The Cowboys’ pass rush has a Lamar Jackson problem coming into focus fast.
Dallas looked far sharper in its 37-20 Week 2 win after a sleepy opener, but one issue has hung around: the front of Christian Parker’s defense still isn’t finishing plays. The rush has gotten near quarterbacks. It just hasn’t put them down nearly enough, and it has opened the door for scrambling damage that has already shown up on the stat sheet.
That becomes a much bigger headache with Baltimore next. Jackson is built to punish exactly this kind of failure, and for a Cowboys defense that has already spent two weeks chasing quarterbacks without much payoff, that’s a rough matchup.
Through two games, Dallas has only two sacks, and both came against the New York Giants in Week 1. Against the Washington Commanders last week, the Cowboys didn’t record a sack at all.
The pressure has been there - 31 pressures and 10 hits in eight quarters - but the results have not. That pressure-to-sack percentage sits at just 6.5%, far below the league average of around 20%.
The bigger problem is what happens after the pocket starts to collapse. When Dallas hasn’t finished the job, quarterbacks have taken off.
Jaxson Dart ran for 54 yards, with 28 coming on scrambles, and Jayden Daniels added 69 scramble yards. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging 6.83 yards per carry against the Cowboys, and Dallas has already allowed 135 rushing yards from players under center in two weeks.
A lot of those runs came when the defense needed a stop most - on key downs, including third down - and couldn’t close. That’s where Jackson raises the degree of difficulty.
He already has 72 scramble yards and a rushing touchdown this season, but the career numbers tell the real story: 2,925 scramble yards and 39 rushing touchdowns. His pressure-to-sack rate is 17.5%, below league average, and it dipped to 11.2% in 2024 before his injury-riddled 2025 campaign.
Jackson has made a habit of slipping free, extending plays and making defenses pay with his legs. Dallas has already shown it can struggle with mobile quarterbacks. Now it gets the toughest version of that test.
If the Cowboys can’t get Jackson on the ground or keep him from turning broken plays into explosives, Sunday could get long in a hurry. If they do, it could be the kind of performance that starts moving Parker’s unit in the right direction.
In Other News...
Cowboys Fans Already Have A Dak Problem Before Rio Kickoff
The Cowboys are about to make history in Rio de Janeiro, but the buildup to their regular-season game at Maracan Stadium has already turned into a debate over more than just travel and logistics. Players have noted that the field was very soft, which is enough to make anyone around the team pay closer attention to how the surface will hold up once Dallas and Baltimore actually take the field.
Even before kickoff, though, Cowboys fans found another reason to grumble. Social media lit up after caricatures of Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson were displayed at the stadium, and plenty of viewers thought Prescotts version did him no favors. It is a small detail in a big international showcase, but for a fan base that already watches every Dak storyline closely, it was the kind of pregame image that got people talking fast. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Brazil Game Suddenly Comes With A Serious Field Concern
The Cowboys trip to Brazil for their upcoming game has picked up an unexpected wrinkle, and it has nothing to do with the opponent. NFLPA executive director JC Tretter raised concerns about the field quality at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, pointing to problems with traction and stability after recent heavy rainfall and a long soccer season have taken their toll on the surface.
Maracana is not an NFL facility, and the leagues previous games in Brazil were played at a different venue with a smaller capacity, which only sharpens the scrutiny on how this one will hold up. Experts have already recommended reinforced stitching and other measures to improve the field, but the real question now is whether those fixes will be enough before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Fans Have A Real Worry Before Lamar Jackson Takes The Field
Heavy rain has put the spotlight on the field at Maracan Stadium ahead of the NFLs first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro, and it is drawing plenty of attention from the Cowboys and Ravens side of the matchup. The playing surface has shown signs of damage and wear, prompting league officials and the NFLPA to keep a close watch while crews work to reinforce the turf before kickoff.
For Baltimore, the concern is obvious with Lamar Jackson set to take the field on a surface that has already raised alarms for players, fans and even local soccer athletes. It is the kind of pregame issue that can linger well beyond the opening whistle, especially in a game where footing and field quality could shape how both teams are able to play. [Read more 🡒]