The Dallas Cowboys still have a lot of hard work ahead before securing an unlikely playoff berth. But their statement win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving made the NFL sit up and take notice.
It wasn't pretty, especially on defense. This became a shootout relatively early, but the Cowboys found a way to keep their noses in front down the stretch. And when all hope seemed lost earlier this season, nobody wants to play Dallas right now.
The NFC is hugely competitive, so reaching the playoffs remains precarious. But regardless of how things go over the business end of the campaign, fans should feel confident about the team's future with head coach Brian Schottenheimer leading the charge.
Before we look too far ahead, here are four winners and two losers from Dallas' memorable triumph at AT&T Stadium.
Winners and losers from the Cowboys' statement success over the Chiefs
Winner No. 1
Jadeveon Clowney - DE
Fans have been waiting for Jadeveon Clowney to make a statement. It's been a slow burn for the veteran defensive end after joining the franchise, but he came to life in this one.
Clowney was relentless, finishing with two sacks and six tackles. He set clean edges against the run when called upon, and displayed the sort of playmaking ability Dallas' defense desperately needed against Patrick Mahomes.
Loser No. 1
Logan Wilson - LB
While Logan Wilson was strong in pursuit and in between the tackles, there were two glaring flaws during the game from the recently acquired linebacker. First, he lost Mahomes when being deployed as the quarterback spy in a critical moment. Then, the second-level presence was in coverage against Hollywood Brown en route to conceding a touchdown.
It wasn't all bad by any stretch, but these lapses could have resulted in a much graver predicament. His fading athleticism will make it hard for him to fully leapfrog Kenneth Murray in the rotation.
Winner No. 2
CeeDee Lamb - WR
There is no doubt CeeDee Lamb heard all the criticism coming his way in the lead-up to the contest. Not for the first time in his prolific career, the wide receiver responded in the best possible way.
Lamb was nothing short of exceptional, bringing in seven receptions from nine targets for 112 receiving yards and one touchdown. Whenever Dak Prescott needed yards, the Oklahoma product delivered. And this silenced his doubters emphatically.
Winner No. 3
DeMarvion Overshown - LB
One can point to the acquisitions of Wilson and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams as reasons behind the Cowboys' defensive resurgence. But it's no coincidence that growth arrived when linebacker DeMarvion Overshown got the all-clear to resume football activities.
After taking a couple of weeks to find his football legs again, Overshown was relentless against the Chiefs. If he gets a better run of luck on the health front moving forward, superstardom won't be too far behind.
Loser No. 2
Kenneth Murray - LB
This was an afternoon to forget for Kenneth Murray, which was reflected in his season-low 54.5 percent of the team's defensive snaps. His run angles were sluggish, and the Chiefs targeted him as a weak link with great success. That's a bad combination.
With Overshown back and Wilson immediately becoming a focal point, Murray's days logging prominent reps could be numbered.
Winner No. 4
Malik Davis - RB
Malik Davis's performance is a prime example of maximizing opportunities. Backup or rotational players have to produce when their number is called. The running back managed to do that and more versus the Chiefs.
Davis broke off a huge run that sucked the life out of Kansas City. In a contest decided by razor-thin margins, this had a significant impact on the eventual outcome.