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Quinnen Williams: Cowboys’ Defense ‘Night And Day’ From Last Season

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The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of new faces on defense, including defensive coordinator Christian Parker, and one of the featured elements of their defense is pumped about how they’re shaping up on that side of the ball.

“The growth, it’s like night and day,” Cowboys star defensive tackle Quinen Williams said about the team’s defensive growth on Wednesday, according to the Cowboys’ team website. “Starting in OTAs, and starting the first week of training camp, getting a chance to go against one of the best offenses in battle every single day has helped us tremendously. The mindset coming from the coaches, top down to the players and to the leadership, has been drastically changed. It’s just fun, man.

“I just can’t wait to see the process and the results from all the hard work. But, we’re not done yet.”

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In 2025 under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Dallas was last in the NFL in opponent passing yards (251.5 per game) and opponent points (30.1 per game), 30th in opponent total yards (377.0 per game), tied for 22nd in sacks (35.0) and 10th outright in opponent rushing yards (125.5 per game).

The year prior (2024), the Cowboys were 31st in opponent points and 28th in opponent total yards under defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. For context, the Cowboys were fifth in opponent points in 2022 and 2023, seventh in opponent points in 2021 and fifth in opponent total yards in 2023. The aforementioned success came under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who left Dallas after a three-year stint in the role (2021-23) to become the head coach of the Washington Commanders.

The Cowboys moved on from Eberflus in favor of Parker, the former Philadelphia Eagles passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach. This is Parker’s first stint as an NFL defensive coordinator.

“It’s been amazing
— from where we started off in OTAs to where we are at now,” Williams said about the team’s defensive progression. “We’ve got some fine-tuning, some things to clean up, some things to do, but I feel comfortable. The progressions that we made, the growth and the development that we have made, and to go into the right direction that we wanted to go into.”

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Dallas signed Williams, a 2022 All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in each of the last four years, to a three-year, $105.9 million extension in August, with the $35.3 million average annual value second among NFL interior defensive linemen.

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In a 2025 campaign split between the Cowboys and New York Jets – Dallas acquired Williams from New York at last season’s NFL trade deadline for a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-rounder and defensive lineman and 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith – Williams logged a combined 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception and 53 combined tackles across 15 regular-season games. He ranked second among defensive linemen with an 88.8 overall grade and seventh with 51 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

As for the players joining Williams, Dallas signed safety Jalen Thompson (three-year, $33 million deal) and cornerback Cobie Durant (one-year, $4 million deal) and acquired veteran linebacker Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers, among other moves. Regarding the draft, the Cowboys traded up one spot to select Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and also selected UCF Knights linebacker Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 pick.

Dallas opens its 2026 regular season on the road against the New York Giants on Sept. 13.

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5 Things Triple H Got Right on WWE RAW This Week

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The latest episode of Monday Night RAW was a ticking time bomb that erupted in a spectacular fashion. The atmosphere was electric following the recent turmoil of Sunday Night’s Main Event. The anticipation was palpable leading up to the show, as there were rumors of a top star’s return. Triple H masterfully pulled the trigger, detonating one explosive moment after another.

Held at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, the show saw the progression of the feuds and storylines. Moreover, the qualifying matches for Money in the Bank also kicked off this week, with fans getting to witness some jaw-dropping action. The creative team delivered an incredible episode featuring several key moments that played a major role in advancing the ongoing storylines.

Here are five things Triple H got right on WWE RAW this week:

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#5. Sol Ruca qualifying for the ladder match

WWE held a blockbuster qualifying match for the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match this week on RAW, where Sol Ruca battled Maxxine Dupri and Lyra Valkyria. The three women tore each other apart in an incredible showdown where fans saw several hard-hitting moves and quick action. But Ruca eventually secured a massive victory by pinning Valkyria.

Triple H made the right call by letting the 26-year-old qualify for the Money in the Bank match. Sol Ruca is one of the most tactical and agile superstars on the roster, perfectly suited for a high-stakes environment like the ladder match. Besides, Ruca is also featured in the Money in the Bank 2026 poster, making her inclusion in the premium live event indispensable.

#4. The Vision destroying Oba Femi on RAW

Oba Femi suffered a barbaric attack at the hands of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed at Sunday Night’s Main Event. This week on RAW, The Ruler charged into The Vision with the furious intent to exact revenge. However, he suffered the same fate. Breakker and Reed once again annihilated Femi by unleashing a series of thunderous Spears and Tsunamis off the top rope.

The Vision made yet another defining statement and it was exactly what was needed from them. Ever since Bronson Reed returned to WWE, the faction has looked like a menacing unit. Therefore, laying out a humongous force like Oba Femi for the second consecutive time perfectly added the intimidation factor to The Vision that was lacking for quite some time.

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#3. Bron Breakker qualifying for the ladder match

Monday Night RAW witnessed another big qualifying match where Bron Breakker, Ethan Page and Rey Mysterio battled in a triple threat match. All three superstars were determined to punch their tickets to the Money in the Bank ladder match. Fans witnessed an incredible match from the starting bell to the end. But Breakker eventually outlasted everyone to secure a massive victory.

Letting the 28-year-old win was the right call, as he desperately needed this victory. Bron Breakker has been riding on red-hot momentum and there was no way Triple H could have halted that. His qualification in the Money in the Bank ladder match adds more unpredictability to the bout while putting The Vision in a prominent spotlight at the annual event.

#2. Royce Keys and OTM making a big statement

Ever since arriving on Monday Night RAW, Royce Keys and OTM have been wreaking havoc. The trio put The Bloodline on notice and waged a war against them. This week on RAW, the faction known as 946 made yet another statement. During the closing moments of the show, WWE showed backstage footage where they dismantled The Usos’ car and set it on fire.

The symbolism was pretty clear: they weren’t just attacking The Bloodline physically anymore; they were destroying them mentally. Triple H masterfully orchestrated the segment, showing an angle that instantly elevated the feud between 946 and The Bloodline. Royce Keys and OTM made a statement that they could do anything and reach anywhere.

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#1. Bayley returning for payback on RAW

The biggest highlight of WWE RAW this week was Bayley’s shocking return. There were a lot of rumors swirling on the internet for the past few weeks about her status with the company. But Triple H finally cleared the air. During the women’s Money in the Bank qualifying match, The Role Model showed up out of nowhere and cost Lyra Valkyria her big opportunity.

Bayley unleashed a brutal attack on Valkyria after the match, making it clear that she has unfinished business. The multi-time women’s champion returning to the programming this week was the best call. This is because Money in the Bank is right around the corner and WWE couldn’t have afforded to keep a veteran star like Bayley on the bench for long.