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          NFL Nation

          Three thoughts on the Cowboys' 31-21 win over the Giants

          • Jean-Jacques Taylor, ESPN Staff WriterOct 21, 2014, 03:00 PM ET
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              Jean-Jacques Taylor joined ESPNDallas.com in August 2011. A native of Dallas, Taylor spent the past 20 years writing for The Dallas Morning News, where he covered high schools sports, the Texas Rangers and spent 11 seasons covering the Dallas Cowboys before becoming a general columnist in 2006.
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          IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys improved to 6-1 and currently have the NFL's best record. Here are three thoughts on their 31-21 win over the New York Giants:

          • I think Sterling Moore has had more plays in the seven games he’s played than Morris Claiborne made in the previous three years. That’s a little hyperbole, but you get the idea. When Moore is in position to make a play on the ball he seems to get it done. Claiborne, the sixth player taken in the 2012 draft, gave up considerably more plays than he made. Moore has broken up seven passes and recovered a fumble.

          • I think right tackle Jermey Parnell did a more than adequate job replacing Doug Free in the lineup Sunday against the Giants. He was strong at the point of attack as a run-blocker much of the game and he didn’t get exposed as a pass-blocker. Parnell and Free are both free agents at the end of the season. Perhaps Parnell will be the starter next season.

          • I think coaches can get into “the zone” just like players do. Playcaller Scott Linehan is in the zone. Whatever he calls seems to work these days. His two second-down passes to Dez Bryant late in the fourth quarter were bold yet intelligent calls because the Giants were stacking the run on first and second down at the point of the game in hopes of creating a third-and-long.

          Key stat: 45

          Since Jason Garrett arrived in 2007 as the offensive coordinator and playcaller, the Cowboys have gained more than 400 yards in a game 45 times.

          But the Cowboys had never had a streak of more than two games until this season. This is the first time since 1976 the Cowboys have gained more than 400 yards in four consecutive games.

          Just so you know, that team went to the Super Bowl.

          Under Garrett, the Cowboys are 30-15 when they gain 400 yards or more in a game.

          Player to Watch: DeMarco Murray

          Murray has easily had the NFL’s heaviest workload with 193 carries -- 26.7 per game -- but he’s been finishing strong.

          On carries 21-30, Murray is averaging 4.2 with a long of 25. Now, that’s not as good as his average on carries 1-10 (4.9) or 11-20 (5.4), but it’s more than acceptable.

          Against the Giants, he had runs of 8 and 17 in the final four minutes to clinch the victory. He’s perfect for the zone-blocking scheme the Cowboys often employ because he’s such a patient runner with excellent vision.

          Murray takes his time getting to the hole, which allows the linemen making double-team blocks to get off the defensive linemen and onto the linebackers, which creates the lanes for him to cut back.