Everything about Sunday was terrible.
The Dallas Cowboys extended their losing streak to four games with a 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. In the team’s first game without Dak Prescott, there wasn’t a lot of optimism in this one, but we were at least hoping for a better showing than we got. Here are 10 thoughts on yet another disappointing Sunday performance by the Cowboys.
1. Career game from Overshown
There haven’t been a lot of things to like with the Cowboys’ defense this season, but one of the lone bright spots is the play of second-year linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. After red-shirting last year with a knee injury, Overshown has impressed this season. Against the Eagles, the young defensive star was all over the place. He finished the game with 11 tackles and two sacks. Sadly, Overshown exited the game in the second half with a non-contact injury. The extent of his injury is unknown but he thinks he will be okay.
2. Goal line blunder
Dallas had a chance to take the lead late in the first half when they put together a 13-play, 77-yard drive. Unfortunately, they fell a few yards short when Ezekiel Elliott fumbled the ball at the three-yard line that rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Eagles’ corner Cooper DeJean. That’s just been par for the course for this Cowboys team. Whenever it looks like something good is about to happen, something bad happens instead.
3. Welcome back, Micah
No sooner did the Cowboys give the ball away when the Eagles gave it right back. On the second play of the ensuing possession, Micah Parsons snuck inside and made a beeline right for Hurts. Not only did he get to Hurts, but he got his hands on the football, knocking it away. Marist Liufau jumped on the ball at the Eagles’ six-yard line. Just like that, the Cowboys were back in business.
4. Goal line ineptitude, part II
Even when the offense is gift-wrapped a perfect scoring opportunity, the Cowboy’s offense just isn’t capable of capitalizing. With first-and-goal at the six after the Parsons’ sack/fumble, the Cowboys’ offense went nowhere. After another Zeke run, an incomplete Cooper Rush pass, and a Rico Dowdle two-yard loss, the Cowboys were forced to settle for another Brandon Aubrey field goal.
5. Diggs continues to own Hurts
The Eagles were trying to jump to a two-score lead early in the second quarter when Trevon Diggs had other plans. The Cowboys’ corner played opossum and baited a throw over the middle intended for tight end Dallas Goedert, but Diggs jumped in front of the pass to spoil the Eagles’ plan. It’s the third time in his career that he’s intercepted Jalen Hurts and the fifth time he’s had an interception against the Eagles.
6. Picking on Carson
It’s nine games in and we are all still waiting for the return of All-Pro corner DaRon Bland. In his absence, the Cowboys have thrown an assortment of corners to help cover the outside. First Andrew Booth, then Amani Oruwariye. Each of them had their struggles. Last week, the rookie Caelen Carson returned to action, which is an upgrade from the other two, but still a weak spot on the defense. The Eagles attacked the rookie early and often. Many times, Carson never got his head turned around to make a play on the ball and he gave up some big plays.
7. Slopfest
Ball protection was not a thing in this one as the Cowboys turned the ball over five times. Four of them were lost from fumbles and one was an interception. It started to get ugly as some of these turnovers were tough to watch. Cooper Rush mishandled a shotgun snap early in the game and Terence Steele tried to pick up a fumble later in the game. It was embarrassing. After not turning the ball over five times in a game since 2012, the Cowboys have not turned the ball over five times in back-to-back home games.
8. We had a Lance sighting
It didn’t take much of Cooper Rush to quickly remind ourselves why Prescott is so important. A Rush-led offense was pretty much what you’d expect. There was an abundance of checkdowns and when he did take deep shots, the passes were underthrown. With nothing materializing on offense, fans were eagerly awaiting Trey Lance’s official regular-season debut, and sure enough, we got it. Lance first came in on a couple of designed runs, but then later returned for good. He finished the game 4/6 for 21 yards and an interception. He added another 17 yards on the ground.
9. Silencing the Lamb
With no viable quarterback play, the Cowboys star wide receiver was completely taken out of the game. CeeDee Lamb finished the game with six catches for 26 yards, the lowest yardage total since Week 11 in 2021 when he exited the game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a head injury. The Cowboys only had 49 passing yards in this one, their lowest output since the 2001 season. That’s a long time.
10. Nothing to write home about
The Cowboys remain winless at home this season, losing all four contests at AT&T Stadium. It’s such a weird thing considering the team went a perfect 8-0 at home in the regular season last year. Not only are they losing, but they continue to put up stinkers in front of the home crowd. In all four of their home games this season, they have trailed by at least 22 points at some point in the game.
