Crown ‘Em!

PHILADELPHIA – Moments into Sunday’s game, an ill-advised pass from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush intended for  wide receiver Brandin Cooks was plucked away by Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who found nothing but green grass en route to a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The score not only furnished the Eagles with an early lead but very much set the tone for what would become a largely one-sided matchup, with the Eagles trouncing the Cowboys, 41-7, to clinch the NFC East.

The Eagles experienced a bit of NFL history in this one, with running back Saquon Barkley eclipsing the 2,000-rushing barrier thanks to a 31-carry, 167-yard rushing performance.

His total on the season now stands at 2,005 – exactly 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season record.

Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett, starting in place of an injured Jalen Hurts (concussion), led a 10-play, 81-yard second quarter scoring drive, capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead.

Pickett extended the lead just before the break on a 1-yard plunge.

The Pittsburgh product had tossed another to wide receiver A.J. Brown on the Eagles’ opening third quarter march, but the play was negated due to a penalty called against offensive lineman Landon Dickerson.

Pickett, who was drilled on the play, left the game with a rib injury and didn’t return, giving way to third-stringer Tanner McKee.

McKee, in his first NFL action, completed 3-of-4 passes for 54 yards and tossed touchdowns of 20 and 25 yards to wide receivers Brown and Smith, respectively.

Defensively, the Eagles forced four turnovers, recovering a pair of fumbles and snagging two interceptions. Linebackers Zack Baun and Oren Burks led the Eagles with seven tackles apiece and rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. picked up the team’s only sack.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles third-string QB Tanner McKee tossed 2 TDs in a blowout win over Dallas.

Let’s get to the observations.

* Eagles inactives: QB Jalen Hurts (concussion), QB Ian Book (3rd QB), LB Nakobe Dean (abdomen), RB Will Shipley (concussion), OL Nick Gates, OL Darian Kinnard and OL Trevor Keegan.

* Didn’t occur to me until I thought about it, but it’s worth noting that it took multiple players to wear the many hats that Will Shipley balances on game day. At running back, it was practice squad call-up Ty Davis-Price. On kick return, it was CB Isaiah Rodgers who replaced him. As a personal protector on punt, it was Reed Blankenship. On kickoff, RB Kenny Gainwell who took over.

* Interestingly, K Jake Elliott handled kickoff duties despite both HC Nick Sirianni and STC Michael Clay doubling down in their support of P/KO specialist Braden Mann and his job security. Elliott also handled kickoffs during the portion of practice open to the media Thursday.

* Booted from the game last week after drawing a pair of unsportsmanlike penalties, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson wasted little time impacting the game upon his return, plucking an errant Cooper Rush throw over the middle – intended for Brandin Cooks – and house-calling it 69 yards for the first score of the afternoon.

The play reinforced how critical Gardner-Johnson is to the defense’s success and how different things might have played out if he had remained in the game vs. Washington.

* With offensive firepower in short supply, the Cowboys involved electric KR/PR KaVontae Turpin. The speedy Turpin picked up 18 yards on two touches on the second drive. At the tail end of one of his runs he shoved DB Cooper DeJean, who made the stop. No penalty on the play, which caused a chorus of boos in light of the Gardner-Johnson aftermath from last Sunday.

* The Eagles’ secondary, for the second consecutive week, continued to reel against the Cowboys, as Rush on the second drive marched down the field with little resistance. Specifically, CB Darius Slay struggled a bit, including a holding call that was declined. Rookie CB Quinyon Mitchell, who’s been incredibly consistent, surrendered his second touchdown in as many weeks when Rush connected with wide receiver Jalen Tolbert from four yards out in the left corner of the end zone.

* There was a play during the first quarter in which Cowboys LB Marist Liufau de-cleated WR DeVonta Smith, who was running his route as QB Kenny Pickett tossed the ball out of bounds, resulting in an eruption of disapproval from the crowd. That was a legal play, as Pickett was outside the pocket. Smith was dinged on the play but returned. There was another play in which Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks tugged on RB Kenny Gainwell’s facemask on a third-down. Again, no call there. Officials – sigh.

* Rookie LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr subbed in on the third series for veteran Oren Burks, who started at linebacker in place of an injured Nakobe Dean, and remained there for the fourth series. Burks, who stood on the sideline with his helmet, didn’t appear to be injured. On the following series, Burks joined Baun in the lineup, proceeding to force a fumble following a 6-yard completion to Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson. DT Jordan Davis recovered, returning possession to the Eagles.

* It took Pickett some time to find his rhythm, but he delivered his passes with touch and accuracy and threw with anticipation. Two throws on the Eagles’ second scoring drive, a 34-yarder down the right sideline to TE Grant Calcaterra and the 22-yard drop-in-the-bucket touchdown to DeVonta Smith, best exemplified that. Picket entered the break having completed 9 of 14 pass attempts for 133 yards and a touchdown, good for a QB rating of 119.0.

* Pickett took a shot to his ribs on his third quarter touchdown toss to A.J. Brown that came off the board, forcing him out of the lineup. Third-stringer Tanner McKee came on in relief, and oddly enough, it seemed running lanes were easier to come by for RB Saquon Barkley. McKee on his first series completed two of three pass attempts for 29 yards. He tossed his first career touchdown, a 20-yarder, to WR A.J. Brown, giving the Eagles a 34-7 lead. Very good execution and poise from both Pickett and McKee in this one.

* It didn’t matter much at this point, but the Cowboys were able to generate some yards on the ground with RB Rico Dowdle. At times, the Cowboys had their way in the trenches and the Eagles struggled to disengage from blocks. Dowdle finished with 104 rushing yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry.

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