By Nathan Lee
The Dallas Cowboys lost a pivotal NFC East showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, 23-9.
The Cowboys fall to 2-6 while the Eagles are 3-4-1, good for first in the NFC East.
Promising Start for Dallas
The Cowboys struck first courtesy of a Greg Zuerlein 49-yard field goal on the first drive.
Four plays later, Cowboys defensive end Donovan Wilson strip-sacked Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz to give the Cowboys the ball at the Eagles 25-yard line.
Turnover Galore
Dallas was unable to capitalize on the momentum. Rookie quarterback Ben DiNucci fumbled five plays later on a sack from Brandon Graham, and Wentz threw a touchdown to rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead.
In the first half, the Cowboys forced two more turnovers, including the first of two interceptions by rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs. They kicked two more field goals, including a 59-yarder with ten seconds left, to take a 9-7 lead.
Despite the lead, Dallas never seemed to be in sync during the half.
Eagles Pull Away in Second Half
Philadelphia took the lead back late in the third quarter when Wentz threw another touchdown, this time to breakout star receiver Travis Fulgham. Philadelphia also got the two-point conversion, giving them a 15-7 lead.
The Cowboys had one more promising drive brewing in the fourth quarter, but Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards forced another DiNucci fumble which safety Rodney McLeod returned for a touchdown to ice the game.
Key Players Missing on Both Sides
Both teams have dealt with injuries along the offensive line. However, both teams welcomed back All-pro linemen: right guard Zack Martin for the Cowboys, and left tackle Jason Peters for the Eagles.
The Eagles came into the game without DeSean Jackson or Alshon Jeffery, their top two statistical wide receivers while Reagor, the rookie first-rounder from TCU, played in his first game since Week 2.
The Eagles also started running back Boston Scott in place of the injured Miles Sanders.
DiNucci, a seventh-round pick from James Madison University, started his first NFL game due to Dak Prescott being out for the season with an ankle injury and Andy Dalton dealing with a concussion.
Cowboys Won Some Stats, But Not the Game
The Cowboys won in many ways on the stat sheet. They out-gained the Eagles in total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards while also winning the turnover battle, 4-2.
However, other stats told the true story. The Eagles scored 13 points from turnovers while the Cowboys scored three. Dallas was 0-2 in the red zone while Philadelphia converted both red zone opportunities into touchdowns.
DiNucci threw for 180 yards, but 54 of those were on the last drive when the game was out of reach. He did not throw an interception, but both of his fumbles were costly and led to Philadelphia touchdowns.
Star running back Ezekiel Elliott ran the ball 19 times for 63 yards as he has yet to eclipse the 100-yard mark this season.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper was held to one catch for five yards as fellow wideout Michael Gallup led the team in receiving with seven catches for 61 yards.
The Dallas defense had its best performance of the year, forcing four turnovers while holding the Eagles to 222 yards and only allowing two touchdowns. The performance, however, was not enough for Dallas to overcome their inability to score touchdowns.
Eagles Win Ugly
Wentz only threw for 123 yards and turned the ball over four times, but he threw two touchdowns to give the Eagles the lead.
Scott ran for 70 yards on 15 carries, and Fulgham led the team in receiving with 78 yards on six catches plus a touchdown.
The Eagles’ 222 yards on offense is their lowest output all season, but their defense kept the Cowboys’ offense contained, not allowing a touchdown for the first time all season.
What’s Next
Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy said in the post game press conference there are improvements to be made, but they also did well in other areas. McCarthy also said that Dalton should be back for Week 9.
The Cowboys may need him as they play the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday at 3:25 p.m. on CBS.
The Eagles will have a bye week before playing the New York Giants in Week 10.
Loading ...