3 reasons why the Eagles won in epic fashion in Dallas Sunday

Sam Bradford hit a wide open Jordan Matthews on a 41-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles (4-4) a 33-27walkoff win against the Cowboys Sunday night in overtime.

What sounds like a work of fiction written on a page is an overdue reality for Eagles fans, who have finally seen the Birds come back from several deficits, get several key defensive stops and most importantly, a well-balanced offense win a football game.

“Jordan did a great job runningthatroute,” Bradford told NBC after the win of the game-winning play. “He was patient and did everything he was supposed to do, he did a great job running after the catch.”

The Birds threw the ball 36 times (as Bradford was 25-for-36 , 287 yards and interception free) and ran it 35 times to keep the Cowboys on their heals.

Here are three more reasons Philly remains a half a game back in the NFC East after Sunday’s win.

Running wild

The Eagles running attack was potent Sunday night. On 35 carries the Eagles gained 172 yards.

DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews each had a touchdown run, with Murray getting 18 carries for 83 yards and Mathews picking up 67 yards on 11 runs.

In a 13-play 80-yard drive, ninerun plays led the Eagles down the field to tie the game at 7-apiece (capped by a fourth and one Murray run up the gut) to set the scene early in the contest, the Eagles first scoring drive.

The Birds’ second touchdown came on a run, this one from Ryan Mathews to put them ahead 14-7 in the second. But the scoring drive was set up withnice balance (and helped by a big Jordan Matthews 28-yard reception).

Down the stretch, the Eagles running backs played a pivotal role in the overtime triumph.

RELATED LINK: What is Chip Kelly really like? Merrill Reese tells Metro

Defense rebounds

Following the Cowboys’ 93-yard touchdown march on their first drive to take a 7-0 lead, the Eagles defense returned to form, holding Dallas to just 83 yards and no points throughout the rest of the half.

The defense relented again however, in the third allowing a long Cowboys touchdown drive to tie the game at 14-apiece.

The Birds made up for itbig time, as rookie Jordan Hicks took a Matt Cassellinterception 67yards to the house for the Eagles NFL-leading 20th takeaway to put Philly up 21-14.

Other playmakers includedBrandon Graham with two sacks and and Mychal Kendricks and Connor Barwin with one apiece.

Hanging on

The Eagles overcame a pair of potentially costly penalties in the fourth quarter, as back-to-back pass interference calls on Byron Maxwell nearly gave the Cowboys a chance to turn their game-tying field goal into a go-ahead touchdown with under a minute remaining.

But the defensebent and did not break.

“It means a lot but at the same time we treat it like every other game,” Matthews, who had 133 receiving yards to lead all receivers.”We have to get back to the drawing board.”

Dez Bryant had 104yards, Cole Beasley had 112 and Darren McFadden had 117 on the ground. And thanks to the Eagles strong defense none of it was enough.