Eagles-Cowboys: Birds soar past Cowboys to clinch NFC East; Saquon Barkley tops 2,000 yards
The rival Dallas Cowboys come into town looking to spoil the Eagles' division title hopes.
The Eagles dominated the Cowboys to the clinch the NFC East.
Saquon Barkley soars into 2,000-yard club
With a 23-yard rush, Saquon Barkley officially reached the 2,000 rushing yards mark on the season, to the delight of the crowd, who rained down MVP chants, and the Eagles, who surrounded him with hugs.
Barkley is just the ninth NFL player to ever rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.
— Gabriela Carroll
Jeff McLane grades the Eagles' win over Dallas
Quarterback: B+
Kenny Pickett showed heart, and more importantly, effectiveness in starting in place of the injured Jalen Hurts (concussion). His day got off to a slow start with a first pass missile over A.J. Brown’s head. But Pickett settled down, despite playing with a rib injury, and helped guide the Eagles to a 20-point lead before he left with what appeared to be re-aggravation of his injury.
Pickett completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. He finally got going on the Eagles’ third drive and ended the possession with a 22-yard touchdown pass to a wide open DeVonta Smith. Two series later, he heaved a 49-yard toss to Smith. Pickett also scored a touchdown via Tush Push. He was denied on the first try from the 1-yard line, but got in for his second converted sneak of the first half.
Nick Sirianni’s finest hour: Without Jalen Hurts, coach leads depleted Eagles to NFC East title
The Eagles had every excuse to lose Sunday.
They were playing their archrivals, the Cowboys, for the second time this season. The Cowboys were out of playoff contention but they had won four of five games, including a win at Washington, the site of the Eagles’ latest disaster, and they were playing with abandon, visiting a team haunted by collapses both distant and recent.
The week before, the Birds blew a 14-point lead at Washington, where they lost quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion that lingered through Sunday, Hurts’ first missed game of the season. Worse, the Eagles’ top-ranked defense had lost its composure, and the game, at Washington. Finally, on Sunday, not only was the offense’s quarterback absent, so was the defense’s quarterback: Middle linebacker Nakobe Dean missed Sunday’s game due to an abdominal strain.
The Eagles are great with Jalen Hurts. They showed against the Cowboys they might be good enough without him.
There wasn’t much that was aesthetically pleasing about watching Kenny Pickett play quarterback Sunday. He wears gloves, for one thing, because he finds that they’re more comfortable and help him better grip a football. But no quarterback who wears gloves appears as graceful and fluid throwing the ball as a quarterback who doesn’t wear them. What’s more, on every pass, whether it was a go route to DeVonta Smith or a screen to Saquon Barkley, Pickett seemed to be putting all his might into every throw.
None of these observations meant that Pickett had a poor game in the Eagles’ 41-7 romp over the Cowboys, in the victory that clinched for them the NFC East title and at least the No. 2 seed in the conference playoff bracket. On the contrary, despite some skittish moments early on, Pickett was excellent: 10-for-15, 143 yards, one passing touchdown, one Tush Push touchdown. His style of play was reminiscent of a previous Eagles backup QB, Jeff Garcia, and his production was, too.
Pickett left the game with just less than nine minutes remaining in the third quarter after taking a shot to his already-sore ribs from the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons. But then Tanner McKee stepped in for Pickett, tossed a touchdown to A.J. Brown on a beautiful back-shoulder throw, and the Eagles just rolled along. Hello, 13-3. Goodbye, any worries about Jalen Hurts’ absence. At least for the moment.
» READ MORE: The Eagles are great with Jalen Hurts. They showed against the Cowboys they might be good enough without him.
— Mike Sielski
Eagles fan Pat Driscoll caught the ball A.J. Brown fired into the stands. Here’s why Driscoll gave the ball back.
Pat Driscoll does not regularly attend Eagles games, but a season-ticket-holding friend asked the 22-year-old from Audubon, N.J., early Sunday if he wanted to go to the game.
It was an easy answer for Driscoll: “Yeah, of course. 50 degrees and sunny, go watch the Birds. No doubt.”
He could not have predicted how the rest of the day turned out.
Eagles playoff scenarios: Birds can still win NFC’s top playoff seed with help
The Eagles clinched the NFC East and the NFC’s No. 2 seed with their win Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Birds could still land the NFC’s top playoff seed, but they need some help. Just one path remains for Philly to secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs:
- Eagles win their final game against the Giants
- Detroit Lions lose their final two games against the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) and Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
- Minnesota Vikings lose Sunday against the Green Bay Packers (10-4) and defeat the Lions in Week 18
Eagles dominate Cowboys to clinch NFC East
The Eagles dominated the Cowboys, 41-7, at home thanks to strong performances from backup quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, who left the game in the third quarter due to injury, and Tanner McKee.
Saquon Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season, and with 2,005 yards, he’s now 101 yards away from Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards.
The Birds officially clinched the NFC East with the win.
— Gabriela Carroll
Brawl leads to ejections on both teams
The Eagles showed a ton of fight against the Cowboys – and that includes off the field. After Sydney Brown and Dallas special teamers Jalen Brooks and Troy Pride collided with a referee, Pride pushed Brown down, and Brown took exception, burying Pride in the tunnel and starting a massive scuffle.
Flags started flying and both teams poured into the tunnel to break up the fight. Brown, Pride, and Brooks were all disqualified from the game, while fans gave Brown a massive standing ovation and chants of “Dallas sucks!”
— Gabriela Carroll
C.J. Garnder-Johnson, Jalyx Hunt injury updates
C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s massive game took an unfortunate turn, after Gardner-Johnson limped off the field early in the fourth quarter. Gardner-Johnson favored his right leg and immediately entered the medical tent.
Gardner-Johnson logged two interceptions in the game and logged 94 yards on the returns, including a pick-six.
Rookie pass rusher Jalyx Hunt was also dinged up on the play, and walked off under his own power and entered the medical tent.
— Gabriela Carroll
A.J. Brown catches Tanner McKee's first NFL touchdown pass, immediately tosses it into the stands
After Kenny Pickett left the game with a rib injury, the Birds’ offense picked up right where it left off, charging down the field and taking a 34-7 lead over the Cowboys. Tanner McKee threw his first NFL touchdown to A.J. Brown.
Brown, likely excited to finally have a touchdown count after having one wiped off the board for holding and failing to get both feet in on another near-touchdown, unknowingly, threw it straight into the stands to celebrate.
Fortunately, Dom DiSandro was able to get it back.
— Gabriela Carroll
A.J. Brown nearly makes an incredible touchdown catch
Kenny Pickett questionable to return with rib injury
The Eagles announced that Kenny Pickett is questionable with a rib injury. Pickett came off the field, knelt down and was checked out by trainers after he was hit by Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons on a potential touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. The touchdown was ultimately negated by a holding call on Landon Dickerson. Tanner McKee entered the game for the following third-down play.
Pickett embraced offensive lineman Jordan Mailata before heading to the X-ray room with Dom DiSandro, and received a big ovation from Eagles fans as he walked off. Ian Book, signed this week to the practice squad, is the third quarterback.
— Gabriela Carroll
Eagles up big at the half
Kenny Pickett and DeVonta Smith are on the same page.
After connecting on an earlier touchdown, Pickett hit Smith with a deep ball for 49 yards just before halftime to set the Eagles up at the Cowboys' 1-yard line. The Eagles scored two plays later, pushing Pickett over the goal line with a Tush Push as the final seconds ticked off the half.
The Eagles have a 24-7 lead at the break and will get the ball after halftime.
Eagles fans to Jerry Jones: "Keep doing the job you're doing this year"
Eagles fans gave Jerry Jones a warm welcome upon arrival to Lincoln Financial Field. On his pregame radio show on 105.3 The Fan, Jones shared that a Birds fan shouted at him from the field and told him to “keep doing the job you’re doing this year.”
With the Birds up 24-7 at halftime and at the top of the NFC East, and the Cowboys already eliminated from playoff contention, it’s easy to see why.
NBC Sports Philadelphia captured some of the jeers on camera, and Jones was a good sport with the crowd, who shouted down “we love you in Philly!” from the stands.“I know you do,” Jones said. “I’m trying to live up to my standard this year for you.”
— Gabriela Carroll
Jake Elliott extends the Eagles' lead with a FG
Jake Elliott made his first field goal attempt of the game with ease, making a chip shot from 31 yards out to put the Birds up 17-7. Elliott has been back on kickoff duty against the Cowboys, taking over from punter Braden Mann, and is perfect on kicks so far today, making the field goal and two extra points.
The usually steady Elliott had made just 68.8 percent of his kicks at home this season heading into Sunday’s game, including a miss last week against the Commanders.
— Gabriela Carroll
Eagles force another turnover
The Birds’ defense forced their second turnover of the day, immediately after the Eagles’ first offensive touchdown of the game.
Oren Burks, who was replaced with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. late in the first quarter, returned at linebacker and forced a fumble on Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson. Defensive lineman Jordan Davis recovered, giving the Eagles the ball at the Dallas 40-yard line.
— Gabriela Carroll
Eagles surge into lead with Kenny Pickett TD pass to DeVonta Smith
It's been a slog for the Eagles' offense for most of the first half Sunday, but they have the lead, 14-7, after Kenny Pickett connected with DeVonta Smith on a 22-yard touchdown on a third-and-12.
The Eagles were facing another punt earlier in the drive, but Pickett threw a desperation deep ball for 34 yards to Grant Calcaterra to extend the drive.
Pickett hasn't been great early on, but he stepped up nicely in the pocket and delivered a good ball to Smith for the score.Dallas has run 28 offensive plays to the Eagles' 16.
— Jeff Neiburg
Grant Calcaterra makes an unreal catch to setup a TD
Eagles tied after first quarter
The Eagles and Cowboys are tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Birds scored their first defensive touchdown of the year on a C.J. Gardner-Johnson pick-six, but the offense has struggled with Kenny Pickett under center, failing to cross the 50-yard line on its two drives.
Saquon Barkley has three carries for nine yards.
— Gabriela Carroll
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. replaces Oren Burks on defense
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. took over at the off-ball linebacker spot opposite Zack Baun for the Eagles' third defensive drive, replacing Oren Burks after two shaky drives from the team's run defense as a whole.
Burks got his first start of the season in place of Nakobe Dean, who is sidelined with an abdominal injury. The 29-year-old veteran was on the sideline for the drive with his helmet on during the drive but didn't play either on defense or on the punt coverage unit.
— EJ Smith
Eagles offense starts off with three-and-out
The Birds went three-and-out on their first offensive drive of the game, but not without controversy. The Lincoln Financial Field crowd was livid at what appeared to be a missed face mask call on running back Kenny Gainwell, and a missed defensive pass interference call on DeVonta Smith. Smith was slow to get up after the third-down play and is in the medical tent.
After Braden Mann’s 52-yard punt, the Birds and Cowboys got in a scuffle in the corner. The bad blood’s not just in the stands.
— Gabriela Carroll
Bryce Huff questionable to return with a wrist injury; returns to sideline
Bryce Huff just returned from the injured list, and after two drives on defense, Huff is now questionable with a shoulder injury, the Eagles announced. Huff previously missed five games after getting surgery on his left wrist.
He eventually returned to the sideline.
Huff has played in 10 games this year after signing a three-year deal with the Eagles in the offseason, and has 10 total tackles, including five solo tackles and 2.5 sacks.
— Gabriela Carroll
Cowboys march down the field to tie the game
Cooper Rush and the Cowboys tie the game at 7-7 on a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. The Eagles defense thought they got out of the drive forcing a field goal, but a Nolan Smith defensive holding penalty gave the Cowboys a fresh set of downs, and Rush took advantage.
— Gabriela Carroll
Keke Palmer sings national anthem before Eagles-Cowboys
Keke Palmer was in the building to sing the National Anthem ahead of the Birds’ matchup with the Cowboys.
The former Nickelodeon actress and Emmy Award winner is from Illinois, but she’s supported the Birds in the past, attending a 2023 game and taking a photo with Jalen Hurts.
— Gabriela Carroll
C.J. Gardner-Johnson gets an early pick-6
C.J. Gardner-Johnson broke the team down pregame. It brought good vibes for the team, and especially for him – Gardner-Johnson opened the scoring by picking off Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush and returning it 69 yards to the end zone.
It was Gardner-Johnson’s first drive back after he was controversially ejected from last week’s game against the Commanders after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
— Gabriela Carroll
Saquon Barkley greets Brandon Graham's family before the game
“Dallas Sucks,” seems to be the main message among Philly fans — including Brandon Graham’s son, Bryson — ahead of the Birds Week 17 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
Before the game, Saquon Barkley showed love to Graham’s family, fist bumping Bryson who wore a “Dallas Sucks” chain on the sideline along with his father’s Kelly Green jersey.
The last time the Eagles wore their throwback Kelly Green uniforms was in a 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in the season. The game marked another breakout performance from Barkley, highlighted by a backwards hurdle.
Devan Kaney is 94.1 WIP's new Eagles sideline reporter
94.1 WIP found its replacement for Howard Eskin on the sidelines.
Devan Kaney will handle sideline reporting duties for WIP for the rest of the season, joining the broadcast alongside Merrill Reese and Mike Quick.
Eskin announced his sudden departure from the station last week. So far, no reason has been given for the abrupt end of his nearly 40-year tenure with the station.
Isaiah Rodgers donning Superman cleats before Eagles vs. Cowboys
Last week, it was Grinch-themed cleats before the game for Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers. This week, however, he went with a pop-culture reference in the form of Superman-themed cleats.
The timing makes sense given the teaser trailer for the latest Superman movie debuted online this week and created a mountain of buzz.
Will Rodgers have a heroic performance because of his cleats? What will he wear next week?
» READ MORE: ‘Superman’ has dropped a new trailer featuring Philly’s very own David Corenswet
— Vaughn Johnson
Eagles LB Nakobe Dean ruled out with abdominal injury
Quarterback Jalen Hurts won't be the only starter sitting out due to injury for the Eagles Sunday.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean has also been ruled out due to an abdominal injury.
Also missing for the Eagles will be running back Will Shipley, who like Hurts, suffered a concussion last week against the Washington Commanders.
Saquon Barkley arrives in retro fit
Since the Eagles are wearing retro uniforms, Saquon Barkley decided to don a retro fit to the game.
— Vaughn Johnson
Rain unlikely to impact Eagles vs. Cowboys
The Eagles spent part of their practice week preparing for rain during today’s game vs. the Cowboys.
They even squirted water at punted footballs falling into the hands of waiting returners.
Well, it’s always good to be prepared, but it’s probably not going to rain during the game. A wet weekend in Philadelphia has presented a window of rain-free and unseasonably warm weather. The temperature is climbing toward 60 and it’s humid — above 90% — with kickoff a few hours away.
Lane Johnson joins TikTok influencer to troll Cowboys
What’s the more realistic possibility: Jerry Jones hoisting up the Lombardi trophy or spotting a unicorn in your neighborhood? According to Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson, it’s the latter.
Ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, Johnson joined TikTok influencer — and Delco native — Dave Ogleton in a Christmas inspired video that showed the men trolling their Week 17 opponent.
In the video, Ogleton asks Johnson, who is dressed as Santa Claus, for a unicorn for Christmas. A concerned Johnson-Claus tells Ogleton to ask for something more realistic in which Ogleton responds “a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Eagles defense want to ‘toe the line’ but not cross it after Commanders matchup boils over
C.J. Gardner-Johnson doesn’t overcomplicate things.
The Eagles safety’s balancing act of maintaining the fiery personality that drives him on the football field without overstepping the boundaries laid out by NFL officials may seem difficult from an outsider’s perspective, but Gardner-Johnson deduced it to a succinct few words when asked about it on Friday.
“You keep popping [stuff],” he said. “You just don’t get caught.”
Kenny Pickett and the Eagles receivers are feeling ‘more comfortable’ after a week of reps together
In his third season with the Eagles, A.J. Brown refers to his communication with Jalen Hurts as “on another level.” Their borderline-telepathic ability to get on the same page transcends the standard signals associated with the offense.
So when Kenny Pickett entered the game last Sunday against the Washington Commanders, the backup quarterback and his top two receivers, Brown and DeVonta Smith, spoke after every series to try to catch up on the little nuances they have developed in their two-way communication with Hurts. It was a challenge on the fly, according to Brown.
“I’m upset at myself, ‘cause [Kenny] gave me a signal, and I didn’t see it in the game,” Brown said Friday. “He gave me one and I didn’t see it. And that could’ve been a big opportunity for me. I was mad about that.”
If the Eagles lose against the Cowboys, blame the kelly green jerseys
George Allen told the Eagles during a visit to training camp in the summer of 1980 that their talent was just enough to win four or five games. But the legendary NFL coach saw enough during his week in West Chester to also tell the Birds that their work ethic would push them even further.
So when the Eagles reached the NFC championship, Dick Vermeil made sure to invite Allen into the locker room before the game. It was a chance for Allen, who was at Veterans Stadium as a CBS broadcaster, to see the guys he believed in months earlier.
“When the players ran onto the field to get introduced, he was standing in the tunnel,” said Vermeil, who worked under Allen with the Rams. “He signaled for me to come over and he said, ‘Coach, I have never seen a team more ready to play. There is no way Dallas is going to beat you today.’ That’s exactly what he said to me.”
Gameday Central: Watch our Eagles-Cowboys pregame show
Tune into Gameday Central on Sunday as Olivia Reiner and EJ Smith discuss all the key questions surrounding the Eagles’ matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, starting 90 minutes before kickoff.
Bryce Huff available for Sunday; Britain Covey placed on IR
After missing the last five games while recovering from left wrist surgery, Bryce Huff is available to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles activated the 26-year-old edge rusher from injured reserve on Saturday, 10 days after the team opened his 21-day practice window.
Last week, Huff said his entire left hand felt “a lot more functional” after he underwent wrist surgery, which will allow him to grab onto opposing blockers. Before suffering the wrist injury, Huff had a mostly quiet start to his Eagles career, with 2½ sacks and a forced fumble in 10 games.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts will not play vs. Cowboys
Kenny Pickett, you’re up.
The Eagles are set to hand the reins of their offense to the backup quarterback as Jalen Hurts was officially ruled out Friday afternoon for Sunday’s game vs. the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Hurts suffered a concussion in the first quarter of last week’s 36-33 loss in Washington and did not practice in any capacity this week. He remains in the concussion protocol.
» READ MORE: Eagles announce Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday’s game vs. Cowboys with a concussion
— Jeff Neiburg
Eagles can still win NFC’s top playoff seed with help
The Eagles (12-3) are at a playoff crossroads heading into their Week 17 game against the Dallas Cowboys (7-8) Sunday.
The Birds have already clinched a playoff spot, but depending on what happens the next two games, Philly could end up with the NFC’s top playoff seed or drop all the way down to the No. 7 seed.
The Eagles will need to win Sunday without Jalen Hurts, who is out against the Cowboys due to the lingering effects of a concussion that knocked him out of last week’s loss to the Washington Commanders. Instead, Kenny Pickett — a South Jersey native who grew up rooting against the Cowboys — will make his first start since landing in Philadelphia during the offseason.
Eagles vs. Cowboys: Start time, how to watch and stream
The Philadelphia Eagles (12-3) face the Dallas Cowoys (7-8) Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will air on Fox at 1 p.m.
Joe Davis and Greg Olsen will be in the booth for Fox, with Pam Oliver also joining in from the sidelines.
Eagles-Cowboys will also air on the radio on 94.1 WIP, where fans can listen to the familiar voices of Merrill Reese and former Eagles receiver Mike Quick.
The NFC East standings heading into Week 17
Here's how the NFC East — and the rest of the conference — stacks up heading into Week 17.
NFC East Standings
Full NFC standings
The Eagles' 2024 schedule and results so far
The Eagles are 12-3 through 15 games this season, and have already clinched a postseason berth. Here's a look at their results so far and their remaining schedule ...
Week 1: Eagles 34, Packers 29
Week 2: Falcons 22, Eagles 21
Week 3: Eagles 15, Saints 12
Week 4: Buccaneers 33, Eagles 16
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: Eagles 20, Browns 16
Week 7: Eagles 28, Giants 3
Week 8: Eagles 37, Bengals 17
Week 9: Eagles 28, Jaguars 23
Week 10: Eagles 34, Cowboys 6
Week 11: Eagles 26, Commanders 18
Week 12: Eagles 37, Rams 20
Week 13: Eagles 24, Ravens 19
Week 14: Eagles 22, Panthers 16
Week 15: Eagles 27, Steelers 13
Week 16: Commanders 36, Eagles 33
Week 17: Cowboys at Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 29, 1 p.m. (Fox)
Week 18: Giants at Eagles, TBD