The Dallas Cowboys haven’t had much to be thankful for this season. Between poor play and a bombardment of injuries, Dallas could’ve given up on the season. The coaches are all on one-year deals, and the core players are mostly signed up beyond this year. A team with less character and connection would have shut it down, especially after losing their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott. But the Cowboys have now won back-to-back games and earned their first home victory, winning their Thanksgiving matchup over the New York Giants, 27-20.

Dallas has multiple players, like Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and Brandin Cooks, returning from injuries and playing well. The much-maligned early 2023 draft choices, Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker, are stringing together good performances. The offensive line is stepping up with players rotating in and out every week, but the studs from this game come from players the fanbase has waited to break out, while the duds all come from the receiving core.

Studs: LB DeMarvion Overshown

Nov 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (13) intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images

DeMarvion Overshown was seen as a potential star before he played a snap in a regular-season game, and his flash plays are beginning to become consistent episodes. He has been great as a blitzer, covered well, and brought down ball carriers in the run game, but he had his breakout performance on Thanksgiving with everyone watching. He was second on the team with nine tackles, recovered a fumble, and made a spectacular interception by tipping a pass in the air, catching it, and returning it for a touchdown that gave Dallas a 13-7 lead.

Overshown became the first Cowboys player since Roy Williams in 2002 to have a Pick-Six and a fumble recovery in the same game. Going into this week, Overshown led the team in solo tackles and tackles for a loss while being tied with Parsons in sacks, but he might have made himself a star in this win over the Giants on Thanksgiving.

Duds: WR CeeDee Lamb

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 18: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks over plays on the sideline against the Houston Texans during the third quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on November 18, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

CeeDee Lamb entered the game as the league leader in receptions and was top three in yards even though the team hasn’t had their starting QB for part of the year, his second receiver has been injured, and the team hasn’t had a good running game to take pressure off of him. His performance has elevated his standards, so it is a poor game when he has a non-impactful performance.

If he had only six targets and the quarterback’s poor performance led to him only getting two receptions for 39 yards, then he might not be a dud, but when one of the best receivers in the league has three drops on six targets, then that is a dud performance. Lamb has been playing through injury, which might have impacted his game, but his expectations are too high to have games like he had against the Giants.

Studs: RB Rico Dowdle

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: Cooper Rush #10 of the Dallas Cowboys hands the ball to Rico Dowdle #23 during the first quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

It took Dallas 10 weeks to figure it out, but Rico Dowdle is finally being treated as the top running back on the team instead of being part of a committee with running backs who combine to be the worst performers in the NFL. Thanksgiving marked a lot of firsts for Dowdle. He got 20 attempts in back-to-back games for the first time, scored his first rushing touchdown of the season, and had his first career 100-yard game, which was the first for a Dallas player in 26 contests. Dowdle tied Prescott for the longest run of the year, 22 yards, and caught all three targets thrown to him. If Dallas could get a running back to run 22 times for 122 yards, a 5.1 average, and score a touchdown, they could be tough to beat.

Duds: Devolping receivers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: Jalen Tolbert #1 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a pass against Cor’Dale Flott #28 of the New York Giants during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Poor performances from the receivers behind Lamb and Cooks are understandable with their starting QB out and the team targeting their star receiver at such a high rate. At some point, Cowboys receivers have to step up and perform. Jalen Tolbert has been the second option at receiver all season, Jalen Brooks has played a lot of snaps in almost every game, and the team just gave a fourth-round pick for Jonathan Mingo. Still, the same inconsistency persists for Tolbert and Brooks, while Mingo hasn’t had an impact past run blocking.

Tolbert had one nice catch on third down for 36 yards but one reception otherwise. Brooks had one catch for no yards, and Mingo was targeted four times but had only a single reception for two yards. Three players have little to no impact 13 weeks into the season, and that has to change if the team wants to help Rush be a better quarterback going forward.

Studs: WR KaVontae Turpin

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball during the third quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

KaVontae Turpin’s raw numbers, four receptions on five targets for 53 yards, don’t look worthy of a stud performance, but how he accumulated those stats is stud-worthy. Turpin might be Dallas’ best weapon other than Lamb, and he never consistently gets touches on offense. The Cowboys tried to get him involved early and often, beginning with a pass reception behind the scrimmage line. Turpin went in motion and returned to where he started, but the snap came as he was just about to pass in front of the quarterback. Rush quick-tossed him the ball, and he ran for 16 yards. The offense ran the same motion style on the next snap, but it was a fake for Turpin. Rush found him in the flat for a six-yard gain. Turpin was targeted on the opening drive for the third straight play, but Rush overthrew him while he was open in the end zone.

Three targets on an opening drive for Turpin is unheard of, but he was made into a focal point for the game, and it worked early. He also hit a wide receiver screen that went for 30 yards later in the contest. They called plenty of motion plays and gave Turpin different types of opportunities. This is a great way to utilize a playmaker like Turpin and he didn’t disappoint.

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast.