Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams looks on during the national anthem before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Nov 17, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Quinnen Williams disregards the notion that the standout defensive tackle’s arrival in a trade is the best explanation for a dramatic turnaround by the defense of the Dallas Cowboys.

Teammates and coaches agree — to a point.

“When you open up the personnel report and you see Quinnen Williams’ name, you’re like, ‘Ah, …, what am I going to do about this?'” said coach Brian Schottenheimer, going silent while mouthing the expletive in his thought. “I think that’s real. When you pay a lot of attention to him, it gives a lot of other guys a lot of opportunities to showcase their talent.”

Here’s the reality.

Dallas is 3-0 since giving the New York Jets a 2027 first-round draft pick, a second-rounder next year and underperforming defensive tackle Mazi Smith to acquire Williams at the trade deadline.

On top of that, the Cowboys (6-5-1) go into Thursday night’s visit to Detroit having given up 21.7 points per game (essentially a touchdown below their average) and 69.7 yards rushing per game (not much more than half their average).

Dallas beat both of last season’s Super Bowl teams back-to-back, first 24-21 over defending champion and NFC East rival Philadelphia when the defense gave the Cowboys three fourth-quarter chances to take the lead and the offense finally cashed in with a game-ending field goal. The winning drive came after Osa Odighizuwa’s third down sack of Jalen Hurts.

The other pieces

The defensive revival isn’t as simple as Williams coming aboard.

The returns from injury for starting safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson along with the season debuts of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and rookie cornerback Shavon Revel coming off 2024 knee surgeries have helped.

So has the other trade deadline addition, former Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson, whose veteran presence has improved the communication of first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ calls.

Those are among the reminders Williams has for anyone suggesting his arrival changed everything for the Dallas defense.

“I wasn’t here before. I don’t really know what was going on before I got here,” Williams said. “But since I’ve been here, everybody’s just been firing on all cylinders when it comes down to doing their job to the best of their ability and feeding off each other, learning from each other, pushing each other, holding each other accountable.”

Still, the impact of Williams has been undeniable, right from the start. In the first half of his Dallas debut at Las Vegas, Williams had five pressures, the most in a half by a Cowboys defensive tackle in at least seven years, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. He had 1 1/2 sacks against the Raiders.

“Just watch him play. Simple as that,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “Guy that I know, as I said before, playing against, he’s a game-wrecker and now being on the same team as him and getting an opportunity when I do watch those guys over there, it’s no different. The rest of the guys are stepping up and making plays when he’s getting double-teamed.”

Williams joined Dallas after spending all of his first six seasons with the Jets, who drafted him third overall in 2019. Jadeveon Clowney, a 12-year veteran who sacked Patrick Mahomes twice in last week’s 31-28 Thanksgiving win over Kansas City, signed as a free agent early in the season.

Defensive tackle Kenny Clark was the player Dallas got in the trade that ultimately led to the Williams deal, when the Cowboys sent star pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay for two first-round picks a week before the season started. Clark had spent all of his first nine seasons with the Packers.

Add Odighizuwa, a fifth-year player who signed an $80 million contract extension in the offseason, and Dallas now leans on a strong core of veterans to go with promising edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku.