Cowboys 7 vs 41 Eagles, Eagles clinch NFC East, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 17
Eagles DEFEAT Cowboys 41-7
Eagles clinch NFC East with dominant win over Cowboys
The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the entire game against the Dallas Cowboys. The closest Dallas came to the Eagles was in the first quarter, when quarterback Cooper Rush threw a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert to make it a 7-7 game. That was the Cowboys' one and only score as Philly went on to put up 34 more points on them for a 41-7 victory.
The Eagles improve to 13-3 and clinch the NFC East division with this win.
With Jalen Hurts out with a concussion, it was KennyPickett who took over. Pickett hurt his ribs in last week's game against the Washington Commanders and after getting hit several times today, he left in the third quarter. He finished the game with 10 of 15 completions for 143 yards and one touchdown (no interceptions). Tanner McKee filled in for Pickett, making his first career touchdown pass to A.J. Brown, and his second to DeVontaSmith. He completed three of four pass attempts for 54 yards and the two touchdowns (no interceptions).
Eagles running back SaquonBarkley had 31 carries for 167 yards, passing 2,000 yards on the season and becoming just the ninth player in NFL history to do so. He's well on his way to break Eric Dickerson's 1984 record of single-season rushing yards (2,105). His 167 yards today bring his total to 2,005.
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith finished with six catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns while A.J. Brown had three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Eagles dominated as well. Jordan Davis and CooperDeJean both recovered fumbles by Dallas, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson caught two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six, returned 70 yards to the end zone.
The Cowboys, on the other hand, couldn't get anything going offensively and had a plethora of costly turnovers. Rush finished with 15 of 28 completions for 147 yards and one touchdown, but two interceptions. He was sacked once for a loss of seven yards. Running back RicoDowdle and tight end JakeFerguson both lost a fumble and both were recovered by a Eagles player.
Otherwise, Dowdle had a good game, with 23 carries for 103 yards. Their lone touchdown came on a 4-yard pass to wide receiver Jalen Tolbert. Kicker Brandon Aubrey kicked an impressive 61-yard field goal, but it hit the right goal post and didn't count.
What's next?
The Eagles finish their season next Sunday, January 5 against another NFC East foe, the New York Giants before heading to the Wild Card Round a few weeks later.
The Cowboys play the last NFC East place Washington Commanders on Sunday, January 5 to finally put an end to a miserable season.
GAME OVER - Eagles defeat Cowboys
McKee takes the knee to run out the clock and that'll do it.
Eagles BEAT the Cowboys and CLINCH the NFC East
Anger punts to the Eagles 15 and DeJean calls for the fair catch
Lance runs out of bounds, no gain - 4th and 8
Elliott gets 1 yard - 3rd and 8
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
That'll take us to the 2-minute warning. That's two minutes until the Eagles officially clinch the diviion.
Trey Lance is in for Dallas instead of Rush now
He makes a short pass 1 yard to Luepke - 2nd and 9
Scuffles on the sideline got heated between Eagles and Cowboys players
Officials threw the flags and disqualified several players
Eagles' Brown and Cowboys' Pride both disqualified, penalties offset
Mann punts to the end zone - Touchback
Davis-Price takes it up 3 yards - 4th and 2
Davis-Price picks up 4 yards - 3rd and 5
Eagles take over at the 49, Davis-Price takes it 1 yard - 2nd and 9
DOINK!
Aubrey kicks the field goal from 61 yards and it hits the right goal post
Rush SACKED by Trotter for a loss of 7 - 4th and 15
Rush pass incomplete to Mingo - 3rd and 8
Dowdle gets 2 - 2nd and 8
Rush pass caught by Turpin for 16 yards - 1st down
Rush pass to Flournoy for 3 yards - 3rd and 7
Rush pass incomplete to Ferguson - 2nd and 10
Dowdle picks up a big gain of 17 yards - 1st down
Dowdle gets another 3 - 2nd and 7
Dowdle picks up 3 for the first down
Rush pass to Ferguson caught for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Eliott kicked to the Cowboys 5 and Turpin returned it 69 yards to the Eagles 26 but a Holding call on Mukuamu took it all back to the Cowboys 13
DeVontaSmith makes second TD catch, this time a 25-yard pass from Tanner McKee. Elliott's PAT is good and the Eagles are obliterating the Cowboys with 10 minutes left in the game.
EAGLES TOUCHDOWN!
Gainwell loses 2, pushed back by Parsons - 2nd and 12 at the 25
Eagles take second timeout
Barkley gets through and he rushes for another huge gain of 23 yards - 1st down at the Cowboys 23
Barkley gets another 9 yards and another 1st down
Barkley gets 3 - 2nd and 7
Barkley tacks on another 11 and the 1st down
Barkley picks up 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Eagles will get the ball at their own 25
Personal Foul on Cowboys' Smith, 15 yards
Dowdle FUMBLES and EAGLES' DeJean recovers it at the 10
Rush pass to Turpin way too high - incomplete, 3rd and 6
Eagles' Gardner-Johnson was injured on the play
Dowdle picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5 at the Eagles 11
END THIRD QUARTER
That takes us to the end of the 3rd quarter. The Cowboys are getting obliterated by the Eagles, 34-7 here at the end of the third quarter. They have the ball on first down in Eagles territory as they try to make a comeback in the final quarter.
Rush pass to Tolbert is caught and he runs it up 19yards to the Eagles 16
Elliott picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Dowdle pushes up for 10 yards - 1st down
Rush pass knocked down by Baun, incomplete - 3rd and 4 at the Eagles 49
Dowdle again for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Dowdle bursts through for 16 yards - 1st down
Elliott kicks to the endzone - touchback to Cowboys 30
McKee gets his first career touchdown with a pass to Brown for 20 yards. Elliott's PAT is good and Eagles continue their domination over Dallas with 02:44 to go in the third quarter.
EAGLES TOUCHDOWN!
False Start on Eagles' Calcaterra - 5 yards, back to 3rd and 8 again
Eagles take final timeout
Neutral Zone Infraction on Cowboys' Parsons - 5 yards, 3rd and 3
McKee pass complete is caught with one hand in the end zone but he lands out of bounds on the catch so it's incomplete - 3rd and 8
Barkley picks up 2 - 2nd and 8
Barkley takes it up 3 yards - 1st down
McKee pass to Smith complete for 9 yards - 3rd and 2
Barkley's stopped by Smith for a loss of 1 - 2nd and 11
Barkley breaks through and gets away for a HUGE run of 23 yards to the Cowboys 33 - 1st down
Barkley runs it up 9 yards - 2nd and 1
Anger punts to the 21 and DeJean returns it 14 yards to the 35
Rush pass incomplete to Turpin - 4th and 10 and Dallas will punt it away
Dowdle gets nowhere, swallowed up by Smith for a loss of 3 yards - 3rd and 10
Dowdle picks up 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Elliott kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Cowboys 30
Pickett has been getting pretty banged up this game and he's now exited and looks like McKee will replace him on the Eagles' next drive
Elliott's field goal was a little wobbly, but it went through for 26yards. Eagles don't get the touchdown they wanted, but they extend the lead to 20 points with just over 8 minutes still to go in the third quarter.
EAGLES FIELD GOAL!
Barkley pushes up 9 yards - 4th and goal at the 8
3rd and goal at the 17
TD NULLIFIED
Holding on Eagles' Dickerson NULLIFIES the touchdown pass from Pickett to Brown in the end zone
EAGLES TOUCHDOWN!
Barkley takes it but gets nowhere, stopped by Kendricks - 3rd and goal at the 7
Gainwell picks up 2 - 2nd and goal at the 7
Pickett pass complete to Smith for 10 yards and the 1st down and goal at the Cowboys 9
Gainwell picks up another 4 - 3rd and 4
Who else? Barkley gets another 2 yards - 2nd and 8
Barkley gets another 4 and the 1st down
Barkley runs it up another 7 yards to the Cowboys 29 - 2nd and 3
Barkley throws himself forward for 4 yards and the 1st down
Barkley rushes for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Roughing the Passer on Cowboys' Odighizuwa - 15 yards, 1st and 10
Pickett pass ALMOST picked by Bland - incomplete
Barkley picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5
AND WE'RE BACK!
Aubrey kicks to the Eagles 9 and Gainwell returns it 24 yards to the 33
HALFTIME
That takes us to the end of the first half.
The Eagles have been dominating the Cowboys in the first half as they take a 23-7 lead just as the clock runs out.
Eagles get it this time as Pickett pushes through to the end zone for the touchdown. Elliott's PAT is good and the Eagles extend the lead just before halftime.
EAGLES TOUCHDOWN!
Ruling on the field stands - 2nd and goal
Eagles went for the tush push on the touchdown attempt and officials ruled Pickett short of the goal line, but it's under review
Pickett passed DEEP to Smith who caught it for 49yards and it looked like a touchdown but the officials are ruling it JUST short, down at the 1
EAGLES TOUCHDOWN!
Eagles take second timeout
Barkley picks up 15 yards to the 50
Rush pass INTERCEPTED by Gardner-Johnson and returned 27yards to the Eagles 35
Rush pass to Dowdle complete and he picks up 4 yards - 3rd and 6
Rush pass incomplete to Tolbert - 2nd and 10
Rush pass to Cooks caught for 7 yards - 1st down
Rush pass to Ferguson caught for 5 yards - 3rd and 5
Rush pass batted away by Carter and almost intercepted by Smith - incomplete, 2nd and 10
Elliott kicks it to the -4 and Turpin takes it up for the return 30 yards to the 26
Elliott's 31-yard field goal is good to extend the Eagles lead ahead of halftime with just under 2 minutes to go.
EAGLES FIELD GOAL!
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
That brings us to the 2-minute warning in the first half. The Eagles are at 4th and 9 at the Cowboys 13 and will try for a field goal when they come back.
Pickett pass batted away by Golston - 4th and 9
Eagles take first timeout
Eagles' Becton was injured on t he play
Pickett pass to Jenkins broken up by Booth - incomplete, 3rd and 9
Liafau stops Barkley after a yard - 2nd and 9
Offsides on Cowboys' Parsons, 6 yards - 1st down and 10 at the Cowboys 14
Barkley pushes through for a gain of 2, just short - 4th and 1 again and Eagles go for it again
Pickett pass to Brown complete for 7 yards - 3rd and 3
Pickett pass incomplete to Calcaterra - 2nd and 10
Pickett gets it for 2 yards on the tush push - 1st down
Barkley picks up 4 yards, just short - 4th and 1 and Eagles are going for it...
Kneeland makes the tackle on Barkley, he loses 2 yards - 3rd and 5
Barkley picks up 7 yards - 2nd and 3
EAGLES' Davis recovered the ball and will get it at the Cowboys 29
Rush pass to Ferguson was caught but then FUMBLED
Unclear who recovered it yet....
Elliott kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30
Pickett made the deep pass to Smith 22 yards for the touchdown. Elliott's PAT was good and the Eagles take back the lead with 6:38 to go in the first half.
EAGLES TOUCHDOWN!
Pickett threw to Barkley and he got back up after being down, ran it some yards, but the official ruled him down by contact for a loss of 5 yards - 3rd and 12
Barkley gains 3 - 2nd and 7
Pickett avoids the sack under pressure and gets away, throws it deep for Calcaterra and he makes the catch 34yards - 1st down at the Cowboys 20
Pickett pass to Brown for 9 yards - 3rd and 8
Pickett passes to Barkley, but Kendricks pushes him back for a LOSS of 7 yards - 2nd and 17
And now Barkley makes the 1st down with a 7-yard run
Barkley picks up another 5 - 3rd and 2
Barkley picks up 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Pickett was SACKED for a loss of 9 yards by Liafau, who also forced a FUMBLE, recovered by Eagles' Barkley
But Cowboys' Booth was called for Illegal Contact, gibing Eagles the 1st down
Pickett pass to Smith caught for 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Anger punts to the Eagles 19 - DeJean makes the fair catch
Rush took a deep pass to Mingo and he was double coverage and it was incomplete - 4th and 1
Cowboys take second timeout
Rush pass caught by Cooks for 7 yards - 3rd and 1
Rush pass caught by Mingo for 12 yards - 2nd and 8
Dowdle picked up 2 yards, but Tolbert is called for Holding, 10 yards - 1st and 20
And we're back for Q2
Dowdle rushes for 3 yards and picks up the 1st down
END FIRST QUARTER
That brings us to the end of the first quarter. Cowboys and Eagles are tied 7-7. Cowboys have the ball at 3rd and 1 at the Dallas 29.
Ojomo and Hunt stop Dowdle after just a yard - 3rd and 1
Dowdle runs it up for 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Mann punts 54 yards to the end zone - Touchback
Barkley pushes up for a yard - 4th and 1 and the Eagles choose to punt rather than tush push with Hurts out
Cowboys take first timeout
Barkley pushes through for 5 - 3rd and 2
Barkley gets his first touch of the day for the Eagles, on his way to try to break that rushing record and it starts with a short carry of 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Anger punts to the Eagles 36 and DeJean returns it 1 yard to the 37
Dowdle picks up 4, then 4 again - 4th and 2
Cowboys will punt it right back
Rush pass dropped by Turpin - 2nd and 10
More sideline scuffles are breaking out after the punt
Mann punts to the Cowboys 9, out of bounds
Eagles 3 and out
Pickett passes to Gainwell but he's stopped by Kendricks after 5 yards - 4th and 10 at the 39
Pickett under pressure from Liafau threw the ball away - 3rd and 15
Pickett pass incomplete to Brown - 2nd and 15
False Start on Eagles' Dickerson - 5 yards, 1st and 15
Aubrey kicks to the Eagles 3 and Gainwell takes it up 36 yards to the 39
Rush made the pass 4 yards to Tolbert in the end zone for the touchdown. Aubrey's PAT is good and the Cowboys even the game with 5:38 to go in the first quarter.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Rush's pass was knocked down by Smith, but he was called for Holding, so the Cowboys get the automatic 1st down
Elliott tries to take it up but he's pushed backwards 4 yards by Hunt - 3rd and 7
Dowdle picks up 7 - 2nd and 3
Holding on Eagles' Slay, declined
Rush passes deep to Cooks and it's caught for 22yards by Cooks - 1st down at the Eagles 12
Dowdle gets just one yard, stopped by Williams this time - 3rd and 9
Sweat stops Dowdle from getting anywhere - 2nd and 10
DeJean pushed Turpin's head down on the field and Turpin gave him a little shove after that play
Rush hands it off to Turpin and he somersaults over the line for 12 yards and another 1st down
Rush pass to Brooks is caught in the air for 12 yards - 1st down
Rush passes deep but it goes way high, incomplete - 2nd and 10
Rush makes the QB sneak and the Cowboys pick up the 1st down at the 41
Dowdle pushes up again for 6 yards, just short
Dowdle picks up 3 - 2nd and 7
Elliott kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Cowboys 30
The Cowboys' opening drive ended in an EAGLES touchdown when Rush threw an INTERCEPTION, caught by Gardner-Johnson, who ran it back 70 yards for the touchdown. Elliott's PAT was good and the Eagles take the early lead with 11:43 still to go in the first quarter.
EAGLES PICK-SIX!
Rush passes deep to Cooks but he's covered by Mitchell - incomplete, 3rd and 3
Rush fakes it to Turpin, tosses it to Tolbert and it's caught but he trips up short of the 1st - 2nd and 3
Dowdle pushes through for 2 and the 1st down
Dowdle pushes up the middle for 9 yards - 2nd and 1
Rush makes the long pass to Cooks and it's caught for 16yards - 1stdown
Dowdle starts the Cowboys off but doesn't get far, stopped after a yard - 2nd and 9
GAME TIME!
And we're off! Cowboys will start us off on offense.
Elliott kicks it to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30
Cowboys vs Eagles Inactives
Eagles Injury Report
As mentioned earlier, quarterback JalenHurtswill sit this one out as he finishes the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. Kenny Pickett will start in his absence. Linebacker NakobeDean was doubtful on Friday and has now been officially ruled out. Oren Burks will fill in for Dean. Wide receiver/punt returner BritainCovey has been placed on IR with a neck injury and running back WillShipley has been ruled out with a concussion he suffered last week as well. Defensive end Bryce Huff has been activated from IR after missing the last five games with a wrist injury.
The Eagles elevated running back Tyron Davis-Price and linebacker Dallas Grant from the practice squad for the game today.
Eagles Inactives
QB Ian Book (emergency 3rd QB)
LB Nakobe Dean
OL Nick Gates
QB Jalen Hurts
G Trevor Keegan
T/G Darian Kinnard
RB Will Shipley
Cowboys Injury Report
Also as mentioned, the Cowboys will be without quarterback DakPrescott as he recovers from his hamstring surgery, as well as wide receiver CeeDeeLamb, who's rehabbing a shoulder injury he's been playing through all season. Dallas also placed cornerback AmaniOruwariye on IR as he's dealing with a foot injury. Offensive lineman T.J. Bass will miss his second straight game due to a thigh injury.
Offensive lineman Asim Richards was signed to the active roster after he was on IR with an ankle injury and could play at left tackle. The Cowboys also elevated cornerback Troy Pride and offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley from the practice squad for today's game.
Cowboys Inactives
OL T.J. Bass
TE Princeton Fant
CB Kemon Hall
DT Justin Rogers
RB Deuce Vaughn
T Matt Waletzko
DE Tyrus Wheat
Saquon Barkley on the verge of breaking NFL records
Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley has had a ridiculous season with the Eagles with 314 carries, 1,838 rushing yards, and 13 touchdowns.
The Dallas Cowboys finally ruled out their star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for the remainder of the season. Lamb has been playing through a shoulder injury all season long, and with the playoffs out of the picture, he's been sidelined to avoid any major damage and to start getting better for the start of OTAs next season.
Pickett a long-time Eagle
The Eagles starting quarterback for today, Kenny Pickett, grew up in New Jersey. He's been an Eagles fan his whole life and now has a chance to help them clinch the NFC East.
“I’ve got a lot of family coming,” Pickett said. "It’s a surreal feeling having this opportunity. I’m doing everything I can to be prepared and get ready for it. I’m excited.”
Pickett vs Rush - battle of the backups
Both the Eagles and the Cowboys will be without their starting quarterbacks for today's game.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury in Week 9 and had to have surgery that ended his season early.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion in the first quarter of last week's game against Washington. He did not clear the league's concussion protocol in time to play today, so he's been ruled out as well. This is Hurts' first time to miss a game due to injury since Week 16 of the 2022 season.
Pickett vs Rush
The Cowboys have been relying on their QB2 Cooper Rush for the last seven weeks, and he's brought them to a 4-3 record since then. He's thrown for 1,697 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. Rush has been a backup for the Cowboys since 2017 (save for a short stint on the New York Giants' practice squad in 2020). In that time, he's completed 61% of his passes and thrown for 3,316 yards with a 19-8 touchdown to interception ratio.
The Eagles had backup quarterback Kenny Pickett replace Hurts after his concussion last week and he also suffered an injury during the game, to his ribs. He was a full participant in practice by Thursday though and is good to go for today's game. During the game against the Commanders, Pickett completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown and one interception. This game will be his first start in over a year. He started 24 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 and 2023, but was benched in December last year and traded to the Eagles ahead of this season.
Where they stand
The Eagles are at 12-3 and have already locked up their spot in the postseason at No. 2 in the NFC behind the Detroit Lions, but they're missing that NFC East crown. They could have sealed it last week, but their loss to the Washington Commanders kept it away from them for another week. A win over Dallas today would lock it in. They could also get the lock even if they lose, as long the Washington Commanders lose or tie to the Atlanta Falcons.
That Eagles loss to Washington is also what knocked the Cowboys out of the postseason. At 7-8, Dallas took a little too long to kick into gear this season as they've been dealing with a slew of injuries (amongst other issues) since the start of the season. It will be the Cowboys' first time missing the playoffs since 2020.
Good morning/afternoon! Welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys game!
It's Jen here, bringing you all the updates, including scores, highlights, stats, and commentary starting from an hour before kickoff.
Kickoff for this NFC East showdown begins at 1 p.m. ET from Lincoln Financial Field as the Eagles look to lock up the division with a win over Dallas. Their 10-game win streak was ruined last week with a loss to the Washington Commanders. The Cowboys are out of the playoffs, but could still delay Philly from taking the crown in the East with a win today.