The game we’ve all been waiting for since the 2023 NFL schedule was released is finally here.
You won’t hear me say “Eagles week” because Philadelphia hasn’t earned the label until the rivalry isn’t as lopsided with Dak Prescott as the Cowboys’ quarterback.
Instead, I’ll simply refer to it as the week the Cowboys face the Eagles.
This game is being played in Philadelphia, and the rowdy fans at Lincoln Financial Field will be out in force to cheer on the 7-1 Eagles.
Despite their record, Philadelphia has been far from dominant.
They won by one possession against New England (2-6), Minnesota (4-4), and Washington twice (3-5).
Furthermore, their sole setback this season came at the hands of Zach Wilson and the 4-3 New York Jets.
Prescott has an 8-3 all-time record against the Eagles and hopes to make it nine this weekend.
In honor of this game, I’d like to look back at Dak Prescott’s three best games versus the Eagles.
2016 WEEK 8
When: 30th of October, 2016
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
DAL 29, PHI 23 (OT)
Prescott Stats: 19/39 287 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception; 7 rushes 31 yards, 1 touchdown
Nothing beats your first time…beating the Philadelphia Eagles, that is.
Prescott’s first game against the Eagles was not his greatest statistically, but for a rookie quarterback to face the biggest division opponent and win on his first try needs to be recognized.
Prescott had his season’s second lowest completion percentage (48.4%) and threw an interception, but he compensated with three total touchdowns.
Dallas trailed by ten points twice in the game, but Prescott willed them to victory with extended touchdown drives on both occasions.
The first of those drives was an 11-play, 90-yard masterpiece that culminated in a 22-yard pass to Dez Bryant to tie the game at 23.
The Cowboys saw only one third down on that drive, as Prescott was moving the ball efficiently and racking up first downs.
As the game entered overtime, Prescott delivered once more.
A 12-play, 75-yard drive resulted in a walk-off touchdown ball to veteran tight end Jason Witten.
Dallas faced only one third down on the drive. They didn’t convert, but Prescott pushed ahead for a first down on 4th and 1.
It would be Prescott’s first of eight victory over the Eagles as a starting quarterback.
2021 WEEK 3
When: Saturday, September 27, 2021
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Prescott (DAL) 41, PHI 21 Stats: 21/28 236 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
This win is significant because it was the first at home since Prescott’s horrific ankle injury in the 2020 season.
What better way to return to AT&T Stadium than to annihilate the Eagles in primetime?
It’s also the first and only face-off between Prescott and Jalen Hurts…so far.
Dallas led 20-7 at halftime, thanks to two first-half touchdown runs by Ezekiel Elliott.
In five first-half drives, the defense limited dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts to four punts and an interception.
Trevon Diggs intercepted a Hurts threw and returned it 59 yards for a score on the game’s first drive of the second half.
That play blew the game wide open, leaving the Eagles with a 20-point hole they would never overcome.
Prescott would go on to lead two more drives that culminated in touchdown passes to Cedrick Wilson and Dalton Schultz, giving the Cowboys a 41-21 victory.
2022 WEEK 16
When: December 24, 2022
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Score: DAL 40 PHI 34
Prescott Stats: 27/35 347 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT; 6 rushes 41 yds
The most recent win versus the Eagles stands out to me because of the adversity Prescott was forced to overcome.
After an opening drive Eagles’ field goal, the Cowboys first offensive possession resulted in an interception returned for touchdown by DE Josh Sweat.
This put the Cowboys in an early 10-0 hole versus a 13-2 Eagles team whose greatest strength was the pass rush.
Prescott replied by guiding Dallas on a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that included two third-down conversions, one on his legs.
Prescott connected CeeDee Lamb for an eight-yard touchdown after an Eagles mistake and a short field to grab a 14-10 lead.
In a shootout, the two sides traded blows, but Prescott delivered the decisive blows with the support of his defense.
To tie the game at 27-20, the Cowboys defense forced an Eagles fumble, which Prescott and the offense converted into a touchdown.
With the score tied at 34, the Cowboys defense stepped up once again, intercepting a Gardner Minshew ball in Dallas territory.
Prescott and the offense pushed for the game-winning field goal, but the defense forced another fumble, which Dallas converted into three more scores.
The Cowboys would beat the Eagles 40-34 at home, keeping their division title and #1 seed chances alive.
The game on Sunday is in Philadelphia, but if Prescott can conjure up some of the magic of previous meetings, Dallas might win.
Leave a Reply