As the Dallas Cowboys close the book on their Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, they’ll look to get back to .500 against the New York Jets in Week 5. While most of the attention is being paid to the offenses in this game, there are still a couple of defensive players to watch on both sides. 

Perhaps the best pure pass rusher on the Dallas roster, Houston is finally starting to see an uptick in snaps. After recording no more than 15 in the first three weeks, he recorded 22 in Week 4, logging a sack and forced fumble to earn an 83.0 pass rush grade from PFF.

For all of their faults, the Jets offense does boast one of the better tackles pairs in the league. Rookie Armand Membou ranks seventh overall at the position, while Olumuyiwa Fashanu has been credited with an above average 63.2 pass blocking mark. 

If the Cowboys are going to change the idea that they have one of the worst defenses in the league, it’ll have to start with an improved pass rush. Houston will likely play a large part in that process, and he has a tough matchup this week while trying to do so. 

Fans have been calling for Thomas to get more snaps. And he finally did so by recording 51 in Week 4. In true Dallas fashion though, it came due to an injury to Malik Hooker. 

With Hooker ruled out for Week 5, Thomas will have to step up much like he did against the Packers when he recorded a 66.1 overall grade, including an 80.6 tackling mark. 

Of course, the Jets present a much less challenging assignment than the Packers did overall, although they do boast a better individual talent in Garrett Wilson than any of the Green Bay receivers. 

However, if Thomas and the defense can limit Wilson (not an easy task by any means), this could be a real pivot point for the secondary.  

The former first round pick has been very good at one thing in his young career: rushing the passer. After a solid all-around rookie year in which he recorded no grade lower than a 59.8 in any area but none higher than a 68.9, he sold out as a pass rusher completely in 2024.

In his sophomore 2024 season, he logged a 73.9 grade pass rush grade and 11 sacks, but an abhorrent 39.5 run defense and 28.7 tackling grade. 2025 has been more of the same.

So far this season, his 77.1 pass rushing grade is a career high, while he’s recorded career lows across the board outside of that. Going against a struggling Dallas offensive line, McDonald could be a menace if the Cowboys aren’t able to contain him. 

After spending the first four years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, Stephens somewhat quietly signed a three year, $36 million deal with the Jets. While most eyes are usually on Sauce Gardner, Stephens has been a quality Robin to Gardner’s Batman during his first season in Gotham. 

He’s not been elite by any means, but his 63.0 overall grade is above average. Notably, he posted a strong 70.1 tackling grade, already recording 20 tackles compared to two misses, good enough for a 91.7% tackling rate. 

This is especially notable going against a Dallas offense that features a physical skill group led by George Pickens and Jake Ferguson. If the Jets are to pull off the upset, they’ll need to limit Pickens’ physicality, something that Stephens is uniquely equipped to do.