IRVING, Texas -- For the first time in five years, a Cowboys' player has won player of the month honors.
To no surprise, running back DeMarco Murray has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. Murray leads the NFL with 534 rushing yards, along with a league-high 99 attempts. His five rushing touchdowns are tied for the NFL lead, as well.
Murray became just the fourth player in league history to open a season with four-straight 100-yard games and a rushing touchdown. Only O.J. Simpson, Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith have ever duplicated that feat.
Murray's 534 yards is the ninth-highest rushing mark in NFL history after the first four games of a season. With an average of 5.4 yards per carry, he ranks second in the league among rushers with at least 50 attempts, only behind Baltimore's Justin Forsett (5.5 avg.)
Not only is he leading the NFL in rushing, but he's the league's all-purpose yard leader and the first to reach 600 yards this year.
In 2009, Tony Romo was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month in November. Murray becomes the third Cowboys player to win this honor for September, joining Romo (2007) and Smith (1995).
This weekend's game against Houston will see Murray go against the AFC Defensive Player of the Month, as the Texans' J.J. Watt earned that honor on Thursday, as well. Watt has 15 total tackles, two sacks and an interception – which he returned for a touchdown – in the first month of the season.
San Diego's Philip Rivers was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month, and Detroit's DeAndre Levy earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month.
