The NFC's Seattle Seahawks and AFC's New England Patriots are set to square off in Super Bowl LX to close out the 2025 season, and one side of the football has glaringly defined how each team made it this far: defense.

It's a formula the Dallas Cowboys could use as they usher in a new season of leadership with newly-hired coordinator Christian Parker.

Parker, 34, is one of the game's youngest high-profile coaches, yet he was just out of diapers the last time Jerry Jones & Co. made it to a conference championship - let along the big game.

How can Dallas build a team that's good enough to put an end to The Drought?

The two teams playing in Santa Clara are good foundations to follow.

The Seahawks and Patriots are both defensive-minded coaches in first-year boss Mike Macdonald in Seattle and ex-linebacker Mike Vrabel in New England. Macdonald presents a more modern twist on his schemes by prioritizing versatility and adaptability, whereas Vrabel's 4-3 focuses most on strong play at the line of scrimmmage.

With the tools already at Parker's disposal, there are mindsets on both sides that Dallas can be inspired by.

Macdonald finds a lot of his success from his talented defensive ends along with as his versatile interior linemen. A familiar face, Cowboys ex DeMarcus Lawrence, brought down Matthew Stafford for a sack in the NFC title game on Sunday that forced the Los Angeles Rams into a field goal.

Dallas, of course, lost Lawrence and Micah Parsons entering the season, but still, Jones was adamant about his confidence in the pass-rushing unit ... but that was before Jadeveon Clowney signed and eventually posted a team-high 8.5 sacks.

Adding one more piece next to Clowney (once re-signed) and second-rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku will go a long way in fortifying this Cowboys unit.

Seattle doesn't overly-blitz the passer, but they have the talent to generate pressures naturally and have back-end players that aren't afraid to come downhill and stop the run. Talent wise, the Cowboys are just a few pieces away from this type of production, but it starts in the middle.

Perhaps Dallas' most useful piece is Swiss-army-knife linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who can serve as a pass rusher or cover man across the middle of the field. His health and availability remains a major factor, as does Parker, Brian Schottenheimer and Will McClay finding reinforcements next to him in the NFL Draft or free agency.

The biggest deficiency in Matt Eberflus' defense this past season was the lack of clarity in role assignments, which led to miscommunication and a disconnect between personnel and the coaches - especially in the secondary, which is where the Seahawks are almost always sharp.

The Seahawks had five or more defensive backs on the field for more than 90 percent of their snaps this season. Making sure everyone is on the same page is where Macdonald's unit thrives with star DB Devon Witherspoon and standout rookie Nick Emmanwori. Parker will need to approach his system similarly in Year 1 as a DC.

The Cowboys' DaRon Bland will shadow opposing team's best wide receiver, but the opposite side is now a concern with the departure of former starters Kaiir Elam and Trevon Diggs. All signs are pointing to third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. growing into a full-time starter, but he and the rest of the depth chart will need to molded by Parker - a former defensive backs coach - to earn the spot and produce.

The Cowboys' defense is headlined by a trio of interior defensive linemen that - despite being expensive - are each worth their due because they complement one another's strengths. Osa Odighizuwa is bendy enough to get past slow guards and centers while Kenny Clark is the mauler who clogs up lanes.

Quinnen Williams - Dallas' lone Pro-Bowler on defense - is the do-it-all tackle that teams build around, hence Jones' aggressiveness to bring him to The Star at the trade deadline.

Vrabel's top defensive tackle Milton Williams used the word "dominant" to describe the D-line's play in the 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos on the road to capture the AFC. It's an adjective the Cowboys have used quite a bit, too, and they have the bodies to back it up.

With these distinct skill sets, it's important that Parker institutes a scheme that puts them in the best spots to be aggressive, while staying committed to how each complement one another - something Vrabel has honed in on nicely in Year 1 with New England.

This playoff run has shown how mature the Patriots defense has been situationally, always knowing how to capitalize on mistakes and force turnovers.

Despite quarterback Drake Maye's ball-security issues, the Pats have had more takeaways than they've given up, which is a sign of their strong late-down defense being critical.

New England tends to give up big "explosive" plays, but Dallas does, as well. The difference lies in red zone defense, where the Patriots get off the field or force field goals at a much better rate than the Cowboys on money downs.

All in all, the Joneses have already made one of the top philosophy shifts in defensive leadership by hiring Parker in the first place. It's a testament to head coach Schottenheimer, who earned the trust to drive the search process and pick his best candidate.

An up-and-coming offensive coordinator in Klayton Adams found success with the Cowboys last season, and Schotty is hoping the same can happen for Parker on defense.

As our Timm Hamm put it, "This is going to be different, and that’s a good thing. The Cowboys have lived in extremes defensively - either ultra-aggressive or overly conservative. Parker brings balance, disguise, and adaptability.

"For a defense desperate for identity and consistency, Christian Parker represents a philosophical reset ... and perhaps, finally, a modern solution."

And if all goes to plan, they could see the same payoff that got the Seahawks and Patriots to Super Bowl LX.