ARLINGTON, Texas — Things have fared far better for the Dallas Cowboys after the bye week than before it, that much is true. They went into their week off with a record of 4-5-1 and little hope whatsoever of making the NFL playoffs, but the tide turned when they rattled off three consecutive wins to begin the month of November.
Their loss to the Detroit Lions, in what amounted to their fourth game in 17 days, served as their only stumble in that stretch, but it was a meaningful one, and they needed to get back on track against a different NFC North team in Week 15: the Minnesota Vikings.
One of the best defenses in the league made its way to Dallas to test the grit and determination of Dak Prescott and his offense, and Quinnen Williams led a defense looking to prove it's "better than the 44 points" it allowed in the Motor City.
In the end, few things went according to play, and the hopes of making the playoffs now hinge upon a full-on collapse by the Eagles, but as for those who left it all on the field against the Vikings goes — there were a few who deserved to make my list this week.
[Note: This list is unranked.]
Dak Prescott + CeeDee Lamb
No, they didn't light up the scoreboard in the face of the league's leading defense in blitz percentage, but they both did their best to try and will the team to victory. In the moments when the offense could get going, it was often Prescott making plays with his legs to extend plays when routinely under duress, and Lamb was a beneficiary of several of his chain-moving throws. There were others who contributed, like Ryan Flournoy and Jake Ferguson, but Lamb was the motor that helped Prescott keep the car moving, and with the gas light on.
Donovan Wilson + Quinnen Williams
Talk about starting the game off with a bang. On the first offensive drive from scrimmage, there was Wilson blitzing JJ McCarthy and then getting his hands up to deflect the attempted screen pass. The tip drill was anyone's to grab, but it so eloquently fell into the bear claw attached to Quinnen Williams' arm — just the second interception of the All-Pro's career and first since 2023.
Javonte Williams + Malik Davis + Hunter Luepke
Toughness defined this room on Sunday night. Williams drew first blood with a one-yard touchdown but suffered a shoulder injury that cost him multiple drives thereafter. In his absence, there was Davis to take up the mantle and deliver a one-yard touchdown of his own to keep the Cowboys in the contest, and when Luepke was tasked with helping Davis, he delivered for more than one first-down conversion. Williams would return as Luepke was ruled out with a concussion but, as a group, the Cowboys have to like the grit shown by this trio.
Before it was all said-and-done, Williams ended up having one of his best games of the season, and despite being sidelined for a chunk of the game (honorable mention here to the offensive line who struggled in pass pro but mauled in the run game).
DeMarvion Overshown + Kenny Clark
A nice defensive two-pack here, as Overshown looked very much like himself out there against the Vikings, now unleashed without a pitch count and making tackles, and saving at least one run from breaking loose for a possible touchdown. As for Clark, well, someone should ask if he's kin to Nightcrawler, the way he was moving through dimensions when the ball was snapped.
Brandon Aubrey
Aubrey missed a 51-yard field goal and another from 59 yards, but considering he was the main reason they were in the contest at all, a bit of forgiveness is in order here, in my opinion. When the Cowboys' offense consistently struggled to do anything inside the red zone, or near it, Aubrey was nearly automatic and a key reason Dallas remained in the game throughout; not to mention the fake FG he turned into a first down on the drive that ended in Williams' TD (nice flip by Bryan Anger, by the way). It was the first successful fake field goal attempt by the Cowboys in 24 years, and that'll earn you a spot on this list, if nothing else.
Jake Ferguson
On more than one occasion, there was Ferguson providing effort and first downs, and despite battling a calf injury that made him a gametime decision. It didn't much look like the injury was hindering him at all, but that specialty brace he was wearing proves it clearly was — a gritty performance by the Pro Bowler. It wasn't a sensational game by Ferguson, but it was a good one, all things considered.
KaVontae Turpin
Bottom line: it was a much better day for Turpin both in the return game and on offense. His lone error was to avoid catching a ball in the first half that pinned the Cowboys' offense to the three-yard line, leading to a stalled drive that then gave the Vikings a short field, one they scored a touchdown on. Other than that, the All-Pro returner delivered more than one big return to give the offense exceptional field position, and contributed well to the offense thereafter. It's film Turpin can look at and remember exactly what he's capable of.
