Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is putting his faith in the game plan when it comes to stopping Saquon Barkley on Sunday.
The Dallas Cowboys' much-improved defense was the talk of the NFL world after the 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in a game that saw promising running back Ashton Jeanty be a non-factor.
Jeanty would rush for just seven yards on six carries as Matt Eberflus' defense kept the Raiders to just 27 total rushing yards on Monday night, easily their lowest of the season.
But while some have praised the rush defense, it has still been gotten at this season, with seven games allowing over 100+yards, which includes the 216 from the Carolina Panthers.
Now, Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles roll into town, and in Week 1, the Eagles rushed for 158 yards on the Cowboys defense, but Barkley was held to just 60 yards on 18 carries, as it was Jalen Hurts' scrambles that killed the Cowboys.
Saquon hasn't been the dominating force he was last season, totaling just 662 yards and four touchdowns this season, while going at only 3.8 yards per clip, but that doesn't mean he's any less dangerous.
Despite Barkley only having one 100-yard game this season, new defensive tackle Quinnen Williams believes that when it comes down to slowing No. 26, as long as Dallas follows the game plan, things will work out fine.
"He's an amazing running back, man," Williams said. "He's doing things that no running back has been doing the last probably two, three years in his career. Just following the game plan. The coaches got a great game plan, just follow the game plan and do my job the best of my ability, and I know everybody on the defense, if we do our job the best of our ability, it'll be a good turnout."
The Cowboys' defense put on a show, albeit against the lowly Raiders, but there was plenty to like.
Constant pressure from Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, Jadeveon Clowney, and Kenny Clark, while the secondary of DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel Jr., and Caelen Carson all had their moments, so too Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker.
And make no mistake, that group will have to be wary of the host of weapons the Eagles possess, with Barkley, Hurts' scrambling, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and others, this will be a true test for coordinator Eberlfus' defense's newfound confidence.
But if they follow the game plan, as Quinnen states, it might be the first set of back-to-back wins the Cowboys have had in 2025.