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It’s only week 2. As of this writing, the Packers and Lions haven’t even played their second game of the 2021 season yet. But Cowboys fans might want to take a moment to. celebrating the rarity of a feat that has seemed, in recent years, too fantastic to be imagined.
The Dallas Cowboys lead the league in takeout total. They are also at the top of the ranking for the best turnover differential.
It is not a typo.
With a pair of interceptions Sunday from Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, the Dallas defense has up to six takeaways in the first two weeks of action. None was bigger in the 20-17 win than Damontae Kazee’s choice in the end zone late in the third quarter, turning Los Angeles away with nothing to show for an 11-game drive in a draw.
“See the ball, get the ball,” Kazee said of the timing in his post-game comments. “It’s me. You just have to see it, go get it.
Safety almost tried to make a comeback out of the end zone, but thought better, Chargers wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams closing in quickly.
“I wanted to take it off. But I realized who was in front of me. I didn’t want to take any chances, put the ball on the five-yard line instead of the 20-yard line, taking a touchback. It was a hell of a room. I went down and gave the offense another chance.
Damontae Kazee with the KEY interceptionpic.twitter.com/ZH9SMzeQ7Y
– Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) September 19, 2021
Ten games later, the Cowboys turned that opportunity into a critical placement to take the lead.
“It’s probably the game of the game,” said running back Ezekiel Elliott of the timing choice. It was the second game in a row the Cowboys intercepted a pass in their own end zone.
“These, to me, are worth double,” said linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. “These are crucial turnovers for us. These are huge point savers. A hell of a job for these guys. It’s so good for us as backers knowing that we have guys like that playing behind us and by our side, just the ballhawks that they are. We almost had another one too… Turnovers are coming, man.
It would do good for what has been a definite point of interest for Dan Quinn’s defense this offseason. The Cowboys ended the 2020 season with a respectable 23 takeaways, but ended the year with a minus-3 turnover differential.
Two games in 2021, they are more-four.
“We highlight it every day: ball, ball, ball,” said linebacker-turned-defenseman Micah Parsons.
“I work on my hands every day,” added cornerback Trevon Diggs, who recorded his second interception in as many games with a pick to end the Chargers’ first possession. “Try to be around the ball as much as I can, get my hands on as many balls as I can and make sure I catch it.”
Despite the small size of the game sample, the takeaways are cause for optimism regarding the Dallas defense. After a historically bad year 2020 for unity, the Cowboys on this side of the ball this year are eager to reinvent the reputation of defense.
“We haven’t scratched the surface of what we can do,” said security Jayron Kearse. “We just went out and played every week. We know the odds are stacked against us. Everyone relies on us on this back-end. We just go out every week to do our job and prove everyone wrong. The only people who believe in us are in this locker room… Every week we are going to be motivated by turnover.
The takeout loads are excellent and certainly a welcome change from the Dallas defenses’ past. But the 2021 unit will not stop there to find room for improvement.
“We’re going to look at the interceptions,” Kazee said, “but we still have a lot to criticize. Still too many yards going over there.
Veteran Safety is right; the Cowboys are the second worst in that category so far this season. Call it another list to make your way to the top.
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