There are several candidates, one unmentioned,
Dak Prescott leading that critical final drive to both
run out the clock & get the ball close enough for
Zuerlein's 56 yard winning field goal.

3 are mentioned in the following article, the writer
choosing Micah Parsons:
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2021/9/20/22684180/cowboys-game-ball-dallas-may-be-seeing-the-making-of-a-superstar

Giving out the game ball this week for the Cowboys
win over the Chargers is actually a tough exercise.
There were several candidates for the honor, and
we’ll go ahead and go through some of those play-
ers. But in the end, the game ball goes to Micah
Parsons. We’ll detail why at the end.

....

Greg Zuerlein

The Cowboys kicker has gone from zero to hero. After
being thrashed for his performance in Week 1 which
might have cost the team a win, he clutched it up in
Week 2.

His 56-yard bomb on the final play of the game was a
nervy boot that sealed the deal. Definitely worthy of
consideration.

Tony Pollard

The Cowboys RB2 turned into RB1 for the night as he
ran for 109 yards on 13 carries for an insane 8.4 yards
average per carry. He also chipped in 31 yards on three
catches and scored a touchdown on an end around.

Just a brilliant night from the Cowboys explosive backup
running back, and he is nominated for the FedEx Ground
Player of the Week. Kellen Moore has to continue to get
him involved in the offense on a weekly basis.

Micah Parsons

Just phenomenal. Thrust into the starting defensive end
role in mid-week after the injury to DeMarcus Lawrence,
Parsons nailed it.

Imagine a rookie in the NFL being asked to switch posi-
tions in the middle of the week, then going out and getting
a sack that helped win the game (yes, the refs helped on
that one). He also had four QB hits, eight pressures, and
was directly responsible for a holding call on the Chargers.

He basically harassed Justin Herbert all game.

Parsons played 55% of the defensive snaps during the
game. He was used, according to PFF, 27 times in pass
rush, nine times for rush defense, and three times in cov-
erage. His pass rush grade for the game was an elite 90.8.
His overall grade was 89.9, easily the highest rated Cow-
boys defender.

If you compare his pass rush grade to the other ones from
Sunday, he ranked second to only Aaron Donald for defen-
ders who had more than 20 pass rush attempts. The rest
of his PFF numbers were equally insane.

Yes, it was just one game, and a lot of his attempts came
against a backup right tackle, but still, the Cowboys need
to give serious consideration as to whether they want Par-
sons to be an off-ball linebacker, or a pass-rush defensive
end for his long-term career.

It’s hard to find guys who can pressure the passer like Par-
sons did on Sunday. Bookending him with DeMarcus Law-
rence for the long-term has to be considered.

This year may see him switch between the two positions
based on need, but if he continues on this trajectory, the
money position could win out in the long-term, and that’s
defensive end.

This may be a little over the top, but Charles Woodson high-
lights the fact that Parsons debut at defensive end was stun-
ning: "Woke up this morning thinking Micah Parsons may be
the best pass rusher in all of football?"

The Cowboys were desperate for a pass rush on Justin Her-
bert, and Parsons provided it.

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