The sheer star-power on the Dallas Cowboys' roster was on full display in the team's Week 2 win against the New York Jets.
On offense, Dak Prescott was surgical and efficient, CeeDee Lamb had his way in the secondary and Tony Pollard made defenders miss all game. On defense, Micah Parsons was everywhere and DeMarcus Lawrence saw to it that Jets running back Breece Hall didn't make an impact.
These are the players fans expect to show up every Sunday. Their respective performances will ultimately define how far the Cowboys go this season. What shouldn't be overlooked, though, is the contributions they get from role players and several were up to the task on Sunday.
4. Rico Dowdle
After the Cowboys opened up a two-score advantage in the second half, they turned to their power back to shave minutes off the clock and exhaust the Jets defense, which clearly grew fatigued after a string of three and outs from the Zach Wilson-led offense.
Dowdle's final numbers won't jump off the screen, but he did exactly what was asked of him on Sunday. He picked up tough yards between the tackles and moved the chains in situations where most of Dallas' RB room would otherwise struggle.
That's no shot at Tony Pollard, but Dowdle's physicality in the third and fourth quarter were quietly immense and a big part of Mike McCarthy's game plan.
It's great to see Dowdle healthy and contributing in the regular season and his role in the win will only earn him more opportunities moving forward.
3. Cowboys TEs
The Cowboys tight ends needed a bounce back performance after the opener. Jake Ferguson, though dominant as a run-blocker, dropped a couple easy passes and Peyton Hendershot dropped a surefire touchdown on a dime from Dak Prescott.
This week, the script was flipped.
While most of the passing volume went to CeeDee Lamb (to say the least), Ferguson caught the game's first touchdown. It capped a commanding 12-play opening drive from the Cowboys and ensured the Jets were playing from behind with a backup QB.
Fittingly enough, second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker caught the second of Prescott's touchdowns -- a one-yarder in the second quarter. This was another big score, as New York had just climbed within three points after Garrett Wilson broke free for a long touchdown.
Ferg and Schoonmaker weren't asked to do much with Lamb running roughshod, but they delivered when called upon and were crucial to the win.
2. Jalen Tolbert
Thrust into a bigger role after Brandin Cooks was ruled out with a knee injury, Tolbert caught three of four targets for 18 yards. Like Dowdle, though, Tolbert's numbers don't encapsulate his impact, as he picked up multiple first downs.
The second-year WR also drew a massive penalty in man coverage on 3rd and goal from the 13-yard line before Schoonmaker's clutch touchdown.
It came on a poor pass from Prescott, but Tolbert shook his defender loose, forced the infraction and gave the refs no other choice but to throw the flag, as much as they likely didn't want to in such a big moment. That's one of the plays of the game that will get lost in the archives.
Tolbert deserves more WR snaps even when Cooks is back.
1. Brandon Aubrey
So, uh, the Cowboys might have themselves a kicker.
A lot can change over the course of a 17-game season, but Aubrey (should have) earned fans' trust with this performance. How impressive was the former USFL standout? He single-handedly outscored the Jets, 16-10.
Aubrey made five field goals, including a 55-yarder to put the Cowboys back up two scores in the third quarter, and both extra points. He became the fourth rookie kicker in Dallas history to make five FGs in a game and the first Cowboys kicker to make that many field goals in a game since Dan Bailey in 2013.
Long story short, Aubrey was pivotal to the win and Cowboys fans should have zero complaints about the kicker position after (rightfully) complaining about it all offseason, even after Aubrey was signed to compete with Tristan Vizcaino.
Who saw that coming?