Eagles vs. Cowboys score, takeaways: Philly D dominates with five turnovers as Birds roll over NFC East rivals

The Cowboys, minus Dak Prescott, fall apart on their own turf

The Dallas Cowboys figured to be in trouble without starting quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed Sunday's matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles -- and likely the rest of the 2024 NFL season -- due to a hamstring injury. They may not have expected to find as much trouble as they did on their own turf to close Week 10's afternoon slate, however, as their offense stumbled to the tune of five turnovers and zero touchdowns in a 34-6 shellacking at the hands of their chief NFC East rivals.

Fill-in quarterback Cooper Rush managed just 45 passing yards on 23 attempts against Vic Fangio's unit, which also bottled up star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. That was before Dallas pulled Prescott's top backup in favor of third-stringer Trey Lance early in the fourth quarter. By that point, Eagles star Jalen Hurts was on his way out of the game to rest, having put the visiting squad up 31-6. Hurts had an uneven start to the game, throwing an end-zone pick and losing the ball on a Micah Parsons sack, but rebounded with four total scores, including a pair of rushing touchdowns.

The Eagles improve to 7-2, now winners of five straight, thanks to Sunday's matchup. The Cowboys, meanwhile, fall to 3-6 on the season after suffering their worst loss to the Eagles since 2017.

Here are some takeaways from Sunday's game:

Play of the game

The Cowboys pass rush got home early on Sunday, but Jalen Hurts' sidestep to avoid the blitz and find Dallas Goedert just ahead of halftime was a critical step for the Eagles offense:

The Cowboys are done

Again, most could've declared this before Sunday's game, with Prescott likely out for the season and McCarthy's offense already struggling to meet expectations. But such an atrocious blowout loss to a division rival all but confirms it: Dallas has little hope for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. Neither Rush nor Lance inspired any confidence under center, and Mike Zimmer's "D," while fast out of the gate, simply could not keep up. In a division that also includes the Washington Commanders, the Cowboys may be playing out their schedule with 2025 draft positioning in mind.

The Eagles defense is underrated

Fangio drew some criticism earlier this season for failing to elevate Philly's "D" against legitimate opponents, and just generally lacking any meaningful pass rush. His group has surrendered fewer than 20 points in five of the last six games, however, and the Cowboys never threatened to break away offensively on Sunday night. Even Bryce Huff, who had registered little impact off the edge despite a pricey offseason deal, got in on the action against Dallas' front, and every level of the unit got hands on the football.

Don't count out Nick Sirianni just yet

Remember a few weeks ago, when even Eagles fans were calling for Sirianni to be back on the hot seat? The head coach avoided any notable in-game blunders this time around, and it's once again becoming hard to question his shepherding of playoff-caliber talent. This win means he's now enjoyed three straight seasons with at least a 7-2 start, while ensuring all the Eagles' highly paid playmakers have their turns with the ball. If the Birds can come up big in Week 11 against their other rivals, he'll have this group firmly back in the conversation for another run at a conference title.

What's next

The Eagles (7-2) will return home on a short week to host the rival Commanders, who fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. That matchup could help determine the shape of the NFC East race. The Cowboys (3-6) will stay at AT&T Stadium in Week 11 for a Monday night matchup with the Houston Texans.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 7:01 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Kenny Pickett is in at quarterback for the Eagles with 12 and a half minutes left. This one's in the bag.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 7:01 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Ferguson fumbles as Eagles get fourth takeaway

Trey Lance can't escape the Cowboys' turnover spree. He dumps one off to Jake Ferguson, who coughs up the ball right after getting hit by Zack Baun. Safety Reed Blankenship then scoops it up to give Philadelphia its fourth takeaway of the night. The Eagles are just embarrassing their rivals at this point.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 6:56 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Trey Lance takes over for Cowboys

The No. 3 signal-caller is back under center with 14:50 left in the game, and he promptly gets sacked by a combo of Brandon Graham and Jalen Carter. Looks as if he's staying in as the Cowboys' quarterback now.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 6:53 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Jake Elliott drills a 39-yard field goal, and the Eagles now lead it 31-6. It's been a quiet day for some of Philly's stars, including Saquon Barkley (66 rushing yards) and DeVonta Smith (14 yards), but Jalen Hurts has been sharp since starting slow with two turnovers, and Vic Fangio's defense has completely suffocated the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys passing "attack." Dallas has just eight first downs on the night.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 6:47 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Eagles force third Cowboys turnover

Bryce Huff lives for the Eagles! The embattled pass rusher explodes into the pocket, knocking the ball right out of Cooper Rush's hands, and Philly takes over just outside the red zone. That makes three giveaways for Mike McCarthy's offense, which somehow has just 45 passing yards on 23 attempts. The Eagles will have a chance to further extend their lead in the fourth quarter.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 6:45 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The Cowboys put Trey Lance in at quarterback with just over two minutes left in the third, then go right back to Cooper Rush for the next play. So it's not a real change under center. Just an offensive "package." Not hard to see why some fans would just prefer an all-out switch, with Dak Prescott sidelined and this game suddenly out of reach.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 6:40 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Hurts headlines another Eagles TD drive

The Eagles offense delivers again. Jalen Hurts floats a perfect deep ball to A.J. Brown to start the momentum, and then he seals the drive with an explosive option run up the gut of Mike Zimmer's defense. It's now 28-6, looking like the blowout many anticipated with Dak Prescott unavailable. You have to wonder if Dallas will consider turning to Trey Lance, just to get some kind of spark for the home stretch.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 6:33 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys second-year linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is hurt and walks off the field under his own power. He has a game-high 11 tackles and two sacks against the Eagles thus far today. He tore his ACL in the 2023 preseason after being selected in the third round of the 2023 draft.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 6:26 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Eagles unfurl complete drive to extend lead

First, a Braden Mann punt pins the Cowboys inside their 10. The Eagles defense forces a three-and-out. Rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean gets a nice return on the ensuing punt. And the offense goes the distance, with Jalen Hurts again buying time to fire into the end zone, this time to rookie Johnny Wilson.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:53 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Cowboys fans boo the team off the field to close Dallas' final offensive possession of the first half. Cooper Rush sends one into the dirt to an open receiver in the flat, one play after Jalen Carter deflects one of his throws at the line. It's a three-and-out with zero yards gained for the Cowboys, and we go into the break with the Eagles up 14-6. Not a perfect start for the visiting club, with Jalen Hurts turning the ball over twice, but Vic Fangio's defense has stood tall in the red zone, while also logging two takeaways.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:50 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Hurts to Goedert to extend Eagles' lead

This time, the Cowboys bring pressure, but Jalen Hurts responds, shaking off an extra rusher and firing one to an open Dallas Goedert to cap an 84-yard touchdown drive. That whole series took just 1:25.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:47 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Per the Dallas Cowboys public relations department, their defense's five first-half sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles are tied for the highest sack total in a first half of any regular season in the last 25 seasons since 2000.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:39 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Cowboys settle for FG after Parsons strip-sack

Well, it's the same story for Dallas: The defense is showing out, but the Cooper Rush-led offense is not. After Micah Parsons puts the 'Boys inside the 10-yard line with his forced fumble against Jalen Hurts, Mike McCarthy's group goes run-heavy, and the Eagles' front stuffs both Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott. So the drive ends with a 23-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal, and it's 7-6, Philadelphia.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:34 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Parsons forces Hurts fumble; Cowboys in business

Say hello to the Dallas defense once again. Micah Parsons comes bursting up the middle, and Jalen Hurts loses the ball while trying to escape the sack. The Cowboys quickly recover, setting up shop inside the Eagles' 10-yard line, with a chance to take their first lead of this game. Mike Zimmer's unit now has five sacks and two takeaways in this first half. Let's see if the offense can hold up its end of the bargain.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:28 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Ezekiel Elliott fumbles into end zone

Wow. The Cowboys roll all the way inside the Eagles' 10-yard line, in large part due to Rico Dowdle's burst on the ground, then bring in Elliott for a red-zone carry. The former Pro Bowler promptly coughs up the ball on first-and-goal, and Cooper DeJean recovers for Philly in the end zone. Huge swing that prevents a potential Dallas lead before halftime.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:24 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Mike McCarthy dials up a fourth-and-1 sneak near midfield with about six and a half minutes to go in the first half, and Cooper Rush converts, driving past the Eagles front to move the chains. Bold call, but the right one, as Rico Dowdle breaks free for a big run a few snaps later. Dallas is very much alive in this ballgame.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:16 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Cowboys 'D' makes another stand

Jalen Hurts hits Jahan Dotson for a nice sideline lob, but the Eagles can't generate much momentum after that, as Dallas gets to the quarterback for back-to-back sacks. Micah Parsons logs the latter. And it's still a 7-3 ballgame with the Eagles out in front. Mike Zimmer's defensive front is keeping this thing close.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 5:05 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Trevon Diggs picks off Hurts in the end zone

Dallas' top cornerback, who suited up despite a calf injury and late-week illness, quickly makes up ground in coverage of Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, then dives to intercept Jalen Hurts and kill an otherwise promising Philly drive. That's Hurts' first turnover in weeks, and it costs the Eagles potentially six points.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 4:55 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The Cowboys feed Rico Dowdle to move into Eagles territory on their third drive, and they get points as a result. Brandon Aubrey is good from 46 yards on the field goal, and it's 7-3, Philly.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 4:54 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Another look at Saquon Barkley's tackle-shedding dynamism that set up the Eagles' touchdown:

[Nov 10, 2024 at 4:44 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Barkley, Hurts put Eagles in front early

Seconds after Cooper Rush's bobbled snap puts Philly in possession inside the Cowboys' 20-yard line, the Eagles' top weapons go to work: Saquon Barkley takes a third-down checkdown all the way to the 1-yard line with some shifty open-field moves, and then Jalen Hurts converts the "Tush Push" sneak for the score. It's 7-0, Eagles, and already Dallas' turnover has put the Cowboys in a hole.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 4:40 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Eagles steal the ball on Rush's bobbled snap

Uh-oh. Cooper Rush can't hold onto a Shotgun snap while looking to hand the ball off, and the Eagles pounce, ripping it from his grasp. Suddenly the Birds are in the red zone with a chance to take the lead.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 4:38 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Cowboys rack up early sacks

Back-to-back sacks for the Cowboys defensive front, which lead to a fairly quick Eagles punt. Philadelphia's Fred Johnson is still filling in for the injured Jordan Mailata at left tackle, and it's showing early. Johnson gets flagged for a false start, then fails to help the line prevent a Jalen Hurts takedown by DeMarvion Overshown.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 4:34 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

That's now 2.5 sacks for Dallas Cowboys veteran edge rusher Carl Lawson the last two weeks after he and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa combined to take down Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. A nice spark for a Cowboys pass rush that desperately needs one.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 4:32 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Cowboys get nothing on opening series

Not surprising, with Cooper Rush under center making his first start for Dak Prescott, but the Cowboys muster just three yards on three plays to start the ballgame. It's a quick punt for the home team.

[Nov 10, 2024 at 4:24 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Former president George W. Bush flips the coin, and the Cowboys win the toss. Dallas opts to receive the opening kick. 

[Nov 10, 2024 at 3:41 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, a Penn State alum, described Eagles running back Saquon Barkley as "playing running back so peacefully" in his first season in Philadelphia. Here's a closer look at the Barkley difference and how Dallas' defense matches up with him this afternoon. 

Cowboys' Micah Parsons says Saquon Barkley playing 'peacefully' with Eagles: 'It's a night and day difference'

Garrett Podell

[Nov 10, 2024 at 3:14 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Here's why Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has plenty of faith in backup-turned-starter Cooper Rush and compared him to 2002 NFL MVP quarterback Rich Gannon. 

Cowboys banking on QB Cooper Rush to repeat fill-in success for injured Dak Prescott, liken him to Rich Gannon

Garrett Podell

[Nov 10, 2024 at 3:12 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons is officially active and will return from his high ankle sprain that has held him out since the second half of Week 4 at the New York Giants. Since he is playing, Parons made it clear earlier this week that he'll be going all out.

"Yeah, once I'm playing, I'm playing. That's just the competitor in me," Parsons said. "I was banged up plenty of times. I'm just like 'Man, once I'm competing, I'm competing.' It's hard to restrain that. Yeah, high ankle's those lag on the more you cut on it and bang on it. You just build a tolerance. It's just one of those things."  

Micah Parsons injury update: Cowboys star active, will return from high ankle sprain in Week 10 vs. Eagles

Garrett Podell

[Nov 10, 2024 at 3:03 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

As the Cowboys' inactives confirmed, Dak Prescott is officially out for Dallas as well, despite not yet landing on injured reserve. The quarterback is expected to undergo season-ending surgery for a hamstring injury in the near future, leaving Cooper Rush at the helm of Mike McCarthy's offense.