Reigniting Micah Parsons is the key to deep Cowboys playoff run

The Cowboys need to reignite second-year defensive star Micah Parsons because he's the difference between a first-round exit and a potential championship run.

Starting quarterback Dak Prescott, maligned for tying the league lead in interceptions (15), is seen as the catalyst when it should be Parsons. 

In Dallas' first 12 games, Parsons compiled 12 sacks and 52 tackles. The Cowboys raced to a 9-3 record. Over the past five games, Parsons declined, recording 1.5 sacks and 13 tackles. Dallas slowed down, too, going 3-2. Its defense allowed 130 points--26 points per game, more than the league average. 

Prescott's interception spike coincided with the defensive slide. He threw eight over the last five games. Correlation doesn't equal causation, but playing in closer games may have placed more pressure on Prescott, leading to more mistakes. 

The solution to the Cowboys' inconsistency is simple: recharge Parsons. 

One way Dallas can revitalize Parsons is by moving him away from the defensive line and back to linebacker. Per Jon Machota of The Athletic, Parsons lined up as a defensive lineman on 738 snaps this season, as opposed to 374 last season.