ARLINGTON, Texas _ The Dallas Cowboys traded for receiver Amari Cooper at 3-4 during the bye, giving up a first-round pick to the Oakland Raiders because they were trying to save the season and win now.
Thanks to Cooper, the Cowboys are one victory away from clinching the NFC East title.
He had 13 catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns, including a 15-yard game winner in overtime to lead the Cowboys to a 29-23 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cowboys (8-5) are now 5-1 since Cooper arrived, extending their winning streak to five games while giving them the season-sweep of the Eagles (6-7) and seemingly an insurmountable two-game lead with three games to play.
Cooper also caught passes of 28 and 75 yards in the final seven minutes of the fourth to rescue the offense at a struggling quarterback Dak Prescott who had two interceptions and a lost fumble through the first three quarters but ended completing 42 of 54 passes for 455 yards and three touchdowns.
Now the Cowboys can focus on playing positioning and seeding after being left for dead at 3-5.
But that was before Cooper came to the rescue.
Cowboys fans continue to have a love-hate relationship with quarterback Dak Prescott because of his inaccuracy, inconsistency and now a penchant for turnovers. They love his competitiveness and leadership but question whether he has the tools to be a championship quarterback.
Prescott gave his doubters fuel for the fire on Sunday with arguably his worst game in the biggest of moments.
Prescott's inefficiency as a passer is partially why the Cowboys continue to struggle in the red zone, which they did again on Sunday. The Cowboys had to settle field goals on three trips to the red zone in the first three quarters. Prescott also threw an interception in the end zone after a trip to the 23-yard line.
Then in the third quarter, he had an awful interception and a fumble that led directly to nine points by the Eagles and a tie game.
So, what does Prescott do when the house is burning down around him with first-place in the NFC East on the line?
Of course, Prescott had a chance to ice the game on the ensuing drive but overthrew a wide-open Michael Gallup down the right sideline.
That just set the stage for the big bomb.
After the Eagles tied the game with a touchdown pass, Prescott tossed a 75-yard touchdowns pass to Cooper with 3:01 left.
And he saved the best for last in overtime leading the Cowboys down the field and winning the game with a 15-yard pass to Cooper.
Prescott set a personal record for yards, attempts, and completions with 42 of 54 passing for 455 yards and three touchdowns.
