The Dallas Cowboys seem to have found the rhythm they’ve been seeking since letting go of defensive star Micah Parsons. It’s something that worked on the defensive side of the ball.

Following the Week 4 tie with the Green Bay Packers, cornerback Trevon Diggs gave Brian Schottenheimer and Matt Eberflus a reality check about the team’s heavy zone scheme, stating it’s getting “comfortable being uncomfortable.” Instead, he advocated for more man coverage.

Against the New York Jets, that’s precisely what defensive coordinator Eberflus fixed. Instead of his typical scheme of leaning on a four-man rush with seven dropping into zone, he strategized on sending pressure with more than the usual four rushers. Just like the corners wanted. It worked.

The Week 5 victory might not have been possible without shifting the strategy to man coverage. As Diggs addressed the media, he doubled down against the previous plan, which wasn’t hitting right in Dallas.

“When we have pressure like that, we can call whatever. We can call prevent (defense) and it would’ve won,” said Diggs post-game, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “I definitely felt like it worked. We got off the field. The D-line was getting back there so fast.”

Diggs said that tweak let the defense clamp down on the Jets late, forcing quick three-and-outs while the D-line brought the heat in record time. He even joked it was “like Instant Grits” with how fast the rush got home.

“We say when they get back there fast, it’s called Instant Grits. You know how you make the Instant Grits in the packet? You don’t want oatmeal. Oatmeal takes too long. You want Instant Grits. We had Instant Grits (Sunday),” he added.

It was the Jets who punched it in on their first drive, marking the fourth time in five weeks that Dallas’ defense allowed their opponent to put an early touchdown. But after that? The lights dimmed.

The Cowboys forced the Jets into four punts, a lost fumble, a turnover on downs, and just one field goal before the fourth quarter. In the final 15 minutes, the Gang Green thought they found life by posting a pair of touchdowns.

However, the scoreline looked tighter than the game really was. But just when it seemed like the Cowboys’ defense had everything under control, the game took a turn for the dramatic.

Trevon Diggs may pay heavy price for Week 5 shuffle

As good as the day was for the Dallas defense, CB Trevon Diggs ended up on the NFL’s wrong side. Apparently, in the final 13 minutes, 47 seconds remaining in the game, Diggs got involved in a shuffle with the Jets’ wide receiver Arian Smith. On the field, Green Gang’s starting quarterback Justin Fields was stonewalled at the line by Dallas rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku.

The shuffle between Diggs and Smith escalated fast, ending with the 23-year-old WR throwing a headbutt at the cornerback, who fired back with a punch. Immediately, Diggs was imposed with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. He might have to open his wallet next weekend.

The league has been very tight about player conduct lately, which means Diggs’ penalty would stretch to a fine by next weekend. Usually, the league office imposes a penalty of $12,172 for a first “striking, kicking, tripping, or kneeing.” On the second violation, it increases to $17,968.

Things get trickier for Diggs because it won’t be his first violation. He’s already been hit three times in his career, the highest one was imposed last year, when he dropped $16,883 for a “leg whip” tackle in Dallas’s Week 1 win over Cleveland. So, this season, the fine amount may exceed $17,968.