Leighton Vander Esch named NFC Defensive Player Of The Week after dominating performance in Philly

When the Dallas Cowboys drafted Leighton Vander Esch with their first-round selection back in April there were many who questioned the move.

Nine games into the season, the Cowboys look like geniuses. Vander Esch has continued to impress week after week and put on the finest performance of his young career during last week’s win in Philadelphia. It was such a top-notch game by LVE that he’s been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week!

There were some outstanding moments for Vander Esch in the first road win of the season for the Cowboys. He recorded his first interception of the season and made arguably the play of the game when he tackled Corey Clement on a critical 3rd and 2 that forced the Eagles to lose five yards where they would ultimately be unsuccessful in converting.

Of all the players of the week for last week in the NFL, Vander Esch is the only rookie. In fact, as the mothership notes, Vander Esch is the first Dallas Cowboys rookie to win DPOW since Sean Lee did back in 2010. The General hauled in the honor after the Cowboys visited Indianapolis where just like Vander Esch did in Philadelphia, Sean recorded the first (and second) interception of his career.

The Cowboys look like they have one of the next star linebackers on their hands. They also have Jaylon Smith playing right next to him. The future looks bright in the middle of the defense. Congratulations to Leighton Vander Esch!