The Dallas Cowboys have had a tough start to the season, with their three losses raising concerns about their physicality and mental toughness. As they prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers after their bye week, star pass rusher Micah Parsons is calling for a more aggressive mindset.
After missing the last two games due to a high ankle sprain, Parsons is focused on the mentality shift the team needs. He has closely watched his team’s struggles and believes the solution lies in how they approach the game.
“Yeah, I think we need to be better,” said Parsons, a three-time All-Pro. His simple statement captures the frustration surrounding the Cowboys’ lack of physical dominance and execution this season.
One of the Cowboys’ biggest issues has been a decline in takeaways, an area where their defense once thrived. With defensive backs like DaRon Bland sidelined due to injury, the team has struggled to create turnovers, but Parsons believes it’s not just bad luck—it’s about being out of position.
“I think we’re out of position. Guys are out of position,” Parsons explained. “You’ve gotta be in position to create turnovers. Sometimes, you [aren’t] going to get lucky and just swat at the ball and create those turnovers. You’ve gotta be in position. You’ve gotta tackle well, and you’ve gotta rally well.”
Parsons emphasized the need for the Cowboys to force opponents out of their comfort zone and into passing situations by shutting down the run early. As part of this mental reset, he urged his teammates to adopt a more ruthless approach.
“I think we’ve gotta go into these games and say, ‘We’ve gotta step on somebody’s neck,’” Parsons stated. “[It’s] just the simple things: being disciplined, can’t kill each other on red zone trips. Can’t kill each other on third downs.”
After a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 6, the Cowboys are desperate to avoid more self-inflicted wounds. As they prepare for the 49ers, a team that has haunted them in recent matchups, Parsons knows that turning the season around starts with the right mindset.
“We can’t beat ourselves,” he said. “San Fran, obviously they’re going through their fair share of injuries but, at the same time, we have to play great football up there.”
The Cowboys have a chance to reset their season, but it will take both mental and physical dominance to get back on track.
