IRVING, Texas - Maybe a "cloud" has hung over the Dallas Cowboys in past Decembers, as inside linebacker Bradie James suggested. But Wade Phillips' team sees only clear skies in the middle of November.
For only the third time since 1995, the Cowboys are 6-2 after eight regular-season games. They've been fortunate: their starters, including super-sub Felix Jones, have missed only five combined games with injuries. And they've been efficient: offense, defense and special teams have been equally productive during this four-game winning streak.
Those two reasons, above any others, have pushed them to the top of the NFC East.
"Now we have to continue to stack up wins," James continued, "because when we get to December it's going to be a whole different challenge, a whole different ball game and that's kind of where we hadn't performed well, too.
"So, each week it just presents different challenges, but to stack up wins you've got to just take it one game at a time."
December can wait. The Cowboys can maintain control of the division with a win Sunday in Green Bay.
A mid-season glance at how they got here:
BEST WIN
Nick: It's hard not to pick this last Eagles game, but I think beating Kansas City was better. Sure, the Chiefs aren't very good, but it seemed like the Cowboys were sleepwalking through the game and season, and with the help of Tony Romo and Miles Austin, just woke up that day in Kansas City.
Rob: The momentum started in Kansas City, but the Cowboys showed great poise in beating Philadelphia on the road. They handled the Eagles' blitz and yielded only one big gain on defense. That's how contenders play.
Josh: It's hard not to say the 20-16 decision just this past Sunday night at Philadelphia. The stakes were higher for that one, and the Cowboys needed to play well and put to bed that 44-6 loss last January.
WORST LOSS
Josh: There's no indignity in losing a game to the Giants, because even given their four-game losing streak I think they're a good team. But that was a big night for the Cowboys with the stadium opening and they definitely didn't want to lose it.
Nick: Since both of them have come down to the last minute, it's hard to pick. But the Giants game was worse because you'll always go back to it. The first game at Cowboys Stadium will always be a loss to a hated division rival on the last play of the game.
Rob: The Giants game for two reasons: A division/conference home loss is more significant than losing at Denver, and New York scored 24 points off turnovers. The Cowboys just should've won that one.
BEST PLAY
Rob:Miles Austin's overtime touchdown in Kansas City essentially ignited this four-game winning streak. It wasn't just him - the players grew confidence in all facets of their team during that overtime session - but his TD helped them avoid 2-3. Now they're 6-2. Quite a swing.
Josh:Miles Austin's 60-yard catch and run in overtime against Kansas City was about as big as they come. He bailed the Cowboys out in a game they didn't play their best, and in a way it was that star-is-born kind of moment.
Nick: It has to be something involving Austin, right? The overtime TD in Kansas City was great, but I'll take his latest game-winner in Philly. The move to get open, the perfect pass from Romo and the way Austin looked the ball all the way in before shaking defenders to the end zone was big time.
WORST PLAY
Nick: Easy to go with Brandon Marshall's touchdown in Denver, but I'll take the third-quarter interception Romo threw to Champ Bailey. Whether Austin ran the wrong route or Romo threw a bad pass, it wasted an opportunity. Score a TD there and the Cowboys win that game.
Rob: I'll take the obvious choice then. The Cowboys' defense had allowed only 10 points on the road until Marshall's game-clinching touchdown in the final two minutes. That was a crushing play, but the defense has played better football since.
Josh: I think Romo's ill-advised deep ball in the third quarter of the Giants game, the interception by Kenny Phillips, is the one they would want back the most. Romo's worst play of the season, at a terrible time for it to come in the game.
BEST FREE AGENT PICKUP
Josh:Gerald Sensabaugh has been a huge upgrade for the Cowboys' strong safety position, and his ability to play man coverage has made the defense more versatile.
Nick: Tough call here, but give me Gerald Sensabaugh. The only reason I choose him over Keith Brooking is that Sensabaugh is a bigger upgrade over Roy Williams/Keith Davis than Brooking is over Zach Thomas.
Rob: Can Sensabaugh and Keith Brooking share the honor? I'll go with the veteran inside linebacker. He and Bradie James have really fortified the middle of the defense. This defense already has leaders (James, DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, Terence Newman, among others), but it never hurts to add another fiery, respected player like Brooking.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Rob: Joe DeCamillis has been successful at every stop, so you knew special teams would be better this season. But the level of improvement so far has been remarkable. Field position has been a big factor in the Cowboys' six wins.
Josh: It's got to be Miles Austin. We knew the Cowboys hoped he would become a bigger part of the offense when they released Terrell Owens, but how could we have known he was so ready to break out.
Nick: How can you not say Miles Austin? Even the receiver's biggest supporters couldn't have dreamed he'd be on pace for a 1,200-yard season with 14 touchdowns. Mike Jenkins and David Buehler are candidates but you have to say Austin.
MOST UNDERRATED
Nick: You won't see many first-round picks on an underrated list, but we sometimes take Marcus Spears for granted. Double-teamed constantly, Spears has gotten better each year and is turning into a steady force on the line.
Rob: Wade Phillips wanted a top-10 rushing offense this year. So far it ranks eighth at 138.6 yards per game. Its 5.1-yard average is better than 4.3 in 2008 and ahead of last year's league leader, the Giants (5.0). Three healthy backs helps, but give credit to the offensive line.
Josh:Bobby Carpenter might never live up to the expectations some people had for him, but I don't think the Cowboys have lost much with him playing the subpackage linebacker spot once filled by Kevin Burnett.
STILL WAITING FOR . . .
Nick: A few options here, but I'm still waiting for Felix Jones to explode here in his second season. We thought we saw it against Carolina, but since his injury he hasn't been the same. But he's too good of a player not to break out here sooner or later.
Rob: The Philly game was a great sign. If the Romo-to-Williams connection sees week-to-week improvement, injuries would be the only thing stopping this offense from scoring 25-to-30 points on anyone.
Josh:Anthony Spencer has to start making plays for this defense to really live up to its potential. It's good that he's around the ball and he plays the run well, but it would be nice if he could start finishing some of those big plays he almost makes.
WATCH FOR . . .
Josh:Roy Williams will start to turn things around as the season goes along. As teams begin to account for Austin more and more and make Williams beat them, I think he and Romo will develop some consistency.
Nick: The weather is going to get colder and the games are going to get tougher. That means the Cowboys will need more closing efforts from Marion Barber. He's starting to get healthy again and look for him to crank it into high gear for the final half of the season.
Rob: Future injuries could affect his spot on the 45-man game-day roster, but it's clear the Cowboys plan to get rookie Kevin Ogletree more involved, even with four receivers ahead of him on the depth chart. His speed and hands are just another weapon for Jason Garrett to use in certain situations. And I wouldn't mind seeing him on kickoff returns again, too.
BEST PLAYER BY UNIT (Offense, Defense, Special Teams)
Josh: Give me Romo on offense, because the Cowboys' four-game winning streak has corresponded with his excellent play. Jay Ratliff has to be mentioned among the best players in the league this season, though the Cowboys have some other guys playing really well. And then David Buehler gets the nod for me on special teams, because the Cowboys are consistently winning the field position battles they lost last year.
Nick: The best player on offense so far has been Miles Austin, although that's easy to argue. Coming from nowhere, he's already caught seven touchdowns and has 612 yards, including two game-winning scores. Defensively, no player has been more consistent this year than Jay Ratliff, who is making a case for All-Pro considerations. And special teams has changed because of Joe DeCamillis, but an MVP for that unit goes to Patrick Crayton. He gets benched, comes back and returns two for scores in consecutive games.
Rob: On offense it's Tony Romo. As he goes, the team usually goes, and he did a masterful job against the Eagles' blitz. On defense, DeMarcus Ware might have fewer sacks, but he's still the catalyst for the unit's success (on a broken foot, no less). His hit on Donovan McNabb saved a touchdown last Sunday. And rookie David Buehler's kickoffs have added a new dimension in coverage. He's also playing on the punt return team.
MVP
Rob: Lots of choices here, because this truly has been a team effort. But nose tackle Jay Ratliff embodies the "blue collar" mentality Patrick Crayton recently described about the team. Nobody's more prepared, consistent and serious about doing his job each week. His teammates respect the heck out of him.
Josh: I think Tony Romo's been really good, and DeMarcus Ware too, of course. But Ratliff is having the best season of anybody. No one can block him right now.
Nick: No doubt about it. Seems like I've had the same answer in this spot for two or three years now, but it hasn't changed. Tony Romo is the face of the franchise. He's the player who makes it all go. When he's off, the team struggles. When he's on, they win. It's pretty simple when you're talking about Romo.
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