If you were looking for a high-stakes thriller between the two biggest rivals in the NFC East, you probably walked away from the screen feeling a little bit empty. Or, if you’re an Eagles fan, you’re likely still gloating over your morning coffee. The reality is simple: The Philadelphia Eagles won the game against the Dallas Cowboys in a lopsided 34-6 affair that felt over long before the final whistle blew. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement about where these two franchises are headed as we move deeper into the season.
The vibes in Arlington were off from the jump.
Dallas hasn't won at home in what feels like forever—actually, they haven't won a home game all season—and Sunday didn't change the script. Philadelphia walked into "Jerry World" and basically treated it like their backyard. Jalen Hurts looked poised, the defense was suffocating, and the Cowboys? Well, they looked like a team missing their heartbeat.
What Happened During the Eagles vs. Cowboys Game?
The scoreboard tells you the "what," but the "how" is where things get interesting. Philadelphia didn't just stumble into a 34-6 victory. They methodically dismantled a Dallas team that is currently playing without Dak Prescott. Losing your $60 million quarterback is a death blow for most teams, and for Dallas, it looked like a total system failure. Cooper Rush got the start, but he couldn't find a rhythm. Trey Lance eventually saw some action, but the result remained the same.
Philadelphia’s defense was the real story.
Vic Fangio has this unit playing some of the best football in the league right now. They forced five turnovers. Five. You can't win a middle school game with five turnovers, let alone a matchup against a Super Bowl contender like the Eagles. Zack Baun is playing like a man possessed, and the secondary didn't give CeeDee Lamb an inch of breathing room.
It was ugly.
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Actually, "ugly" might be an understatement. It was the kind of game where you start seeing the fans in the stands wearing bags over their heads by the start of the fourth quarter. The Cowboys managed a measly 146 total yards. To put that in perspective, Saquon Barkley probably gets that much yardage on a light Tuesday practice.
The Jalen Hurts Factor
Hurts had a bit of a shaky start with an early interception and a fumble, but he settled in beautifully. He finished with two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. He’s become the master of the "Tush Push," or the "Brotherly Shove," or whatever you want to call it this week. It’s essentially unstoppable. When the Eagles get inside the five-yard line, everyone in the stadium knows what’s coming, and yet, nobody can stop it.
Hurts has this way of playing where he doesn't seem to get rattled by his own mistakes. He threw a pick into the end zone—a bad one, honestly—and just went back out there and kept carving them up. He found A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith for big gains when it mattered, keeping the chains moving while the Cowboys' defense grew increasingly tired.
Why the Eagles vs. Cowboys Result Matters So Much
This wasn't just another game on the schedule. For the Eagles, this win pushed them to 7-2 and kept them hot on the heels of the Washington Commanders for the top spot in the NFC East. For the Cowboys, it felt like the final nail in the coffin for their 2024 campaign.
Think about the contrast here.
On one side, you have a Philadelphia team that has won five straight games. They are peaking at the right time. They have a healthy offensive line, a rejuvenated Saquon Barkley, and a defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown in what feels like a month. On the other side, the Cowboys are 3-6. They are staring at a high draft pick rather than a playoff spot.
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The gap between these two teams has never looked wider. Usually, Eagles-Cowboys games are dogfights. They are games that come down to a last-second field goal or a controversial officiating call. Not this time. This was a beatdown. It was the first time since 2017 that the Eagles won in Dallas, and they did it with an exclamation point.
The Cooper Rush Struggle
We have to talk about the quarterback situation in Dallas because it’s the elephant in the room. Cooper Rush has been a reliable backup in the past, but the Eagles' pass rush made him look completely out of his league. He finished with 45 passing yards. No, that is not a typo. 45 yards.
The sun was even an issue.
There was a viral moment where CeeDee Lamb lost a ball in the sun because of the way AT&T Stadium is designed. Jerry Jones has been adamant about not putting up curtains, but when your star receiver can't see the ball because of the glare, it adds another layer of "what are we doing here?" to the Cowboys' season. It’s almost poetic—a team blinded by their own stadium's design while their season slips away.
Key Takeaways from the Eagles Victory
If you're an Eagles fan, you're looking at a team that can legitimately win the NFC. The defense is the catalyst. Since the bye week, Philadelphia has transformed into a defensive juggernaut. They aren't just winning; they are erasing the opponent's offense.
- The Turnover Margin: Philly won the turnover battle 5-2. In the NFL, that’s an automatic win roughly 95% of the time.
- Saquon Barkley’s Presence: Even when he isn't breaking off 60-yard runs, the threat of Saquon opens up everything for Jalen Hurts. The Cowboys had to respect the run, which left A.J. Brown in one-on-one situations. That's a losing battle for any cornerback.
- The Coaching Gap: Nick Sirianni has his critics, but his team is disciplined and physical. Mike McCarthy, on the other hand, is sitting on one of the hottest seats in professional sports.
Dallas is in a bad spot. They have no run game to speak of, their defense is missing Micah Parsons' full impact (though he did return for this game and recorded a sack), and their franchise QB is out for the year. It’s a perfect storm of misery in North Texas.
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Looking Ahead for Both Teams
Philadelphia has a short week coming up with a massive Thursday night game against the Commanders. That game will likely decide who takes control of the division. If they play like they did against Dallas, they’ll be hard to beat. The chemistry between Hurts and his receivers is back to 2022 levels, and the defensive rotation is keeping everyone fresh.
For Dallas, the conversation shifts to the 2025 NFL Draft and the future of the coaching staff. Does Jerry Jones make a move mid-season? Probably not, as he’s historically hesitant to do that. But the writing is on the wall. This roster needs a reset, and the lack of depth was exposed in every facet of the game against Philly.
Basically, the Eagles are a freight train and the Cowboys are a stalled car on the tracks.
The Eagles won the game between the Eagles and the Cowboys because they are simply a better-run, more talented, and more disciplined football team right now. There’s no fancy way to spin it. Philadelphia is a contender; Dallas is a spectator.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts
To truly understand the impact of this win, keep a close eye on the NFC East standings over the next 48 hours. The Eagles' victory has narrowed the gap significantly, making the upcoming "Thursday Night Football" matchup against Washington a must-watch event. If you are tracking player stats for fantasy or betting, monitor the health of Philadelphia's secondary, as their ability to maintain this level of dominance hinges on their current defensive rotation remaining intact. For Cowboys fans, the focus should shift to the injury report regarding Dak Prescott’s surgery recovery and potential roster moves as the team looks toward the off-season.