ARLINGTON, Tx. -- A team not known for its smash-mouth, run-the-football style did just that to eat the final 4 minutes, 22 seconds of Sunday's tense 30-27 win over the Dallas Cowboys. When the Eagles needed it most, they turned and handed off to second-year running back LeSean McCoy, who carried 4 times for 50 yards, added a catch for 5 yards, and picked up four first downs to drain the entire fourth quarter.
It was a display of power football at its best. McCoy had gains of 6 yards (a pass completion from Michael Vick), 12 yards, 19 yards, 13 yards and 6 yards -- the final carry on a third-and-1 play -- to finish a brilliant effort with a career-high 149 yards on 16 carries.
McCoy surpassed the 100-yard mark for the third time this season, and his 153 total yards gave him his ninth 100-yard game from scrimmage this season. McCoy has 2,455 yards from scrimmage in his first two seasons, a team record for the first two years in a career.
"They gave me the ball and the offensive line opened holes. I loved it," said McCoy. "In that situation, it's about getting first downs, keeping the clock going. You have to be physical. We were. It was a great way to end the game."
McCoy wasn't just a fourth-quarter standout, of course. With the Eagles trailing 20-14 in the third quarter and with momentum clearly in the Cowboys' corner, McCoy burst for 56 yards to the Dallas 21-yard line on a first-and-10 play to set up David Akers for a field goal. That run changed the momentum of the game and provided a great burst of confidence for a running game that had struggled to that point.
"So much space out there. The guys did a great job blocking," said McCoy. "I was disappointed I didn't score, but we made up for it. That's the kind of offense we have. Somebody is going to pick up the slack. We think we have so many guys who can make plays here."
That was the case, once again. McCoy, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, now has 972 yards on the ground this season. The magical 1,000-yard mark is the next target.
"That stuff doesn't matter to me," said McCoy. "We came in here and won a big game, you know? It was an important game. We came back and did it, all of it. It was a total team win."
-- Posted by Dave Spadaro, 12:44 a.m., December 13
