The Dallas Cowboys got into the win column for the first time this season in dramatic fashion to say the least. It took Brandon Aubrey nailing a 64-yard field goal at the end of regulation just to give the Cowboys a chance to win it in overtime. Aubrey delivered again, giving Dallas a 40-37 win and the first for new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
While the win looks good after a tough Week 1 loss to Philadelphia, there is still a lot the team needs to work on. Fortunately, some of the newcomers to the team this year are starting to make names for themselves in Dallas. These players are seeing their stock rise quickly after Sunday's win.
3 players whose stock is rising after win over the Giants
1. George Pickens
The Cowboys traded for George Pickens for games like Sunday. While his stats were only five grabs for 58 yards, the big catches came when the team needed them.
His biggest play of the day came on the final Cowboys' drive in regulation. Dak Prescott looked in the left corner of the end zone and found Pickens for the go-ahead score. He was well-covered, but he was able to just get his feet on the other side of the goal line when he hauled it in. However, that moment got lost in what else Pickens had done to that point.
The Giants struggled committing penalties all game. That certainly helped the Cowboys come away with the win. Two pass interference penalties were drawn by Pickens on two scoring drives.
The first came when Dallas was down 10-13 in the third quarter. The penalty set up a Javonte Williams touchdown that gave Dallas the lead back. Later in the beginning of the fourth quarter, Pickens drew another penalty that helped Dallas get a field goal to go up 20-16.
Drawing penalties is not what a receiver should be known for. However, Pickens was challenging the Giants' defensive backs so much that they had to give up field position at the price of slowing him down. Those moments helped extend drives and were a big plus for this offense. Without those moments, Dallas might not have had enough points to win this game.
In overtime, Pickens proved his worth again, making a crucial 27-yard catch that eventually set up Aubrey's game-winning field goal. After a quiet debut against Philadelphia last week with only 30 yards on three catches, Pickens showed why he was worth the trade earlier this summer. If he continues to step up in key moments, he and CeeDee Lamb will be hard to stop.
2. Javonte Williams
The Cowboys might have found their starting running back for this year. Javonte Williams was brought in to be part of a "running back by committee" group. Through the first two games, he looks like he should be the primary starter.
After two rushing touchdowns in the opener, Williams had one of the best days a Cowboys' running back has had in probably two years. He rushed for 97 yards and scored his third touchdown of the season. That ties the number for how many rushing touchdowns Ezekiel Elliott had last year as the leader for the whole season.
With the season still very young, the fact Williams is already making impacts in the running game as a new face is very encouraging. Miles Sanders found redemption for fumbling last week with a score of his own, but the day on the ground belonged to Williams.
He demonstrated elusiveness and power that the Cowboys' running game lacked entirely last year. Those traits were on display during his rushing touchdown. That score breathed new life into the Cowboys' offense.
He also had a highlight play of hurdling a Giants' defender that set up Pickens' go-ahead touchdown in regulation. It might be early, but through two games it looks like the Cowboys have solved their starting running back problems that plagued them most of last year. While there is still a belief Jaydon Blue will fight both Williams and Sanders for touches, right now Dallas should not be concerned about their starting running back.
3. Kenneth Murray
The Cowboys' defense arguably gave this game away multiple times in the fourth quarter. The secondary looked shaky without DaRon Bland, but the same cannot be said for the linebackers. Kenneth Murray had a bounce-back game, playing like the player Dallas expects him to be in Matt Eberflus' defense.
Murray was second on the team in tackles for linebackers against the Giants with seven. Two of them were for losses where he showed his pursuit and awareness. One was on a key third down when Russell Wilson checked down to Wan'Dale Robinson. Murray read the play perfectly and made the stop, giving the Cowboys' defense their first forced punt of the day.
Murray struggled last week to say the least. It culminated with a stiff arm Saquon Barkley gave him late in the game. After a performance like that, many were wondering if he and Jack Sanborn are cut out to be the man the middle of this defense.
Sunday's win showed Murray was worth trading for back in March. While the linebackers are still plagued by injuries, with DeMarvion Overshown out, Murray brought some extra juice to this group against the Giants. For a player looking for a fresh start, Murray looks like he is starting to find his way in Dallas.
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