This is the time of year when various All-Pro teams are being announced. Obviously, the Pro Bowl selections have been made and players will be heading to Orlando next week for that.
At DallasCowboys.com, the staff writers formed their own list, with the annual All-Opponent Team, featuring the best players who faced the Cowboys, especially how they fared in the game against Dallas.
The Cowboys faced star players such as A.J. Green, Ben Roethlisberger and Josh Norman, but none of them are on this list. It comes down to their performance against the Cowboys.
Here we go:
QB – Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay – Of course, this one hurts for Cowboys fans to see. It was likely going to be Manning because of the two wins but how can it be anyone else? Rodgers made all the right plays for his team, including the final throw that probably 90 percent of the NFL quarterbacks can't make.
RB – Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh – He didn't hurt the Cowboys too bad on the ground with 57 yards, but he had nine catches for another 77 yards and totaled two scores.
RB – Darren Sproles, PHI – Always a problem for the Cowboys, Sproles rushed for a season-high 86 yards against Dallas in the first meeting.
WR – Odell Beckham Jr., NYG – Not only did the Giants win two games, but Beckham had big plays in both. His touchdown in the second game turned the tide for the Giants.
WR – Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh – To no surprise, he was hard to stop and nearly had the game-winning score had it not been for Dak and Zeke's heroics. Brown was the first player to reach 100 yards receiving against the Cowboys.
TE – Jordan Reed, Washington – While it's hard not to go with Clark, Reed was so impressive in the Thanksgiving Day game, catching 10 passes despite suffering a shoulder injury.
OT – Trent Williams, Washington – The Redskins passed for over 400 yards on Thanksgiving and didn't allow a sack.
G – Justin Pugh, NY Giants – The line isn't the Giants' strength but Pugh always holds his own on the inside.
C – Cody Whitehair, Chicago – The rookie was a pleasant surprise for the Bears and played well in the middle of the Bears' line.
G – David DeCastro, Pittsburgh – Big offensive numbers by the Steelers and no one rarely getting by him.
OT – David Bakhtiari, Green Bay –It wasn't all Rodgers as his O-line played well, especially this tackle.
Defense:
DE – Olivier Vernon, NYG – Just like he did in Miami, Vernon gave Tyron Smith some problems in the two wins over Dallas.
DT – Damon Harrison, NYG – Anyone called "Snacks" is probably going to make the list. He shut down the Cowboys' run game twice.
DT – Justin Hankins, NYG – Along with Harrison, Hankins provided a wall the Cowboys just couldn't break.
DE – Danielle Hunter, Minn. – He might not be a household name but he was everywhere against the Cowboys, with two sacks and two tackles for loss.
DE – Brandon Graham, PHI – Meaningless game or not, Graham gave Doug Free all kinds of trouble in the Week 17 matchup.
LB – Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. – The pass-rusher was once again disruptive in both games against the Cowboys.
LB – Eric Kendricks, Minn. – The Vikings had a stingy defense against Dallas and he was a big reason, totaling six tackles and a key fumble recovery.
LB – Jordan Hicks, PHI – This guy might just be a regular on this list every year. He had three interceptions in the two games against the Cowboys.
CB – Joe Haden, Cleveland – The Browns didn't have many standouts but Haden matched up nicely against Dez, who had just one catch.
CB – Janoris Jenkins, NYG – He also played well against Dez, holding him to just one catch and forced a fumble on that play at the end of the game.
CB – Micah Hyde, GB – He wasn't so great in the first meeting but in the playoffs, Hyde was a huge with a big sack in the first half and a bigger interception in the second.
S – Landon Collins, NYG – The All-Pro had a breakout season and he showed it twice against the Cowboys, both against the pass and run.
Specialists:
P – Brad Wing, NYG – He earned NFC Player of the Week honors for his ability to pin the Cowboys back in December.
K – Mason Crosby, GB – Who else?
KR/PR – Andre Roberts, DET – While the Lions were blown out, Roberts had a 42-yard kickoff return and a 23-yard punt return in the game.
