Parsons’ blockbuster trade to Green Bay reshaped the Cowboys and their opener against Philadelphia. Without Parsons, Dallas pressed Hurts with blitzes, five QB hits but only one sack. Barkley still found space, yet Dallas kept him to 3.3 yards per carry after halftime. Lamb’s drops loomed large, but the defense adjusted and the locker room stayed resilient. Parsons moved; Dallas pivoted to plan B, signaling a shift in identity more than an end to competitiveness.