The Dallas Cowboys got a much-needed win in Week 7 to prolong the season as they are now (just) 1.5 games behind the New York Giants in the NFC East. While there are still some major concerns with this team going into the month of November, they did take care of business with a road win, beating the Eagles by 17 points. All things considered, that is a very good outcome for Dallas.
So who stood out for the Cowboys in Week 7? And who left a lot to be desired? Let’s take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from Monday Night Football:
Winner: Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker, OG
The Cowboys have made some significant investments in their offensive line, including spending two first-round picks on offensive guards. But the reason why they decided to go that direction over the last few years is to match up with teams inside of their division. The Eagles have had one of the NFL’s best defensive tackle pairings for several years and it was vital that Dallas counter that duo in some way.
Week 7 was the best performance we’ve seen from Tyler Booker and Tyler Smith as a pairing yet. Not only did they open up lanes in the running game, but Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis did almost nothing as pass rushers in this contest.
If the Cowboys are going to go on a run here in November, it’ll be because the offensive line plays like this. What a performance from this unit.
Winner: Javonte Williams, RB
This year has been a bit of a slog for Williams as the run game has struggled to open up lanes. Williams has managed to still be somewhat effective, especially in short yardage during the first six weeks.
But Sunday was his best game in a Cowboys uniform as he displayed all of the traits you would want as a featured back. Williams had 50 rushing yards over expectation in Week 7, which was the most in the league, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. He ran with power and patience and the Cowboys couldn’t have asked for a better performance.
We should also mention that Williams was stellar in pass protection, which is why the team values him so much. They trust him to dig out linebackers in the passing game and to convert every short yardage situation.
Do I wish he had more long speed or juice? Of course, but this was the best possible game he could have played for Dallas and he was exactly the type of runner they needed to beat the Eagles on the road.
Winner: DeMarvion Overshown, LB
It was far from a perfect night for Overshown as he worked back onto the field from his hamstring injury, but the Cowboys needed his juice on defense and he played well overall.
Not only did he record a key interception to essentially seal the game, but he also made several big tackles and led the Cowboys in stops with five.
Overshown has his flaws, but he’s clearly one of the top two linebackers on this roster and should get more playing time as the season goes on, provided that he can stay healthy.
Winner: Joey Porter Jr, CB
The Cowboys deserve a lot of critizim for how they handle trades and contracts, but one move that has worked out extremely well so far is the acquistion of Joey Porter Jr. Through three games, Porter has allowed just 10 yards in coverage.
He's been everything the Cowboys could have asked for when they traded for him midseason, and the hope is that they can find another viable cornerback to pair with him relatively soon. This version of Porter can help the defense turn around, as he gives up almost nothing in coverage every single week.
At this rate, Porter should be a lock to make the Pro Bowl and could get All-Pro consideration.
Loser: Christian Parker, DC
On one hand, you can make the case the Cowboys had their best defensive performance of the season, allowing *only* 21 points and only seven in the second half. But this was a JV offense for the Eagles that had multiple backup offensive linemen, their top WRs out, Saquon Barkley hampered, and Tanner McKee starting at quarterback.
The Eagles had two very long TD drives, and to open the game, they went on a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to take an early 7-3 lead over the Cowboys. Dallas was incredibly healthy on defense, and yet Philadelphia still was able to move the ball up and down the field.
The Cowboys did not create much pressure on McKee and allowed him to get comfortable in the pocket. Barkley, who could hardly run, still was able to rack up 70 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. This was another dreadful performance by Parker, and every week that goes by, it’s becoming more obvious that he is not the right guy for the job in Dallas.
Loser: Jake Ferguson, TE
Ferguson didn’t do anything egregious like he had in previous weeks, such as dropping the ball or putting it on the ground. But he was a non-factor in this game as he did not catch a pass. Brevyn Spann-Ford is getting more work on offense and Ferguson has clearly been demoted.
While that is the right move for this offense, it’s a shame that the Cowboys have gotten so little from Ferguson since his contract extension. At this point, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll even be on the roster in 2027 despite his contract status.
Loser: Markquese Bell, SS
It's not all Bell's fault as he has been placed into action because of the injuries to Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke. But opposing offenses are now hunting him in the passing game, and Dallas has had almost no answer.
Bell just isn't a starting-caliber safety, and the defense could take some significant steps forward if they can get a little healthier on the back end.
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