Cowboys' Micah Parsons wants to emulate Super Bowl-winning defense

"I'm trying to be on that [ Pro Football Hall of Fame LB] Ray Lewis defense. I'm trying to hold teams to under 10 points," Parsons said on a Tuesday episode of "The Pivot Podcast." "If teams score under 10 points, we win the game, so I'll take accountability." 

During the 2000 season, Lewis led a fearsome Ravens defense that led the NFL in points allowed (10.3 per game), which carried Baltimore to its first championship. 

While it's unlikely that Dallas will allow 10 PPG or fewer this season, its defense could help it capture its sixth Lombardi Trophy. Over the past two seasons, the Cowboys led the NFL in takeaways (67). And they acquired cornerback Stephon Gilmore this offseason, a former Defensive Player of the Year.

"This team can definitely be the best defense in the NFL," ESPN analyst and former Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark recently said on "NFL Live."

Despite the immense talent, Dallas' schedule presents a significant challenge for the unit. Per NFL Research, the Cowboys tied with the Patriots and Giants for the third-most-difficult schedule this season. Also, they face defending NFC champion Philadelphia—who scored the second most points in the league last season—twice. 

Nonetheless, Parsons is expected to reach the next level this season. After finishing second in DPOY voting for consecutive seasons, he's favored to win the award, per OddsChecker. The third-year LB will become a rare defensive player who flips momentum and wins games if he meets expectations.

So Parsons and the rest of the defense could be the catalyst that ends a 28-year championship drought.