Leighton Vander Esch, Linebacker

Leighton Vander Esch was a one-man wrecking crew for the Cowboys on Sunday night. The rookie linebacker led all players with 13 tackles (all solo), including one tackle for loss. He also notched his first career interception, which he returned 28 yards to set up a Dallas field goal in the first quarter.

Vander Esch’s tackle for loss came with Philadelphia driving for a potential game-tying TD in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. On third-and-2 from their own 30-yard line, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz found running back Corey Clement on a screen pass, but Vander Esch was there to make the tackle for a 5-yard loss. Philadelphia came up short on the ensuing fourth-down play as well, giving the ball back to the Cowboys with under two minutes remaining.

Here’s what Vander Esch said of the play after the game, via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News:

“I knew they were going to try something kind of nifty. They tried that screen, and I knew that was coming. I just put myself in position to make sure I was outside to turn back, if anything, and made the play.”

And here’s a look at Vander Esch’s first-quarter pick:

The Cowboys’ first-round draft pick made quite a statement on Sunday night in place of the injured Sean Lee. Two of his plays were game-changers, but he was all over the field from start to finish in Dallas’ first road win of the year.

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