Lawrence measures up even with his sacks total down

FRISCO, TEXAS >> DeMarcus Lawrence may not reach his career high in sacks during the encore to the Dallas defensive end’s breakthrough season in the NFL.

By any measure from his coaches and teammates, Lawrence’s follow-up to 141/2 sacks has been a success. A big one.

“With the things that we’ve changed in the defense, he has to more disciplined in the run and things of that sort,” defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford said. “Sacks are a good number for everybody else mainly. As far as a good player on a good defense, you’re not going to find a better one.”

Lawrence has 81/2 sacks through 12 games. The fifth-year pro had that many in five games last year. But Lawrence collected his first career interception on a screen pass two games ago against Washington before helping lead the defense’s signature moment in 2018.

The Cowboys bottled up Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints in a 13-10 win that set them up for sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Dallas took that spot with the Redskins’ loss to the Eagles.

Now Dallas (7-5) gets its rematch with the Eagles (6-6) on Sunday, with first place on the line just as it was on Thanksgiving against Washington. The Cowboys started their current four-game winning streak with a victory in Philadelphia.

“I have my ups and down this season. No complaining about it,” Lawrence said. “I really embrace this season. It just shows how much we really care, how much I really care, just because of how we’re standing as a defense. I feel like everything is looking up.”