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Dak Prescott, DaRon Bland named NFC Players of the Month for November

Nikki Chavanelleby: Nikki Chavanelle11/30/23NikkiChavanelle
Dak Prescott Cowboys
Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys stars Dak Prescott and DaRon Bland earned the NFL’s NFC Player of the Month honors for November this week, taking two of the three awards after helping the Cowboys to three wins (potentially four) and one loss this month.

Both Prescott and Bland have been strengthening their cases this month for some end-of-year NFL honors. Prescott has 1,298 passing yards and 14 touchdowns with one interception in the last four games. Bland, meanwhile, has been busy breaking the NFL’s record for pick-sixes in a single season with five, including two scored in November. With an additional interception this month, the former Fresno State star has seven this season.

Although Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey remains perfect on field goals (22-for-22) through 12 weeks, the NFC Player of the Month honor for a special teamer went to Bears kicker Cairo Santos. Santos is 5-for-5 on XPs, 12-for-14 on FGs and 3-for-3 on 50+ yard field goals this month.

The Cowboys have not had two players win Player of the Month honors in the same month. The last time it happened for a duo from the same team was in 2018. Rams stars Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald won in October before the team made the Super Bowl.

Dallas has the opportunity to notch a fourth win in November as they host the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.

DaRon Bland sending cleats, gloves to Pro Football Hall of Fame

After notching an NFL record-breaking fifth pick-six on Thursday against the Commanders, Bland is sending the cleats and gloves he wore to the Pro Football Hall of Fame where they’ll be enshrined forever to honor the second-year star. Although he is giving up the gear, the ball he snagged off of Sam Howell will stay with him.

Bland developed his propensity for grabbing the ball from his days as a player on offense. Although he eventually moved to the defense, his love of making big plays on the ball never left.

“When I first started playing football, it was on offense,” Bland said on Thursday, via DallasCowboys.com. “When I was a young kid, I was playing running back and transitioned to playing quarterback. Always played defense too but I played receiver in middle school.”

“Every time the ball goes in the air, I go back to my offensive ways. Trying to get the ball and see what I can do with the ball in my hands.”

After he broke the long-standing record, Bland shot up in the odds for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. He now has the fourth-best odds, joining teammate Micah Parsons in the top five.

“I hear it, people talking and saying I should be in it,” Bland said. “But if it happens, it happens.”