Cowboys defense 'puts league on notice' after shutting out Giants

The Cowboys defense captured the NFL's attention during a 40-0 blowout against the Giants on Sunday, proving it could carry a team to a championship.

"Yeah, it's just one win, it's the beginning of the season, but definitely feel like we put the league on notice," defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence said in a postgame news conference. "We're for real, we're coming."

Per ESPN Stats & Information, Dallas became the fifth team to start the season with a shutout of 40-plus points, and it was the first since the Steelers throttled the Browns 43-0 in 1999. Also, it was the largest shutout in franchise history.

In the victory, the Cowboys defense forced three turnovers, including a 22-yard pick-six by second-year cornerback DaRon Bland. It sacked New York quarterback Daniel Jones seven times, the most in a Cowboys season-opener since 1994.

"No doubt in my mind," star linebacker Micah Parsons said following the stellar defensive performance, via ESPN's Todd Archer. "I saw it before anybody. I said, 'I can't wait to get to New York.' I already knew we was coming. Just because when preparation meets execution, I don't think there's no one that can beat us."

The Cowboys will face better teams later this season, such as divisional rival Philadelphia, so don't expect them to demolish every opponent. Nevertheless, the Cowboys led the NFL in takeaways in 2021 and 2022. They could do it for a third consecutive year. The unit tied for the most takeaways in Week 1.

More importantly, it could meet a high bar that Parsons set earlier this offseason. In August, the 24-year-old told the "Pivot Podcast," "I'm trying to be on that [former Ravens LB] Ray Lewis defense." During the 2000 season, the Ravens defense led Baltimore to its first Super Bowl title, allowing the fewest points (165 in 16 games) in the league.

The Cowboys defense could do the same, helping Dallas win its first Super Bowl title in 28 years.