Week 13 of the NFL season kicks off Thursday, with the Dallas Cowboys sitting pretty at 9-3.
It is time to credit two players who have made a difference for Dallas thus far.
After last season ended, corner and wide receiver were two of the most significant needs for this team.
Jerry Jones traded for Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore in March.
Brandin Cooks
Since the loss to the 49ers, this team has been entirely different.
They have been so good on the offense end of the ball that Dak Prescott is at the top of the MVP conversation.
Cooks has caught 28 passes for 424 yards and five touchdowns during this seven-game span.
This is the player everyone, myself included, has been waiting for.
Cooks has done nothing but produce everywhere he has been and has heated up along with the rest of the offense.
He may not get to his 1,000 yards this season, but after the start, we weren't sure he'd even get to 500.
Mike McCarthy has made sure to get him involved, and he is balling out right now.
Stephon Gilmore
How important has the trade for Gilmore been?
The Cowboys lost Trevon Diggs to a torn ACL, and DaRon Bland has stepped up big time with him out, but could you imagine what this secondary would be without Gilly Lock?
He is a veteran player who can jump out on the team's best wideout. We saw it happen after DK Metcalf was really working Bland last Thursday, he then made the switch onto him.
A former Defensive Player of the Year and is still going out each week making an impact for the Dallas defense.
Without trading for Gilmore, this secondary would have been in trouble after the injury to Diggs.
We harp on Jerry for not making any moves at the trade deadline, but I thought it was only fitting to praise the two players he did get that made them better.
With the next stretch of games, the Cowboys have, both of these vets will need to continue their high level of play.
Dallas welcomes the Eagles to town for Sunday night football; then they head on the road to face the Bills and Miami before returning home to play the Lions.
With the Eagles losing to the 49ers Sunday, the Cowboy's slim hopes of winning the NFC East are still alive.
Dallas must win out and hope the Eagles drop one more game.
If that happens, the Cowboys can win the division crown.
It is a long shot, but crazier things have happened.
I trust this team to beat just about anyone right now; I would love to see them again against the 49ers with how they are playing.
The Niners have made their case as the best team in football, but we all thought that before they lost those three games in a row.
Gilmore and Cooks are going to be needed just like the rest of the team if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
