The Eagles rocked the Kelly Green uniforms at Lincoln Financial Field as they clinched the NFC East with a 41-7 victory over the Cowboys.
Saquon Barkley eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark on a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter and the franchise-record (2,146 by LeSean McCoy in 2013) for scrimmage yards in a season early in the game. He needed 33 yards to break the scrimmage record going into today.
"I'm not going to lie, but just being a fan of the game and the running back position, to reach a milestone and put myself up there with eight other backs that I respect, and some of them I grew up watching, definitely means a lot. But at the same time, I wouldn't be able to do that without this team. Like I said, you can't be great without the greatness of others, and I'm just happy I was able to be a part of the team and be able to reach a milestone like that," Barkley said after the game.
Philadelphia was without star quarterback Jalen Hurts, who suffered a concussion last week against Washington. Linebacker Nakobe Dean was also out with an abdomen injury.
Kenny Pickett made his first start as an Eagle and went 10/15 for 143 yards and touchdown before leaving the game with a rib injury. Tanner McKee came in for the second half as the Eagles held a big lead and went 3/4 for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
First Quarter
- PICK-SIX! The Cowboys made it to the Philadelphia 35 before C.J. Gardner-Johnson picked off Cooper Rush and ran it 69 yards for an Eagles' touchdown to open the game. It was the first touchdown of Gardner-Johnson's career. (Eagles 7 – Cowboys 0)
- "We have to continue to do the detailed things, and understanding that this game is not easy," Gardner-Johnson said. "The more you go away from your fundamentals and technique and try to shy away and do everything on skill, it's not going to go well. So I think for us, to get the ball back and coach preaching every day is something that we take part in because if we don't get the ball, we're kind of pissed off."
- The Cowboys marched down the field on their second drive before Rush found Jalen Tolbert for a 4-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks helped Dallas get down the field with two catches for 38 yards on the drive. (Eagles 7 – Cowboys 7)
- Defensive end Bryce Huff went down with a shoulder injury and was listed as questionable to return with 5:28 left in the quarter.
Second Quarter
- Jeremiah Trotter Jr. came in at linebacker alongside Zack Baun to open the second quarter. Trotter Jr. and Oren Burks have been rotating at the position throughout the game.
- After the two teams traded punts, the Eagles got some life into their offense when Pickett found Grant Calcaterra, who made an incredible one-handed catch for a gain of 34 yards on 3rd-and-8.
- TOUCHDOWN! Pickett found DeVonta Smith in the left corner of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown catch to give the Eagles the lead back. (Eagles 14 – Cowboys 7)
- "Yeah, they had zero. He had a corner route. I just felt like I needed to buy a little bit of time to let him get his release and then put it up for him. Great route by him, got his feet in. So, it was a really good, really well executed play," Pickett said.
- FUMBLE! Burks knocked the ball out of tight end Jake Ferguson's hands after the catch and Jordan Davis recovered the ball at the Dallas 39.
- I was punching at the ball all game, and you never know. That was probably the one that I was least punching at that I was just trying to tackle at the level of the ball. And, you know, having to punch at the right spot. JD did a great job getting on the ball. So yeah, it's just repetition, just trying to get as many blows as the ball as you can and one of those will come out," Burks said.
- FIELD GOAL! The Eagles were able to score three points off of the turnover after Jake Elliott knocked in a 31-yard field goal with 1:58 remaining in the half. (Eagles 17 – Cowboys 7)
- INTERCEPTION! Gardner-Johnson does it again! The safety picked up his second interception of the day and sixth of the season on a deep pass from Rush intended for Cooks. Gardner-Johnson returned it to the Philadelphia 35 for a gain of 27 yards with 36 seconds remaining.
- TOUCHDOWN! Pickett found Smith for a huge 49-yard gain that was originally called a touchdown but he was later ruled down by contact at the 1-yard line with 13 seconds left. After the first Brotherly Shove attempt was stopped short, the Eagles ran it the very next play and Pickett plowed into the end zone for the score to end the half. (Eagles 24 – Cowboys 7)
- "You have to score. The only thing going through my head was getting in the end zone and holding on to the ball. So that's a huge credit to the guys up front. They obviously have the hardest job, getting me in the end zone there. I love playing with our offensive line. Great guys, obviously, incredibly talented, a really great group to play with," Pickett said.
Third Quarter
- FIELD GOAL! The Eagles came out running with Saquon Barkley, who had eight carries for 46 yards on the drive. Elliott knocked in a 26-yard field goal to close out the drive. (Eagles 27 – Cowboys 7)
- Pickett was hit on a play and left the game with a rib injury. He is questionable to return. Pickett was on the injury report with a rib injury during the week after injuring it last week. Tanner McKee would replace him with 6:34 remaining in the quarter.
- TOUCHDOWN! McKee threw his first career touchdown pass to A.J. Brown in the left corner of the end zone. The throw went for 20 yards as the domination continued. (Eagles 34 – Cowboys 7)
- "It's surreal. You grow up dreaming of playing college football, and then someday in the NFL, and so to actually be able to play in the NFL, play with these guys, throw a touchdown pass and win a game was surreal," McKee at his locker after his NFL debut.
Fourth Quarter
- FUMBLE! Dowdle lost the football as Nolan Smith got his hand in there to jar it loose and Cooper DeJean recovered the ball at the Philadelphia 10. An Unnecessary Roughness penalty on Dallas moved the Eagles up to their own 25.
- Barkley eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark on a 23-yard run with 11:34 remaining in the game.
- TOUCHDOWN! McKee found Smith who took it 25 yards for his second touchdown of the game. (Eagles 41 – Cowboys 7)
- SACK! Trotter Jr. picked up his first career sack as he brought down Rush for a loss of 7 yards with 5:29 remaining.
– Written by Liam Wichser