Why The Cowboys’ Performance Against The Rams Is Exciting

The Dallas Cowboys revamped defense faced its first test on Tuesday in a scrimmage against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite keeping it a vanilla, close-to-the-vest scrimmage, the Cowboys seemed to win the day against Matthew Stafford and the Rams.

This doesn’t mean the Cowboys will be heading to the NFC Championship game tomorrow. A scrimmage like this is just one piece of the pie with three preseason games, another scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints, and the rest of training camp left to go.

However, it’s encouraging to see the defensive messaging from Christian Parker start to take shape, especially since last year’s scrimmage against the Rams didn’t go so well. The defense was manhandled all day by what would turn into one of the NFL’s top offenses. It would be a sign of things to come for what would become a historically bad defense.

Most of the starters on offense for the Rams returned from their NFC Championship runner-up squad, headlined by Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams. Reports from the joint practice showed the Cowboys defense had the L.A. offense all out of sorts, headlined by Justin Barron’s three interceptions against Stafford and then the second-team offense.

The pass rush seemed to come alive as well, with Donovan Ezeiruaku and Quinnen Williams each recording a would-be sack if it were a live game. Ezeiruaku has had a quiet training camp thus far, so to see him step up in a big moment is encouraging. Even Marist Liufau and Isaiah Land recorded a pair of sacks against the second-team offense.

Another second-year player, Shavon Revel, had a solid performance with two pass breakups and a forced fumble in his opportunities. His physicality was part of what made him one of the top corners last offseason, so it was nice to see that come back now fully healthy.

The defense’s physical nature and leadership are showing up for Dallas—both traits that even Stephen Jones admitted to not having on that side of the ball a season ago. Dak Prescott can finally take a back seat and watch the veterans on defense like Williams, Kenny Clark, DeMarvion Overshown, and Rashan Gary get their players ready when it’s time to put their words into action. On Tuesday against the Rams, those words were loud and meaningful as the defense showed some teeth, something that was not around in 2025.