Figuring out the top five plays of DeMarcus Lawrence’s Dallas Cowboys career so far

We are very close to the Dallas Cowboys heading out to Oxnard, California for training camp and that means that now is the final breath before preparations for the regular season ultimately begin.

During this time we have been looking back on some memories, notably on the Blogging The Boys podcast network, and re-visiting some moments that were positive for Cowboys fans.

Throughout the BTB podcast network this week (subscribe on Apple devices right here or on Spotify right here) we have been discussing the top plays from certain Cowboys players’ careers with the team. Monday was Ezekiel Elliott, Tuesday featured Amari Cooper, Wednesday saw Dak Prescott’s name called, Thursday was all about Dalton Schultz, and Friday brought with it some defense with DeMarcus Lawrence on Girls Talkin ‘Boys. You can listen to the episode below.

DeMarcus Lawrence has evolved over time into the war daddy that Jerry Jones coveted for so long. His on field production proves that he is the best player on the defense and with his buddy Tyrone Crawford having retired this offseason, he is clearly the guy who needs to take over the leadership position.

Lawrence’s career with the Cowboys is entering its eighth year, so what have been the top moments of it so far? A reminder that these are listed here in chronological order.

DeMarcus Lawrence walks off the game-winner in the 2014 Wildcard Round

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

We all remember the 2014 Wildcard Playoff game against the Detroit Lions vividly. Tony Romo led the Cowboys down for a touchdown to take the lead, partly in thanks to a Jason Witten Y-Option, but then the team’s defense had to hold a DFW icon in Matthew Stafford.

The play in question (where DeMarcus Lawrence forced a fumble off of a sack that he ultimately recovered) was only made possible because Tank botched a fumble recovery earlier in the drive. History generally only remembers the great moments and seeing D-Law put the exclamation point on a playoff game as a rookie was quite special.

Tank picks off Washington on Thanksgiving Day

Playing along the defensive line brings with it a number of responsibilities and oftentimes that is to wrap your hands around the football when it heads in your direction.

Such was the case for Lawrence on Thanksgiving Day when the Cowboys were hosting their division rivals in the Washington Football Team. Tank found himself in the right place at the right time and made sure to hold on tight.

To date this is DeMarcus Lawrence’s only career interception and it came at a time that helped the Cowboys just about ensure victory. This was the third win in a row of a streak that would ultimately get to five at a time when the Cowboys were really finding their groove during a year when they wound up winning the NFC East.

Those were good times.

DeMarcus helps the Cowboys take down New Orleans one week later

Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As noted, the Cowboys won five games in a row in 2018 which propelled them to a division title. The most shocking victory in that stretch came on the Thursday night after Thanksgiving when Dallas took down the mighty New Orleans Saints.

This performance was a heavy defensive lift by Dallas which was led in part by DeMarcus Lawrence. Tank actually had a sack on Drew Brees that forced a fumble that was ultimately negated by penalty, but he was frequently causing pressure throughout the contest.

It had been a long time since we saw the Cowboys win a game of this caliber in the fashion that they did. Needless to say it is very memorable.

Lawrence sacks Carson Wentz and forces a fumble

In 2019 the Dallas Cowboys were coming off of a rough loss to the New York Jets and were in sore need of a win. The Philadelphia Eagles were in town and left rather sad. How unfortunate.

The Dallas offense exploded on that Sunday night, but the Cowboys defense also showed up and balled out. DeMarcus Lawrence got after Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz early and gave the ball back to his offense.

Regardless of whatever language you are reading the text in, this play is gorgeous. Seeing Lawrence generate pressure, get to the quarterback, and force a turnover is what was expected of him when the Cowboys gave him his big-time contract.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that this came against the Philadelphia Eagles of all teams.

D-Law sacks Daniel Jones and sets up the defensive scoop and score

There aren’t exactly a lot of moments that we will look back on the 2020 season with fondness, but there were definitely a few times that had us feeling a little bit less pain.

One of these instances came at home against the New York Giants when DeMarcus Lawrence did something he is known to do - make life difficult for the New York Giants quarterback. In this particular moment Tank got to Daniel Jones, forced a fumble, and Anthony Brown picked it up and took it to the house.

Defensive touchdowns never get old and in this case this one kept the Cowboys all the more in the game. Daniel Jones has shown a propensity for fumbling the ball to this point in his NFL career, here is to hoping Daniel Jones continues the tradition of making it happen.