Cowboys Game Ball: Two players split the prize, one on offense and one on defense

Believe it or not, the Cowboys have made it all the way to Week 17 of the 2020 season, and they are still in contention for the playoffs. We’ve written this team off multiple times this year, but they’ve made a late run to keep things interesting. This week they knocked off their division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, by the score of 37-17. They got quality play from both sides of the ball, making the game ball pick a little tougher than usual.

Andy Dalton had a great game, throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns and ending with a rating of 134.7. Ezekiel Elliott ground out a 105-yard game on some of his best running we’ve seen this season. Amari Cooper was again a force with 121 yards, and CeeDee Lamb scored through the air and on the ground.

On defense, Anthony Brown came up with a crucial interception that turned back the Eagels when they were threatening to get back in it in the fourth quarter. Trevon Diggs got an interception, and Jaylon Smith led the team with 11 tackles and had a fumble recovery.

But two players led the way, one on offense and one on defense.

Michael Gallup kept the Cowboys in the game when things were looking bleak early on. The Eagels moved out to a 14-3 lead and looked for all the world like they were going to blow the Cowboys out. Two first half touchdowns by Michael Gallup kept the Cowboys in the game and allowed them to grab a 20-17 halftime lead. Gallup had six catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a spectacular toe-tap catch that just highlighted his unbelievable body control. Ever since Dak Prescott has been out, Gallup has sometimes gotten lost in the shuffle. Not on this day.

The other guy who gets half the game ball is Randy Gregory. He had his best game as a Cowboys player and hopefully is pointing to what he may do in 2021. Gregory was disruptive everywhere as the Eagles had no answer for him. He finished the game with 1.5 sacks, six tackles, one batted pass, and he caused an amazing three fumbles, one of which was recovered by the Cowboys to snuff out any last hope for the Eagles. Gregory was constantly putting pressure on Jalen Hurts and running down running backs from the backside. It was all his potential finally realized.

The Cowboys have one more game to go, and its a meaningful one, in part because of the play of Gallup and Gregory, who split out game ball.