SNF Eagles @ Cowboys: The Boys who earned their star

Every week we will have a countdown of the Cowboys’ best players from the previous game. The Cowboys moved to .500 on the season with an impressive Offensive performance against the shambolic Philadelphia Eagles.  A number of Cowboys stars shone on Sunday night to give the Cowboys a slim hope at still progressing into the off season:

#5 – NT, Josh Brent - Dare I say it, backup Nose Tackle has been one of the more productive defensive players this season and has made some begin to question the cap value of long time servant Jay Ratliff. On Sunday night, Brent forced the game changing fumble of rookie running back Bryce Brown that lead to Claiborne’s 50 yard touchdown return. Of his 28 defensive stats on Sunday night, Brent had two tackles and a forced fumble despite the extensive double teams he saw all night.

#4 - OLB, Anthony Spencer -This season Anthony Spencer is making more impact plays than his opposite number, and Hall of Fame candidate, DeMarcus Ware. He consistently sets the edge and forces opposition backs to the inside. He knocks down passes, pressures quarterbacks and is arguably the Cowboys’ defensive MVP so far.

#3 – RB, DeMarco Murray - Despite missing the last six games with a sprained foot, Jason Garrett and Bill Callahan did not ease DeMarco Murray back into the game easily. He played 37 snaps, of which he carried or caught the ball on 27 plays. Murray finished with 102 total offensive yards with 83 on the ground and made a significant impact on the play calling ability and balance of the offense.

#2 – WR, Dez Bryant - With yet another big week from the Oklahoma State Cowboy, Dez Bryant is now firmly in the reckoning for Pro-Bowl contention. Jerry Jones has finally seen the playmaker emerge he traded up to 24th into the first round of the draft for. #88 showed his ability and strength on his two touchdown passes and made a number of wow plays. Bryant has six touchdowns and seven receptions of over 20 yards or more in his last four games and is now consistently providing Romo with a legitimate receiving threat both downfield and across the middle.

#1 – QB, Tony Romo - After a slow start to the season, Tony Romo is now playing the best football of the season. He has continued his oft electric November form into early December following a 303 yards, three TDs (150.5 passer rating) performance on Sunday Night Football. Romo was a perfect 10 for 10 in the second half as he got to grabs with the looks the Eagles defense was giving him. The pocket gave him more time in the third and fourth quarters and Romo showed the elite performance required of him to lead this team out with four more wins and a hope at the NFC East title. Romo can no longer allow the first two quarters to slip him by and must find a way to carry over this performance from the get-go against the on form Bengals D. 

Honorable mentions:  Morris Claiborne, Jason Witten, Danny McCray