The Dallas Cowboys have spent the last week as the whipping boy of the rest of the NFL, as they traded Micah Parsons away to an NFC rival in the Green Bay Packers for pennies on the dollar. Parsons was getting thrown into the fire in his Packers debut against Penei Sewell and the Detroit Lions.

With the Lions fresh off dominating the NFC over the last two years and in possession of one of the best offensive lines in the game, Parsons, who came into the game with concerns about his back health, looked like his old self in this contest.

Parsons was faced off against the best right tackle in the league in Sewell, but he put such a beating on the Detroit All-Pro that he had has good a game as one could have without putting up any sacks. In fact, Parsons may have contributed to some very bad turnovers from Jared Goff.

Parsons pushed Sewell right back into Goff’s lap, which led to a terrible interception for the turnover-averse quarterback. Parsons did it again in one of his first plays of the third quarter, even though a turnover was avoided. Who would have believed that Parsons could impact a defense like this? Everyone?

The impact Parsons is having on this defense, even without getting as many quarterback takedowns as he did in Dallas, is clear and obvious. After adding Parsons, a pass rush that was constantly regarded as below-average has come alive against a great Lions offensive line.

Former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, who has been getting ripped apart by local and national media for his poor performance, is having the best game of his career. Rashan Gary looks completely different to the point where he may end up having a Pro Bowl season.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, acquired Kenny Clark with the thought that he could help improve a lackluster run defense. Instead of filling that hole, the Cowboys let Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles run right over them, as they surrendered three rushing touchdowns in a 24-20 loss.

Dallas is going to have a front-row seat to any positive play that Parsons plays a hand in during the course of the 2025 season. If he’s doing this against the Lions, imagine what he can do against the Cowboys and their offensive line?