ARLINGTON, Texas _ Perhaps it's time to adjust the perception and expectations of the Dallas Cowboys.
This is not a team that is holding on and trying to tread water until injured quarterback Tony Romo returns.
The Cowboys should no longer be considered a team that has just feasted on bad-to-mediocre competition.
The Cowboys are a team on the rise and have the makings of a legitimate playoff contender.
What's known for sure now is the Cowboys are sitting alone in first place in the NFC East and following arguably their most impressive performance in two years, a 28-14 total domination of the Cincinnati Bengals before 91,653 equally-amazed fans at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys (4-1), who are tied for the second best record in the NFL behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (5-0,), are a half game ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) atop the division standings.
"The key to the game was our efficiency on offense," coach Jason Garrett said.
Cincinnati (2-3) and it's vaunted defense was suppose to provide the stiffest challenge to these upstart Cowboys, led by dueling rookie of the year candidates in quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott _ especially considering the Bengals had a 10-day break since their 22-7 victory against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 29.
The game was decided almost as soon as started as the Cowboys jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and 28-0 early in the third quarter when Elliott went 60 yards untouched on the first play after a Bengals punt.
The Bengals scored twice in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late.
It was the fourth consecutive win for the Cowboys. It was the Cowboys second consecutive win home after losing eight straight.
That the Cowboys have been able to do this without Romo is no longer the impressive part.
Prescott completed 18 of 24 passes for 227 yards with one touchdown rushing and one touchdown passing. He has three rushing touchdowns on the season, the most for a Cowboys quarterback since Danny White had four in 1984.
Prescott has now set the NFL rookie record for most consecutive passes to start a season without an interception at 155. He is just eight away from breaking New England quarterback Tom Brady's NFL record for passes to start a career without an interception of 162.
The Cowboys won went 1-11 an injured Romo during last seasons' 4-1 campaign.
But with Romo out for at least the first six games with a fractured bone in his back, Prescott has been more than up to the challenge in record-setting fashion.
So much so that there is now a looming decision to make on whether to keep him at quarterback even when Romo returns to health, most likely for the Oct. 30 match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cowboys never expected to be 4-1 without Romo. If they win at the Green Bay Packers next week and get to 5-1, how can you replace Prescott? The question is even legitimate at 4-2.
That is a decision for another day.
Not only are the Cowboys winning and thriving without Romo they are did without game-breaking receiver Dez Bryant (hairline fracture in his knee) for the second consecutive week.
Before this year, the Cowboys were 2-8 all-time without Romo and Bryant.
They are 2-0 in 2016.
It's not just about the unflappable and unfazed Prescott, but it's also about Elliott, who rushed for 134 yards on 15 carries. He topped the 100-yard mark for the third consecutive game.
This is what the Cowboys envisioned when they drafted Elliott fourth overall out of Ohio State _ a ground-oriented, ball control offense to protect the quarterback and keep the defense off the field.
Prescott's efficiency has been well chronicled.
What the team's maligned defense was able to in completely shutting down Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton was stunning.
The Cowboys had a season-high four sacks on Sunday. It was their most sacks since five against the New England Patriots last season.
Credit the return of defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence from a four-game suspension to start the season for helping put a charge in the pass rush as well the lopsided score that forced the Bengals into a one dimensional game plan.
Defensive tackle Terrell McClain had 1.5 sacks and Benson Mayowa had one sack.
Dalton completed 29 of 41 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
