win your games in the NFL. Everybody knows that. You also occasionally need some help Color Rush Taco Charlton Jersey , and the Dallas Cowboys got a whole lot of it through the season’s opening week.It’s true that things got off to a less-than-ideal start when the Philadelphia Eagles won their first game last Thursday night as they began their title defense. The good news about the Eagles winning (there really never is any) was that it meant their opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, lost.You see the Eagles and Falcons are a third of last season’s playoff teams in the NFC. You’ll remember last season’s final NFC standings (playoff teams in bold):Philadelphia EaglesMinnesota VikingsLos Angeles RamsNew Orleans SaintsCarolina PanthersAtlanta FalconsDetroit LionsSeattle SeahawksDallas CowboysArizona CardinalsGreen Bay PackersWashington RedskinsSan Francisco 49ersTampa Bay BuccaneersChicago BearsNew York GiantsThe AFC teams almost swept the four interconference matchups, a very good thingThere were four interconference matchups across the NFL in Week 1, and despite the NFC being regarded as the superior side, three AFC teams won. Jacksonville beat the Giants, Denver took down Seattle, and the Jets put a thumping on Detroit.Within these losses lie three playoff contenders (Detroit might fall the fastest out of that conversation) not to mention a division rival of the Cowboys. Any time any team within the conference can lose to the other, or a division foe can lose to anyone, it’s a great day to be a Cowboys fan.Tampa Bay’s win could have the biggest ripple effectThe Buccaneers stunned everyone (and likely you’re eliminator pool) when they took down their own division rival on the road, the New Orleans Saints. Sean Payton’s squad is expected to seriously contend for a Super Bowl this season, getting round-housed by Ryan Fitzpatrick of all people is hardly the first step on that path, but hey it’s Week 1.New Orleans will undoubtedly be a contender come December (the Cowboys play them on November 29th). The Buccaneers will likely fold (if they don’t things will get even more crazy). The more times that teams who won’t be in the mix can beat teams that will is something worth celebrating. Keep this in mind this week when the Buccaneers host the Eagles. You can do it, Tampa Bay!Injuries are never fun, but they’re relevantDetroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford looked to get nicked up during the first Monday Night Football game of the season. He did finish the game, in as underwhelming of a fashion as the Lions as a whole, but it’s worth noting considering the Cowboys host Detroit in two weeks.Also looking a bit further down the road, Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones was placed on injured reserve. Per the NFL’s IR rules Jones will be out for eight weeks. Eight weeks from the day of his placement is November 6th and the Cowboys visit Atlanta on November 18th.Obviously the Cowboys need to do their part and win their own football games or nothing else matters in their own playoffs chase. They’ve got a big-time game this week within the division during the home opener against the New York Giants. The loser will fall to 0-2 and that’s typically an impossible hole to climb out of.The Cowboys lost their first game and that sucks. Thankfully there are 15 more left and a lot of other things from Week 1 went their way. Optimism is fun.Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence should be in serious consideration for Defensive Player of the Year Yes, you heard that right. DeMarcus Lawrence should be one of the top candidates to win this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Since coming into the league in 2014 http://www.authenticsdallascowboys.com/cheap-antwaun-woods-jersey , Lawrence has registered29 sacks in just 26 starts. Lawrence has dealt with his fair share of injuries, and even dealt with a suspension in 2016. Since serving said suspension, Lawrence has recorded 21 sacks in 29 games. Dating back to the start of last season, here are the stats of five of the best defensive ends in the NFL.Khalil Mack: 15.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, five forced fumblesVon Miller: 14 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, four forced fumblesDanielle Hunter: 12 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, one forced fumbleCalais Campbell: 17.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, three forced fumblesDeMarcus Lawrence: 20 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, four forced fumblesOn some occasions, stats lie. On this occasion, they do not. DeMarcus Lawrence is the best defensive end in football, and he’s just getting started.Through four weeks of the 2018 season, Lawrence is currently leading the NFL in sacks with 5.5. Not only has DeMarcus Lawrence shown he’s one of, if not the best pass rusher in the NFL Color Rush Brett Maher Jersey , he’s also shown the consistent ability to be an excellent run defender week in, and week out. Through four weeks, Lawrence leads the league in sacks, is second in the league in tackles for loss, and tied for the lead (Danielle Hunter) with 21 total tackles from the defensive end position. DeMarcus Lawrence is so effective because he has the three most important tools to have success as an elite defensive end in the NFL.The speedWhen DeMarcus Lawrence is locked in he is almost impossible to defend. Lawrence is very explosive off the snap, which is one of his keys to success. When Lawrence wins off the snap, the man across from might as well give up due to the multitude of ways he can win.Lawrence gets the sack here because he’s able to beat the Lions’ right tackle to the edge, then he’s able to swipe Wagner’s hands, bend the edge and get to Matthew Stafford in a hurry. If Lawrence is slow off the snap, or doesn’t have the ability to bend the edge, he doesn’t get this sack.The powerWhere Lawrence finds a lot of his success is when he uses his power to win on the inside. Tank possesses so much power in his upper half that he’s able to control offensive lineman at the point of attack with ease. The beautiful thing about Lawrence is that sometimes he doesn’t have to have a great plan when rushing and he can still get home due to that explosiveness and power.This is just ridiculous to watch. On this play, Lawrence get chipped by the running back, beats Germain Ifedi to the inside, and destroys the right guard and center which allows Sean Lee to run freely to Wilson. Not only does Lawrence create this sack, but he also finished it too and gets credited for half of one. The technique When Lawrence doesn’t win with speed or power, he wins with technique. Out of the three traits we’re talking about today, Tank’s technique may be his best one. Lawrence is so good with his hands and arms, that even when he is a tick late off the snap, or misses with a power rush http://www.authenticsdallascowboys.com/cheap-la_el-collins-jersey , he can still get off his blocker and get to the quarterback using his technique.Lawrence is always very active with his hands. Whether it’s a two-hand swipe, one-hand swipe, club-arm over, swim move, push-pull, or cross-chop, Tank Lawrence’s hands/arms are always moving in sync with the rest of his body. Here the Cowboys run a twist with DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford. The Lions do a nice job of passing this off, but Lawrence gives Lions OG with a club-arm over move off of the twist.DeMarcus Lawrence is currently playing out of his mind and putting this defense, who has struggled to create turnovers and consistent pressure, on his back. Not only are his stats impressive, but his level of play on plays that don’t result in a sack or tackle are also unreal. Lawrence has taken over as the Cowboys defensive leader on the field with his play and the way he carries himself with great confidence and swagger. It’s about time we start hearing his name mentioned in the same category as Khalil Mack, Von Miller, and J.J. Watt, because he’s just as good if not better than all of them. DeMarcus Lawrence bet on himself this offseason, and it’s going to pay off nicely for him this upcoming offseason. He is going to be a very rich man, and Cowboys Nation better hope that he’s a rich man with a star on his helmet.