Dallas Cowboys surge forward on award-winning performances

The Dallas Cowboys have been able to put together a three-game winning streak on the back of two award-winning performances by two of their newest players.

Things looked bleak for the Dallas Cowboys following their bye week at the beginning of this month. After making some major changes to their team midseason, and having ample time to prepare for the game, the Cowboys lost in devastating fashion to a struggling Tennessee Titans team back in Week Nine.

After that titanic defeat, it appeared the Cowboys season was all but finished. Yet, Dallas is currently in the midst of a three-game winning streak and now sits in the driver’s seat of the NFC East. So what changed?

The Cowboys have been able to post major victories against divisional rivals like the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins. And they were able to get revenge for the bashing they took last season with a road win against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11.

But these three games have also produced two award-winning performances by two of the Cowboys newest players. And it’s in big part to their presence that Dallas is experiencing the resurgence that they are right now.

Against the Eagles in Week 10, Cowboys rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch posted 13 solo tackles and his first career interception. He was subsequently named NFC Defensive Player of the Week following that performance. The Cowboys first round pick has emerged as one of the league’s best linebackers in relief of injured two-time Pro Bowler, Sean Lee.

On Thanksgivings Day, it was wide receiver Amari Cooper who posted an award-winning performance, exploding for eight receptions, 180 yards and two touchdowns against the Redskins in Week 12. On Wednesday, Cooper was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Both Leighton Vander Esch and Amari Cooper have made their mark on this Dallas Cowboys team. And their performances are at the very heart of the three-game winning streak in Big D.