Drive by Drive Recap of Cowboys’ Defeat To Rival Eagles

In a contest where Dallas was playing for nothing outside of maintaining their sharpness against division rival Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys chose to stick with familiarity beginning the game with the football for the 14th time in 16 games. Darren McFadden began the game at tailback while Emmett Cleary manned the left tackle position, just a few of the many changes we would see not only to start but throughout the game. After an initial third down conversion from Dak Prescott to Cole Beasley, the Cowboy offense stalled and were forced to punt.

Carson Wentz lead the Eagle offense onto the field looking to cap off a successful rookie season for the youngster out of North Dakota State University. Facing a mostly second string Dallas defense, the Eagles were able to move the ball quite efficiently on their first drive, finding themselves right outside of the red zone following completions to tight end Zach Ertz. Darren Sproles was able to convert on a 3rd and short, moving the ball inside the Dallas 10 yard line. The Cowboy defense was able to hold, forcing the Eagles to settle for a field goal and early 3-0 lead.

Dak Prescott came out for his second series of the game as all eyes remained on Tony Romo warming up on the sideline. Back to back first downs with a couple of Alfred Morris runs sprinkled in, had the Cowboys into Eagle territory. However, an all out blitz on 3rd and 5 by Philadelphia proved to be the drive stopper and Dallas settled for a Dan Bailey field goal to tie the game at 3.

After the Eagles were not able to get anything going on their next possession, the Cowboys took over and Tony Romo finally took the field in a regular season game for the first time in over 400 days. Romo was able to convert on a 3rd and 11 with a completion to Terrance Williams. McFadden ripped off a 24 yard run on the next play and the Cowboys were again in Eagle territory. Dez Bryant was able to draw a pass interference penalty shortly after to set Dallas up with a first and goal. Romo went vintage #9 on the next play pump faking a quick screen to Williams before finding him in the end zone for the touchdown pass and 10-3 Cowboy lead.

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Another quick Eagle drive ending with a punt gave the Cowboys the ball back as their third quarterback of the day took the field in the form of ex-Eagle Mark Sanchez. After a couple of first downs, Sanchez threw a very Sanchez like interception as Jordan Hicks tipped a screen pass to himself for the turnover. However a four and out by the Dallas defense gave the ball back to the offense in almost identical field position. The Cowboys failed to pick up a first down, but a tremendous punt by Chris Jones pinned the Eagles inside of their own 1 yard line.

The Philadelphia offense continued its inability to move the football as their latest 3 and out set the Cowboys up near the 50 yard line as the 2-minute warning hit. Seemingly in scoring range with one first down, Sanchez threw his second interception in as many plays, again to Hicks, ending any hopes Dallas had of scoring before the half. The Eagle offense was able to make the Cowboys pay this time around as Wentz found Ertz for the touchdown pass with 7 seconds left in the half to tie the game at 10.

The Eagles began the second half with the ball, looking to build on the momentum they created with the touchdown drive to end the first half. But the Dallas defense had other ideas. Jack Crawford made up for a first down encroachment penalty by registering a tackle for loss and sack on the next two plays to force an Eagle punt.

Mark Sanchez took the field trying to find some sort of success following back to back interceptions. He found that success when he converted a 3rd and 2 with a nice deep ball to Beasley. A pass interference penalty called on Nolan Carroll followed and Dallas had moved inside the Eagle 10 yard line. However a poor throw from Sanchez after escaping a sack on 3rd and 2 halted the drive and Bailey tacked on a field goal to give the Cowboys the lead back at 13-10.

The Dallas defense appeared to force another 3 and out but in what may have been the latest flag thrown in NFL history, a roughing the passer call extended the Eagle drive. Wentz began to find his groove after the penalty as multiple completions moved the ball deep into Cowboy territory. The rookie signal caller found Ertz in the end zone shortly thereafter to give Philadelphia the lead 17-13.

Sanchez and the offense could not generate much on the next drive and a punt sent the ball back to the Eagles with a chance to take a two-score lead early in the 4th quarter. Tight end Zach Ertz continued his dominate game as his next catch put him over 100 yards on the day and moved the ball into Dallas territory. The Cowboy defense held Philadelphia to a field goal attempt that was just wide left, leaving the Dallas deficit at 4 points.

The Cowboys took over in decent field position near their own 40 yard line but another 3 and out lead drive by Sanchez quickly sent the ball back to the Eagles. Wentz and company were able to move the ball pretty easily against mostly 2nd and 3rd stringers on the Dallas defense before ultimately settling for a field goal to extend their lead to 20-13 with just over 2 minutes left in the ball game.

Mark Sanchez and the Dallas offense took over with a chance to drive the field and tie or potentially win the game. However Sanchez took a ridiculously huge loss on a sack on 3rd down, so big of a loss that the Cowboys couldn’t even feasibly go for it on 4th down with the game on the line. The Sanchez bad decision continued to haunt the Cowboys as he backed the punt team up against their own goal line resulting in a blocked kick and goal to go situation for the Eagles to close out the game.

The Philadelphia offense did just that as a short rushing touchdown put the game out of reach at 27-13. There was not much to take away from this game from a Cowboy perspective. For one, there were no major injuries and they should head into their first playoff game the healthiest they have been in months. Secondly, it was nice to see Tony Romo get some action and even better to see that he can still sling it. Especially after seeing the performance Mark Sanchez put on for the rest of the game. If something were to happen to Dak in the playoffs CowboysNation can count their blessings #3 doesn’t have to see the field. Regardless, after a 4-12 2015 season, this 13-3 finish to the regular season by the Cowboys has been quite remarkable and a joy to watch. Now let’s go get #6.

Follow Tony Iosso @Tigga11

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