Dead Meat

PHILADELPHIA – Despite the 2-4 start for the Eagles, there was a sense of optimism buzzing around the Lincoln Financial Field lots hour before kickoff. The Eagles were set to host the rivaled Dallas Cowboys, in primetime, on a gorgeous fall evening.

What could possibly go wrong, right?

Well, in a strange twist of fate, it was the Eagles defense that failed to answer the bell, allowing over 400 yards of offense to the Cowboys, extending their losing streak to five games as they fell to their NFC East foe 38-21.

When the Eagles pulled ahead, 21-20, on the heels of a 17-play, 84-yard third quarter scoring drive, it felt as though momentum was on their side. But on the Cowboys’ ensuing drive, quarterback Dak Prescott marched down the field on a nine-play, 61-yard scoring drive – and successful two-point conversion – to retake the lead.

The Eagles then proceeded to pick up eight yards on three plays on the ensuing drive, and Dallas, for all intents and purposes, slammed the door with another nine-play drive that produced a field goal.

Quarterback Tanner McKee completed 23 of 35 for 211 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Running back Saquon Barkley led the way on the ground, carrying seven times for 67 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon led the way in the receiving game, hauling in 7 of 8 targets for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, linebacker Zack Baun collected a team-high nine tackles, with safety Drew Mukuba and defensive back Cooper DeJean accounting for seven apiece.

With three vacancies on the 53-man roster going into Monday night, the Eagles activated G Landon Dickerson and TEs Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra from injured reserve hours before the game. Additionally, the team elevated OLB Keyshawn James-Newby and RB Elijah Mitchell from the practice squad. For James-Newby, a 2026 seventh-round pick, Monday’s elevation was his second, while Mitchell received his first gameday call-up.

Of note: The glaring omission for most – for the second straight week – is probably Zach Ertz. My read? Stowers, the team’s second-round pick, is ready to roll and needed to get his feet wet, while Calcaterra helps on special teams. Keep in mind the Eagles last week waived TE E.J. Jenkins, second on the unit in snaps (126) behind CB Kelee Ringo (140).

Running back Will Shipley, a core contributor, remains on injured reserve and DB Michael Carter II is out for the second consecutive game with an abdomen injury.

Cooper DeJean (33) got burned again, this time by CeeDee Lamb, who caught two TDs in the Dallas win.

The 7 inactives for Week 7: OLB Nolan Smith (concussion), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), WR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), QB Cole Payton (3rd QB), DB Michael Carter II (abdomen), OL Jake Majors (healthy scratch). In a notable development, the recently added Joe Milton usurped rookie Cole Payton as the Eagles’ QB2.

Let’s get to the observations:

* The Eagles opened in 13 personnel, with Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt and Grant Calcaterra at tight end. On the first play of the game, QB Tanner McKee facilitated the ball quickly to Barkley in the flat for a 12-yard pickup. McKee was 2 of 2 passing on the opening drive, including a 21-yard reception by rookie WR Makai Lemon. The early formations included tight splits and shortened dropbacks. The return of left guard Landon Dickerson, coupled with left tackle Jordan Mailata, paved the way for Barkley’s 29-yard run on the second play from scrimmage.

* McKee looked fairly sharp early, getting the ball out early and on time. Sure, the offense still needs to improve on third downs, but McKee showcased quality zip and ball placement. A full week of practice with the starters, and more time on task with Darius Cooper and Makai Lemon, seemed to lend itself to a smoother start. Like a point guard, McKee spread the ball around to his pass catching options, connecting with eight different receivers. I also really liked Mannion’s gameplan to start, putting McKee in advantageous situations, mostly keeping him out of harm’s way (he was only sacked twice).

* The pass protection, I thought, held up well. This configuration of the Eagles’ offensive line–  Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen, Markel Bell – worked well as a unit. The offensive line also helped create space in the running game, at least early. It wasn’t perfect, to be sure, but given the circumstances, this is likely as formidable a group as one can expect this season.

* Dallas found some success on the ground early and didn’t look back. Javonte Williams, who entered Week 7 having averaged a pedestrian 3.7 yards per carry, averaged 6.2 yards per carry against the Eagles. He carried 25 times for 155 yards and a touchdown. He consistently pierced through the vaunted Eagles’ defensive line and dragged tacklers with him. The Eagles, to be clear, haven’t been particularly stout against the run, but the Cowboys definitively controlled the line of scrimmage and moved the Eagles off the ball. The ground game effectiveness greatly aided a balanced attack

* With Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley on injured reserve, the Eagles appear to have an effective running back tandem in the interim in Barkley and Dameon Pierce. Barkley ran with power and purpose, accelerating when he hit his second gear. Pierce, who couldn’t find much running room against the Jaguars and Panthers, showcased juice and contact balance. The fifth-year pro scored his second touchdown in as many weeks. At one point, Pierce boasted a 5.1 yards per carry average, though it disintegrated into 3.4 by the game of the game.

Both Barkley and Pierce exited the game with injuries and this week’s practice will offer more clarity into their respective availabilities for Week 8 in Landover, Md. But it was evident early that Barkley was trying to tough it out and play through whatever was nagging him, to the point he would receive a carry and then retreat to the sideline for the remainder of the series. As we’d learn during the game, however, it wasn’t the hamstring that’d been nagging him.

“I mean, the first play, one of my first movements, reactions, I felt it kind of pull a little bit,” he said after the game. “I didn’t really do too much, but that’s how the body works sometimes. You know, something’s a little banged up and you overcompensate a little bit. But, just gotta get to rehab and just continue working.”

* The lack of a pass rush led to far too many extended plays for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The Eagles had Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, A.J. Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie and Keyshawn James-Newby active, and implemented a pretty consistent rotation to keep players fresh, but the pressure was non-existent. It was evident they missed Nolan Smith Jr. in this one as an edge setter.

The interior line doesn’t get a pass, either, as Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo were largely radio silent from a disruptive standpoint on Monday night. In total, the Eagles came up empty in both sacks and quarterback hits, enabling Prescott to work through progressions and find the open receiver.

* Among the handful of bright spots offensively was the emergence of rookie WR Makai Lemon, who with his seven receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, turned in a career outing. Lemon would the soft spots in coverage and was strong to the football. He also continues to show marked improvement as a blocker, demonstrating a willingness and tenacity when doing so.

For example, watch Lemon on the Dameon Pierce five-yard touchdown run. When used as a traditional wide receiver and not a gadget player, you’re beginning to see what Lemon can provide to the offense. His confidence is clearly growing.

* This will get lost in the defensive woes, but the lapses in kick coverage has become a prevailing theme. Ultimately, it didn’t count, but Cowboys returner Tyler Goodson took one back 91 yards for a score that was called back. Then, of course, there were blunders in London. Between injuries (Will Shipley, Michael Carter), transactions (E.J. Jenkins, Cameron Latu) and offseason losses (Sydney Brown, Kylen Granson), there aren’t many options left for coordinator Michael Clay. He’ll never make excuses, but the reality is that Clay is working with whoever is available, any inexperience can sometimes lead to lapses. When the margin is this narrow, it could be something to monitor.

* Some numbers to consider: The Eagles were 5 of 12 on third down, and the time of possession was close, with Dallas controlling the ball for 30:39 and the Eagles 29:21. The Eagles were also charged with only five penalties in this one, compared to eight for the Cowboys.

* The Eagles’ five-game losing streak is the longest they’ve endured since the 2016 season.

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