The Eagles and Cowboys met for the second time this season in Dallas during Week 9. View the full gallery here...
After the last meeting between the Cowboys and Eagles, Philadelphia is ready for a different result. However, the offense has struggled to get on a roll early. Following the first quarter of play, Dallas holds the slight edge in this division matchup, scoring the only touchdown thus far for a 7-0 lead.
Bryant Is Back
Unfortunately for the Eagles, wide receiver Dez Bryant, who was limited in Cowboys' practices throughout the week, appears to be very healthy in his second game back from a foot injury. After being held to just 12 yards the week before, Bryant already has 57 on two catches.
His largest reception of the game came at the 10:38 mark of the quarter. Matt Cassel threw a pass deep left down the field to the receiver, who was also able to break away from cornerback Nolan Carroll for additional yardage. Bryant moved his team 51 yards from its own 31 to the Philadelphia 18. The Cowboys' opening drive resulted in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Cole Beasley for the first points of the night.
Austin Returns To Dallas
Although the offense continued to struggle in the opening quarter of play, Miles Austin came up with the big play in his first game back in Dallas. The former Cowboy helped extend the Eagles' second drive of the game with a 27-yard reception on a third-and-18. The pass from Sam Bradford moved Philadelphia to its 39-yard line, but the team was later forced to punt the ball back to Dallas with 3:55 remaining in the first.
Donnie Longball
Throughout the season, punter Donnie Jones has been a bright spot for the team, and tonight the story is much the same. On Jones' first punt of the night, the Cowboys were penalized for running into the kicker to give the Eagles a first down. The next time Jones was out on the field, he booted the ball 59 yards to the Cowboys' own 1. It was only returned for 6 yards. His following two punts resulted in Dallas taking over at its own 17 and 12, continually setting up the Eagles' defense with great field position.