Who did you think was the best act on the Cowboys Sunday night?
Cowboys supporters, savor this one. Nothing feels better than convincingly defeating a rival team in your division on a national platform in front of the raucous Philadelphia Eagles fanbase. For the second straight week, the Dallas Cowboys handled business and defeated the Eagles 33–13, handing Philadelphia another crushing loss. With the exception of a minor blip on the radar, the Cowboys dominated the game from the start and cruised to a much-needed victory.
When things seemed to be going the Philadelphia Eagles’ way, Dallas maintained a few steps ahead of them and dominated all three phases of the game. The victory gives the Cowboys the lead in the NFC East, if only temporarily, as they will need to beat the Eagles in the regular season in order to win the division via a tiebreaker. Nonetheless, this victory indicated that the Cowboys are strengthening at the ideal moment in the season and could be strong candidates for a lengthy postseason run. Let’s reflect on the thrilling victory on Sunday and go over your game’s stars.
Special mentions
Micah Parsons/DeMarcus Lawrence
Because of how well these two complement one another, they should be mentioned together. With flu-like symptoms, Parsons was a late addition to the injury report, but he was giving the Eagles everything he had. Almost nothing can stop Parsons, not even the flu or the Eagles, not legally anyway. He is an explosive defensive phenom. If Parsons hadn’t been held so frequently without being flagged, his impact on the game would have been much greater.
Disappointed but not defeated, Parsons entered the Eagles backfield field to confront the defensive line and brought Jalen Hurts down to record 12.5 sacks for the year. The impressive part of the sack was how much strength Parsons needed to lift Lane Johnson out of his stance, drive him back into Hurts, and then retrieve the sack.
DeMarcus Lawrence is also deserving of credit for his part in increasing Hurts’ workload. Hurts’ throws were being affected by Lawrence, which resulted in misfires and off-platform throws. In his ninth season with the Cowboys, Lawrence appears rejuvenated when he plays alongside Parsons, and the two are creating an environment that allows the interior pass rushers to thrive. Though it didn’t always appear on the stat sheet, Parsons and Lawrence’s actions made life much simpler for their defense’s back seven.
Jake Ferguson
Cris Collinsworth was probably right when he said as much on the show. Jake Ferguson in Dallas might be another star. Ferguson has excellent hands and is a remarkable player after the catch. In his brief career, Ferguson has shown that he has the ability to cause the Eagles problems. Ferguson has found the end zone twice in four games against the division rival Eagles, and this past Sunday was yet another important game for him.
Ferguson provided the Cowboys with a threat down the seams of the field that the Eagles were not prepared for. First, Ferguson got off to a fast start by connecting with Prescott for a significant gain over the middle of the field before being tripped up by Reed Blankenship. Then Ferguson broke tackles from several Eagles after making a fingertip catch while being defended by Sydney Brown. Then, of course, Ferguson showcases his leaping ability by hurdling an Eagles defender as he has done so routinely. Ferguson finished his night with five catches for 72 yards, and 51 were after the catch.
Four Stars
Mike McCarthy
Coming off the operating table only days before, it makes sense that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was as surgical in his play-calling and game-management as he was. Due to an emergency appendectomy this week, McCarthy missed some of the build-up to Philadelphia, but he did not falter. He understood the quarterback, the coaches, and the flow of the game.
The offense started the game with four drives under McCarthy’s direction, yielding three touchdowns and one field goal. The Cowboys were aware of the Eagles’ weakness in their secondary, and McCarthy made a point of attacking it. McCarthy is largely responsible for the Cowboys’ offense being in a zone.
In addition to his offensive coaching, we need to highlight his head coaching decision-making. Not to put too fine a point on it, but McCarthy had the audacity to trust his kicker when matters most. After forcing a fumble from Jalen Hurts, the Cowboys took an early 7-0 lead. However, their next drive stalled, leaving McCarthy with a tough decision: punt the ball and try for field position, or try a 60-yard field goal? McCarthy put his faith in Brandon Aubrey, who made the long try and put Dallas ahead 10-0.
McCarthy made the smart decision to challenge Rico Dowdle’s run in the red zone later in the game. McCarthy contested the official call on the field after Dowdle was declared short of the line to gain on third and goal. Dallas is debating whether to risk potential points on fourth and goal or settle for a field goal if McCarthy hadn’t challenged. Furthermore, McCarthy should be commended for overseeing the Cowboys’ two-minute offensive play that resulted in a touchdown just before halftime. His aggressive approach to opposing the Philadelphia Eagles was crucial to winning.
Stephon Gilmore
As previously said, Sunday’s game was very sentimental. The banter between players on the field revealed the intensity of each team’s desire to win and the passion that went into each altercation. The focal points of the many verbal exchanges were Eagles receiver A.J. Brown and Dallas cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Both players jawed back and forth a lot. When asked how the Eagles’ energy this game differed from their performance against the San Francisco 49ers last week, Brown grinned broadly. But Gilmore ended up having the last laugh.
Gilmore had multiple opportunities to cut off passes to Brown and restrict his output after the catch. When Brown forced a fumble following a catch, Gilmore outplayed him and the Eagles lost momentum as they advanced deep into Cowboys territory.
Since joining the Cowboys, the former defensive player of the year has demonstrated his value in a variety of ways. With his incredible knowledge and instincts, his intelligence and comprehension of route concepts more than make up for the steps he has lost over the years. Every week that goes by, the Cowboys’ decision to acquire Gilmore this past offseason for a fifth-round pick seems more and more prudent.
Although he only cost a small amount in draft capital, his presence has been invaluable since Trevon Diggs’ injury and DaRon Bland’s rise. The game-winning play may have come from Gilmore’s tackle to stop Devonta Smith on a fourth down attempt, which put the Cowboys ahead of the Eagles by 14 points despite Brown’s forced fumble being important.
Brandon Aubrey
There’s a case to be made that Brandon Aubrey is arguably the best kicker in the NFL. The 28-year-old rookie kicker is unrattled by the big moments and is as cool as can be under the bright lights of the national stage. Aubrey did take a unique odyssey to land with the Cowboys. Aubrey was first a soccer player drafted to MLS to Toronto FC, then a kicker in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions. The former USFL champion has found a home with the Cowboys and his groove.
Aubrey has started his NFL career with a perfect 30 for 30 in field goal attempts. The Cowboys put their faith in the USFL champion, and he delivered. Aubrey made two significant kicks to capture the momentum for the Cowboys’. First, the aforementioned 60-yard field goal and then made a 59-yard kick to give the Cowboys a critical 14-point lead just before the beginning of the fourth quarter. Aubrey’s consistency and big leg are a luxury that the Cowboys are reaping the rewards of.
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is the game’s last shining star. Prescott was once again outstanding, despite making a costly fumble that the Eagles were able to score their lone touchdown on. Dak Prescott plays with a degree of command and understanding that is uncommon, particularly for a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Although Prescott hasn’t played with this degree of consistency over the past seven games, he has previously shown flashes of this version of himself.
During that time, Prescott has thrown 22 touchdown passes against just two interceptions. Prescott’s signature “Here we go” cadence at the line of scrimmage will garner a lot of attention, but it emphasizes his dominance and strength throughout the offensive play. As the offense gets ready for the snap, Prescott makes his call, and all communication ceases. Prescott offers some of the best processing in the industry both before and after the snap. Because of his excellent field vision, Prescott allows the Cowboys to heavily rely on the passing game. One element of the offense is Prescott’s chemistry with CeeDee Lamb, but he is also flourishing with Brandin Cooks and Jake Ferguson right now.
His composed manner is truly amazing. With his eyes down the field, he can manipulate the rush to avoid pressure and move the defense with great skill. Prescott is the focal point of the entire “Texas Coast” offense, and he excelled in recognition and precise throwing mechanics against the Philadelphia Eagles. Although the offense didn’t perform up to Prescott’s expectations, 271 yards, two touchdowns, and a 99.4 passer rating are still impressive numbers. Prescott is now the front-runner for NFL MVP as a result of Dallas’ victory and his own performance, and if he can continue to produce huge victories like this, the difference will only grow.