Standout Stars: Who shone the brightest in the big win vs the Rams?

It’s always easier to sit down and write after a big Cowboys win.

Cowboys Nation celebrated yet another victory Monday after a shellacking of the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The Rams actually had us with our heads in our hands after two sacks on the Cowboys’ first two pass plays.

Starting LT Tyron Smith was ruled out shortly before the game with a neck stinger that is limiting the strength in his extremities.

The first two pass plays brought back bad memories of Chaz Green being dominated by Adrian Clayborn in Atlanta when Dak Prescott was sacked six times.

After those two plays, it was smooth sailing for the Cowboys all the way to a 43-20 victory.

In a blowout win, there are several players who stood out above the rest.

Let’s discuss a few here.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) talks with Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dak Prescott

How can you not start with the quarterback and the leader of the team after a performance like that?

Prescott had an absolutely flawless game reminiscent of the playoff win in Tampa Bay just last season.

Dak finished 25/31 for 304 yards and four touchdowns. Throw in a timely four rushes for 19 yards, and Prescott had one of the best games of his career.

He did throw one interception that was tipped into the air in the red zone, but it was one of the fluky plays we got used to seeing last year.

Prescott steadily found the open man in Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris’ zone scheme, focusing most on star WR CeeDee Lamb.

His 25 completions were spread around to eight different receivers, and he finished with a season high 133.7 QB rating.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb

CeeDee Lamb

We can’t praise Prescott without also praising his number one target on Sunday, CeeDee Lamb.

Lamb torched the Rams’ secondary to the tune of 12 catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

The catches and yards were both career highs, and the two touchdowns mark the sixth time in his career he has scored multiple touchdowns in a game.

Lamb’s 85 yards after catch are the most he’s recorded in a single game this season, and seven of his 12 catches resulted in a first down.

The fourth year wide receiver quietly made his distaste with his role in the offense known after eclipsing four receptions just once in the first five games.

Since then, Lamb has hauled in 19 receptions for 275 yards in just two games.

It appears Mike McCarthy has finally chosen the player over the system, and it should continue to mean good things for the offense.

Cowboys CB DaRon Bland

DaRon Bland

As far as fifth round picks go, CB DaRon Bland has to be one of the best players in that round taken over the past few seasons.

Bland looks more comfortable than ever playing on the boundary instead of his usual slot position since he replaced Trevon Diggs a few games ago.

The second year cornerback out of Fresno State University intercepted Matthew Stafford and took it all the way back to the house on Sunday.

It marked Bland’s fourth interception of the season, trailing a Baltimore defensive back for the league lead by just one interception.

Dating back to last season, Bland leads the NFL with nine interceptions, and his latest pick six is his third of the season.

Bland is not only preventing opposing offense’s from scoring, but he is also doing the scoring himself.

He not only did what I just mentioned, but he also had another two passes defended, and led the team with eight tackles.

Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey

Brandon Aubrey

Special teams matter, and it would be a disservice not to mention rookie K Brandon Aubrey,

Aubrey hit all seven of his kicking attempts on Sunday, including five extra points and two field goals, one from 58 yards away.

Since missing his first ever attempt, an extra point versus the Giants in Week 1, Aubrey has made 35 straight kicks.

He has made the first 18 field goal attempts of his career, tying an NFL record that his next successful kick will break.

Aubrey has single-handedly eased the kicking concerns that plagued the Cowboys’ fan base all offseason.