EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway is in his 11th season in the NFL, meaning he has seen hundreds of players come and go in the NFL.

But the veteran said earlier this week that what a pair of Cowboys rookies are doing is almost unprecedented.

Dallas is 10-1 and has the best record in the NFL, thanks to eye-popping play from quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

"I don't know if that's ever happened," Greenway said. "They're obviously talented guys who have proven to be able to play really well at a high level in this league.

"It's hard to do that early," he added.

Elliott was the higher pick of the pair, as the former Ohio State standout was the fourth overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Elliott leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,199) and carries (243) and is tied for second with 11 rushing touchdowns. He also has 24 receptions for 303 yards and a score.

"He's one of the better backs I've seen in quite a while," said Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer. "He's really an all-purpose guy that catches the ball very well out of the backfield. He's quick into the hole. Looks like he's got great vision.

"One of the things – he's an impact player on contact," Zimmer added. "He's built, really, 225 pounds, he's physical. He's a hurdler if you try to cut him. He's special."

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison noted Elliott's combination of size and speed, saying it will take a team effort to handle the rookie.

"You've seen him bounce the ball outside, he's got speed to hit the edge," Robison said. "He's got the agility to jump over guys when they try to hit him low … and run through arm tackles, run through guys.

"When we have an opportunity to tackle a guy, we have to wrap up and have two or three guys coming in there and hitting him," he added.

Prescott was the more unheralded of the two. The quarterback was snagged in the fourth-round in April's draft, the 135th overall player taken.

A star at Mississippi State, Prescott has started all 11 games for the Cowboys this season and has them atop the NFC East.

Prescott has completed 231 of 340 passes (67.9 percent) for 2,835 yards with 18 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Prescott has the second-fewest interceptions among quarterbacks with at least 250 pass attempts.

Zimmer said Prescott's ability to simply take care of the ball makes him successful. 

"I think there's a lot of things — vision, decision making, when plays break down he's not turning the ball over," Zimmer said. "He's not making bad throws. He's doing a good job with third downs."

Prescott can also move the chains with his feet as needed. He is eighth among quarterbacks with 180 rushing yards but is only one of three quarterbacks with five rushing touchdowns.

"He's obviously playing good ball, making plays on his feet," said Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo. "Anytime you're playing a quarterback that can extend the play with his feet, you have to cover for longer, it's just how it is."

Prescott said his and Elliott's success on the field has a lot to do with their closeness off it, as the pair have relied on each other during their first pro season.

"Me and Zeke kind of clicked when we first got here so it's kind of fun just going through the process with guys your age," Prescott said. "With us both being in the backfield, being together pretty much all of this time, we room together, we hang out a lot off the field.

"He's a good friend, so it's cool to start off with him, and hopefully we'll be around each other for a long time," Prescott added.

Said Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett: "They've done a really good job just transitioning from college football to professional football. They love football, their work ethic is outstanding, they're always prepared for opportunities, and I just think they've gotten better and better as the season's gone on."

With the 6-5 Vikings battling for a spot in the postseason, Thursday night's game is critical to stay alive in the chase for the playoffs.

Minnesota can start its push by keeping a pair of talented rookies in check.

"Kudos to them for coming into the league as a rookie and performing well," Sendejo said. "It'll be a good challenge for us. We're looking forward to it."