The Cowboys are 5-1 with a very real chance of being 9-1 by the time they have a bye in Week 11. Pretty crazy, isn't it? Find me someone who legitimately saw this coming, and I'll call you a liar.
So who deserves credit for this shocking start?
You could start with the young, mammoth offensive line. Then move on to DeMarco Murray, who's on pace to shatter all kinds of NFL single-season rushing records. Then, of course, there's the defense that's outperforming any and all expectations led by new defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.
But what's behind all of that? Gulp ... Jerry Jones.
Jones has been one of the NFL's worst general managers, and in many ways, best owners in recent NFL history. Sure, he points to those three Super Bowls that were set up and won by Jimmy Johnson (yes, even the last one that came with Barry Switzer as head coach).
But if things continue the way they are this year, you could point to a lot of decisions made by Jones that will have led to their unexpected success in 2014.
It started back in May when the Cowboys ultimately drafted Zack Martin, a guard out of Notre Dame, with their first-round pick instead of a sliding Johnny Manziel. The story, of course, goes that Jones wanted to take Manziel and was adamantly talked out of the idea by those below him. But it was ultimately him who pulled the trigger and went the safe, not-sexy route by picking Martin.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
Jones also traded a sixth-round pick to Baltimore to take a low-risk flier on oft-troubled linebacker Rolando McClain, who's gone on to arguably be the Cowboys' best defensive player in the absence of Sean Lee.
So yeah, calling Jerry Jones the NFL Executive of the Year might be a major case of jumping to conclusions, but so does saying the Cowboys will be 9-1. But given their upcoming schedule, that idea is totally within the realm of possibility.
