ARLINGTON, Texas — Gardner Minshew led two touchdown passes and Josh Sweat’s 42-yard interception return for a touchdown kept the Eagles ahead until the third quarter.
And the defense, which struggled in the first half, tightened in the second half.
But that wasn’t enough as Dallas twice recovered from a 10-point deficit. The game was tied 27-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the first half, Dallas racked up 210 yards and converted 6 of 8 third downs. The Eagles got a save on 3rd and the 3-goal late in the first half when Dak Prescott kicked incompletely into the end zone. The Cowboys settled for a field goal to tie the game at 17-all.
Then Minshew brought the Eagles back to the Cowboys’ 29, where they settled for Jake Elliott’s 47-yard field goal with 11 seconds left for a 20-17 halftime lead.
Sweat gave the Eagles a 10-0 lead. Prescott was trying to throw the flat to a receiver, but he couldn’t get the ball past the 6-foot-5 Sweat, who picked it up and then returned it for a touchdown.
This gave the Eagles a 10-0 lead. But that didn’t last long as the Cowboys raced down the field, scoring on Ezekiel Elliott’s 1-yard run. Minshew then threw an interception that eventually led to Prescott’s 36-yard TD pass to CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys had the lead.
Then Minshew drove the Eagles downfield and scored on a stealthy QB from 1.
But it was a costly first half as rookie defensive tackle Jordan Davis left to be checked for a concussion and cornerback Avonte Maddox left with a toe injury. Both were ruled out for the remainder of the match.
Still, Dallas Goedert made his comeback after missing 5 games with a shoulder injury. He had 2 catches for 45 yards in the first half.
Eagles mistakes cost dearly
Minshew threw an early interception and had a bad rally with Boston Scott in the third quarter. This led to a fumble which the Cowboys recovered at 31 from the Eagles.
Dallas converted both errors into touchdowns as the Cowboys twice recovered from a 10-point deficit.
There was a lot at stake for Minshew on Saturday, and for a long time to come he will be the Eagles quarterback while Hurts heals from his sprained shoulder.
Minshew, after all, can be a free agent after the season, and he has in the past expressed a desire to be a starting quarterback again.
So Minshew knows he could audition for all 32 NFL teams against the Cowboys. This is his first start of the season after playing three previous games – all in the fourth quarter of blowout wins. Minshew has thrown just 4 passes this season, completing 2, for 34 yards.
“I think whenever you go out, that’s what it is, an audition,” Minshew said earlier in the week. “That gang never goes away. So you go out and just try to help your team win. I think if you do that, you’re fine.”
Minshew started two games for Hurts last season. The first was a crucial game for the Eagles’ playoff chances last December. 5. Minshew completed 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also started the season finale against the Cowboys. The Eagles had already clinched a playoff berth and decided to rest Hurts that day.
Minshew wasn’t as successful in that game, going 19 for 33 for 186 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception in the Eagles’ 51-26 loss.
But it’s a new season, and Minshew trusts the players around him.
“We have a lot of very good players,” he said. “I’m excited to hang out with them. I mean pretty much the entire offensive line is in the Pro Bowl. It’s kind of cool, you know? Lots of great guys to throw at, and a defense that plays really well. So I have to go out there and do my job and help us win in any way I can.”
Eagles lose their minds, get them back
The Eagles defense struggles early against the Cowboys.
Dallas faced a 3-and-5 from midfield in the first quarter when Avonte Maddox had Prescott wrapped for a sack. Instead, Prescott broke free and completed an 11-yard pass to Michael Gallup and a first down. The Cowboys eventually scored to cut the Eagles lead to 10-7.
Dallas later converted a 4th-and-8 when Darius Slay was called for illegal contact as Prescott pitched incomplete to Gallup. The Cowboys scored soon after on Prescott’s 36-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb.
That gave the Cowboys a 14-10 lead with 11:34 to go in the first half.
Josh Sweat hits the pick-6
Defensive end Josh Sweat is known more for his quarterback sacks than for his touchdowns.
Still, there he was, catching Dak Prescott’s pass and returning it 42 yards for a touchdown with 9:18 in the first quarter, giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead. For Sweat, it’s his first career interception. Sweat had one of his first years at Florida State in 2015.
Sweat’s play came shortly after Minshew hit AJ Brown for 48 yards on a perfectly executed play pass to the Dallas 10-yard line. This led to Jake Elliott’s 25-yard field goal.
The Eagles make some pre-game moves
As expected, Hurts was on the Eagles list of inactive players on game day. Joining Hurts were RB Trey Sermon, LB Kyron Johnson, DE Janarius Robinson, G Josh Sills and G Sua Opeta.
But the Eagles made other adjustments before the game. They signed LB Christian Elliss to the 53-man roster and placed TE Tyree Jackson on injured reserve. Jackson has a knee injury and won’t be able to return until the playoffs.
Additionally, S Reed Blankenship returned after missing last week’s game with a knee injury and started alongside Marcus Epps.
Elliss, a special teams ace, had received the practice squad’s three maximum lifts. Thus, the Eagles could no longer use Elliss in a game unless he was added to the roster. Bettor Brett Kern got the practice squad elevation for this game. It’s his second.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
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