Dallas Cowboys Text Chain: 'Warrior Effort!' Inside Coach Dan Quinn's 'Private' Message to 'Doomsday' Defense
FRISCO - As members of the Dallas Cowboys defense trotted up the tunnel at AT&T Stadium late Sunday night after trouncing the Philadelphia Eagles, 33-13, different clusters of guys found themselves chanting a similar phrase.
"No touchdowns!'' they said. "No tuddies!''
Indeed, a foundational piece of the win to propel Dallas to 10-3 and up and over the Eagles in the NFC East race toward the playoffs? Philly scored on a defensive TD on a takeaway. And two field goals. And the Eagles executed a cool fake punt that gained a first down.
And that was about it ... all in all a "statement'' made, as defensive leader Micah Parsons put it ...
Followed by a "statement'' made in a group text to the players from defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
"After the game,'' Quinn revealed on Monday, "I sent a group text to the defense. It was only [a few] words, but it was all I needed to say to them.''
What was in the message? "That was a warrior effort,'' Quinn wrote, "and one that was called from the heart.''
The "Dallas Doomsday'' defense did it at all three levels. Parsons and the pressure upfront, helping to contain Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. Linebackers Markquese Bell and Damone Clark putting up numbers. Stephon Gilmore and defensive backs grabbing two of three stolen fumbles while also keeping A.J. Brown and his pals from the end zone.
The tests keep coming, of course, on the Dallas playoff path. Challenged by the Eagles' offensive weaponry? Good. Get used to it. This week it's a roadie against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills weaponry. The week after that it's another roadie against Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins weaponry. And after that, it's the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium.
"Heart of of a Warrior''? Dan Quinn now has himself a theme, a "statement'' that resonates.
"I thought that (game) was a really cool example of that,'' Quinn said, certainly hoping there are more inspirational and congratulatory private texts chains in his "Doomsday Defense''s future.
