Top 10: Best Performer Goes to Zeke or LVE?
There were big plays on offense with leaping highlights and gutty performances because of injury. There were interceptions and sacks on defense with game-changing tackles. And even a fake punt on special teams that led to points.
Randy Gregory – Arguably his best game with the Cowboys. Not only recorded a sack, but had constant pressure on the final drive.
Allen Hurns – Only had two catches, but both of them were big plays that got the Cowboys inside the 10 and led to touchdowns.
Chido Awuzie – Made a huge momentum-changing play with a pass deflection to save perhaps a touchdown. Perhaps a 14-point swing that be considered the turning point of the game.
Tyrone Crawford – He was constantly disruptive in the middle. Another sack and more heavy pressure from different spots on the field.
10. Xavier Su'a Filo – First start with the Cowboys and Zeke goes off like that? While it wasn't just the change at left guard, Su'a-Filo more than held his own against Fletcher Cox and provided plenty of rush lanes for Zeke to run and Dak to throw.
9. Dak Prescott – For most of the first half, he wouldn't have made the Top 25 list for this team. But from the end of the second quarter to end of the game, Dak was one of the best players on the field. That's why he lands at 9, but he made the necessary plays down the stretch to grab this first road win.
8. Jeff Heath – He made a couple of big plays for the Cowboys, including the run on the fake punt for a first down. That led to a field goal in the second quarter. At the end of the game, it was Heath who stopped Zach Ertz short of the first-down sticks on Philly's second-to-last drive.
7. Amari Cooper – So far, so good for the Cowboys' new No. 1 receiver. His stats aren't off the charts but his presence is being felt. He ran great routes and was a big target for Dak. There were some bigger plays to be had down the field but just the fact Cooper is getting open seems like a good thing for this offense.
6. Jaylon Smith – He makes plays at the line of scrimmage and then 30 yards down the field. Smith is really all over the place. But his ability to find the ball is a reason why the Eagles had just 71 yards in rushing.
5. Xavier Woods – Like Dak, it didn't start off so well for Woods, but by the end, he was making huge plays in the passing game. Woods had a couple of key breakups, including one by the goal line. This might have been the most active game Woods has played since being a starter.
4. Zack Martin – It doesn't seem right to have him at No. 4, considering what he was able to do Sunday night. A knee injury forced him to the locker room early but the warrior Martin is, had him back on the field and playing at his usual All-Pro self.
3. DeMarcus Lawrence – Here is proof that the best pass-rushers don't always have to get sacks to dominate. D-Law was held without sack for the fourth time in the last five weeks. But while he sees a lot more double-teams, Lawrence still finds a way to move the QB around and allow his teammates to contribute more.
2. Leighton Vander Esch – It would only take a near-200-yard effort with an amazing highlight by Zeke to push LVE to the No. 2 spot. Vander Esch was unbelievable Monday night, making just about every tackle on the field, including one of the biggest plays of the night when he stopped Clement for a 5-yard loss late in the game. He got 13 solo tackles and his first career interception.
1. Ezekiel Elliott – Even without the leap, Zeke was a beast Sunday night, racking 151 rushing yards, 36 more in receiving and two total touchdowns. The Cowboys needed to get back to a strong rushing attack and Elliott provided that. To think the Eagles hadn't been allowing backs to get more than 50 yards, and Zeke tripled it. The reason the Cowboys won their first road game was because No. 21 went to work and was the best player on the field.
