The Dallas Cowboys came into Week 10 desperate for a win, looking to avoid a four-game losing streak with backup quarterback Cooper Rush under center.
NFC East foe, the Philadelphia Eagles, proved to be too much for them as the Cowboys fell to 3-6 on the season, 34-6.
Following the embarrassing loss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was clear that more was needed from the guys in the locker room.
“We’re gonna have to play better than we’re playing right now,” Jones said. “I don’t know that there’s answers outside the organization, but we’re gonna have to play better at all positions than we played tonight.”
Rush was unable to find any rhythm in the game, throwing for 45 passing yards on 13-of-23 attempts before being replaced by Trey Lance. Lance didn’t fare much better himself, throwing one interception and being sacked twice in limited action.
The Cowboys’ offense was stagnant for much of the afternoon, unable to match the Eagles as they pulled away in the second half, scoring on two of their three third-quarter possessions.
Dallas was doubled in first downs, 24 to 11, outgained in total yards, 348 to 146, and surrendered five turnovers to the Eagles’ two.
“There’s a lot to work on here, and we’re all aware of that,” Jones said. “Very concerning, and it should get the kind of concern that we have to give it. That’s all there is to it, it’s not acceptable.”
Dallas will be tasked will playing better without its quarterback for at least an extended period of time; reports are he will be placed on injured reserve in the near future.
The absence of Dak Prescott is something running back Ezekiel Elliott knows won’t be easy to overcome.
“It sucks. But you know he’s gotta take care of himself… a guy like that, you know he’s going to be out there if he can,” Elliott said. “That’s our leader, but you know we just gotta come together as a group and keep fighting.”
Prescott, who had 1,978 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns coming into the game, is contemplating season-ending surgery to repair his hamstring.
The combination of Rush and Lance totaled 66 yards passing, two fumbles and one interception.
Eagles were led by quarterback Jalen Hurts who accounted for four total touchdowns and 258 yards passing and rushing. Wide receiver AJ Brown tallied 109 yards on five receptions as the Eagles planned to attack Cowboys’ fifth-round rookie cornerback Caelen Carson for much of the afternoon.
After exchanging back-to-back punts from both offenses to start the game, Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush fumbles the shotgun on the first down of the second possession, setting the Eagles up on Dallas’ 17-yard line. Philadelphia converts a third down that gets them down to the one-yard line before Jalen Hurts pushes in for the score, 7-0, with 7 minutes, 5 seconds left in the first quarter.
Following the Eagles’ first score of the game, KaVontae Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff to the Cowboys’ 40-yard line; the offense responded with a nine-play, 32-yard drive capped off by a 46-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal to tighten the lead to 7-3 with 3:10 in the first quarter.
An Ezekiel Elliott fumble inside the Eagles’ 5-yard line gave Philadelphia the football at the 20-yard line, but Hurts returned the favor, aided by a strip sack by Micah Parsons. The Cowboys started the possession on the Eagles 6-yard line but were only able to come away with three points, cutting the lead down to 7-6 late in the half.
With 1:43 left in the half and 69 yards to travel, the Eagles orchestrated a touchdown scoring drive capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Hurts to Dallas Goedert, giving Philadelphia the 14-6 lead at the half.
Next up for the Cowboys is a Monday night home showdown against in-state rival Houston Texans.