The Dallas Cowboys pulled off a thrilling 33-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, scoring 16 unanswered points in the final quarter to erase a 10-point deficit. The Cowboys improved to 6-2 and took the lead in the NFC East, while the Eagles dropped to 5-3 and lost their grip on the division.
Prescott leads the charge with clutch performance
The Cowboys’ comeback was led by their star quarterback, Dak Prescott, who completed 29 of 44 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Prescott was sacked five times and faced constant pressure from the Eagles’ defensive front, but he kept his composure and delivered some key throws in crunch time.
Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb for a 54-yard touchdown with 9:42 left in the game, cutting the Eagles’ lead to 23-17. Lamb had a career-high 192 yards on 11 catches, while Jake Ferguson, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin each scored a receiving touchdown as well.
After the Cowboys’ defense forced a three-and-out, Prescott led another scoring drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein, making it a three-point game with 5:12 remaining. The Cowboys’ defense came up big again, stopping the Eagles on fourth-and-one at their own 34-yard line with 3:25 to go.
Prescott then orchestrated the game-winning drive, hitting Lamb for a 23-yard gain and Ferguson for a 15-yard catch-and-run to set up first-and-goal at the Eagles’ six-yard line. On the next play, Prescott found Tolbert in the back of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown, giving the Cowboys their first lead of the game with 1:48 left.
The Eagles had one last chance to tie or win the game, but Jalen Hurts was intercepted by Trevon Diggs at the Cowboys’ 11-yard line with 10 seconds left, sealing the Cowboys’ win.
Hurts plays through injury but falls short
The Eagles’ quarterback, Jalen Hurts, had a solid game, completing 17 of 23 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns while adding 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground. However, Hurts also suffered a knee injury in the second quarter when he was hit by DeMarcus Lawrence on a scramble. Hurts missed one series, but returned to the game and played through the pain.
Hurts gave the Eagles a 14-10 lead in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run, capping off a 12-play, 75-yard drive. He then extended the lead to 21-10 in the third quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith, who had six catches for 82 yards.
Hurts also threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown in the third quarter, giving the Eagles a 28-17 lead. Brown became the first Eagles receiver to surpass 1,000 yards in a season since 2014, finishing with seven catches for 105 yards.
However, Hurts could not sustain the momentum in the fourth quarter, as the Eagles’ offense stalled and failed to score any points. Hurts was also denied a touchdown on a controversial fourth-and-goal play at the Cowboys’ one-yard line, when rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker was ruled down short of the goal line after a catch. The Eagles challenged the call, but the ruling was upheld by the officials.
Cowboys’ defense steps up in the fourth quarter
The Cowboys’ defense had a rough start to the game, allowing the Eagles to score on four of their first five possessions. The Cowboys’ secondary had trouble containing the Eagles’ receivers, especially Lamb, who had several big plays. The Cowboys’ pass rush also struggled to get to Hurts, who used his mobility to evade the pressure and extend plays.
However, the Cowboys’ defense made some adjustments in the fourth quarter and shut down the Eagles’ offense. The Cowboys’ defense held the Eagles to 47 yards and zero points in the final quarter, forcing two turnovers and two punts. The Cowboys’ defense also came up with two crucial fourth-down stops, one at their own 34-yard line and one at the Eagles’ 11-yard line.
The Cowboys’ defense was led by linebacker Micah Parsons, who had 10 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Parsons became the first rookie in NFL history to record at least 10 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game. Defensive end Randy Gregory also had a sack and a forced fumble, while cornerback Trevon Diggs had his league-leading eighth interception of the season.
Cowboys take control of NFC East, Eagles fall behind
The Cowboys’ win gave them a one-game lead over the Eagles in the NFC East, as well as the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Cowboys also improved to 3-0 in the division, while the Eagles fell to 1-2. The Cowboys have a favorable schedule ahead, with four of their next five games against teams with losing records. The Eagles have a tougher slate, with three of their next five games against teams with winning records.
The Cowboys will look to extend their lead in the NFC East next week when they host the New York Giants (3-5). The Eagles will try to bounce back and stay in the playoff hunt when they visit the Los Angeles Chargers (6-2).
