rpaolinelliThe battle for the NFC East has been joined.
The Cowboys hold a 17-14 lead after the first half as they look to pull to within a half-game of the Eagles.
Dallas started off with a win hours before the game even started. Tyron Smith was announced as active for the big showdown.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle worthy of a big game. Both teams converted huge fourth downs.
Dak Prescott was 10-of-16 for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Tony Pollard had 23 yards on six carries.
CeeDee Lamb had 78 yards on four catches. Jake Ferguson and KeVontae Turpin had the two touchdown catches.
First Quarter
Dallas got the ball first as the Eagles won the toss and deferred.
The Cowboys clearly wanted to establish the run, with Pollard gaining four yard on two plays. An incomplete pass ended the drive.
The Eagles moved the ball down field, getting a favorable third down spot to convert a “tush push” on fourth and a foot to extend the drive.
The Eagles second attempt on fourth down was slightly longer.
But they converted and then cashed in on a 12-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Gainwell. After a nearly eight-minute drive the Eagles led 7-0.
Turpin gave the Cowboys a spark with a 47-yard return on the ensuing kickoff.
Prescott had three scrambles for 11 yards for the Cowboys’ initial first down of the game. Prescott’s first completion set up a third and short.
But a pass on third down was incomplete. On fourth down, Prescott connected with Lamb for 29 yards for a first and goal at the Eagles’ four.
Prescott hit Jake Ferguson on the next play for the game-timing score with 1:37 left in the quarter.
The Eagles started their second drive at their 25.
Dallas got their second sack of the quarter split by Micah Parsons and Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams had the first. The Eagles went three and out and punted.
Turpin was injured on the return and the Cowboys ended the quarter with a dropped pass by Lamb.
Second Quarter
Pollard got a nice eight-yard run to start the quarter before Prescott hit Ferguson on a 40-yard pass. Hassan Reddick sacked Prescott on the next play for a 10-yard loss.
After a timeout to avoid a delay of game — and a second-and-25 instead – a low snap nearly spelled disaster, but Pollard got a six-yard run instead.
Prescott escaped Reddick and hit Lamb for 20 yards and a first down at the Eagles 18. Ferguson drew a defensive pass interference call at the eight.
Dowdle got a three-yard run on first down. Prescott overthrew Lamb in the endzone on second down.
Prescott hit Turpin – back in the game for the first time since the rib injury — for the go-ahead touchdown.
Aubrey clanked the extra point off the upright. But it went through for a 14-7 Dallas lead with 11:16 left in the half.
Aubrey’s kickoff went out of bounds to give the Eagles the ball at their 40. Philadelphia got two big plays and moved to the Cowboys’ 20.
Dallas nearly got a huge turnover at the nine after D’Andre Swift fumbled. But Swift just managed to recover his own fumble.
A holding call gave the Eagles first-and-goal at the five.
Three plays later, Hurts scored on another “tush push” from the one to tie the game with 5:09 left in the half.
Prescott started the Cowboys’ fourth drive with a 15-yard pass. Pollard then picked up three around end.
But Prescott was sacked on the next play to set up third-and-15. Prescott found Lamb on a 13-yard pass that was two yards short at the Cowboys’ 48.
Prescott hit Fergus for a 12-yard pass for a first down to get to the two-minute warning.
The Final Two Minutes
After two plays netted seven yards, Michael Gallup dropped a sure first down.
Aubrey nailed a 51-yard field goal for a 17-14 lead with 1:15 left in the half. It was a record-setting kick for Aubrey.
He is now 19-for-19 in field goals in his rookie year, the new NFL record.
With two timeouts remaining the Eagles looked to move the ball. After getting a first down Hurts dropped back to pass.
DeMarcus Lawrence crashed into Hurts’ left knee and Parsons swooped in to collect the sack.
Hurts initially limped off the field but returned for the next play as the Eagles ran the ball on third down and punted after a Dallas time out.
Dallas got the ball at their own 12 with just four seconds left. Prescott took a knee and the 17-14 lead at the half.
L!