How are we feeling this morning, Cowboys Nation? A road win in a hostile environment over 2023’s #1 defense should have everyone feeling good about the season. Naysayers will immediately point out that the Cleveland Browns are a terrible team, and the Cowboys just won a game they should have.

A terrible team? The Browns made the playoffs last season. Sure, they got demolished in Houston by C.J. Stroud and the Texans, but they made the playoffs nonetheless, and their #1 defense is led by reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett.

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

In a 33-17 win, there are several players to point out as X-factors for the game. The offense put up 33 points. The defense only gave up one meaningful touchdown drive, and the second touchdown didn’t come until there was less than a minute left in the game.

Special teams also played a vital role, and I will expand on that thought later in this article.

Today, I want to talk about the players who stuck out most from the game and who contributed heavily to the team victory. An explosive linebacker tops the list of standout players for the Cowboys.

DeMarvion Overshown

Watching LB DeMarvion Overshown fly around the field in Cleveland late Sunday afternoon makes me excited to see what he’s going to look like once he fully grasps 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 was when Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson scrambled out to his right looking for a receiver. Micah Parsons could be seen in pursuit until Overshown shot into the screen and took Watson down before he could get rid of the ball.

He looked like a missile being shot towards Watson, a white flash across your television screen, and then Watson was on the ground and Overshown was celebrating.

The young linebacker did not appear to have any lingering effects from the torn ACL suffered last season, and if he plays every game like he did against Cleveland, he will end up as the Cowboys’ leading tackler.

Eric Kendricks

Another linebacker makes this list because Overshown could not be the player he is today without the veteran leadership and tutelage of LB Eric Kendricks.

Kendricks finished the game with nine total tackles, one tackle for loss, two QB hits, 2.0 sacks, and an interception. It’s a gaudy stat line for a veteran who many believed was only coming in to provide veteran leadership. He can still play.

The long-time Vikings linebacker looked back to his old self, comfortable once again in Zimmer’s scheme that made him a perennial Pro Bowl player. Kendricks called a masterful game on defense, putting his teammates in the best positions to make plays on the football, and putting stress on the Browns’ offense.

For a team that lacked consistent linebacker play, the 2024 Cowboys appear poised to turn that narrative on its head if Overshown and Kendricks can continue this level of play.

Brandon Aubrey

I mentioned earlier that special teams played a vital role in the victory, and it starts with K Brandon Aubrey. The second year player drilled four field goals during the game to add 12 points to the Cowboys’ total.

Aubrey hit field goals from 57, 40, 50, and 46, and there was no doubt in anyone’s mind whether or not the ball would sail through the uprights. He has become automatic and even better under pressure. Aubrey should be credited with another field goal from 66 yards away if not for mismanagement of the play clock by the officials.

A whistle and a flag for delay of game negated the NFL-record tying field goal from Aubrey, and HC Mike McCarthy elected not to give him an attempt from 71 yards away.

It’s starting to feel like the Dan Bailey days, where you can walk away from the television during a field goal attempt because you are so confident the kick will be a good one.

KaVontae Turpin

Special teams also contributed in the return game. Finally, we got to see KaVontae Turpin end up in the endzone on a punt return. Two years ago, his performance in the preseason locked in a roster spot for him, but he had yet to return a kick for touchdown during the regular season.

That elusive return touchdown finally came during the third quarter versus Cleveland. The offense was ready for their first possession of the 2nd half, but Turpin had other plans.

He fielded the punt on his own 40, made a few moves towards the right sideline, and he and his blockers did the rest. Turpin ran 60 yards untouched to the endzone for his first career punt return for touchdown in a meaningful game.

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