The Dallas Cowboys chose last night, a 38-33 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, to put on one of their most exciting offensive exhibitions in recent memory. And it’s a good thing they did because their playoff lives are on the line. Receiver DEZ BRYANT (6 catches and 98 yards and 2 scores) was electric and so was the man who threw him those six passes, TONY ROMO (22 of 27 for 303 yards 3 scores, and no interceptions). With this win they ran their record to 6-6 overall and 3-2 (second place) in the NFC East.
The Eagles started the first offensive drive of the game for both teams on their own 20 yard line. This drive was kept alive by a 3rd down and 12 reception by RILEY COOPER, who advanced the ball 12 yards to the PHI 34 yard line. But on 3rd and 11 from their own 43 yard line is where the Eagles saw this drive conclude: on the play running back BRYCE BROWN (24 carries for 169 yards and 2 scores) caught a pass from quarterback NICK FOLES (22 of 34 for 251 yards and 1 score), and got all the way to the Dallas 48 yard line where he was stopped by cornerback BRANDON CARR and linebacker ERNIE SIMS 2 yards short of the first down marker.
With 8:13 left in the first quarter, the Eagles took over again at their own 34 yard line after a Dallas punt. The drive was keyed by a Brown 24 yard tackle breaking run down the left sideline and he didn’t stop until he was run out of bounds at the DAL 42 yard line. Later in the drive and with around 5:45 left in the first quarter, Brown again pestered the Dallas defense with a quick and untouched 10 yard touchdown run. Kicker ALEX HENERY came in for the true extra point and the score was 7-0.
After the kickoff, the Cowboys took over at their own 20. Wide receiver COLE BEASLEY made his only catch of the night, but he made it count. His catch took place on 2nd and 8 and it went for 13 yards all the way to the PHI 41 yard line for a first down, where he was tackled by defensive back CURTIS MARSH and linebacker BRANDON GRAHAM. Later in the drive on 3rd and 8, Romo couldn’t find anyone to throw to so he scrambled 15 yards to the PHI 24 yard line where he was tackled by free safety KURT COLEMAN. Beasley’s catch and Romo’s run led to a successful 39 yard field goal by DAN BAILEY which made the score 7-3 early in the second quarter.
The Eagles took over on their own 16 after the kickoff. But this drive ended on a 3rd and 11 incompletion from Foles to Brown down the seam versus linebacker ANTHONY SPENCER.
With just under ten minutes left in the second quarter, the Eagles took over at their own 27 after a BRIAN MOORMAN punt. Brown on the second play of the drive, gained 39 yards down the right sideline to the DAL 37 yard line. His run then was buttressed by a JEREMY MACLIN reception of 21 yards to the DAL 12 yard line. Those two big plays set up Brown’s 5 yard touchdown run and eventually the score was 14-3 Philadelphia.
One of the reasons why Dallas puts up with Bryant and his on and off the field theatrics is because of plays like this one: Romo took the snap, looked downfield, then threw a pass aimed at Bryant’s left shoulder (which was pointed toward the sideline), then Bryant saw the ball all the way into his left hand and made the catch (for 14 yards to the PHI 45 yard line) AND kept both feet in bounds. It was one of the best one-handed catches one will ever see.
Later in the drive and on 3rd and 13, the Cowboys made sure Bryant’s big-time reception didn’t go to waste. On the play, receiver MILES AUSTIN (2 catches for 46 yards and 1 score) authored one of the biggest plays of the night as he bailed out the Cowboys with a 19 yard reception down the left sideline and then was finally tackled by Coleman. Then on the next play, tight end JASON WITTEN (led the team with 6 catches for 108 yards) was wide open down the field and luckily Romo saw him, and together they completed a 28 yard connection down to the 1 yard line. That huge completion set up running back DEMARCO MURRAY (23 carries for 83 yards and 1 score) to follow fullback LAWRENCE VICKERS and guard MACKENZY BERNADEAU into the end zone and eventually cut into the Eagles lead at 14-10.
By halftime Brown had gained 107 yards on 14 carries and scored twice, with some of those yards setting up a Henery successful 43 yard field goal that ended the first half and have the Eagles a 17-10 lead. The Cowboys came into the game ranked 12th in the entire league in rushing defense (110.5 yards per game allowed); and with star running back LESEAN MCCOY’S injury absence, Brown took the opportunity to have the game of his life.
With less than 11:30 left in the third quarter, Romo took the snap then moved past one defender, then looked to his left and fired to Bryant who was running an intermediate crossing route, and Bryant took the pass and raced untouched into the end zone from 23 yards out to eventually tie the game at 17-17.
Cooper scored the Eagles’ go-ahead touchdown with an extremely focused 15 yard reception near the right corner of the end zone, versus a frustrated/surprised Carr to make the score 24-17 Eagles.
Then very early in the fourth quarter and after a big DWAYNE HARRIS 11 yard reception to the PHI 27 yard line, Romo threw a pass to Austin who raced 27 yards (without even being touched) into the end zone to tie the game again at 24-24.
The Eagles took the lead back with a Henery 43 yard field goal with 9:51 left in the fourth quarter. Then with around 4:30 left in the game, Romo fired a 6 yard touchdown pass to Bryant who bullied Eagle cornerback DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE into the right corner of the end zone for a 31-27 Cowboy lead.
The Cowboys received some more good news as their nose tackle JOSH BRENT and another player forced Brown to fumble, the fumble was then recovered by cornerback MORRIS CLAIBORNE who raced 50 yards untouched into the end zone for 38-27 Dallas lead.
With just under 1:50 left in the contest, Dallas took over on their last offensive drive of the game at their own 45 yard line. But this drive withered away due to a 3rd and 9 intentional/circumstantial 11 yard loss by Murray. Moorman came in to punt on 4th and 20 with just 53 seconds left in the game.
But the Eagles weren’t dead yet. Rookie wide receiver/punt returner DAMARIS JOHNSON took Moorman’s punt from his own 2 yard line, he saw some helpful blocks to his left and clear space to his right so he went to his right and turned on his speed and raced untouched down the right sideline for a 98 yard punt return to eventually put the score at 38-33 Dallas (after Foles’ 2-point conversion incompletion to JASON AVANT at the back of the end zone).
Then on the onsides kick by the Eagles, Witten showed why he is a God in Dallas, Texas as he came through again for the Cowboys with a secured catch at the PHI 44 yard line to end any threat of an Eagle rally.
By Matthew Robinson
