One of the biggest reasons that the Dallas Cowboys stormed back last season to win the NFC East, and a playoff game, was a defense that showed up and dominated teams. Perhaps the biggest win of last season was a huge defensive showing, a lockdown performance of the New Orleans Saints on the Thursday after Thanksgiving Day that shocked the world.
The Cowboys defense of 2018 was aided by then-rookie Leighton Vander Esch, surging Jaylon Smith, and the transcendent DeMarcus Lawrence. With all of them coming back this season, and Robert Quinn joining the party, there were many people that expected the defense to take it to the next level.