Worth The Wait

With a Thursday home clash against the high-flying Washington Commanders looming, it would have been easy for the Eagles to have skated past the reeling Cowboys on Sunday, with an eye toward the biggest game of the season just days away.

But the Eagles instead showed their focus, eviscerating their NFC East rivals at AT&T Stadium – a place that’s been anything but kind to them – in a 34-6 blowout.

The Eagles (7-2) won at AT&T Stadium for the first time since 2017 – their only Super Bowl-winning season – and improved to 7-2 after winning their fifth straight. They also took a half-game division lead over Washington (7-3), which fell to Pittsburgh on Sunday, setting up a major showdown Thursday night.

The Cowboys, who fell to 3-6, started backup quarterback Cooper Rush in place of an injured Dak Prescott. They were ill-equipped to take advantage of the Eagles’ early-game miscues, including a Jalen Hurts red zone interception and a Hurts fumble.

The Cowboys’ inability to capitalize on those miscues enabled the visiting Eagles to widen the gap once they settled in.

Rush, who completed 13-of-23 pass attempts for 45 yards, appeared woefully rusty, badly missing throws and hesitant to push the ball downfield.

Rush’s backup, Trey Lance, made a cameo, completing four of his six pass attempts for 21 yards and an interception.

Hurts, who completed 14-of-20 passes for 202 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, led the way offensively for the Eagles with four total touchdowns. Wide receiver A.J. Brown was the team’s leader in targets (7), receptions (5) and yards (109).

Defensively, linebacker Zack Baun notched a game-high eight tackles (one for loss), two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery while S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who registered seven tackles, collected his second interception.

The Eagles came away with five turnovers, including the Gardner-Johnson interception and four fumble recoveries, two by Baun. The solo sacks were credit to Bryce Huff and Milton Williams, with Brandon Graham and Jalen Carter splitting another.

Let’s get to the observations.

* Eagles inactives included QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB), CB Eli Ricks, S Tristin McCollum, OL Darian Kinnard, and OL Trevor Keegan. Worth noting this is the second consecutive week in which McCollum has landed on the inactive list despite the third-year safety having the fifth-most special teams snaps.

* Not sure whether the wrist injury last week played a part in the snap reduction – though he was a full practice participant for much of the week – but notable to see EDGE Bryce Huff playing behind Nolan Smith, who started. Huff also seems to have been leap-frogged by rookie EDGE Jalyx Hunt, who logged a handful of first-half snaps. HC Nick Sirianni included Hunt when answering a question last week on Bryce Huff’s role. Said Sirianni: “Then we’ll see Jalyx getting into the mix as well. I think he’s been doing a good job at practice to be able to go.”

Huff, sparsely utilized for the second consecutive week, did notch a third quarter strip-sack of QB Cooper Rush, recovered by LB Zack Baun.

*First half Jalen Hurts assessment: He held the ball entirely too long, resulting in multiple sacks, two of which came courtesy of second-year LB DeMarvion Overshown. Overshown, by the way, is a player I’ve mentioned several times over the airwaves last week, as he was among the few Dallas defenders who stood out during film watch.

Back to Hurts, though, who committed a pair of first half turnovers. He dropped his eyes and was largely indecisive when the Eagles took to the passing game. The coaching staff has made it a point to emphasize Hurts keeping two hands on the ball when in the pocket but he fumbled away a possession while tossing an interception on another. On the interception, TE Dallas Goedert, his intended target, was open, though it looked as though Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs baited him into the throw. TE Grant Calcaterra was wide open in the left flat for what would have been a walk-in touchdown. Was surprised to see so many slow-developing plays given how effective the Dallas pass-rush was early.

Hurts was sacked five times in the half, equaling his highest total. His first quarter rushing touchdown, by the way, was the 50th of Hurts’ career.

* Second half Jalen Hurts assessment: He accounted for two touchdowns, one passing and one on the ground. Thought he was far more decisive and got the football out of his hands faster. Hurts accounted for four total touchdowns.

* Another active outing from Eagles LB Zack Baun, who flowed sideline to sideline and thrived defending both the run and the pass. Baun’s ability to diagnose and process at such a rapid frequency has been fun to watch. The veteran LB forced an Ezekiel Elliott fumble deep in Cowboys territory in the second quarter for a touchback, his third turnover forced in as many weeks. The 27-year-old is undisputedly playing at a Pro Bowl level.

* The Cowboys came into Sunday with a paltry average of 82.0 rushing yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry. Running back Rico Dowdle rushed for 50 yards on 10 first-half carries.

* Good all-around showing from Eagles special teams. LB Ben VanSumeren nearly blocked an early punt, rookie RB/KR Will Shipley averaged 32 yards on two kickoff returns, and PR Cooper DeJean rolled up 43 yards on three returns – including a long of 31 yards. Cowboys KR KaVontae Turpin did rip a 47-yard kickoff return, but all in all, a strong collective effort from STC Michael Clay’s unit.

* The Eagles smartly targeted Cowboys rookie CB Caelen Carson, starting in place of an injured Daron Bland (foot). The visiting Eagles had a chance to connect on multiple first half big plays to WR DeVonta Smith against Carson, though they couldn’t connect. Coming out of the break, however, Carson proved to be a liability and popular target in coverage, eventually giving way to CB Isreal Mukuamu.

* Eagles rookie WR Johnny Wilson, after having his first NFL touchdown wiped away last week on a questionable call, hauled in the first of his career in the third quarter. It’s also worth noting that on multiple red zone occasions, the Eagles have unveiled packages that include both rookie WRs – Wilson and Ainias Smith. Smith has quietly done a nice job in his minimal opportunities, particularly in the blocking department.

* While there have been questions as to whom would be the Eagles No. 3 linebacker to come on in relief or if pressed into service, Sunday afternoon provided some clarity, as the veteran Oren Burks came on in the fourth and was working alongside Baun briefly before Jeremiah Trotter Jr. joined Burks as the fourth quarter progressed.

* The Eagles outgained the Cowboys in total yards, 348 to 146, and in time of possession, with the Eagles holding the ball for 34:01 to the Cowboys’ 25:59. Neither team was particularly good on third down, with the Eagles converting 4-of-11 attempts and the Cowboys 3-of-14.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.