Big trades in the NFL are sometimes described as “earthquakes” or “bombshells”, and with that comes the expected aftershock of trying to immediately grade these trades based on every ripple that happens between the involved parties. The first ripples for both the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers from the Micah Parsons and Kenny Clark trade are in the books to start the 2025 season. Right away, the Packers have an advantage in the win column after beating the Detroit Lions for the first time in three
tries at home, 27-13. The Cowboys lost their season opener 24-20 in Philadelphia to the defending champion Eagles.
When it comes to how the reigning winners of the NFC North, the division with the best record in football a year ago, is taking playing against Micah Parsons instead of Kenny Clark now, the Lions head coach had an interesting take. Dan Campbell gave the impression to the CBS top broadcast crew of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo that they were actually more relieved not be playing against Clark than they worried about Parsons.
“It felt like they were more relieved (Kenny) Clark was gone than they were concerned that (Micah) Parsons was coming to Green Bay” – Jim Nantz
Nantz and Romo both strongly agreed they got the feeling Campbell was more in favor of game planning for Parsons in the season opener compared to facing Clark again. Over the time Campbell has been the Lions’ head coach since 2021 and Clark was with the Packers, the Lions actually went 6-2 against them. Despite sweeping them last year, two of the Lions’ five lowest rushing performances came against the Packers last year. Clark made his impact, but the Lions found ways to come out on top. Conversely, Campbell’s team went 0-2 against the Cowboys with Parsons, who had two sacks in the first meeting.
That record for Campbell against Parsons is now 0-3, as the newest Packer wearing jersey #1 played 30 snaps in his debut, had two pressures (one of which led to a red zone interception), and one sack in the fourth quarter protecting a 27-6 lead.
Using statistics, records, and objective facts, there isn’t a whole lot on the Lions side to justify this comment by Campbell right away. The victor will always get the spoils in this game, and right now that is the Packers, ending a three-game home losing streak to the Lions with Parsons on their side.
The Packers dominant win was easy fodder for this take by Campbell to be taken as something of a joke, but it’s important to separate the context of what it means for the newest Cowboys defender Kenny Clark. Campbell is still the coach responsible for turning the Lions into a respectable contender and winning 15 games a season ago, so his praise for Clark is noteworthy apart from anything to do with Parsons.
Clark, Solomon Thomas, and Osa Odighizuwa helped the Cowboys stand tall at defensive tackle against the Eagles in ways they had not been able to before. Following a late third-quarter lightning delay, the Cowboys defense, now coordinated by Matt Eberflus, held Saquon Barkley to negative one rushing yard on seven carries. The defense as a whole more than did their job of getting the ball back enough times for the offense to go win the game, which they knocked on the door of doing but fell just short.
It is possible to consider the fact both teams involved in a trade can come out better, even if such a thing is frowned upon in the name of always wanting winners and losers in a competitive environment. The Cowboys pass rush was certainly not better than it would have been with Parsons in week one, but they did find other ways to bring pressure and still held up in coverage. They looked like a group with a lot of potential to get better as they adjust to the new scheme and get more key players back on the field. Clark officially finished with five combined tackles over 41 snaps, including being in on Marshawn Kneeland’s sack.
The Packers defense right from the gun looked stifling, but they did have the benefit of playing from ahead early on with a 10-0 lead after three possessions, while both the Lions offense and defense was being called by new coordinators.
It won’t be long until the Cowboys and Packers get together on Sunday Night Football in week four. Until then, it will be interesting to see what other NFC North coaches and players might say about both the absence of Kenny Clark or addition of Micah Parsons. The Bears and Vikings will finish off the first week of this season on Monday Night Football.
