Cowboys safety says team has 'the formula' to be NFL's best defense

From top-to-bottom, the Dallas Cowboys have the makeup of a team that should be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Now, they need to find a way to get over the hump and make a playoff run. Failing to capitalize in the prime of multiple top-tier players' careers would be a painful outcome.

Recently, Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse spoke with The Athletic's Jon Machota and discussed the possibility of the team's defense being the best in the NFL next season.

“We feel that way every year," Kearse said. "But we got to go out there and prove it. We have to prove it every day. We have to think greatness whenever we’re doing anything. We’re going in the right direction. We’re taking the right steps to go out there and be a championship defense and a championship team. We just have to put the work in. Everything will take care of itself. But we definitely have the formula to get it done.”

Last season, the Cowboys defense allowed the eighth-fewest total passing yards (3,415), the eighth-fewest passing yards per attempt (6.2) and were tied for the seventh-most interceptions with 16. While the unit struggled a bit more in terms of rushing yards allowed, they were one of only four teams to allow single-digit rushing touchdowns. That group included the Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, with nine allowed, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, who each allowed seven scores on the ground.