A key storyline heading into Week 1 is how the Cowboys will deploy Miller on defense. Fans and analysts are eager to know how much he will play and what exact role he will have in this new defensive scheme.
Miller signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal in the offseason and did not miss any preseason action, signaling that his involvement from the outset of the regular season is expected to be significant. His veteran presence is paired with the goal of boosting Dallas’s pass rush, which struggled a year ago. Dallas finished the 2025 season with 35 sacks — among the lower totals in the league — and the team has been searching for an edge that can consistently affect opposing quarterbacks.
In addition to Miller, the Cowboys added Rashan Gary on the edge, enhancing their pass-rushing potential. Both players bring a track record of effectiveness, and their presence is anticipated to help Dallas’s defense regain its bite. The improvement is particularly important with the team transitioning to a new defensive leadership structure under coordinator Christian Parker, who aims to optimize the unit’s performance.
Over the course of his NFL career, Miller has accumulated 138.5 sacks across 15 seasons, earned eight Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro honors, two Super Bowl titles, and one Super Bowl MVP award. His experience and high-impact rushing ability should help the Cowboys generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and create more opportunities for takeaways.
Miller’s debut with Dallas is highly anticipated. If he can multiply his impact from earlier seasons and be efficient with his snap counts, he could become a central piece of Dallas’s defense in 2026. The Cowboys are counting on Miller to be a disruptive force on Sundays and to help revitalize a unit that needs to apply more consistent pressure to quarterbacks.
In summary, Dallas is banking on a more dangerous pass rush this season, anchored by Von Miller and complemented by other returning and new contributors. If Miller can replicate even a fraction of his peak production, the Cowboys could see a notable uptick in sacks, quarterback hurries, and overall defensive eigenvalues, contributing to a stronger overall team performance as they face their Week 1 adversary.
