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.
(2025 Stats: 497 Total snaps, 34 Total Tackles, 5 TFL, 40 Pressures, 3 Sack)
(2025 Stats: 311 Total snaps, 23 Total Tackles, 2 TFL, 11 Pressures, 0 Sacks, 1 PD)
(2025 Stats: 534 Total snaps, 24 Total Tackles, 5 TFL, 36 Pressures, 3 Sacks)
(2025 Stats: 89 Total snaps, 3 Total Tackle, 0 TFL, 1 Pressure, 0 Sacks)
(2025 Stats [including Jets]: 490 Total snaps, 41 Total Tackles, 9 TFL, 40 Pressures, 2.5 Sacks, 3 FF)
This week’s story for the Dallas defensive line lives between the guards. The Cowboys’ interior has been the steadiest part of the front seven, and the numbers back it up. Dallas are at 39% in Pass Rush Win Rate (14th) and 32% Run Stop Win Rate (6th), with Osa Odighizuwa showing up on the defensive tackle pass-rush leaderboard at 11% which ranks ninth and Quinnen Williams ranking 14th. That paints a clear objective for Kenny Clark, Odighizuwa, Williams, and the rotation to create havoc through the middle.
Detroit isn’t the vintage five-man bulldozer we’re used to, but there are pieces that are still dangerous, mostly on the edges, hence why the game has to go toward the guards for Dallas. Penei Sewell remains an All-Pro caliber tone-setter, he leads all tackles with a 95.7 PFF grade. Taylor Decker is a savvy technician opposite him, and rookie Tate Ratledge has flashed real pop in the run game even though his pass protection needs to catch up. ESPN’s trench board says the Lions are 28th in Pass Block Win Rate (55%) and 17th in Run Block Win Rate (71%), and that split matches the tape. They have the ability to push defenses on the ground, but protection cohesion has been up-and-down.
Injuries are the biggest variable for Detroit. Frank Ragnow’s attempted return from retirement ended when he failed a physical, so center remains unsettled. Graham Glasgow (knee) missed Thanksgiving but has returned to limited work, if he can’t go, Michael Niese is next up who has played only nine snaps this season. Christian Mahogany is on injured reserve, so Kayode Awosika has been manning left guard. On the outside, Decker (shoulder) has been listed as questionable and backup tight end Brock Wright, who’s filling in for Sam LaPorta who’s on IR, may miss this game.
Jared Goff has 25 passing touchdowns and only five interceptions. His 26 sacks taken this year ranks in the middle of the league but in the last three games has taken the fifth-most sacks. But it’s Jahmyr Gibbs that needs the most attention here. He ranks fourth among running backs with 1,019 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns, while David Montgomery brings the downhill hammer with 543 rush yards and six touchdowns. Detroit is fourth in rushing yards per game (138.1) and third in rushing touchdowns per game, Suddenly it’s easy to see there’s a clear script to victory for Detroit. Keep the chains friendly with Gibbs and Montgomery, then layer play-action and quick hitters so Goff can throw on time with little pressure in front of him.
Dallas owns the leverage to flip this game if the tackles win the A/B-gaps early, especially with Quinnen Williams ranking first in Run Stop Win rate among defensive tackles. The data says the Lions block the run better than the pass right now, and the depth chart says their interior is juggling parts.
(2025 Stats: 352 Total snaps, 22 Total Tackles, 3 TFL, 19 Pressures, 1 Sack, 1 FR, 1 PD)
(2025 Stats: 274 Total snaps, 11 Total Tackles, 4 TFL, 29 Pressures, 3 Sacks, 3 PD)
(2025 Stats: 427 Total snaps, 30 Total tackle, 8 TFL, 28 Pressures, 2 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 Sfty)
(2025 Stats: 218 Total snaps, 24 Total tackles, 5 TFL, 17 Pressures, 5 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR)
(2025 Stats: 243 Total snaps, 27 Total tackles, 5 TFL, 26 Pressures, 4 Sacks, 1 FR, 3 PD)
This matchup is a race between Dallas’ outside speed and Detroit’s bookend muscle. The Cowboys have a deeper, more versatile edge group than they’ve had in years; the Lions field one of the league’s better tackle tandems. Whoever sets the edge first probably sets the scoreboard, too.
Dante Fowler Jr. has been the pace car and in Pass Rush Win Rate he’s currently at 12%. Rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku has been PFF’s highest-graded first-year edge defender at 81.2, giving Matt Eberflus fresh-legs off the bench without a loss in efficiency. Jadeveon Clowney’s profile is exactly what this game demands with stout edge defending with a top-20 PFF pass-rush grade of 77.5 and a 14.9% Pass Rush Win rate, while James Houston’s closer vibes let Dallas keep heat on late snaps without sending extra bodies. Sam Williams remains on the roller coaster but has turned it on lately.
Basically for this edge group, they want to set stout edges against the run and force the action back to the middle where it is hoped their defensive tackles have the edge. Once they can get Detroit in long down-and-distances, they can unleash for the full pass rush.
Clowney is dealing with a hamstring issue and is questionable. Pre-game warmups is probably when they’ll know if he can play.
