While excitement buzzed throughout Philadelphia, the Eagles' home opener did not go as planned. A slow offensive start and injuries plagued the Birds, who were held scoreless until the fourth quarter, and ultimately these issues were too much to overcome. The Eagles dropped the second game of the season to Dallas, 20-10.
It was a day of injuries for not just the Eagles, but also the Cowboys as both teams lost major players throughout the course of the 60 minutes. The health issues began with Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso, who left during the second quarter with a knee injury. Shortly thereafter, Mychal Kendricks left the game with a hamstring injury. Neither player returned.
Ironically, one of the biggest plays of the game came from rookie linebacker Jordan Hicks' increased playing time as a result of the Alonso and Kendricks injuries. In the third quarter, Hicks sacked Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Fletcher Cox. The play resulted in not only the Eagles' ball but also an injury to Romo, who suffered a broken left clavicle. Currently, there is no timetable for the quarterback's return, leaving Dallas with another huge loss on offense following the Dez Bryant injury in Week 1.
During the game, the Eagles' defense provided glimmers of hope for the team. It shut down Dallas at the goal line in the first quarter after first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, limiting the Cowboys to only a 20-yard field goal. Dallas would score an additional three on a second field goal in the next quarter.
Furthermore, Malcolm Jenkins picked up a Gavin Escobar fumble at the Dallas 35-yard line with 7:15 remaining in the game. He returned the ball to the Dallas 30 before being pushed out of bounds. Unfortunately, Dallas recovered a Philadelphia fumbled the very next play as Jason Kelce snapped the ball before Sam Bradford was ready.
The Cowboys managed to score only one touchdown against the Eagles' defense with just over four minutes remaining. The team's first of two touchdowns on the night came off a blocked punt in the third quarter. Dallas' Kyle Wilber returned the ball 26 yards for the score.
Both sides showed limited offensive production, but Philadelphia's struggle was the defining issue of the game. The Eagles managed only 226 yards of offense. Bradford and the team got moving too little, too late. The offense went on its only touchdown drive with about four minutes left. Bradford and Jordan Matthews connected on a 6-yard touchdown pass, and the Cody Parkey extra point was good. However, there was not enough time on the clock for the Eagles to attempt a true comeback.
Running back DeMarco Murray was stifled by his former team. The NFL's rushing champ was held to just 2 yards on 13 carries, although he provided 53 yards receiving including a 22-yard catch-and-run that ended with one of the most bizarre penalties one will ever see. As Murray ran out of bounds along the Dallas sideline, kicker Dan Bailey pulled on Murray's jersey to slow him from getting back to the field and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. That aided the Eagles to their first points of the game.
The Eagles will regroup and get back to work to prepare for next week's game against the New York Jets.
The Eagles faced the Dallas Cowboys in their 2015 home opener at Lincoln Financial Field. View the full gallery here...
RB Darren Sproles takes the ball down the field
S Malcolm Jenkins runs the ball after the interception
HeadHouse Plaza looks amazing!
The stage is set for #BeatDallas
Fans browse the Pro Shop before entering the stadium
There's something for everyone!
Noah the Eagle is meeting fans in HeadHouse Plaza
Take your pick!
Nothing like entering the gates and seeing Swoop
FlyEaglesFly
Ready to go at the Eagles Nest!
Fans listen to the broadcast from WIP
Fans try to win at the SEPTA Bus Toss
Putting on her game face
Listening to the #BeatDallas talk
Dressing up with Eagles gear
Green screen photos are a hit!
Philly bleeds Green
The National Anthem
BeatDallas
Eagles Alum Lito Sheppard signs autographs in the SCA Club
Eagles Alum Correll Buckhalter signs autographs
Retired Navy Petty Officer First Class Generald Wilson sings the National Anthem
LS Jon Dorenbos warms up
Ready to go!
TE Zach Ertz warms up with a few catches
TE Zach Ertz is dialed in
QB Mark Sanchez launches the ball
TE Trey Burton catches the ball
DE Taylor Hart makes the tackle
LB Jordan Hicks and CB Byron Maxwell go in for the tackle
DB Walter Thurmond and DE Vinny Curry help each other out on the tackle
LB Connor Barwin tries to take down Cowboys QB Tony Romo
The Eagles defense swarms Dallas
LB Jordan Hicks makes the play
LB Kiko Alonso and S Malcolm Jenkins close in on the Cowboys
RB DeMarco Murray gets tackled on the run
After a hard hit
QB Mark Sanchez throws some warm up passes
Head Coach Chip Kelly watches practice
WR Miles Austin goes up for the ball
LB DeMeco Ryans gets ready to make the play
DE Cedric Thornton celebrates the big play
QB Sam Bradford makes the running pass
Tackle from ground level
The Eagles Drumline entertains the crowd
The Eagles Defense is fired up
Celebrations all around!
Tailgaters are ready for #BeatDallas
Turning up the volume at the tailgate
Swarming the Eagles Nest!
Who wants a cheesesteak?!
This is Eagles Country!
Ready to cheer on the Eagles
Gates are open!
The calm before the storm
The Eagles sporting black endzones for the home opener
New stadium art welcomes fans
Pregame warm-ups
The Eagles logo at the 50
The linebackers take control
LB Connor Barwin and DE Vinny Curry are fired up
DE Cedric Thornton comes through with a huge play
Incoming!
LB Jordan Hicks makes another tackle
DB Walter Thurmond and DE Vinny Curry attack
Brotherly Love
DB Walter Thurmond attempts the interception
DE Fletcher Cox gets the runner
DE Fletcher Cox dives for the ball
Chuck Bednarik's family accepts the honor
Habits Reflect The Mission
RB Ryan Mathews leads the way
The National Anthem accompanied by a flyover
A full-field flag waves during the National Anthem
The Eagles work together for the tackle
DT Bennie Logan holds on for the stop
C Jason Kelce defends QB Sam Bradford
RB DeMarco Murray makes his move around the defender
A packed Eagles Nest
RB DeMarco Murray runs through traffic
The Eagles push back
DE Cedric Thornton stops Dallas QB Tony Romo
The Eagles go for the ball
The ball comes loose!
QB Sam Bradford runs the ball
T Jason Peters squares up
QB Sam Bradford looks for the receiver
RB DeMarco Murray protects the ball
RB Darren Sproles plots his next move
WR Josh Huff collects a few yards
Weaving through the obstacles
QB Sam Bradford launches the ball
LB Jordan Hicks holds on for the stop
RB DeMarco Murray coming through
RB Darren Sproles faces off with the Cowboys defender
WR Josh Huff wards off the Dallas defender
K Cody Parkey knocks in the extra point
DB Walter Thurmond gets in the way of the runner
The National Anthem spectacle
The new Eagles entrance
The Eagles Cheerleaders take the field
Fans hoist up a #BeatDallas banner during pregame
LB DeMeco Ryans stretches for the tackle
Prepare for takeoff
The Eagles linebackers attack the pass
The focus
CB Byron Maxwell defends the pass
The Strath Haven High School Marching Band performs during halftime
The Olney Eagles greet the Philadelphia Eagles as they exit the tunnel
