Grading the Eagles in Sunday’s 37-17 loss to the Cowboys
Nobody’s making the honor roll after Sunday's 20-point loss to the Cowboys, eliminating the Eagles from playoff contention.
Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata (68) recovered a fumble after Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) sacked Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) in the third quarter Sunday. The Eagles lost 37-17.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
The Eagles jumped out to a 14-3 lead, then than were outscored 34-3 the rest of the way. They gave up 377 passing yards and three touchdowns to Andy Dalton, and committed 12 penalties, including six false starts. Nobody’s making the honor roll. Let’s get to the grades:
Rushing offense
The raw numbers — 151 yards on 29 carries — were good. Jalen Hurts rushed for 69 yards. Miles Sanders had 31 yards and a TD on eight carries in the first quarter, then more or less disappeared. He had just 26 yards on seven carries the rest of the game.
Grade: B-minus
Passing offense
Hurts connected with DeSean Jackson on an 81-yard touchdown play on the Eagles’ second possession. Then Jackson disappeared from the offense. He wasn’t targeted again the rest of the game. Hurts threw for 342 yards but missed a lot of throws he needed to make, particularly in the second half. His fourth-quarter red-zone interception was a killer.
The Eagles held the Cowboys to 2.8 yards per carry in the first half. But without Fletcher Cox in the middle, they wore down in the second half. Ezekiel Elliott finished with 105 yards on 19 carries.
Grade: C-plus
Passing defense
The Cowboys exploited the Eagles’ inexperience in the secondary. They attacked rookie cornerback Michael Jacquet right out of the gate. He committed a pair of early penalties and gave up a 21-yard touchdown to Michael Gallup in the second quarter. Later, he gave up a 55-yard catch-and run to Gallup off a screen.Dalton torched them for 377 yards and three touchdowns. Without Cox, the Eagles’ pass rush wasn’t as disruptive as it usually is.
The Eagles’ punt coverage unit did a good job containing CeeDee Lamb, but their return teams once again contributed little once again. Kick returner Boston Scott averaged just 19.3 yards and Greg Ward had three fair catches and no returns. Jake Elliott made his only field-goal attempt, a 38-yarder.
Grade: C-plus
Overall
The Eagles scored touchdowns on their first two possessions for the first time since 2017, then couldn’t seem to get out of their own way. Injuries were behind the defense’s problems Sunday, but the offense kept shooting itself in the foot. Six false-start penalties. An inexcusable delay-of-game penalty on fourth-and-3 near midfield. A red-zone interception by Hurts. It’s going to be a busy offseason.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reaches for his fumble after Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence tackles him in the fourth quarter. The Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-17 to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown intercepts a pass from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter. The Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-17 to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts as he walks the sideline after throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter against the Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-17 to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman was called for pass interference as he defends Dallas Cowboys tight end Blake Bell in the fourth quarter. The Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-17 to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox watches from the sideline late in the fourth quarter against the Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-17 to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) outruns Eagles defensive back Grayland Arnold (37) and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman (31) for a touchdown in the third quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles cornerback Michael Jacquet (38) tackles Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) in the second quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (10) flips into the end zone in front of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (27) for a first-quarter touchdown during a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) and defensive tackle Eli Ankou (95) pressure Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) as he throws in the second quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) evades a tackle by Eagles linebacker Alex Singleton (49) to score a touchdown in the second quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts keep the ball as he runs down the sideline in the second quarter as the Philadelphia Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) fumbles a kick return as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Reggie Robinson II (41) tackles him in the second quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott (4) kicks a field goal in the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (left) scrambles away from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dorance Armstrong (right) in the second quarter as the Philadelphia Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) watches from the sideline during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) knocks the ball out of the hands of Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) in the second quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) talks with head coach Doug Pederson during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Miles Sanders (center) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (left) and Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (right) in the second quarter. The Philadelphia Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox watches from the sideline in the second quarter as the Philadelphia Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) pressures Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) as he throws the ball in the second quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) makes a catch in front of Eagles cornerback Michael Jacquet (38) in the first quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson looks over his play chart in the first quarter as the Philadelphia Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) evades a tackle by Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) in the first quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry (75) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) as Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) piles on in the first quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) gestures that he scored a touchdown but it was overturned because he stepped out of bounds before reaching the end zone in the first quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) steps out of bounds while running into the end zone in the first quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles fans react after Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox tossed a pair of gloves to them before the Philadelphia Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) outruns Eagles defensive back Grayland Arnold (37) in the third quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The Eagles lost 37-17.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (left) talks with Eagles strong safety Jalen Mills (right) as he walks off the field in the third quarter against the Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-17 to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) sacks Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2), forcing a fumble, in the third quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The Eagles lost 37-17.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) looks up on the sideline during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The Eagles lost 37-17.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (24) stops Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) in the fourth quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The Eagles lost 37-17.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) makes a catch past Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (27) in the fourth quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The Eagles lost 37-17.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) is tripped up by Eagles safety K'Von Wallace (42) in the third quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The Eagles lost 37-17.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
An Eagles fan jokingly wears his mask over his eyes in the fourth quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The Eagles lost 37-17.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (left) and defensive end Brandon Graham (right) walk off the field after the Eagles lose 37-17 to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 27, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
