Dallas Cowboys Dominate Philadelphia Eagles in NFC Playoff Race
The Dallas Cowboys asserted their dominance in the NFC playoff race with a commanding 33-13 victory over division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. Led by quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys never relinquished their lead and stifled the Eagles’ offense throughout the game. Both teams now hold a 10-3 record and are in a virtual tie with the Niners for first place in the NFC. However, if the season ended this week, the Eagles would settle for a wild-card spot as the No. 5 seed, while the Cowboys have secured the No. 2 spot.
Dallas Cowboys Performance
The Cowboys’ win on Sunday puts them temporarily in first place in the NFC East with four games remaining. However, if both the Cowboys and Eagles win their remaining games, the Eagles would claim the division based on a tiebreaker. The Cowboys’ defense dominated the Eagles, holding them to just two field goals while forcing three takeaways and a critical fourth-down stop. Philadelphia’s only touchdown came from a Prescott fumble. Although the Cowboys’ offense may not have been as sharp as in previous games, Prescott threw two touchdown passes, and the run game wore down the Eagles’ front. Rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey continued his impressive season, making four field goals and tying the team record for most consecutive makes at 30. The Cowboys have now won five games in a row and have reached double-digit wins for the third consecutive year, their longest such streak since their Super Bowl-winning seasons in the 1990s.
QB Breakdown
Prescott’s performance on Sunday included two touchdown passes, extending his streak to seven games, tying Tony Romo for the longest single-season streak in team history. However, his accuracy was not as consistent as in previous games, with a completion rate of 58.1% through three quarters, lower than his average of 65.8% in the past seven games. Despite this, Prescott’s overall performance contributed to the Cowboys’ victory.
Promising Trend
Punter Bryan Anger had his first punt since Thanksgiving after three games and 18 possessions without punting. This demonstrates the Cowboys’ offensive efficiency, as they scored on their final three possessions in their previous game and did not punt on 11 drives in the game against the Seattle Seahawks. Although the streak was broken against the Eagles, the Cowboys’ offense remained highly effective.
Silver Lining
Stephon Gilmore, at 33 years old, continues to show his prowess on the field. After the Cowboys’ defense struggled against DK Metcalf in the previous game, Gilmore successfully contained him in the second half against the Eagles. He forced a fumble and made crucial plays on third and fourth downs, allowing the offense to extend the lead with a field goal.
Next game: at Bills (4:25 p.m. ET, Dec. 17)
Philadelphia Eagles Struggle in NFC Playoff Race
The Philadelphia Eagles find themselves on shaky ground following their lopsided loss to the Cowboys. This defeat comes after another significant loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the previous week. While these losses were against top-tier NFC teams, the Eagles’ defense is struggling, and the offense continues to struggle with slow starts and turnovers. With a 10-3 record, the Eagles are in a virtual tie with the Niners and Cowboys for first place in the conference. They must rebound in Week 15 to stabilize their position and maintain pace for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
QB Breakdown
Jalen Hurts had a challenging first half, limited to 92 passing yards and a lost fumble that halted a promising drive. The Eagles have consistently faced halftime deficits in their past six games, and Hurts’ performance was inconsistent throughout the contest. The standout receivers, DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, also made uncharacteristic miscues that affected Hurts’ performance.
Pivotal Play
In a crucial moment, coach Nick Sirianni decided to go for it on fourth-and-8 at the Dallas 30-yard line while trailing 27-13. The Cowboys’ aggressive blitz forced Hurts to release the ball quickly, resulting in a turnover on downs as Smith fell short of the first-down marker. This play further hindered the Eagles’ chances of a comeback.
Troubling Trend
The Eagles have allowed the most points in the final two minutes before halftime this season, with 64 points conceded during this period. The Cowboys capitalized on this trend, scoring a touchdown just before halftime to extend their lead to 24-6. The Eagles’ defense must address this issue to prevent further deficits in future games.
Next game: at Seahawks (8:20 p.m. ET, Dec. 18)