How are we feeling this morning, Cowboys Nation? A road win in a hostile environment against the 2023 No. 1 defense should make everyone feel good about the season. Critics will immediately point out that the Cleveland Browns are a terrible team and the Cowboys just won a game they should have won.

A terrible team? The Browns made the playoffs last season. Sure, they got annihilated in Houston by CJ Stroud and the Texans, but they still made the playoffs and their best defense is led by reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

Don’t let anyone discredit the Cowboys’ win in Cleveland. Most analysts had the Browns projected to win. Don’t let these so-called “experts” backtrack now and make excuses for the win.

In a 33-17 win, there are several players that stand out as the game’s X-factors. The offense scored 33 points. The defense allowed just one key touchdown, and the second touchdown didn’t come until less than a minute remained in the game.

Special teams also played a crucial role, and I will expand on this idea later in this article.

Today I want to talk about the players who stood out the most in the game and contributed significantly to the team’s victory. An explosive linebacker tops the list of the Cowboys’ standout players.

DeMarvion outshines

When I saw LB DeMarvion Overshown flying across the field in Cleveland late Sunday afternoon, I was excited to see what he would look like once he fully grasped DC Mike Zimmer’s defensive scheme.

Overshown finished the game with 11 total tackles, one tackle for loss, two QB hits, and 1.0 sacks. The sack play occurred when Browns QB Deshaun Watson ran to his right looking for a receiver. Micah Parsons chased him until Overshown darted into the block, bringing Watson down before he could get rid of the ball.

It looked like a missile being fired at Watson, a white flash across the television screen, and then Watson was on the floor and Overshown was celebrating.

The young linebacker appears to be showing no lingering effects from the torn ACL he suffered last season, and if he plays every game like he did against Cleveland, he will become the Cowboys’ best tackler.

Eric Kendricks

Another linebacker is on this list because Overshown could not be the player he is today without the experienced leadership and guidance of LB Eric Kendricks.

Kendricks finished the game with nine total tackles, one tackle for loss, two QB hits, 2.0 sacks and one interception. That’s an impressive stat line for a veteran who many believed only came in to take over veteran leadership. He can still play.

The longtime Vikings linebacker was back to his old self and comfortable in Zimmer’s scheme that made him a consistent Pro Bowl player. Kendricks played a masterful game of defense, put his teammates in the best positions to play the football and put pressure on the Browns’ offense.

For a team that has lacked consistent linebacker play, the Cowboys appear poised to turn things around in 2024 if Overshown and Kendricks can maintain that level of play.

Brandon Aubrey

I mentioned earlier that special teams played a crucial role in this win. And that starts with K Brandon Aubrey. The second-year player made four field goals during the game, increasing the Cowboys’ total by 12 points.

Aubrey made field goals from 57, 40, 50 and 46 yards and no one doubted whether the ball would sail through the goal posts or not. It has become automatic and even better under pressure. Aubrey could have been awarded another field goal from 66 yards out if the officials hadn’t mishandled the game clock.

A whistle and a delay of game flag negated Aubrey’s field goal, which would have tied the NFL record, and HC Mike McCarthy decided not to allow him to attempt a 71-yard attempt.

It’s starting to feel like the days of Dan Bailey, when you could walk away from the TV during a field goal attempt because you were so convinced that the kick was going to be good.

KaVontae Turpin

Special teams also contributed in the return game. Finally, we saw KaVontae Turpin land in the end zone on a punt return. Two years ago, his preseason performance earned him a spot on the roster, but he had never returned a kick for a touchdown in the regular season.

That elusive return touchdown finally came in the third quarter against Cleveland. The offense was ready for its first possession of the second half, but Turpin had other plans.

He caught the punt on his own 40-yard line, made a few moves toward the right sideline, and he and his blockers did the rest. Turpin ran 60 yards untouched to the end zone and scored his first punt return for a touchdown in a momentous play.

The kick return unit still needs work, but Turpin’s punt return is enough to get him on the roster this week.