The question as to whether the Eagles have "turned the corner" seems to have been answered. They were nearly flawless in a 34-7 rout of the hated Dallas Cowboys earning their second straight win and improving to 3-4 on the season. The Eagles followed up on their great defensive outing against the Redskins with an even more dominant performance against the Cowboys tonight. With two great showings against divisional opponents, it certainly seems as though the talent we all thought this defense had is starting to come together.
However, as great as the defense was, they aren't the story tonight. The Cowboys defense came into this game with the #1 ranked rushing defense in the NFL allowing just 70 yards per game on the ground. The Eagles came in with the NFL’s best rushing attack gaining 170 yards per game. Something had to give.
That something was the Dallas run defense.
Remember when Andy said this week, "We’re going to run the football, that’s what we do. We’re not going to stop running the ball." this week? He wasn't kidding.
LeSean McCoy simply dominated a Cowboys run defense who prior to this game had not allowed a 100 yard rusher this season. In fact, McCoy's 185 yards on the ground tonight is career high and the most Dallas has allowed since 2000. It was a coming out party for a guy who has to be mentioned in any discussion of the best backs in the NFL right now.
That said, McCoy could not have done it without another exceptional performance from the offensive line that simply bullied the Dallas front. Jason Peters was opening huge holes in his first game back from injury, Todd Herremans and Danny Watkins both played really well over on the right... Speaking of bullies, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention what our dear friend Rob Ryan had to say before the season about the Eagles.
"I've got three bullies over there waiting for Thursday," Rob Ryan said. "These are proven players, and that's what we need. I don't know if we win the all-hype team, I think that might have gone to somebody else, but we're going to beat their ass when we play them."
The Eagles did not even punt until the 9 min mark of the fourth quarter. They gained 495 yards of offense including 239 on the ground. They won the TOP battle 42:09 to 17:51. Someone got their ass beat tonight, that's for sure.
And perhaps the greatest thing we saw tonight. ZERO turnovers. This is the Eagles team we've only seen in flashes this year. This was the complete performance we've been waiting for and honestly it could not have come at a better time against a better team...
It was a great win, but the Eagles still have a lot of work to do. They're 3-4 right now, sitting in second place in the NFC East, two games back of the Giants and host the Bears next week on Monday night football. If they play like they did tonight and even last time out against the Skins, they can get themselves back into contention. But just like this week and last, it's another must win ahead.
We'll end tonight with a great stat from Ruben Frank. Since 2000, the Cowboys have lost 11 games by 27 or more points. Six of those losses have come at the hands of Big Red & the Eagles.