The Dallas Cowboys decided they didn't want edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence anymore. Maybe owner Jerry Jones was afraid Lawrence would get injured again. Maybe Dallas wanted a new defensive identity. What is clear is that the Cowboys' loss was the Seattle Seahawks' gain.
Lawrence has stayed healthy this season, and he has been extremely productive. Head coach Mike Macdonald's defensive scheme fits the player's strengths. Lawrence can stop the run, but he also finds the freedom to get to opposing quarterbacks consistently.
Week 17 against the Carolina Panthers was no different. Lawrence was a menace, chasing down quarterback Bryce Young after Young tried to scramble wide. Seattle's edge rusher was also brilliant in every other facet, however. He sacked Young once, had another tackle for loss, and six tackles overall.
Seattle Seahawks edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence one step closer to something he couldn't get with the Cowboys
Even at 33 years old, Lawrence has the speed to make sure the edge is set and then make up for any mistakes if they do happen. He now has five sacks, his best since 2022, and his 18 quarterback hits are his best since 2018. But Lawrence is playing for something he didn't think he would get in Dallas.
The edge rusher has made more than $100 million in his career. He likely doesn't worry too much about money, but he has never won a championship. He was right this past offseason when he said the Seahawks offered him the potential opportunity to do so, while the Cowboys didn't.
Seattle is currently the top seed in the NFC, and even if the team suffers a loss in Week 18, the Seahawks are guaranteed to be in the postseason. The Cowboys will be home watching the postseason again.
Most importantly, Lawrence has already won the war with his former team. He's a winner, while Dallas isn't.
No doubt exists that DeMarcus Lawrence won't play an important part in the rest of the Seattle Seahawks' season, either. He is going to continue to make positive impacts and show veteran leadership. He is only a few games from a career goal. A lot of work still exists for that to occur, but Lawrence won't give up easily.
Seattle might need to continue to win games as they did in Week 17, too. The offense struggled early, and the game did not begin to get one-sided until the fourth quarter. It was Lawrence and the defense that allowed that to happen. It could be the same way deep in the playoffs as well.