Games like this have no losers. But it was the Philadelphia Eagles who won this game 33-27 over the Dallas Cowboys in the first overtime period and on the road at AT&T Stadium.
Eagles receiver Jordan Matthews beat single and close coverage from up and coming Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones to race 41 yards to the end zone and sent the Eagles record to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the NFC East. With this win the Eagles are now in a three-way tie for first place in their division. 
Matthews who caught 9 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown in this game, really needed that game-winning touchdown reception. Before that touchdown reception, he hadn’t pranced into the end zone since September 20, 2015 when the Eagles lost to the Cowboys 20-10 in Week 2.
This was also Matthews’ second 100 yard game of the season. On the season, he has 48 catches for 531 yards and 2 scores which leads the Eagles as far as receptions and yards. And he played like a team receiving leader in this game. Many of the Eagles’ scoring drives in this game were keyed by Matthews’ pass catching skills and his YAC yards (yards after the catch).
As for the Cowboys (2-6 overall, 2-2 NFC East), quarterback Matt Cassel showed that he can lead this team down the field and into the end zone. It’s just too bad in his three starts this year he is 0-3. But the positive in this game for him, was that this one of the best games of his career as he went 25 of 38 for 299 yards, 3 touchdown passes and 1 theft. He stood calm in the pocket many times and picked apart the Eagle defense.
Cassel also showed that he could run this offense without always completing passing to superstar receiver Dez Bryant (5 catches for 104 yards and 1 score). Bryant had the game of his life including a mural-painting-caliber touchdown reception of 18 yards explained later in this game summary.
But getting back to Cassel’s pass distribution. He completed 20 of his 25 completions to five other receivers, including 9 completions for 112 yards and 2 scores to stud number two/three receiver Cole Beasley.
Cassel was also apart of another Cowboys superlative, with Bryant and Beasley both going over the 100 yard mark in this game. The last time that happened in a regular season game in Cowboys history was on October 6, 2013 versus the Denver Broncos. That day receivers Terrance Williams (151) and Bryant (141 yards) as well as tight end Jason Witten (121) passed the century mark in receiving yards, but the Cowboys lost that game too.
The Cowboys’ first scoring drive was keyed by Bryant, who on 1st and 10 from the DAL 31, took a Cassel pass down the left side and then up the field to the PHI 18 where he was dragged down by Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks. That 51 yard reception was Bryant’s longest reception since a 65 yard touchdown catch he had versus the Washington Redskins on December 28, 2014. That reception set up a 5 yard Beasley touchdown reception, in which the receiver beat semi-close coverage from Eagles free safety Malcolm Jenkins, with him then diving into the end zone. With 6:44 left in the first quarter the Cowboys had a 7-0 lead.
The Philadelphia Eagles paid running back DeMarco Murray (18 carries for 83 yards and 1 score) very handsomely in the offseason for drives like the one he put together on their first scoring drive of the game. He carried 5 times for 22 yards, which included a 1 yard touchdown run up the middle behind key blocks from tight end Brent Celek and center Jason Kelce. That scoring run tied the game at 7-7 with 9:01 left in the first half.
The Eagles near the halfway point of the third quarter, showed that they weren’t interested in this tie-game business. Because a 28 yard down the right sideline and then up the seam reception by Matthew to the DAL 6, put the Eagles in position to get a go-ahead score. Matthews’ big reception, set up a 6 yard Ryan Mathews (11 carries for 67 yards and 1 score) untouched and off left tackle touchdown run. With 8:36 remaining in the third quarter the Eagles took the lead at 14-7.
But the Cowboys tied the game with a Cassel down the seam 17 yard touchdown pass to Beasley, who was never touched during the play. With 2:04 left in the third quarter the game was tied at 14-14.
Then the Eagles darn near broke the Cowboys heart early in the fourth quarter. On 2nd 7 from the PHI 36, Hicks took off towards the sidelines and then jumped in front of running back Darren McFadden (27 carries for 117 yards) and intercepted Cassel’s pass at the PHI 33. Hicks then proceeded to take the theft 67 yards to the end zone without ever breaking stride. With just under thirteen minutes left in the game, the Eagles took a 21-14 lead.
But hold on, wait a minute. The Cowboys had some more special teams and offensive fireworks up their sleeve. Wide receiver/kick returner Lucky Whitehead took the Eagles kickoff at his own 3 yard line. He then used his speed and some blocks—–in particular a Rod Smith block along the left sideline—–to scoot 79 yards to the PHI 24. That kick return set up an otherworldly 18 yard Hail Mary and back of the end zone leaping scoring reception by Bryant. That catch by Bryant tied the score at 21-21 with around eleven minutes left in the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys looked like they were on their way to another touchdown drive. Why? Because of some big down the field advancement catches by Bryant and Witten. But all the ‘Boys ended up getting out of the drive, was a successful 41 yard field goal by placekicker Dan Bailey. With 2:53 left in the game the game was tied at 24-24.
The Eagles went on a similar drive, where it seemed like the Eagles were on their way to a touchdown scoring drive. But on 3rd and 8 from the DAL 35, quarterback Sam Bradford (25 of 36 for 295 yards, 1 touchdown and no picks) threw a pass down the left sideline towards receiver Miles Austin that ended up falling incomplete. Placekicker Caleb Sturgis came in on the next play and booted a successful 53 yard field goal to give the Eagles a 27-24 lead with just under two minutes left in the contest.
On the Cowboys’ last offensive drive of regulation, they used two pass interference penalties on Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell and a holding call on Jenkins to give Bailey the chance to tie the game with a field goal and send the game into overtime.
Well, Bailey did his job as he sent his kick high and then it hit the left upright, and finally it fell just inside the bottom portion of the goal post with just two seconds left. The game was tied at 27-27. A few minutes later, the game went into overtime after the ensuing Bailey kickoff.
On the Eagles’ first offensive possession of the overtime period, they didn’t even give the Cowboys a chance to get their own offense on the field. Because they went on a long 9 play, 80 yard drive that culminated with a down the seam 41 yard game-winning touchdown reception by Matthews. It was 33-27 and it was also game over.
