With the Cowboys in town for the team's home opener, the spotlight was on running back DeMarco Murray.
Formerly a member of Dallas' roster, this would be his opportunity to take down his old team. It would have been a storybook ending had the Eagles come out on top, but that's not the way things finished in Philadelphia on Sunday as the team dropped the game to its rival, 20-10.
At the end of the 60 minutes, the running back rushed for only 2 yards, but did catch five passes for an additional 53 receiving yards to round out his performance. While the numbers were not those one would expect from the league-leading rusher, it was evident that the entire offense was having issues.
Murray is only one piece of the puzzle, and right now this offense is struggling.
"I have to do a better job of running that ball. I'm the first one to look in the mirror and say I've got to do better," Murray said. "Individually, we've got to get better. Collectively, we've got to get better and just got to look in the mirror and take it upon ourselves to really get things going."
Murray explained that the biggest problem for the unit right now is that it isn't in sync. He and his teammates are making mistakes, costly ones, and that's the root of the problem.
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
Penalties and turnovers are erasing yardage and putting the ball in the opponents' hands. For the past two weeks, that story has been the same. But instead of looking back, Murray and the Eagles are looking forward. It's a long season, and this is only game two. There's a lot of football left to be played.
"I think we have the right guys and the right coaching staff. We have the right players offensively, defensively and in the kicking game to be successful," Murray said. "I think we have to hold each other accountable as players. We have to fix it. It's as simple as that."
For Murray, he doesn't care about his yardage or about how many touchdowns he scores. He wants to win. That's why he came to Philadelphia, and that's what he is going to work toward in the coming weeks.
"I'm frustrated with losing. Obviously, when you work as hard as we do, I think every guy is frustrated," he said. "We're just not in the place we need to be as a unit. The defense played a great game. Offensively, we've just got to be better."
At times, Murray was visibly emotional on the field. He was yelling, jumping around, fired up. Frustrations clearly boiled over as the Cowboys continually shut down the Eagles' run game.
The team finished with only 7 rushing yards.
"You put a lot of emotions in, and not just me, everybody," Murray said. "We just couldn't get anything going at different times. We need to be better. No matter what play calls are being called, individually, collectively on offense, we just have to make it work."
The team clearly has much to work on in the coming week to prepare for its next game. But, no one in the locker room is panicking.
Yes, players are disappointed with their play, Murray included. However, they still believe in what they are doing and will continue to work day in and day out to prove they can be successful.
"We'll get it together," Murray said confidently. "I think everyone is looking at themselves. Everyone's looking at Sam (Bradford), myself, JP (Jason Peters). We'll get it fixed."
