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: 115 Total snaps, 9 Total Tackles, 0 TFL, 6 Pressures, 0 Sacks)
Grade: 77.5

(2025 Stats: 82 Total snaps, 13 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 3 Pressures, 0 Sacks)
Grade: 61.5

(2025 Stats: 120 Total snaps, 10 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 9 Pressures, 1 Sack)
Grade: 73.7

(2025 Stats: 18 Total snaps, 0 Total Tackles, 0 TFL, 0 Pressures, 0 Sack)
Grade: 44.5

(2025 Stats: 39 Total snaps, 1 Total Tackle, 0 TFL, 0 Pressures, 0 Sack)
Grade: 29.3

The Cowboys’ interior front enters Packers week with the leverage to reshape the pocket. If Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa can get a push, Jordan Love’s platform compresses, Matt LaFleur’s timing concepts lose rhythm, and Josh Jacobs is forced to operate in cramped space. Dallas acquired three-time Pro Bowler Clark and he is already credited with one sack this year, proving to be a true A-gap anchor alongside the explosive, slashing Odighizuwa. Odighizuwa has shown to be effective with his rapid wins, heavy inside hands, and the lateral quickness to cross a guard’s face on stunts.

On paper, the five Packers offensive linemen are supposed to be Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom. That’s a starting lineup that offers size, talent, and solid technique. Moving Jenkins to center in place of Josh Myers gives the Packers a Pro Bowl–level communicator at the point of attack, while Banks’ arrival from San Francisco adds heft on the left interior.

The issue for this starting lineup is they have struggled to keep that together because of injury, and in three weeks have had nine different line combinations. This means Green Bay’s first-rounder Jordan Morgan, and second-rounder Anthony Belton has rotated in as those injuries arise. That much turnover invites communication gaps, precisely the seams Dallas will target with movement fronts, late stems, and twist games.

Zach Tom is expected to miss this week and that reshapes Green Bay’s slide rules and the center’s help priorities. Dallas can stress those adjustments by sugaring the A-gaps late, then bailing post-snap and looping into the opposite B-gap, forcing the new center and rotating guards to try and execute. If the Cowboys keep protection in flux, Clark’s blunt-force power and Odighizuwa’s first step will compress the pocket around Love.

Dallas has the interior tools to win this matchup, but Green Bay does have answers with a savvy center and a deep, interchangeable line that can disrupt the Cowboys’ rhythm. Dallas must win early downs and own the A-gaps, Green Bay on the opposite side must sharpen its calls and live in the quick game until those double-teams start moving bodies. Shift either of those dynamics, and it likely decides who controls the final quarter.

(2025 Stats: 82 Total snaps, 7 Total Tackles, 3 TFL, 2 Pressures, 1 Sack)
Grade: 61.2

(2025 Stats: 112 Total snaps, 8 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 7 Pressure, 0 Sack)
Grade: 47.1

(2025 Stats: 78 Total snaps, 2 Total Tackles, 0 TFL, 5 Pressures, 0 Sacks)
Grade: 75.0

(2025 Stats: 48 Total snaps, 1 Total tackle, 0 TFL, 3 Pressures, 0 sack)
Grade: 72.9

(2025 Stats: 38 Total snaps, 6 Total tackles, 2 TFL, 1 Pressures, 1 Sscks)
Grade: 57.5

The Cowboys’ edge defenders enter Packers week like a light crosswind at takeoff, subtle but having the potential to disrupt the whole flight plan. With Dante Fowler’s speed-to-power on one wing and Sam Williams’ long-arm and inside counter on the other, Dallas can force Rasheed Walker and Belton to set deeper, open their hips, and then exploit the rush lanes.

This Cowboys edge group is a committee now, not the Micah Parsons show, but the philosophy travels with wide alignments on passing downs, late stems to muddy protection calls, and tackle-end games that test handoffs at the mesh point. The wrinkle for these edges to exploit comes in the form of depth and health. Zach Tom is maybe the Packers best lineman and he is reportedly out, so if Jordan Morgan gets tossed onto the edge, that tweaks everything from how Elgton Jenkins sets the slide, to who the back scans in six-man protection. LaFleur’s answer is usually old-school with motion, chips to Fowler’s side, and a few crack toss plays to make the rush play get some firepower. If Dallas buys the fake, the Packers steal cheap yards, if the defensive ends hold the edge and squeeze, bootlegs and cracks turn into throwaways or broken plays.

This matchup on the edge will hinge on protection communication as much as execution. Expect Dallas to get into five-man rushes after testing the water, isolating whichever tackle isn’t getting help. When the Packers try to chip one side, the opposite edge must cash in on his 1-on-1 opportunity. Screens are coming, so the Cowboys’ edges must retrace with urgency and force the ball back into pursuit. Do that, and Love’s efficient start becomes a grind and Jacobs is meeting defenders two yards deep. Fail, and Green Bay gets back to its favorite soundtrack with the offensive tackles playing on their toes instead of their heels.

Nothing new to report so far this week. The defensive line players have not appeared on this week’s practice report