Highlights and lowlights from Philadelphia’s Week 17 win.
It appears giddy time has once again descended on the Eagles. It just took some time to arrive. Once the Eagles did, they scored on six-straight possessions and Saquon Barkley took a giant step toward going for a 40-year-old NFL record that is now possible.
The Eagles swept the Dallas Cowboys for the first time since 2011, trashing them 41-7 on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, behind 167 yards rushing by Barkley for a season total of 2,005 yards, becoming the first Eagle running back to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
The Eagles clinched the NFC East title and won the division for the second time in three years. It’s the first time Barkley won the NFC East in his distinguished career—his first “hat-and-t-shirt” game.
With 10:49 left to play, Barkley came out in a nice gesture by Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni, who called timeout to allow his star running back to be congratulated by his teammates, coaching staff and Eagles’ fans.
In two games against Dallas this season, the Eagles outscored the Cowboys 75-13, forcing nine turnovers—and have forced nine turnovers combined in their last two games between Washington and Dallas.
In moving the Eagles to 13-3, Kenny Pickett once again did a credible job in the absence of Jalen Hurts, who did not play due to a concussion. Pickett completed 10 of 15 for 143 yards and a touchdown. He most likely will start in the season finale against the New York Giants next week.
All focus shifts to Barkley, who is 101 yards shy of breaking Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984. Dickerson reached 2,105 in 16 games, but it also took him 379 carries. Barkley needed 345 rushes to reach 2,005 yards in becoming the ninth player overall to reach 2,000 yards rushing in a season.
“This year has been phenomenal,” Barkley said. “(Winning the NFC East title) is cool, I’m not going to downplay it, but at end of the day, you’re not going to be remembered for being the 2024 NFC East division champs. I’m happy. My first hat-and-t-shirt game. I didn’t even know it was a thing, to be honest. But we all know what the goal is.”
Barkley said his continued mindset is to put more Super Bowl banners up at Lincoln Financial Field—nothing else matters.
Dallas, which entered the game winners of four of its last five, did not score again after the first quarter, getting outgained by more than double, 362 to 151 the remainder of the game. The Eagles more than doubled the Cowboys’ first down output, 20-8, over the last three quarters.
There was a pile of good, very little bad, and some ugly that continues to persist, in the Eagles’ thoroughly dominant 41-7 victory over the pitiful Dallas Cowboys.
The Good
Barkley became the first Eagles’ running back to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a season, ending the game with 167 yards on a season-high 31 carries, giving him a season total of 2,005. Entering the game, Barkley had an NFL-leading 1,838 yards rushing, which put him 268 yards away from breaking Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984. Barkley now needs a very gettable 101 yards against his former team, the woeful New York Giants next week. What was once a meaningless game Barkley has placed meaning on, deserving of a national spotlight. Despite all the talk on Sunday’s national pregame shows about Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, Barkley merits serious consideration for NFL MVP (he has my vote).
Left tackle Jordan Mailata, left guard Landon Dickerson, center Cam Jurgens, right guard Mekhi Becton, right tackle Lane Johnson, and tight end Grant Calcaterra for opening the gaping holes for Barkley all afternoon, and all season. It’s the best offensive line in the NFL, and when partnered with Barkley, has created an historic season.
Back-up quarterback Tanner McKee finding A.J. Brown on a third-and-eight at the Dallas 20 for his first NFL touchdown pass with 2:44 left in the third quarter. The TD, the Eagles’ fifth-straight scoring drive, put the Eagles up 34-7. The only major mistake was that Brown threw McKee’s first NFL TD ball into the crowd. Fortunately, Brown, showing class, made a deal with the fan who caught the McKee ball to trade him his game jersey for the McKee ball.
Kenny Pickett did not start strong, but he finished strong, completing 9 of 14 for 133 yards and touchdown, while scoring a TD in the first half. He did not make a mistake and was smart with the ball. Pickett was greeted with great applause as he entered the tunnel at halftime. He left the field after the Eagles; opening second half drive, when he was nailed by Micah Parsons. It came on a play in which Pickett scrambled right and completed a perfect pass to A.J. Brown at the back of the end zone. The TD was wiped out on a holding call. Pickett led the Eagles to four-straight scoring drives after opening the game with consecutive three-and-outs. He finished completing 10 of 15 for 143 yards and a touchdown. With 8:03 left in the third quarter, Pickett left the field after the Parsons hit.
DeVonta Smith turning back into DeVonta Smith. No drops this week. He caught six passes on seven targets for a game-high 120 yards and two touchdowns, being Pickett’s go-to guy in tough spots.
The Eagles’ second quarter. They exploded for 17 unanswered points, outgained Dallas 162 to 44, achieved nine first downs to Dallas’ two in the quarter, and caused two turnovers, which led to 10 points. The Eagles ran off 24 plays to the Cowboys’ 11 and had the ball for 11:22 to the Cowboys’ 3:38 in time of possession.
Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s second interception of the game in the last minute of the first half. It led to Pickett’s one-yard quarterback touchdown sneak on the final play of the half and a 24-7 Eagles’ lead.
Linebacker Oren Burks, playing in place of the injured Nakobe Dean, forcing a fumble and defensive tackle Jordan Davis’ fumble recovery at the Dallas 39 on the Cowboys’ fifth possession. The Eagles were able take up some time, but had to settle for a Jake Elliott 31-yard field goal and a 17-7 lead with 1:55 left in the half. Burks played well in replacing Dean, finishing with a team-high eight tackles, including the forced fumble.
The Eagles’ third drive. Pickett went 6-for-6 on the 10-play, 81-yard drive, which included a 22-yard touchdown pass to Smith from Pickett on a third-and-12 and a 14-7 Eagles’ lead with 6:38 left in the half.
Calcaterra’s stunning one-handed, juggling second-quarter 34-yard catch on a third-and-eight at the Cowboys’ 20. Pickett scrambled right to make the play happen, throwing in a tight window getting the ball to Calcaterra, who did everything else over Dallas safety Israel Mukuamu. It led to the Eagles’ first offensive touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
Kenneth Gainwell’s 36-yard kickoff return after the Cowboys’ first score out the Eagles’ 39. The Eagles then proceeded to go three-and-out and not move the ball a yard on their first possession.
Gardner-Johnson’s 70-yard interception return for the Eagles’ first defensive touchdown of the year. Gardner-Johnson did a great job anticipating what Rush would do, stepping in front of intended receiver Brandin Cooks. Rush did not see Gardner-Johnson on the third-and-three play at the Eagles’ 35 on the Cowboys’ first possession of the game.
Kicker Jake Elliott getting kickoffs into the end zone and not having to deal with the Cowboys’ dangerous return man, KaVontae Turpin, the NFL’s leading kick returner. Elliott nailed two field goals and appears to have regained his confidence—and Nick Sirianni’s.
The Bad
Corner Darius Slay getting burned by Cooks on a third-and-nine on the Cowboys’ second possession for a 22-yard catch at the Eagles’ 12. It led to the Cowboys’ first touchdown. Slay was torched by Cooks on the Cowboys’ second play of the game for 16 yards.
The Ugly
Sydney Brown being ejected in the fourth quarter. It’s two words that every football player at every level hears when situations like this occur in blowouts: Walk away. Brown did not walk away in the waning minutes of the Eagles’ 41-7 blowout when all Brown simply had to do was point to the scoreboard. Brown got into it with the Cowboys’ cornerback Tony Pride after an Eagles’ punt and this is where Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is lacking: discipline. For the second-straight game, an Eagles’ player was ejected, and that comes from the top. If Sirianni cannot keep himself under control (see the confrontation he got into with former Eagle all-time great Zach Ertz postgame after last week’s Washington loss), how can he expect his players to keep their composure? What happens when the Eagles are in a meaningful game that could cost the season, where there is no place for frivolity—like the postseason? It’s an ongoing issue that does not seem to be addressed. If it has been, why does it continue?
Dickerson taking a great back-of-the-end-zone touchdown pass away from Pickett to A.J. Brown when he was called for holding on the Eagles’ first drive of the second half.
The Eagles’ first quarter, when Dallas had eight first downs to the Eagles’ zero, had 117 yards of total offense to the Eagles’ 14, were averaging 4.9 yards a play to the Eagles’ 2.3, ran off 24 plays to the Eagles’ six, and held the ball for 11:59 to the Eagles’ 3:01. The Eagles were fortunate to get out of the quarter tied at 7-7. The only positive was Gardner-Johnson’s 70-yard pick six on the Cowboys’ opening possession. Otherwise, it was hard to tell what team was going to the playoffs and what team wasn’t. And even though the Eagles were without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, they were facing Cowboys’ backup quarterback Cooper Rush.
The Eagles’ second defensive series. They allowed Rush and the Cowboys to answer the Gardner-Johnson 70-yard pick six with a 12-play, 70-yard drive that took up 6:05 of the clock. The Cowboys basically did what the Eagles have done all season, chewing up the clock with a long, sustained drive. The Cowboys converted three third downs, the most egregious was Nolan Smith’s holding call on third-and-seven at the Eagles’ nine. Slay fell victim to a third-and-nine for a 22-yard completion. Over the Cowboys’ first two drive, they amassed 105 yards on 17 plays, eating 9:22 off the clock.
Outside linebacker Nolan Smith’s holding call on Dallas tight end Jake Ferguson on a third-and-seven at the Eagles’ nine on Dallas’ second possession. The following play, Rush hit Jalen Tolbert for a four-yard TD pass with 5:38 left in the first quarter for a 7-7 tie.