Cowboys Pass Rush Stall: Dallas Ranks Near Bottom of NFL in Sacks After Seven Weeks

FRISCO — Seven weeks into the NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys’ pass rush has yet to find its gear. With only 10 sacks on the season, the defense is tied for 27th in the league—a significant step back from a unit that recorded 15 sacks through the same stretch last year, a total that tied for 14th in the NFL.

The problem is not a lack of pressure. It is a lack of production. Cowboys pass rushers are affecting opposing quarterbacks, but those disruptions are not consistently showing up in the sack column. Through seven games, the edge-rushing group has combined for just three sacks, and one of the highest-profile additions to the front seven has yet to record a takedown.

Sack Numbers Tell a Troubling Story

The statistical slide is difficult to dismiss. After totaling 15 sacks through seven games in 2023, the Cowboys have managed only 10 this season, dropping them into a tie for 27th in league sack rankings. The breakdown is equally concerning: defensive linemen up front have recorded three sacks, while the designated edge rushers have combined for just three.

Defensive coordinator Christian Parker acknowledged the issue but expressed confidence that the numbers will improve.

“So I think it’s just a matter of time before we’re able to really turn the corner and change some of those pressure numbers into true sack production,” Parker said. “I think we’ve had moments where we’ve affected the quarterback, but I think it can be even more.”

Pressure Without Production

The Cowboys are generating pressure, but they are not finishing plays. Pass rushers have combined for only three sacks, with one player leading that group at 1.5. Meanwhile, an interior defensive lineman leads the team overall with three sacks.

The veteran presence has not yet delivered the expected impact either. Von Miller, the DeSoto native signed with the expectation that he could close games on third down with sacks and pressures, remains without a sack. Miller is credited with eight quarterback pressures by the Cowboys, yet he is tied with the second-longest sack-less streak of his career. The only longer drought came in 2023 with the Buffalo Bills while he was recovering from ACL surgery.

Another edge rusher has recorded just one sack but leads the team with 25 quarterback pressures, while the interior defensive lineman ranks second with 20. Those numbers suggest the Cowboys are getting to the quarterback, but not bringing him down.

Arizona Presents a Critical Test

On Sunday, the Cowboys face an Arizona Cardinals offense that has allowed 15 sacks, tied for the 15th-most in the NFL. That presents a potential opportunity for Dallas to break its sack drought, though the Cardinals are no easy matchup.

Arizona is a physical team with three capable running backs, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett is a difficult target to bring down. The veteran signal-caller stands tall in the pocket and has the experience to make all the throws, which could give the Cowboys’ pass rushers even more chances to prove they can convert pressure into sacks.

Turning Pressure Into Production

If there is a silver lining, it is that the Cowboys are at least affecting opposing quarterbacks. Converting those pressures into sacks is the next step, and Parker believes it is only a matter of time.

Sunday’s game against Arizona offers the perfect stage for a breakout performance. A strong showing against a Cardinals offensive line that has already surrendered 15 sacks could be the catalyst Dallas needs to climb out of the league’s bottom tier in sack production and salvage the pass-rush narrative before the season slips further away.

For a defense that has shown flashes of disruption, the message is clear: get to the quarterback, and finish the play.

This article originally published at After seven weeks, Von Miller, Cowboys are far from a Dallas sack exchange.

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