Eagles Up-Down Drill

DOWN - It was a mixed bag for the Eagles quarterback. He wasn't sharp in the early going, but when the Eagles needed throws downfield in the second and third quarters, he came through. The third-quarter interception by the Cowboys was a killer.

UP - He walloped Tony Romo from behind and forced a fumble in the third quarter. The Cowboys quarterback extended the play, but Curry kept his motor running and notched his ninth sack of the season.

UP - Mr. Red Zone scored the Eagles' first two touchdowns - plowing ahead 5 yards in the second quarter and then a yard in the third. LeSean McCoy is the franchise, but Polk's north-south running has been valuable down near the goal line.

UP - Polk may be the Eagles' "big" alternative to LeSean McCoy, but the "little option" has played big all season. Sproles scooted a yard for a third-quarter touchdown that gave the Eagles' their first lead of the game. It was his sixth rushing score of the season.

DOWN - It was unclear if the opening kickoff "muff" was truly his fault. Brad Smith probably should have fielded the wind-shortened kick. But he dropped a Sanchez pass that was a touch high and went through his hands.

UP - It has become a weekly occurrence: The third-year defensive end is the best player on defense. Cox seemed to be the only Eagle making plays in the first quarter. He pressured Romo early and dropped DeMarcus Murray for a loss.

DOWN - It was bound to happen. Fletcher has been a goat more often than Williams this season, but there was never a game when both Eagles cornerbacks struggled. It came at the worst possible time.

DOWN - He's a better run blocker than Matt Tobin and that's likely why the Eagles made the switch at right guard last month. But Gardner has been a sieve in pass protection and gave up another sack in the first half.

UP - He was quiet in the first half with one only catch for 11 yards, but the Eagles' ace receiver exploded in the third quarter. He fingertipped a third-down pass from Sanchez and then broke loose for a 72-yard catch down to the 1-yard line when he beat Brandon Carr and ran most of the way.

DOWN - When the Eagles needed a boost, Celek came through with three first-half catches for 38 yards, including a 23-yard catch over the middle that moved the sticks on third down. But his fourth-quarter fumble was crucial.

UP - He came up with a huge third-down sack in the second quarter as the Eagles mounted a comeback. Barwin has 141/2 sacks this season, placing him 10th on the team's all-time single-season list.

UP - Even when the Eagles were down 21 points, their fans stayed on their feet and kept the atmosphere electric.

- Jeff McLane