Cowboys vs. Eagles: 5 winners and 3 losers from the game

The Dallas Cowboys needed a response after consecutive losses, and they produced one on the road against their biggest rival, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 38-21. 

Dallas was the much sharper team offensively, with Dak Prescott getting his best players involved and the running game finally providing balance. There were still some frustrating defensive moments and far too many penalties, but the Cowboys took control in Philadelphia and came out with a bounce-back win the fans wanted. 

Winner: Dak Prescott 

This was the response Dallas needed from Dak Prescott. He had a day throwing three touchdowns without an interception, finding CeeDee Lamb twice and George Pickens once. More importantly, he looked considerably calmer than he did during the losses to Tampa Bay and Green Bay.

When Philadelphia went ahead 21-20 in the third quarter, Prescott immediately answered. He led Dallas back down the field, found Lamb for the touchdown and then ran in the two-point conversion himself. That’s what Dallas needed from its quarterback who finished with a 118.1 passer rating on the night. 

Winner: CeeDee Lamb

When Dallas needs its best offensive player, CeeDee Lamb continues to deliver. Lamb has five catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming at important moments. His first put Dallas ahead in the opening quarter, while his second immediately answered Philadelphia taking the lead in the third.

Philadelphia knew where Prescott wanted to go with the football and still couldn’t prevent Lamb from finding the end zone twice.

Winner: Javonte Williams

This is the Javonte Williams performance Dallas has been waiting for. Williams registered 155 rushing yards on 25 carries, averaging more than six yards per attempt. He consistently found space between the tackles and then punished Philadelphia once reaching the second level.

Dallas entered the night needing to recommit to a running game that had largely disappeared over the previous two weeks. Williams has made sure that decision paid off tonight. 

Winner: Cowboys offensive line

Maybe the biggest winner of the night is the entire Cowboys offensive line. Prescott was given enough time to work through his reads and attack Philadelphia downfield, while the run blocking produced Dallas’ best rushing performance of the season.

Williams rushed for 155 yards and Dallas went over 200 rushing yards as a team, with the unit totaling 65 plays and allowing zero tackles for loss with very little pressure in the passing game. Against an Eagles defensive front capable of causing problems, the Cowboys consistently created movement and gave Williams and Tyler Goodson lanes to exploit. This looked much more like the offensive line Dallas expected entering the season.

Winner: DeMarvion Overshown

Welcome back, DeMarvion Overshown. Playing for the first time since injuring his hamstring in Week 1, Overshown produced one of the biggest defensive plays of the night exactly when Dallas needed it.

Philadelphia was trailing in the fourth quarter but had started moving the football. With seven minutes remaining, Tanner McKee tried to complete a short pass to his right in Dallas territory, but Overshown read it perfectly.

It was a huge moment. Philadelphia still had enough time to make things uncomfortable with a touchdown, but Overshown ended the drive and handed possession back to an offense that began bleeding the clock.

Loser: Cowboys run defense

Dallas’ offense has been excellent on the ground. Unfortunately, Philadelphia also found success there too. Saquon Barkley produced 62 yards on only seven carries, including a 29-yard run and an eight-yard touchdown. Dameon Pierce added another 47 yards and a score.

Dallas knew that with Tanner McKee starting instead of Jalen Hurts, stopping Philadelphia’s running backs had to be priority number one, the Cowboys haven’t consistently done that.

Loser: Cowboys third-down defense

The same issue that hurt Dallas against Green Bay followed them into Philadelphia.

The clearest example was the Eagles’ third-quarter touchdown possession. Philadelphia put together a 17-play drive lasting more than nine minutes, repeatedly converting opportunities when Dallas had chances to get off the field.

Dallas has shown improvement defensively tonight, and Overshown’s interception finally produced the big fourth-quarter stop it needed. But getting opponents into third down means little if they repeatedly convert it.

This remains an area Christian Parker’s defense has to fix urgently. 

Loser: Cowboys penalties

Dallas has made tonight considerably harder than it needed to be. The Cowboys accumulated eight penalties for 47-yards. The yardage itself wasn’t disastrous, but the timing of those penalties was.

The biggest came on special teams. Tyler Goodson appeared to break a kickoff return for a touchdown, only for a holding penalty on Justin Barron to wipe the score completely off the board. Barron had already been called for another hold earlier in the game. Those are potentially game-changing mistakes.

Dallas was the better team for significant stretches, but penalties have repeatedly damaged field position, stalled momentum and even removed points from the scoreboard. Against Philadelphia, you don’t need to make the game harder. The Cowboys have done exactly that to themselves.