IRVING, Texas — Nobody expected to the Dallas Cowboys to be 7-3 at the bye.

The Cowboys, themselves, didn’t expect such a hot start — not with all the concerns they had on defense coming into the season.

But they are indeed 7-3.

The Cowboys have arguably the most balanced offense in the league, led by NFL leading rusher DeMarco Murray and the league’s best offensive line.

Quarterback Tony Romo has been as efficient as ever with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions and a 107.2 quarterback rating, ranking fourth in the NFL.

And Dez Bryant remains one of the league’s most feared receivers, coming off a six-catch, 158-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The defense, which ranked worst in the league in 2013, has been more than adequate. The Cowboys are 13th against the run and 16th against the pass.

“I’d take it,” vice president Stephen Jones said. “You always want to be perfect, but I think everybody has said around here that 7-3 is a good spot.

“We like our situation, but we don’t take anything for granted. We got a lot of work ahead of us. To think that we’re even going to get in the playoffs is going to take a lot of work. … Our goal is to ultimately win the East, get in the playoffs and have success.”

The good news for the Cowboys is they are set up to be stronger at the end of the season because the bye gives them a chance to heal a few injured players.

Romo, who played against the Jacksonville Jaguars with two fractures in his back, tops the list. The time off will do him a world of good.

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain, who missed the Jaguars game with knee and groin issues, should also be healthy and ready to go.

Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who missed the first eight games with a fractured foot before returning two weeks ago, should get even stronger and more comfortable in the final six games.

Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford missed the Jacksonville game with a sprained knee. He should be back and ready to go.

And the Cowboys also have the return of defensive tackle Josh Brent, who missed the first 10 games of the season while serving an NFL suspension.

“If you look at the big picture, especially as it’s compared to the last two or three years, we’ll feel very good, and also these guys are getting healthier,” Jones said.

“If you look at our defensive line, one of the huge pluses for us, I was talking to Rod (Marinelli) on the way back for London, these guys play a lot of snaps, but they don’t play the full game. Most of them are playing about half the snaps, some a little bit more, some a little bit less. In some ways, Rod looks at it as rather than playing 10 games, they’ve played five or six games up to this point. We think they’re fresh.

“We think they’ll continue to get better. We think that if you look at our defensive line, they seem to be getting more pressure, they seem to be getting a few more sacks. I think they’re only getting better. Offensively, we’re fortunate we have been healthy and we’re playing at full strength now that Tony is back. That’s a big deal and I think that shows.”

Jones said the Cowboys are better equipped for the stretch run than they have been in years past.

“That could change tomorrow, but right now we feel good,” Jones said.

— Defensive tackle Josh Brent has officially made it back to the Cowboys, less than a year after being convicted of vehicular manslaughter in the 2012 death of teammates Jerry Brown.

Brent was placed on the active roster after missing the first 10 games on NFL suspension. Linebacker Tim Dobbins was waived to make room for him.

Brent still has some weight to lose, but he said he is motivated the rest of his career to honor the life of his best friend and his family. Brent will use his NFL paycheck to help raise Brown’s daughter.

“Honestly, to make sure Jerry’s name does not die in vain,” said Brent, who spoke with reporters for the first time since being convicted of intoxication manslaughter in January.

“Jerry was a great person, a great player and had a bright future. A mistake that I made took that away from him, took that away from his daughter, took that away from his mother, so that’s something that I make sure I keep, make sure I’m conscious of that — never let his name die in vain.”

Brent last played on Dec. 2, 2012, and the high-speed accident occurred six days later in Irving.

Brent, who had a blood-alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit for driving at the time of the accident, has been out of football since. He was convicted of intoxication manslaughter and sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation in January.

“It feels good,” said Brent, who signed a non-guaranteed extension through the 2015 season last week.

“I’m a very blessed person to be able to be in this position I am now. Just thankful that the commissioner, the Jones family, Cowboys organization … have allowed me to come back and be a part of this team.

“It’s been very difficult (process). It’s something that there’s not an exact formula of how to be successful with this. It’s just something I take daily and try to do the best I can.”