ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mike McCarthy was nervous for an NFC East showdown with Philadelphia after the Dallas coach missed two days during the week following an emergency appendectomy.
Not to worry, thanks to the midfielder, kicker and opportunistic defence.
Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns, Brandon Oubre kicked four field goals to start his career with a 30-for-30 record, and the Cowboys tied the division with their 15th straight home win, 33-13 over the Eagles on Sunday night.
Undeterred by Jalen Carter’s 42-yard fumble return for a touchdown, the Cowboys (10-3) won their fifth straight game since a loss to Philadelphia gave the Eagles a two-game lead.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones said this was the biggest win in McCarthy’s four seasons as coach.
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“It’s about the fact that he came off the operating table and didn’t even flinch and stands there and fights him all night and trains him,” Jones said.
The Eagles (10-3) lost three passes and did not score an offensive touchdown as quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had the first fumble, lost back-to-back games for the first time since October 2021.
While the Cowboys currently hold the tiebreaker with an overtime win in the NFC East, the defending NFC champion Eagles will take the division title in the subsequent tiebreaker if they win their remaining four games.
“The role is the same as it’s always been,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “And now we’re going through some adversity. And so adversity can do two things to you. It can break you or it can make you better.”
Oubre became the first player to kick two field goals of at least 59 yards in the same game, connecting from 60 yards late in the first quarter. His 59 yards on third down allowed Oubre to pass Greg Zuerlein and Harrison Butker, who each had a pair of at least 58 yards.
The 28-year-old rookie added two fourth-quarter goals, from 45 and 50 yards, to extend his NFL record for most perfect starts in a career. The previous record was 18.
“Just going out there, doing it one at a time,” said Oubre, who grew up in the Dallas area and was once an NFL prospect. “I know I can make any of the kicks they ask me to do.”
With McCarthy calling plays from the sideline just four days after leaving the facility and ending up in surgery, Prescott notched a career-best seventh straight game with at least two TD passes.
“I just wanted to do my part,” said McCarthy, who is in his first year calling plays in Dallas. “I wanted to make sure I was as prepared as I usually am. I was a little nervous about that day. We’re all creatures of habit.
Dallas’ offense faltered after Prescott’s first-half TD pass, but two huge first-down completions to tight end Jake Ferguson, including a blocking effort early in the fourth quarter, led to two Oubre field goals after the break.
The Cowboys were cruising when Prescott lost control of the ball while being sacked by Fletcher Cox in the third quarter, and Carter picked up the loose ball and ran untouched and the Eagles pulled within 24-13.
After two touchdowns late in the third period, Philadelphia was unable to convert on fourth-and-8 from the Dallas 30-yard line. Stephon Gilmore made an open-field tackle on DeVonta Smith for a gain of just one yard.
“The fourth down stop was probably the biggest of the game,” McCarthy said. “That was a big momentum swing in the game. I thought our defense was off tonight.”
Smith later faced the last of Philadelphia’s three failures, ending any realistic hopes of a rally. All three errors ended a promising run for the Eagles, who were coming off a 42-19 loss to San Francisco.
“It was the same thing two weeks in a row,” Cox said. “We dug ourselves a hole in the first half. It was kind of tough to dig ourselves out of. I think the biggest thing for this team right now is knowing who these guys are.”
CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup got scoring goals for Dallas, and Rico Dowdle had a 1-yard sinker that was originally called short but was overturned when the Cowboys challenged.
Prescott was 24 of 39 for 271 yards, and the Cowboys limited the pain to 197 yards passing and 30 rushing.
Ferguson is compiling highlights from blocker plays, and now the second-year forward has consecutive games of at least five catches and at least 70 yards for the first time.
“Confidence is through the roof with him,” Prescott said. “He’s a fun guy to play with. Active, he’ll do whatever it takes. He wants to catch, he wants to jump over guys.
Eagles S Red Blankenship was ruled out with a concussion after leaving the game in the first period. … Cowboys DT Jonathan Hankins sprained his ankle in the third quarter and did not return.
Eagles: At Seattle on Monday, December 18. The Seahawks’ loss to San Francisco means Philadelphia will not face a team with a winning record in its last four games.
Cowboys: At Buffalo next Sunday in the first of back-to-back road games with the AFC East playoff contenders. The second is division-leading Miami.
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The Dallas Cowboys pulled off an impressive 33-13 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, thanks in large part to the standout performances of Dak Prescott and Brandon Oubre. With this crucial win, the Cowboys have now tied the Eagles in the NFC East, positioning themselves for a strong playoff push. Prescott and Oubre’s stellar performances on the field solidified the team’s dominance, proving that they are serious contenders in the division.