The Tribune

By INIGO 'NAUGHTY' ZENICAZELAYA

MY Dallas Cowboys wouldn’t be, winners of five straight games, one victory away from locking down an NFC East title and the accompanying playoff berth, if it weren’t for Amari Cooper. Period!

It seems more and more each week that the Cowboys actually fleeced the Raiders in that blockbuster trade.

No receiver with a first round grade in this year’s NFL Draft is even close to filling Cooper’s shoes. Since arriving in Dallas, Cooper has produced at an All Pro level - 40 receptions for 642 yards and six touchdowns. Well worth this year’s first round pick.

If you add his numbers from the Raiders’ 22 receptions for 280 yards and one touchdown. For a grand total of 62 receptions, 922 yards and seven touchdowns, for the season.

The Cowboys outgained the Eagles by 320 yards, held the ball for 22 more minutes and converted 53 per cent of their third downs to Philadelphia’s 11 per cent.

Dak Prescott is as steady and resilient as they come.

A player more resilient than spectacular.

Prescott is as tough as nails. However, bet me Dallas wouldn’t own the NFL’s longest active winning streak at five games, if the Cowboys wouldn’t be one victory away from locking down an NFC East title and the accompanying playoff berth, if it weren’t for Amari Cooper. Dallas can officially win the division with a win next week against the Colts in Indianapolis.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net