Sunday Night Football in Week 6 featured one of the NFL’s most fierce divisional rivalries, as the Philadelphia Eagles hosted their NFC East nemesis, the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas came into Lincoln Financial Field sporting a 4-1 record, 4-0 since Cooper Rush took over in the pocket for Cowboys’ star Quarterback Dak Prescott. Leading into the clash the Dallas defence had the NFL’s best rated pass rush, leading the league in pressures with 85 as well as being second in sacks with 20.
On the other side of the ball, the Eagles entered the contest as the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL. The offensive unit has come together nicely for the Birds. Combining a strong receiving and rushing core with the flourishing talent of Jalen Hurts has proved to be difficult for opposing defences to solve. Despite four of Philly’s starting offensive linemen battling injuries, they remained 6-point favourites over their bitter rivals pregame.
The first half was all Philadelphia. Entering the locker room up 20-3 after a 20 point 2nd quarter, the capacity 70,000 fans in south Philly were loud as ever. As anti-Dallas chants reigned down from above, the Cowboys slowly started piecing big plays together. A 14-yard TD run from Ezekiel Elliott midway through the 3rd quarter and a 7-yard TD pass to Jake Ferguson from Cooper Rush at the start of the 4th made it just a three point game (20-17).
Enter Jalen Hurts.
With seemingly all momentum favouring a Cowboys comeback, the Eagles offence proved they have the skill and wherewithal to change the tide of a game late. When the game was on the line, the Eagles marched down the field using almost exclusively the shotgun formation and put up a game clinching touchdown on a 7:30 minute fourth quarter drive. Hurts scrambled for 10 yards on the drive, converting 3 of 3 third downs on the march.
Eagles defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s athletic interception locked up the win for the Birds with 5 minutes left in the 4th. Leaving the Cowboys just short of a potentially historic regular season comeback win in hostile territory.
This won’t be the last we see of these two teams, as the Eagles make their way down the Arlington to revisit the Cowboys on Christmas Eve.
(Photo: Sam Hodde/Getty Images)