[Read: What We Learned in N.F.L. Week 10]
The Cowboys are now 4-5, same as the Eagles, whose championship nine months ago has apparently produced a recent spike in babies born around the Delaware Valley and in parents regretting naming their children after Coach Doug Pederson. Coming off a bye, after trading for the former Pro Bowl receiver Golden Tate, and having had two weeks to strategize for Dallas, the Eagles flopped. Not unlike how the Cowboys, in those same circumstances, performed last Monday against Tennessee.
Through 10 weeks, the best — or rather, leading — team in the N.F.C. East gave up 501 yards to Tampa Bay on Sunday and won. That would be 6-3 Washington, which last won the division title in 2015, and before that in 2012, since teams in the East never, ever repeat as champions — at least not since Philadelphia did, from 2001-04.
The Cowboys ruled the East in 2016, when across a full season Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott muffled opponents much how they did to Philadelphia, by controlling the clock and avoiding turnovers and gashing a tired defense with long runs and timely throws. By winning Sunday, they did not so much validate Jones’s professed faith in them, in Prescott and Coach Jason Garrett and his beleaguered staff, as prove that they were not inferior to the Eagles, who were not penalized once and who averaged more yards per play and, yet, still lost.
As such, it might be a disservice to mediocre things everywhere — grape juice, Smarties, the color beige — to characterize the Eagles in those terms. Barring unanticipated developments — stopping the run, for instance, or scoring a first-quarter touchdown — their reign is poised to end within the next seven weeks. A punishing second-half schedule includes a visit next week to New Orleans, which has scored roughly eleventy billion points the last two games, and a trip to Los Angeles to play the Rams, who have lost as many times this season as the Eagles did on Sunday — which is to say, once.
“It’s not going to be easy,” said tight end Zach Ertz, who scored both of Philadelphia’s touchdowns in the second half. “But we have to believe, despite the evidence.”
Cowboys and Eagles scuffle during pregame warmup
By
November 12, 2018 07:59 AM
Players from the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys had to be separated ahead of their NFC East game on November 11 after both teams became involved in a scuffle while sharing the field during warmups.
Dallas Cowboys All-Pro guard Zack Martin left Sunday night’s game during the offense’s second possession after getting his left knee rolled up during a play.
Martin has been nursing for a sprain in the same knee for a month. The Cowboys replaced Martin with Adam Redmond, who has played in three NFL games. Both guards for Dallas are playing in their first games this season. Xavier Su’a-Filo started in place of left guard Connor Williams, who was injured last week against Tennessee. Martin returned to the game after visiting the locker room. He missed 13 snaps in the first half.
Su’a-Filo has played 56 games (41 starts) for the Texans after being drafted in the second round in 2014.
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The Cowboys’ offensive line has been a concern through the first eight games. All-Pro center Travis Frederick has been out while he recovers from Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder. Left tackle Tyron Smith hasn’t been as dominant as in the past.
O-line coach Paul Alexander was fired and replaced by assistant Marc Colombo during the bye week. All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and right tackle La’el Collins both have battled nagging injuries at different times this season.
After the Dallas Cowboys posted a big win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night, here are the five biggest questions they have left to answer.
The Dallas Cowboys weren’t supposed to win against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night in the City of Brotherly Love. Not after how they played against the Tennessee Titans last Monday night.
Coming off their bye week, the Cowboys were manhandled at home by the Titans in front of a primetime audience. But Tennessee did defeat the New England Patriots to the tune of 34-10 over the weekend, so it puts the loss in perspective.
Still, Dallas’ offense has struggled the previous two games, posting a total of 17 and 14 points respectively. And the Cowboys defense, who was considered to be one of the best in the league, was just torched at AT&T Stadium for 28 points by the Titans.
Yet, somehow, the Cowboys found a way to defeat the Eagles in Lincoln Financial Field in front of a hostile crowd to come away with their very first road victory of the year. But the 27-20 win generated its own set of questions about this Dallas team. Namely, who are they?
We’ve seen such inconsistent performances from this Dallas squad. And no one seems to have the answer as to why. From week-to-week, we are seeing a vastly different Cowboys team, leaving their fan base queasy due to the rollercoaster ride of emotions.
Following the Dallas Cowboys big divisional win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, here are five big questions that I believe are still left to be answered. And it starts with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan …
