The rivalry is basically the heartbeat of the NFC East. When you ask who won between the eagles and cowboys during the 2024 season, the answer isn't just a score; it’s a total shift in power. Philadelphia didn’t just win. They dominated. They swept the season series, winning both the November matchup in Arlington and the December rematch in Philly.
It was ugly for Dallas.
If you're a Cowboys fan, the November 10 game at AT&T Stadium is probably something you've tried to scrub from your brain. The Eagles walked into their house and left with a 34-6 victory. Honestly, it wasn't even as close as that score looks. Dallas was playing without Dak Prescott, who was sidelined with a season-ending hamstring injury, leaving Cooper Rush and Trey Lance to handle a pass rush that looked like it was shot out of a cannon.
The November Beatdown in Big D
Jalen Hurts had a day. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another two, accounting for four scores total. The Eagles' defense? Absolute monsters. They forced five turnovers. Five. You can’t win football games turning the ball over that much, especially against a Vic Fangio defense that finally found its rhythm mid-season.
Dallas looked lost. CeeDee Lamb was frustrated. The run game was non-existent.
The second meeting on December 29 was supposed to be a "pride" game for Dallas, but the Eagles were hunting for playoff seeding. Philadelphia took that one 22-19. It was much tighter, sure, but the result was the same. The Eagles officially took the crown for the season.
Breaking Down the Film: Why Philadelphia Owned the Trenches
Whenever these two teams meet, everyone talks about the quarterbacks. People love the Jalen Hurts vs. Dak Prescott (or in this case, the lack of Dak) narrative. But games are won in the dirt. The Eagles’ offensive line, even post-Jason Kelce, remained a top-tier unit. Cam Jurgens stepped into that center role and, while nobody is Kelce, he held the point of attack well enough for Saquon Barkley to feast.
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Saquon was the difference-maker this year.
In that first matchup, Barkley was hitting holes before the Cowboys' linebackers even cleared their eyes. It’s kinda wild to think about how much one player changed the Eagles' identity. Last year, they got predictable. This year, with Saquon, they were dangerous on every snap. The Cowboys' run defense, which has been a "will-they-won't-they" drama for years, simply couldn't get off blocks.
- Turnover Margin: Philadelphia was +4 across the two games.
- Red Zone Efficiency: The Eagles scored touchdowns on 70% of trips; Dallas settled for Brandon Aubrey field goals.
- Pressure Rate: Bryce Huff and Josh Sweat lived in the Dallas backfield.
The Dak Prescott Factor
We have to be honest here. A rivalry isn't really the same when one team's $60 million man is wearing a headset on the sideline. Dak Prescott’s hamstring surgery changed the trajectory of the entire NFC East. When people search for who won between the eagles and cowboys, they often forget that the first blowout happened right after Dak went down.
Cooper Rush is a serviceable backup. He’s won games in this league. But against a secondary featuring Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean? He was seeing ghosts. Mitchell, the rookie out of Toledo, played like a ten-year vet. He didn't give CeeDee Lamb an inch of breathing room in the first game.
It’s a schematic nightmare. If you can’t run the ball and your QB can’t threaten the deep third, the defense just squeezes the life out of you. That’s exactly what Philadelphia did.
Historical Context: A Rivalry of Streaks
This isn't the first time we've seen a sweep. The NFC East is famous for being "cyclical." No one has won the division in back-to-back years since the Eagles did it in the early 2000s.
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Look at the last few years:
In 2023, they split.
In 2022, they split.
The 2024 season felt like a massive correction.
The Eagles' front office, led by Howie Roseman, went aggressive in the offseason. They saw the collapse at the end of 2023 and decided to blow up the coaching staff. Bringing in Kellen Moore—a former Cowboy, no less—to run the offense was a chess move. Moore knew the Dallas personnel better than almost anyone. He exploited the matchups, specifically using Dallas Goedert to pull the Cowboys' safeties out of position.
Surprising Stats You Might Have Missed
While everyone watches the highlights of Jalen Hurts' rushing touchdowns, the real story was the third-down conversion rate. In the November game, the Eagles converted 53% of their third downs. Dallas? A measly 21%. You can't sustain drives like that. You can't give your defense a rest.
By the fourth quarter of both games, the Cowboys' defense looked gassed. Micah Parsons is a freak of nature, but even he can’t play 40 minutes of defense and stay explosive. The Eagles’ "Tush Push" (or the Brotherly Shove, whatever you want to call it) continued to be an automatic first down, which just demoralizes a defensive line.
The Impact on the Standings
The sweep basically handed the NFC East to Philadelphia. By the time the second game rolled around in late December, the Eagles were fighting for the #1 seed in the NFC, while the Cowboys were looking at mock drafts.
It changed the conversation around Mike McCarthy. When you lose to your biggest rival twice in one season—one of those being a blowout at home—the seat gets hot. Fast. Meanwhile, Nick Sirianni, who was on the hot seat himself entering the year, bought himself a lot of job security by sweeping "America's Team."
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What Fans Get Wrong About the Matchup
Most people think the Eagles won because they have better "stars." That's only half true. The Cowboys have stars. CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, and Trevon Diggs are elite players.
The Eagles won because of their "floor players."
Their 4th and 5th offensive linemen, their rotational defensive ends, their special teams gunners. The depth in Philadelphia is just better right now. When Dallas lost Dak, the house of cards fell. When the Eagles lost players to minor injuries, guys like Grant Calcaterra stepped up at tight end and the machine kept moving.
Looking Ahead: Can Dallas Close the Gap?
Fixing this isn't just about getting Dak healthy. The Cowboys have some soul-searching to do regarding their physical identity. They got bullied. There’s no other way to put it. To beat the Eagles in 2025, Dallas needs to address the interior of both lines.
If you're looking for the "how" behind who won between the eagles and cowboys, look at the rushing yards. Across two games, the Eagles outrushed the Cowboys by nearly 200 yards. That is a staggering physical discrepancy.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason
If you’re a fan or a bettor looking at this rivalry moving forward, keep an eye on these specific areas:
- The Draft Trenches: If Dallas doesn't go heavy on DT and OL, expect more of the same next year.
- Secondary Youth: The Eagles' young corners are only getting better. The window for aging receivers to beat them is closing.
- Coaching Continuity: Philadelphia has found a groove with their new coordinators. Dallas might be looking at a total staff overhaul, which usually means a "reset" year.
The 2024 season officially belongs to Philadelphia. They have the bragging rights, the sweep, and the hardware to prove it. For Dallas, the road back to the top of the NFC East has to go through the Linc, and right now, that road looks pretty steep.
Watch the injury reports closely next season. The health of the offensive line in this specific rivalry usually dictates the winner more than the quarterback's arm. If the Eagles stay healthy upfront, they are incredibly hard to unseat.