
Regardless, it appears Williams hasn’t been his dominant self. Is scheme fit to blame? Williams said last year that he was excited to reunite with defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton and play in a 4-3 system again. This year, under Christian Parker, the Cowboys run a base 3-4 defense.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Williams has been asked to do things that a defensive tackle would normally do in both a 3-4 defense and a 4-3 front. Sometimes he’s asked to read and react. Sometimes he can take his shot. He’s also been one of the most double-teamed defensive tackles in the league so far.
“I think it’s more of Quinnen is a great player,” Schottenheimer said, “and he’s going to find his way in this system.”
The Cowboys need him to, especially against the Ravens’ rushing attack.
Speaking of the Ravens’ rushing attack …
Breaking news: It won’t be easy to stop. I’m sure that’s the first you’ve heard of that this week.
Article continues below this ad
It’s been a discussion because it’s such an obvious X-factor in Sunday’s game. The Cowboys have allowed opposing quarterbacks to run for an average of 6.6 yards per attempt. Jaxson Dart exploited the Cowboys mostly with designed bootlegs in the season opener. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels gashed the Cowboys by escaping the pocket, even when it appeared the Cowboys were designating players or designing their pass rush lanes to limit Daniels’ rushing ability.
If those two were a challenge, imagine how tough it’ll be to corral one of the greatest running quarterbacks of all time?
Lamar Jackson is averaging 6.7 yards per attempt on 11 carries. Running back Derrick Henry is having a lot of success, as well. He’s averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He already has four touchdowns in two games.
If Maracanã Stadium’s field is slippery like some fear, that’ll only make it harder to limit Jackson and Henry.
Bulking season?
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker walks to the locker room following their loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, September 13, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
There’s one potential adjustment the Cowboys could make, however. Though it feels like it could also be a risk.
Article continues below this ad
The Cowboys are ranked in the top-10 this year in terms of light boxes, according to Pro Football Focus. That means the Cowboys, compared to others, tend to have more defensive formations that feature six or less defenders in the box.
That feels precarious against Henry, who bashed through the Cowboys’ defense the last time they faced off two years ago. Could the Cowboys have more seven- and eight-man boxes to combat Henry?
It would mark a deviation from what they’ve been the first two weeks. It’s even worth wondering if they have the personnel to make such a move. Would it be a single high safety instead? Or more base defensive calls even when it doesn’t correlate to the offensive formation?
It could be worth a shot.
More snaps on deck?
It’s easy to forget about the Cowboys’ other first-round pick. That’s what happens when the first first-round pick draws as much fanfare as Caleb Downs does. It’s even easier when the third-round pick, linebacker Jaishawn Barham, has already emerged as a starter for the Cowboys.
Article continues below this ad
But it’s worth remembering that Malachi Lawrence has had an interesting start to his career. Lawrence has played in 38% of the team’s defensive snaps so far. He’s tied for third on the team with three pressures in 27 pass rush attempts. Those numbers don’t spark a ton of interest.
This one does: Lawrence has the third-best pass rush win rate in the NFL among qualified rushers, according to PFF. He’s beating his opposing blocker 26.9% of the time.
It’s led to a low amount of pressures so far. He’s still awaiting his first sack. The statistic is promising, however. It also begs the question: Should Lawrence be going after the quarterback more?
No worries for Pickens?
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) celebrates after picking up a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys aren’t worried about the production so far from George Pickens. Neither is Pickens, who is happy to draw attention from opposing defenses if it means other receivers can have big games. He can just point to Sunday’s win over the Commanders. CeeDee Lamb had two touchdowns and his sixth career game with over 150 receiving yards. Tight end Jake Ferguson had two touchdowns, too.
Article continues below this ad
Pickens has nine catches for 68 yards through two games and no touchdowns.
“He just didn’t have the highlight-type catches and the explosive catches and things like that,” Schottenheimer said while complimenting Pickens for playing well through two weeks. “But he draws a lot of attention out there.”
Schottenheimer also pointed out that Pickens got off to a slow start last year, as well, before finishing as one of the most productive receivers in the league.
Could this week be the week he returns to that form?