After a disastrous first quarter, the Eagles finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter, scoring 10 points to pull within a score of 21-10. The Cowboys will receive the opening kickoff of the third quarter.
Leading 14-0, the Cowboys drove down the field again to start the second quarter, taking advantage of an Eagles defense that was carved up early on. The Cowboys began the drive on their own 16-yard line and would methodically move the ball downfield. The key play on the drive, though, came on a borderline illegal contact penalty against Eagles cornerback Cary Williams. On 3rd-and-10 from the Eagles' 30, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was sacked by Fletcher Cox, only for the play to be negated by the penalty on Williams.
Two plays later, Romo threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Dez Bryant, who beat Bradley Fletcher down the right sideline to give the visitors a 21-0 lead.
After going three-and-out on their first two possessions, the Eagles finally moved the ball on the ensuing possession, picking up their first first down on a 3rd-and-5 from their own 21-yard-line on an 11-yard completion to Darren Sproles. From there, as we've seen all season, they were able to move the ball downhill. An 11-play, 84-yard drive would be punctuated by a 5-yard touchdown run by Chris Polk to pull the Eagles within 21-7.
Just as the offense finally got rolling, the defense would finally force a punt on the Cowboys' ensuing possession. After one Cowboys first down, Dallas faced a 3rd-and-1 from their own 47-yard-line. Rather than run the ball, the Cowboys went play-action, which was well-covered enough by the Eagles secondary to allow Connor Barwin to notch sack no. 14.5 on the season, forcing a punt.
The Eagles would move the ball down the field again, though they would stall near the red zone, settling for a 47-yard Cody Parkey field goal to pull them within 21-10.
The Cowboys would salt away the half on the ensuing possession, running out the final 1:43 of first-half game clock.
Because of the fumbled kickoff return on the opening play of the game, which Dallas converted into a touchdown, the Eagles will kick off to start the second half.
LEADERS
Passing
Mark Sanchez – 10-of-15 for 84 yards and an 81.0 quarterback rating
Tony Romo – 14-of-20 for 151 yards, two touchdowns and a 125.2 quarterback rating
Rushing
LeSean McCoy – Eight carries for 41 yards
DeMarco Murray – 14 carries for 47 yards and one touchdown
Receiving
Brent Celek – Three catches for 38 yards
Zach Ertz – Two carries for 26 yards
Jason Witten – Five catches for 54 yards
Dez Bryant – Two catches for 30 yards and two touchdowns
