The Dallas Cowboys made a major divisional statement on Sunday night, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 33-13. The heat was on in AT&T Stadium, and the Cowboys were up to the challenge. The game featured new records and impressive plays on both sides of the ball. Here’s how Dallas’ complete roster helped shift the NFC East in their direction.
Cowboys Defeat Eagles 33-13 in Complete Beatdown; How Each Cowboy Helped Spring the NFC East For the Taking
Another Perfect Night on Offense
The Cowboys made it very clear to the Eagles who was in control early. From the moment Jalen Hurts and the Eagles took the field, all became clear. QB Dak Prescott looked poised and calm in another MVP-caliber performance. Prescott completed 19 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns against Philadelphia’s stingy defense. Quite an impressive performance, finding eight receivers to pick apart Philly’s Super Bowl defenders. They’ll have to retreat to their nests without a W this time.
Dallas’ offense scored on seven of nine possessions. Their imperfections vanished in moments after Kicker Brandon Aubrey graced the field. Dallas’ continuously impressive rookie kicker balled out against the Eagles with impressive kicks. He kept his perfect streak alive, going 4 for 4 and setting another record. Aubrey made kicks from 50, 29, and 60 yards, surpassing an NFL single-game record. His unprecedented performance put Dallas in scoring position virtually everywhere.
The Cowboys’ Dominant Performance on Offense proves that they’re ready to take the driver’s seat. The NFC East is a heavyweight matchup, and the Cowboys just cleared the Eagles by 20. Dallas’ explosive offense and record-setting kicker performance prove that nobody else in the East can hang.
Defense Remains Forceful, Sticky
Even without one of Dallas’ Biggest contributors in Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys’ Defense smothered the Eagles. 33-year-old CB Stephon Gilmore turned back the clock to his former DPOY days in Dallas’ 33-13 victory. He forced a fumble on A.J. Brown, messing with his head and getting him aggravated. Gilmore made two crucial fourth-down stops and stuck with Philadelphia’s superstar receivers all night.
Dallas’ defensive crush might end up as a match made in Heaven. LB/S Marquese Bell can’t be spoken about enough, contributing on defense and special teams. Bell forced a Davonta Smith fumble on a perfect “peanut punch” style play. He made four tackles and deflected a third-down pass. He’s getting better with every snap. The NFL’s newest breed of defender has arrived.
If Dallas wants to continue to survive their four-game gauntlet, they’ll need more dominant defensive performances. The road to the playoffs runs through hard-hitting hybrid defenders and a former DPOY. Good luck with that.
is that a Super Bowl hangover, or just how the Eagles normally smell?
How This Affects the Division
The NFL’s “Point Differential“, or gap between points scored and allowed, provides a great perspective of just where Dallas sits. Do with these numbers what you will.
Cowboys-188 Points
49ers-175 Points
Eagles-21 Points
It doesn’t take 20/20 vision to see that Dallas The Cowboys are in the driver’s seat. Their point differential is better than any NFL team in 2023. The Eagles and Cowboys are in an odd spot, as they share a record of 10-3 However, Dallas now boasts a 15-game home winning streak. This impressive feat just put them in the divisional driver’s seat. It’s a control-your-own destiny situation for the Cowboys at the moment. To get home court, they have to keep winning.
The Eagles face a much easier gauntlet than the Cowboys, playing the New York Giants twice, Seattle and Arizona. Dallas has to settle for Miami, Buffalo, Detroit, and Washington. Seattle’s coming off of a 16-28 loss, and their other two competitors have won seven games combined. Y’all need some cookie cutters, Philly?
It’s reasonable to be upset or scared by Dallas’ tough schedule, but don’t. The Cowboys proved that they could hang with the Eagles both on Offense and Defense. Their four-game gauntlet will only further sharpen them, as it’s real competition, not the NFC’s non-playoff fodder. The Dallas Cowboys will continue to gather steam throughout their tough stretch, beating the Eagles was only the beginning.
Main Photo: [Kevin Jairaj] – USA Today Sports
