10 quick reactions from Cowboys’ thrilling comeback vs Eagles

The Dallas Cowboys’ Christmas Eve matchup vs the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. In all likelihood, the Cowboys will land the No. 5 seed, and the Eagles fulfill their destiny and notch the top seed.

Following Dallas’ thrilling holiday win over their arch nemesis, though, their hopes — some might call it a pipe dream — of supplanting Nick Sirianni’s squad in the standings is still alive, even if it’s holding on by a string.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Cowboys have been winning ugly for a month now, and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has built a Super Bowl roster. Even without Jalen Hurts, this was always going to be a dogfight. That’s not to put Gardner Minshew on a pedestal, but very few backups would fall on their face in this situation.

Let’s jump into some quick reactions from the comeback win!

10 quick thoughts from Cowboys’ comeback win vs Eagles

Huge defensive stand on Eagles first drive

The game’s initial drive had all the makings of a disaster for Dallas. Miles Sanders ripped a seven-yard run on the first play, before AJ Brown wiggled free for two big gains through the air, culminating in a 48-yarder up the sideline after beating Trevon Diggs on a double move.

It looked like a matter of when, not if, the Eagles would find the end zone, but the Cowboys’ defense hunkered down and forced a field goal. Not a perfect start, but a win considering they gave up an explosive play so quickly.

Worst play of Dak Prescott’s career?

If it’s not, it’s certainly right up there. WIth the Cowboys trailing 3-0 and in need of an answer after Philly’s dominant opening drive, Prescott gift-wrapped (fitting during the holiday season) an interception to Eagles defender Josh Sweat.

Prescott had Dalton Schultz wide open for a likely 20-yard gain, but didn’t put enough air under the throw and it landed right in Sweat’s breadbasket. Sweat proceeded to stiff-arm Prescott to the turf and returned it 42 yards to the house to give the visitors a 10-0 advantage just six minutes into the game.

Jayron Kearse is indispensable

Kearse’s ascension in Dan Quinn’s defense has been a sight to behold. After executing a textbook forced fumble in the fourth quarter vs Jacksonville, Kearse outdid himself with a one-handed interception of Gardner Minshew in the second quarter.

The pick gave Dallas excellent field position, and six plays later Prescott took advantage of a busted coverage and connected with CeeDee Lamb for a 36-yard touchdown. That doesn’t happen without Kearse, who’s one of the most important players on the roster on either side of the ball.

Later in the game, Kearse recovered a botched handoff, meaning he accounted for both of Dallas’ stops through three quarters — and has had a hand in the Cowboys’ last three turnovers. What a player.

TY Hilton made an instant impact

Cowboys fans were clamoring for TY Hilton after Michael Gallup’s (latest) underwhelming performance vs the Jaguars. Well, Christmas came early for the Dallas faithful, because Hilton was active on Saturday, and he made an instant impact by drawing an illegal contact penalty on Darius Slay to convert a 4th and 8.

Moments later, Prescott and Lamb combined to put Dallas in front.

It’d be foolish to expect Hilton to become a huge part of the passing game, but it’s plays like this — and his 53-yard catch on third and long in the fourth quarter — that underline why he was such an important add by the front office. There’s plenty of juice left in his 33-year-old tires.

Kellen Moore brain fart ended a promising drive

What should’ve been coined the CeeDee Lamb drive after the Cowboys receiver ran roughshod in Philly’s secondary unfortunately morphed into another Kellen Moore lowlight. A 2nd and goal run to Elliott from the five-yard line is one thing, but coming out of the two-minute warning Moore dialed up a third-down fade into the one patch of grass the sun was hitting.

It was admittedly a catch you expect Michael Gallup to make, but the receiver was looking right into the sun. You have to think Gallup lost the ball as it arrived. What is Moore thinking? While we don’t love throwing a fade to begin with, jump balls are Gallup’s specialty. Maybe call it to the opposite corner?!

An offensive coordinator shouldn’t have to fight the elements of his own stadium, but he played right into the Eagles’ hands here, and the Cowboys settled for a 21-yard field goal when a touchdown would’ve given them the lead.

Anthony Barr drops a gift from Gardner Minshew

When a defense is struggling as much as Dallas, you have (HAVE) to capitalize on mistakes. Jayron Kearse went out and made a play, and Prescott and Lamb capitalized. The football gods only give you so many chances to make plays, and Anthony Barr came up short when Minshew overthrew his intended receiver.

It wasn’t an easy catch by any stretch — Barr was outstretched — but it hit the veteran linebacker in the numbers, and he flat out dropped it.

The four-time Pro Bowler will tell you he should’ve caught it … because he should have. The Eagles only got a field goal out of it, but when stops are at a premium you cannot let opportunities like this slip through your fingertips … or bounce of your chest in this case.

Brutal start to the second half

Talk about wasting winning the coin the toss.

First, KaVontae Turpin’s electrifying 56-yard return to open the second half was negated by a hold on Nahshon Wright. A few plays later, Michael Gallup dropped a pass on third down. It was tight coverage, and there was definitely hand-fighting and contract from James Bradberry, but Prescott fired it only where Gallup could catch it … and it clanked off his hands, forcing a punt.

Gallup would redeem himself with an incredible TD grab on 3rd down to bring the Cowboys back from a 27-20 deficit. Credit where it’s due.

Nick Sirianni toyed with Dan Quinn on 4th down TD

Depending on the situation, most defenses have to make four plays to force the Eagles to settle for a field goal. That’s exactly what happened in third quarter after Nahshon Wright made a beautiful third-down tackle.

The Eagles elected to go for it on 4th and 3, and Nick Sirianni flexed all over Dan Quinn by subbing out AJ Brown to sell the run. The decision had Trevon Diggs lined up on DeVonta Smith. Diggs gambled thinking Minshew was throwing to Dallas Goedert, leaving Smith in acres of space in the end zone.

Touchdown, bad guys. Great coaching job from Sirianni.

CeeDee Lamb is WR1

Remember early in the season when Prescott and Lamb’s chemistry was off? The lack of rapport resulted in a few interceptions, and Lamb added insult to injury with some untimely drops. Fast forward to Week 16 of the regular season, however, and Lamb is firmly entrenched as Dallas’ No. 1 receiver of the now and future.

By halftime, Lamb racked up eight catches for over 100 yards and a touchdown. He went missing in the second half (looking at you, Kellen Moore), but showed up when it mattered with a game-tying touchdown grab in the fourth quarter.

Letting Amari Cooper go was a mistake, but that has nothing to do with Lamb, who’s gone over 100 yards in back-to-back games, and is positioning himself to ink a monster second contract in a skyrocketed wide receiver market.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1606801874480689152

DaRon Bland, Carlos Watkins save the day

By no means should the Cowboys’ late defensive heroics distract from the defense’s continued struggles. They still allowed another 30-burger and Gardner Minshew to throw for 355 yards and two touchdowns. When push came to shove, though, the defense delivered in the form of DaRon Bland and Carlos Watkins.

First, Bland logged the fifth interception of his rookie year. The fifth-round pick jumped a pass intended for Quez Watkins, and wrestled the ball away from the wideout. The Cowboys settled for a field goal, but the turnover came at a huge time with the defense struggling to get off the field and the scored nodded at 34-34.

Bland is becoming a stud before our very eyes.

Last, but certainly not least, is Watkins, who forced a Miles Sanders fumble on the Eagles ensuing possession. Micah Parsons got his hand on the ball initially, before the 305-pound Watkins delivered the killer blow. Anthony Barr emerged from the scrap with the football, and Dallas ultimately saw out the victory after turning the Eagles over on downs in the red zone.

A Merry Christmas, indeed. Enjoy the holiday, everyone.

Cowboys’ path to nabbing NFC’s No. 1 seed is depressingly difficult

After collapsing in the second half against the Jaguars, the Cowboys' path to notching the NFC's No. 1 seed is nearly impossible.