Tyron Smith, T, third Pro Bowl selection: Smith turned 25 earlier this month, so his streak of Pro Bowls figures to last much longer than his current run of three in a row. He has had some blips in terms of allowing sacks (Philadelphia’s Brandon Graham beat him twice in one game) but he remains one of the best left tackles in the game. He can handle the speed rushers with his hands. He can handle the power with his strength. He can also seal the edge in the running game.
Zack Martin, G, second Pro Bowl selection: Like Smith, he might have had a better season in 2014 when he was a rookie, but the players recognize just how good he can be. He is the first Cowboy to earn Pro Bowl in his first two seasons since Emmitt Smith in 1990 and ’91. Martin came to the Cowboys as a tackle at Notre Dame but has quickly become one of the best guards in the NFL. Along with Smith and Travis Frederick Martin has helped put Darren McFadden within striking distance of 1,000 yards with two games to play after McFadden gained just 129 yards in the first five games.
Travis Frederick, C, second Pro Bowl selection: Many people criticized the Cowboys for moving down in the 2013 draft and taking him with the 31st pick in the first round. All Frederick has done since is started every game he has played (46 and counting) and solidified a spot that was hurting following the release of Andre Gurode in 2011. Frederick might be having his best season and he has had to work with four quarterbacks with varying degrees of knowledge in the Cowboys’ offense, requiring him to make more protection calls.
Dan Bailey, K, first Pro Bowl selection: The NFL’s all-time most accurate kicker has missed just one field goal all season (a 48-yarder at Tampa Bay) in 29 attempts. He has made all five of his attempts from 50 yards or longer, including a 54-yarder to beat Washington on Monday Night Football. Bailey is at his best when needed. He is 19 of 19 on go-ahead or tying field goal this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, no other kicker has more than 13 such field goals. In a season of such lows, Bailey has been the surest things the Cowboys have had.
SNUBS
Sean Lee, LB: He leads the Cowboys with 138 tackles, which is already a career-high with two games to play. After missing last season with a knee injury, Lee has played in 13 of 14 games this season. He has a career-high two sacks, a team-high nine tackles for loss, six quarterback pressures, five pass deflections and an interception. What hurt Lee is the fact that four outside linebackers selected play in 3-4 schemes, so players such as DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston are counted the same as 4-3 outside linebackers as Lee who don't create sack numbers.