Dallas Cowboys could have three defenders record triple digit sacks in 2022

Entering the 2022 NFL regular season, the Dallas Cowboys were expected to make a major transition in the way they won ball games. Last year, the Cowboys bolstered the top offense in the league. This season, Dallas might just have the top defense in the NFL.

That after the defense has proven to be the dominate unit over the team’s first three games so far this season. While the offense has struggled to score an average of 15.3 points per game, the Cowboys still have a record of 2-1 following their first divisional victory on Monday night over the New York Giants.

And while many will point to the absence of starting quarterback Dak Prescott, who suffered a thumb injury in the fourth quarter of their lone loss in Week One against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas was only able to score three total points with him starting under center. With Prescott out the past two weeks, the Cowboys have rallied around backup passer Cooper Rush and scored a total of 43 points over his last two starts.

However, the biggest single factor in both of their wins has been their defensive effort. Dallas is only allowing an average of 17.3 points to opposing offenses. That’s the eighth lowest average in the NFL so far this season. And one of the biggest defensive stats that stands out above the rest is sacks. As a group, this unit has been able to record a total of 13 sacks over their first three games. That the highest number in the league.

Obviously, second-year linebacker Micah Parsons has been the difference maker. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year has recorded 4.0 sacks in his first two games and currently sits tied for having the second most sacks in the NFL after being blanked on Monday night against the Giants. But Parsons also looked to be playing at half strength against New York after dealing with an illness all week.

Defensive end Dorance Armstrong is surprisingly right behind Parsons in that category, racking up 3.0 sacks in three games. The fifth-year defender has also proven to be a true difference-maker outside of the sacks, recording a blocked field goal against the Giants while playing on special teams.

Finally, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence exploded for 3.0 sacks against New York on Monday night. The nine-year veteran recorded just 3.0 sacks total all of last season after injuries limited him to seven games. Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowler, hasn’t recorded double-digit sack totals since 2018.

Now, there’s a legitimate chance the Dallas Cowboys’ depth chart could feature three defenders who record double-digit sack totals in 2022. If so, it will be the defense that will do the heavy lifting in Big D while the offense continues to navigate themselves into something that resembles their explosive performance from last year.