Dallas Cowboys Backup Quarterback Showing Grace Under Pressure

Cooper Rush #10 of the Dallas Cowboys Cooper Neill/Getty Images

KEY POINTS

Cooper Rush has excellently responded well to his call of duty as the Cowboys' temporary starting quarterback
Rush enters NFL record books as the only fifth player to lead a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has showered Rush with praise for his efforts on the field

The Dallas Cowboys are doing fine even if they are pinning their hopes on someone who is no stranger to his situation.

So far, Cooper Rush has responded well beyond expectations.

Rush is filling in for an injured Dak Prescott, who is expected to be out for several weeks.

The 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year underwent thumb surgery after their season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 28-year-old play-caller played a critical role in the Cowboys' 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, September 18.

In only the second start of his NFL career, the Michigan native engineered a game-winning drive in the final minute for the second time in as many tries.

"Winning an NFL game is a lot of fun," Rush said via ESPN. "You just want to do your job, trust your teammates."

The Central Michigan product completed 19 of 31 passes for 235 yards and a first-quarter touchdown pass to Noah Brown.

His efforts prevented the Cowboys from falling to a 0-2 hole following an NFL season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 19-3.

Rush's feat also put him in the NFL record books as he becomes only the fifth play-caller since 1966 to lead a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime of his first two career starts.

The others were Houston's T.J. Yates (2011), Seattle's Jon Kitna (2007-08), Minnesota's Wade Wilson (1983-84), and Chicago's Virgil Carter (1968).

The victory was a huge one for Dallas. No less than Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones acknowledged it.

"We all know how tough these games are that we've got coming up, but the main thing is kudos to Cooper Rush. That shows me so much about him and the principle of he kept a workmanlike basis. He's done that. He's gotten better. He knows this offense as well as anybody breathing and he stepped out there and did some great execution," Jones stated.

"Those guys, it's a fun group, a good group, tons of leaders all over the place. Not everyone needs to get hyped up. They know their jobs. They know what to do, and you just go play ball."