Cowboys pluck Philadelphia Eagles 24-0

 

The Dallas Cowboys dominated the Philadelphia Eagles in every aspect of the game this past Sunday. The Eagles like the Cowboys, were playing for the NFC East Division crown. Each team ended the year with identical 11-5 records but the Cowboys beat Philadelphia twice to win the head to head tie breaker.  With the decisive victory, the Cowboys will host the Eagles again on Saturday in one of the Wild Card Playoff games.

 

 The Cowboys came out smoking on their first drive scoring a touchdown anchored by a 32 yard run by Marion Barber.  The offensive line played well allowing Tony Romo to find Jason Witten for the game’s first score. The Eagles could not get anything going on their first drive as Donovan McNabb overthrew Desean Jackson on a go route down the middle of the field. Romo led the team down the field once again on their second possession.  On the Eagles 10 yard line, Romo threw a pass to Patrick Crayton but Asante Samuel tipped the ball and Joselio Hanson caught the ball ending the Cowboy’s drive. Donovan McNabb misfired on a few passes again and the Eagles had to punt the ball back to the Cowboys.

 

Romo led the Cowboys down the field on their 3^rd possession with Miles Austin making a leaping catch beating Asante Samuel to the ball and raced down the sideline for a 40-yard gain. A few plays later Romo found Patrick Crayton in the endzone for his 2^nd touchdown pass of the game.  McNabb connected a couple of times the next drive but fumbled the ball on the Cowboys’ 20-yard line. Still unable to stop the Cowboys offense, the Eagles allowed a field goal by Suisham late in the 1^st half increasing the Dallas’ lead to 17-0.  The Cowboys amassed almost 300 yards in the first half.

 

Both defenses stepped up on each teams first few couple of possessions in the second half. But the Cowboys put the game away on Felix Jones’ 49-yard scamper with 6 minutes left in the 3^rd quarter increasing their lead to 24-0. After that, the Cowboys were able to pin their ears back on defense effectively stymieing McNabb and the Eagles offense the rest of the game. Mike Jenkins and Ken Hamlin each knocked the ball away from Eagles receivers on deep passes. The Eagles looked demoralized much of the 2^nd half knowing it just wasn’t their day today. They had scored a franchise record 429 points over the course of the season, but the Cowboys shut them out- laying a goose egg on them for their 2^nd straight ever shut out game in their history. It was an impressive game and next week looks like it will be a carbon copy game with the Cowboys prevailing in the end.

The Cowboys need to work on committing less penalties though as the were penalized 80 yards. A few penalties came on big plays that negated big plays like a 22-yard screen pass to Felix Jones. That could have led to another touchdown or field goal. Shaun Shuisham really needs to get as many opportunities to kick field goals in practice to build up his confidence. The defense needs to work on crossing routes as the Eagles had a few big plays for over 25 yards to Jackson and Maclin. No doubt Wade Phillips will have the defense ready to go again and Jason Garrett will call a great offensive game.