In this episode of Between the Lines, we flip the attention to the defensive line, where chaos meets strategy. This is where the Cowboys’ games are won and lost so let’s dive in.
Interior Defensive Line
Osa Odighizuwa
(2025 Stats: 643 Total
snaps, 40 Total Tackles, 6 TFL, 51 Pressures, 3 Sack)
Grade: 67.1
Solomon Thomas
(2025 Stats: 392 Total snaps, 26 Total Tackles, 3 TFL, 12 Pressures, 0 Sacks, 1 PD)
Grade: 61.8
Kenny Clark
(2025 Stats: 697 Total snaps, 35 Total Tackles, 6 TFL, 44 Pressures, 3 Sacks)
Grade: 69.5
Jay Toia
(2025 Stats: 89 Total snaps, 3 Total Tackle, 0 TFL, 1 Pressure, 0 Sacks)
Grade: 29.9
Quinnen Williams
(2025 Stats [including Jets]: 596 Total snaps, 48 Total Tackles, 11 TFL, 51 Pressures, 2.5 Sacks, 3 FF, 1 INT)
Grade: 89.7
The heart of this matchup is easy, Dallas needs the big guys in the middle to squeeze the pocket and clog running lanes, while the Giants will try to keep the ball on schedule and get it out fast. The Cowboys have been strong up front this year. As a defense, Dallas ranks eighth in pass-rush win rate (40%) and fourth in run-stop win rate (32%). Inside, Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark both show up on the win rate individual leaderboards, with Odighizuwa ranking eighth in pass rush and run stop win rate among defensive tackles, with Clark not far behind him. But it’s Quinnen Williams who’s the sledgehammer here, and the Giants’ patched-up interior is exactly the kind of assignment that Williams can utilize his impact to create drive-ending plays. On the win-rate board, Williams is king in Dallas, ranking second among defensive tackles in Run Stop Win Rate at 46% with a 15% Pass Rush Win rate that ranks third, that’s top-shelf interior defense while consistently drawing extra help which helps the rest of the line. This is the core of Dallas’ plan to force long down-and-distance situations.
The Giants’ offensive line has been beat up. Left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz both hit injured reserve, so New York has turned to rookie Marcus Mbow at left tackle and veteran Austin Schlottmann at center. Before the injury, Thomas was a top-10 tackle in pass-block win rate, which shows the drop-off Dallas might be able to attack now that he’s sidelined. Communication inside between the guards and center becomes important, especially against stunts and late movement.
Even with the injuries, New York’s blocking profile isn’t a pushover. As a team, the Giants sit 11th in pass-block win rate, but 18th in run-block win rate. That suggests the ball is coming out on time and that they lean on a quick passing game to help the line. Dallas has to answer by winning early in the snap so the quick game doesn’t have time.
The quarterback picture is simple. Rookie Jaxson Dart is running the huddle. His year-one line reads 2,042 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, five picks, and he’s added useful yards with his legs in spots including adding nine rushing touchdowns. The Giants’ run game is the other pillar. They rank sixth in rushing yards per game, with Tyrone Tracy Jr. at 637 yards and Devin Singletary adding 366 yards, both having to take the wheel with Cam Skattebo out for the year. That blend is exactly how New York tries to protect a banged-up front. Dallas’ interior has to knock them off schedule on first down so second-and-long turns into a difficult and obvious passing play.
There’s a second layer to watch. The Giants have been sacked 2.8 times per game, which is tenth-worst, but their pass-block win rate is solid. Translation here, they don’t lose instantly a lot, but when they do lose, it turns into a sack. That’s where Clark’s power and Odighizuwa’s quickness come in. If Dallas can generate enough push up the middle, right into the Dart’s lap, it ruins throwing lanes and makes those losses by the Giants’ line much more costly.
New York will have counters. Expect more quick throws and play-action on early downs. Dallas’ answer is straightforward, shift the defensive front just before the snap, run stunts that force handoffs between the guard and center, and keep the rush lanes disciplined so Dart can’t escape through a vacated gap. When the Cowboys push the pocket at the center triangle (the two guards and center), passes get shorter and lower-percentage, and runs get redirected sideways. When the Giants keep that triangle firm, Dart steps up, the backs stay on track, and the whole offense stays on time. This matchup will likely swing the game here. If you see Williams, Clark and Odighizuwa forcing that triangle backward, good things are happening for Dallas. If you see a clean center and a flat interior line, New York’s plan is working.
Defensive End
Sam Williams
(2025 Stats: 438 Total snaps, 29 Total Tackles, 6 TFL, 21 Pressures, 1 Sack, 1 FR, 2 PD)
Grade: 57.4
Dante Fowler Jr.
(2025 Stats: 343 Total snaps, 15 Total Tackles, 4 TFL, 30 Pressures, 3 Sacks, 3 PD)
Grade: 78.7
Donovan Ezeiruaku
(2025 Stats: 580 Total snaps, 39 Total tackle, 9 TFL, 39 Pressures, 2 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 Sfty)
Grade: 76.4
James Houston
(2025 Stats: 274 Total snaps, 32 Total tackles, 6 TFL, 20 Pressures, 5.5 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR)
Grade: 65.9
Jadeveon Clowney
(2025 Stats: 327 Total snaps, 35 Total tackles, 8 TFL, 34 Pressures, 6 Sacks, 1 FR, 3 PD)
Grade: 76.6
Dallas’ edge rushers need a clean, simple plan this week as they haven’t been big in the sack department this year. Primarily this is all about keeping the ball inside, restricting Dart’s space in the pocket, and make New York’s tackles prove they can block one-on-one for four quarters.
Player by player, here’s what Dallas brings off the edge. Jadeveon Clowney has been the standout, leading the team with 5.5 sacks (not a huge total), and his PFF card sits at 76.6 overall with a pass-rush grade of 79.2 which ranks 17th among edge defenders. What’s also important here is Clowney is still excellent at setting a good edge on run downs, which is vital to keeping Dart from running off the edge to scramble for first downs. Dante Fowler Jr. adds a speed element, but the sack total is modest with just three sacks, but he’s flashing in pressure counts and remains Dallas’ best pure win the edge threat. James Houston has been the designated pass rusher with 5.5 sacks, a good finisher when the opponent is in obvious passing plays. Rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku rounds out the group with a high motor and a solid PFF grade for a first-year edge, ranking first among the rookie class in overall grade and total tackles.
On the right edge for the Giants, Jermaine Eluemunor has quietly put together a good pass-pro season (75.9 pass-blocking grade with only four sacks allowed), though penalties have been an issue, racking up 13 flags this year. Rookie Marcus Mbow stepped in at left tackle, and although the pass blacking is in need of work (45.1 pass-blacking grade), the run blocking has been fantastic. So that says the left side and the middle are in flux here and should be a focal point for the edges to attack.
So what should the Cowboys edges actually do? First, rush with control, not just speed. Ensure cutback lanes and bootlegs are covered, then collapse the pocket so Dart can’t step up. Second, attack the points created by the injuries and test that communication, then run simple stunts at the Mbow and Schlottman who’s filling in at center. Third, make tight ends block and chip. If the Cowboys win first down and stay disciplined outside, the Giants’ above average win-rate numbers won’t save them from the protection busts, and those are the snaps that change games.
Injury Update
Quinnen Williams has missed time lately but the good news is he’s practiced in full so far, so expect his return this week.
