Certainly, the Dallas Cowboys are heading into Sunday’s season opener against New York Giants dealing with its share of adversity after losing Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith four at least the four games after undergoing thumb surgery on Tuesday.
And that was before backup running back Malik Davis was lost for the season after suffering a hip injury in practice on Friday.
But with franchise quarterback Dak Prescott and Pro Bowl receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens good to go, the Cowboys feel good about their ability to score points against the Giants defense.
The focal point on Sunday will be a revamped and overhauled Cowboys defense.
After finishing last in the nfl in 2025 with one the worst units in nfl history, let alone franchise history, the Cowboys brought in 34 year old wonder-kind Christian Parker from the rival Philadelphia Eagles to run the defense.
They also upgraded the talent with trades for edge rusher Rashan Gary and linebacker Dee Winters, the signings of safeties Thompson and P.J. Locke and cornerback Cobie Durant in free agency and additions of safety Caleb Downs (first round), edge rusher Malachi Lawrence (first round) and linebacker Jaishawn Barham (third round) in 2026 NFL Draft.
And that doesn’t include the return to health of cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel as well as linebacker DeMarion Overshown.
Only three starters will take the field against the Giants who started last year’s season opener.
There is widespread optimism that the defense will be much better because of the influx in talent and Parker’s schemes, so much so that Cowboys have been a trendy Super Bowl by many national prognosticators.
The offense was already Super Bowl worthy.
A capable defense could have the Cowboys in contention for their first trip to big game since their last title following the 1995 season.
Proof of life comes Sunday.
Parker has said the defenders have gone through master program learning defense.
He’s excited to see them finally walk across the stage against the Giants in what he calls graduation day.
“I’m pretty excited,” Parker said. “We’ve been working hard for this moment to get this thing officially started. It’s been a lot of time on task and work put in conversations, the practices, the walkthroughs, just everything kind of gearing up towards the start of the season. So, I would say that’s the main emotion for us.
“I think it’s fair to say, graduation days on Sunday night,” he added.
It’s not only a first test for the players but for Parker as well
He will be calling plays and running a defense in a game for the first time after being a prize pupil of noted Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
The Cowboys are nervous but confident because this is why they hired him.
They are as excited to see Parker in action as they are the players.
“What (our) talent needs is what he’s bringing to the table,” owner Jerry Jones said. “The right kind of communication, the right kind of tone-setting with expectation. He’s got the team believing in what he’s trying to do, it’s something that they can execute on. He’s got a great bunch, a can-do bunch.”