Dallas Cowboys: There are many legitimate reasons for the Cowboys to be overthrown. This one does not get enough traction

FRISCO – An unexpected rise in ranking has led to a rush to identify the reasons for the Cowboys' overthrow.

The dominance of Ezekiel Elliott, a resurgent offensive line, the impact of Amari Cooper and the emergence of the Wolf Hunter – known as Leighton Vander Esch – in an already strong defense are getting the most traction. All are legitimate.

But let's reduce the scope a bit. The Cowboys boast of a series of even modest wins for the first time this season due to their fourth quarter game.

Quarterback Dak Prescott led the attack with a 75-yard touchdown over the last eight minutes to score the winning point against Philadelphia. He returned to Atlanta to create a 10-game, 51-meter run in the final game in 1:52 to allow Brett Maher to score the game-winning goal at the end of the allotted time.

"Yes, I want the ball to be in my hands," said Prescott, who has now led seven winning orders in the fourth quarter of his Cowboys career. "Always, always."

The Cowboys scored 30 points in the fourth quarter in this two-game winning streak. This is an eruption for this offense.

The team scored only 28 points in the fourth quarter in the first month of the season. He only collected 23 points in this context in October.

But Dallas now has four touchdowns and one investment on its last seven fourth-quarter goods. Sunday afternoon, after seeing a 10-point lead to evaporate, Prescott picked up a third conversion to rookie Michael Gallup on a return road when the double cover took away Cole Beasley's optional path. Four games later, he spotted Beasley isolated on the linebacker and hit him with a 19-yard pass to give Maher's best goal.

"It was a good workout," said Prescott. "The offensive line is protected.

"We are doing this two minutes [offense], in different situations, every week. It was just a preparation and a practice that paid off. "

Prescott completed 8 of 11 passes for 75 yards and made a 4-yard touchdown during the final period of Sunday's game.

"He obviously reacted well, played a lot in that pass, a lot of little things in this push," said head coach Jason Garrett. "He moved in the pocket, the guys moved for him, the protection was good, the guys competed for the ball and obviously put us in position to shoot the winner of the match.

"I thought he was playing very well in the game and I thought he was playing very well at critical moments."

Prescott did the same thing a week earlier. The score was tied at 13 – all coming in the last period. Prescott completed 7 of 8 passes for 88 yards in that and 17, 24 and 23 yards in total.

The Cowboys also managed to pass the ball to Elliott. He only touched the ball four times in the fourth quarter of the loss to Washington. The team came out of the break and only received the ball once in the final period of their defeat against Tennessee.

Elliott touched the ball nine times for 43 yards in the fourth quarter of the Eagles victory and scored two touchdowns. He carried the ball six times for 39 yards and one touchdown and caught two passes for 13 yards in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win.

"As the game progresses, our ability to handle football, to control the line of scrimmage and to give it rock, is huge," Garrett said. "We built our team that way.

"He wants the ball to be in his hands at critical times, and he usually succeeds."

Prescott recognizes that he plays with more confidence than during a good part of the season. He attributes the mentality of the offensive line, not just for himself but for the rest of the offensive. It also highlights the impact of Cooper in his brief time with the team.

"When you enter this group, it's contagious," Prescott said of the trust that the offensive line instills. "But again, just have a constant rotation on the outside and know what guys are good at …

"The team is really taking off. Everyone assumes their role, no matter their size, no matter how small or small they are in attack, defense and special teams. We are all united.

"We are all playing a complementary football more comfortable and of better quality."

This was evident late in the games.

Catch David Moore and Robert Wilonsky co-hosting a special edition of the Intentional Prohibition on the Thanksgiving Week Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) Tuesday from 7pm to 8pm.