Boy, does it feel good to be back in the win column again. After falling to 2-4, the Dallas Cowboys were able to pull away late to secure the 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dallas set the tone on the ground and ran the ball down the Eagles’ throats in a physical performance more akin to what we should expect from an offensive line of their caliber. The defense still needs to perform better overall, but there were signs of progress, albeit against a depleted opponent offensively who featured a less-than-full-strength Saquon Barkley.
Dak Prescott threw multiple scores, and maybe all isn’t lost this season as some might have feared. The Cowboys are one game back in the win column of the division-leading New York Giants in the NFC East. The team might be buying their chances of winning the division title and is ready to build the roster further versus dismantling it.
So what were the pivotal moments in Monday night’s big win? Here are the four key plays that earned the Cowboys the victory.
Javonte Williams untouched for 15 yards, 1 QTR, 13:44, 1st & 10
The Cowboys have come under a lot of fire lately, primarily for getting bullied on both sides of the ball in the trenches. You got the sense that if the Eagles felt like they could push Dallas around in front of their home crowd, it would ignite their belief that they could beat up on the Cowboys like many teams have done this season.
Instead, the Cowboys turned the tables on the Eagles and their harshest critics. Javonte Williams found his footing early with a couple of big gains during the team’s first drive. On one play, Williams ran off to the left side of the offensive line and ran through a gaping hole for 15 yards that set up the Cowboys’ first points of the game.
Upon looking at the replay, the play was blocked so well that Tyler Smith had no one to hit. From early on, the offensive line established themselves with that run and created big lanes all night for Williams, who set a career-high in rushing yards.
This run was indicative of the team needing to play angry, and it certainly showed how they mauled the Eagles interior defensive line. If you needed any further indication of how dominant the offensive line was, the graphic above is pretty telling. That first series and that first big run let the Eagles know they were going to be in for a long night.
Javonte Williams 4th-down conversion**, 2nd QTR, 9:10, 4th & 1**
Without a key time out called, this play likely doesn’t happen. On 4th and 1 from the Philadelphia 48-yard line, the Cowboys lined up in an attempt to draw the Eagles offsides with a hard count, and it appeared that the Cowboys had no intention of going for it on fourth down.
However, after Nick Sirianni called a timeout, it gave Brian Schottenheimer more time to reassess his decision, opting to trust his offense. Javonte Williams easily picked up the fourth down, and the team capitalized thanks to George Pickens.
Although you’d prefer not to be in a shootout against the Eagles’ backup quarterback, it definitely helps having the caliber of weapons the Cowboys have at their disposal. George Pickens has been under the microscope this week after some not-so-veiled comments by his head coach regarding his effort in the running game.
Let’s call it a call to action, because Pickens made one of his best plays of the season. The throw from Prescott is excellent, but the effort by Pickens to catch the ball cleanly off first contact with his hands is top-notch. To have the wherewithal to get both of his feet in bounds to complete the process of the catch was elite.
That touchdown was the result of Schottenheimer making the key decision to go for it on fourth down.
Riq Woolen keeps drive alive, 3rd QTR, 4:53, 3rd & 9
After the defense was strung out on the field for yet another extensive drive that has become all too familiar this season, the Cowboys had to answer with points. Having surrendered a nine-minute drive, you felt that familiar dread start to sink in, and started to think this would be the moment it would begin to slip away.
Except the Eagles threw the Cowboys a gift when they committed one of their five penalties on the night. While working back to the outside on a route, Riq Woolen grabbed CeeDee Lamb, drawing the flag for defensive holding.
It was a pivotal sequence because Lamb dropped the pass thrown to him on this play. With the penalty, the Cowboys avoided giving the ball back to Philadelphia and proceed to end the drive with Lamb’s second score of the night and a two-point conversion to pull ahead 28-21.
DeMarvion Overshown shuts it down, 4th QTR, 7:55, 1st & 10
DeMarvion Overshown has teased the Cowboys with his talent for the last few seasons. Injuries have kept him from him fully reaching his potential, and prevented him from being a full contributor to the defense. Overshown hadn’t played since the season opener when he was injured and sidelined with a hamstring issue.
His interception of Tanner McKee was a long time coming. Overshown did a great job of reading the eyes of the quarterback to break on the ball, undercutting the out route and making the timely interception. If the Eagles had an outside chance, that was the moment that removed all doubt.
The defense has a lot more work to do, but they did show flashes in the second half. They got pressure on the passer and broke up passes in the secondary. Overshown’s interception stopped the Eagles’ last best chance, and sent Dallas on their way to the win.