PHILADELPHIA -- Despite the offense showcasing some creativity and rhythm without key pieces available, it was the defense that let the Philadelphia Eagles down in a 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
Dak Prescott was not sacked a single time and threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns while the defense was gouged for 416 yards in total, marking the third time this season they've allowed 400 or more yards in a game this season.
The defeat marks the first time since 2016 the Eagles have dropped five consecutive games.
The defense struggled out of the gate, missing tackles and giving up chunks of yardage to allow the Cowboys to move down the field on the game’s opening drive. However, the unit shored up on their side of midfield, forcing Dak Prescott to throw an incomplete pass on third down to force a Brandon Aubrey 55-yard field goal to make it 3-0 Dallas.
Philadelphia answered with its best drive of the season needing just four plays to cover 75 yards to find the endzone. The drive was highlighted by a 29-yard run by Saquon Barkley, who came up gingerly afterwards, but remained in the game, followed by a 21-yard pass to rookie Makai Lemon.
Barkley punched it in from eight yards to score the Eagles first touchdown in the first quarter of a season.
The Cowboys continued to give Vic Fangio’s defense trouble. Prescott orchestrated a nine-play, 82-yard drive ending in a nine-yard touchdown catch by CeeDee Lamb to make it 10-7 with 5:32 remaining in the first quarter. Cooper DeJean was in coverage, allowing his fourth passing touchdown the cornerback has allowed after not allowing a single passing score against him through his first two seasons in the NFL.
Tanner McKee and the Eagles’ offense didn’t back down.
Philadelphia methodically moved down the field, capitalizing on a pair of penalties by Dallas that resulted in first downs, ultimately putting together an impressive 13-play, 76-yard drive which took over seven minutes off the clock. Dameon Pierce capped it off with a five-yard rushing touchdown to take a 14-10 lead early in the second quarter.
However, the defense had no answers to slow down Dallas’ defense.
With a non-existent pass rush, Prescott was able to carve up the Eagles’ secondary completing five of his seven passes on a 14-play, 81-yard scoring drive highlighted by an impressive 21-yard touchdown catch by George Pickens to put Dallas back in front 17-14 with 5:37 left in the first half.
The Eagles offense was unable to continue its success it had on the first two drives, running just nine plays for 15 yards forcing to punt on both drives. Dallas kicked a 27-yard field goal to take a 20-14 lead into halftime.
With the second half struggles well documented, McKee and the offense bucked the trend and put together a marathon-type drive running 17 plays going 84 yards down the field. Lemon kept the possession alive with a big fourth-down grab to later put an exclamation point on the drive with a four-yard catch from McKee for his first NFL touchdown and the first time the Eagles found the end zone in the third quarter this season, putting the Eagles up 21-20 with 5:44 remaining in the third.
Once again, Dallas had an answer with Prescott having plenty of time to dissect the Eagles’ defense. The Eagles surrendered a nine-play, 61-yard touchdown drive, with Lamb’s second score of the night beating Riq Woolen in the left corner of the end zone. Prescott ran it in to convert the two-point conversion to make it 28-21 with 1:30 left in the quarter.
After a three-and-out, the defense that could not get off the field, allowed Dallas to chew up more than five minutes of the clock leading to another Aubrey field goal, this time from 24 yards to make it a 31-21 Cowboys lead with 9:10 remaining in regulation.
With the Eagles driving on the ensuing possession, McKee threw his first interception of the game trying to connect with Dallas Goedert in the flat but Demarvion Overshown was playing tight coverage on the tight end and picked off the pass to end the momentum.
McKee ended his first primetime start going 23-35 for 211 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception.
Javonte Williams found the end zone late in the fourth after the Eagles failed to convert on fourth down on their own 17 to make it a 38-21 final.
With the loss, the Eagles are 2-5 through the first seven games of the season for the first time since 2021. Philadelphia will hit the road to take on the Washington Commanders on short rest in a Sunday Night clash while Washington comes off its bye week.
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