For the second time this season, the Eagles held Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray to fewer than 100 yards rushing. In fact, the Eagles are the only team to accomplish the feat this season when Tony Romo started at quarterback.
But Murray wasn't the problem for the Eagles on Sunday night. That would be wide receiver Dez Bryant, who had six catches for 114 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in the Eagles' 38-27 loss to Dallas.
Bryant scored all three touchdowns against cornerback Bradley Fletcher. Romo connected with Bryant on the scoring plays from 4 yards, 26 yards and 25 yards. The 25-yard touchdown put the game out of reach for the Eagles by giving Dallas a 35-24 lead with 12:48 remaining.
"I had a terrible game. That's what happened today," Fletcher said.
Following the Eagles' 33-10 win over Dallas on Thanksgiving, Bryant called out the Eagles for being "kinda cheap." Bryant didn't wait for kickoff on Sunday to begin mixing it up with the Eagles as he exchanged words with safety Malcolm Jenkins on the field pre-game.
"Everybody knows Dez is an emotional player," said Jenkins, who joked with reporters that the two were simply hashing out holiday plans. "That's the way he plays. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He's very, very outspoken."
It's Sunday night and the biggest game in the NFL is the Cowboys-Eagles' showdown for first place in the NFC East ...
TE Zach Ertz hurdling the tackler
RB Darren Sproles crossing the goal line for the touchdown
RB LeSean McCoy
RB Chris Polk celebrating his touchdown
The Linc lighting up for tonght's game
S Malcolm Jenkins making the tackle
WR Jeremy Maclin warming up for the big game
G Andrew Gardener warming up for tonight's game
QB Nick Foles is here to enjoy the divisional rivalry
T Dennis Kelly out on the field before the game
C/G Julian Vandervelde
Fans are here for the big game!
TE Trey Burton during warmups
TE James Casey
WR Josh Huff returning the kick
QB Mark Sanchez back in the pocket
RB LeSean McCoy trying to get the offense going
LB Trent Cole with the pressure
DE Fletcher Cox with the tackle
And then DE Cox with the celebration
A happy DE Fletcher Cox
TE Brent Celek making the third down completion
K Cody Parkey making the point after
TE Brent Celek with the catch
RB LeSean McCoy on the run
Eagles cheerleaders out in the cold for tonight's game
QB Mark Sanchez finding TE Brent Celek down field
RB LeSean McCoy throwing out a stiff arm on the tackler
TE Zach Ertz making the catch
Eagles fans are in full force tonight at the game
WR Jordan Matthews and RB Chris Polk celebrating the touchdown
RB Chris Polk carrying tacklers into the end zone
LB Connor Barwin putting pressure on the quarterback
CB Nolan Carroll II with the special teams tackle
WR Josh Huff bouncing off of players on the return
RB Chris Polk accepting the ball from QB Mark Sanchez
RB Chris Polk now has two touchdowns on the night!
LB Casey Matthews making the tackle
LB Connor Barwin and the defense is starting to feel it
TE Zach Ertz
BrotherlyLove
S Chris Prosinski making the shoe string tackle
The stands are packed tonight!
RB LeSean McCoy
QB Mark Sanchez on the roll out
S Chris Prosinski fighting through the block
CB Bradley Fletcher making the tackle
The field goal unit before the snap
DE Cedric Thornton getting to the QB
WR Jeremy Maclin catching the ball for a big gain!
WR Jeremy Maclin fighting through the tackle
QB Mark Sanchez
WR Jeremy Maclin coming up just short of the goal line
RB Chris Polk tossing the ball into the stands after his second score
RB Darren Sproles scampering into the end zone
RB LeSean McCoy looking for a hole in the defense
Celebrating the Sproles touchdown
The Eagles' committed resources to stop Murray on the ground, which worked. Murray had 81 yards rushing on 31 carries for a 2.6 yards per carry average. But that left Bryant in one-on-one matchups on the outside with single-high coverage over the top.
"(Romo) did a good job of getting rid of the ball quick, especially on the ones to Dez down the field," Jenkins said. "There's no way for a middle-of-the-field safety to help on the ball and the rush is not getting there. He did a better job of not holding onto the ball and trying to keep the timing."
With Murray contained, Romo took charge and finished 22-of-31 for 265 yards with the three touchdowns for a 129.1 passer rating. Romo had just 199 yards passing in the Thanksgiving meeting. Romo's 31 attempts were the most since Dallas' game at Seattle back on October 12, when he had 32 throws.
"Romo wasn't dropping back as far as he was on Thanksgiving," said linebacker Brandon Graham. "We knew he was going to stay in the pocket, three-step (drop) and get the ball out. They did shorter routes and when there were longer routes they did max protect."
The Eagles sacked Romo three times, but whenever the quarterback needed to be bailed out Bryant was there for him.
"I think he and Tony have always had a special connection," said cornerback Cary Williams. "I think that those guys play really well together. Their communication is great. They made plays and we didn't."
