We’ve all been here before. No shame in admitting it, either. We have all been kicked down in our life and asked to bounce back. With five straight losses, this is what the Cowboys were asked to do tonight at home against divisional rival Philadelphia.
Instead, it is Cowboys Nation that is defeated and asked to respond, as the Cowboys lost their sixth straight game – this one 33-27 in overtime.
The Cowboys first possession was promising, as Matt Cassel drove them 93 yards in just 11 plays. A thirteen yard run by Darren McFadden followed by a 51-yard reception by Dez Bryant set the scoring drive up.
McFadden later converted a fourth and one, and three plays later Cole Beasley was in the end zone. 7-0 Cowboys.
TOUCHDOWN @Bease11! #SmallButPowerful pic.twitter.com/13ONtt3OS1
— Cowboys Nation (@CowboysNation) November 9, 2015
The teams would trade four consecutive punts in what was a low-scoring first half before the Eagles offense got going. On a third and five from the 39, Terrance Williams dropped a deep pass down the sideline – setting up a punt and an eighty yard Philly TD drive.
DeMarco Murray went for 29 yards on the drive, including the one-yard score on fourth and goal. He finished the half with 37 yards.
Dallas would punt on the first possession of the second half, and it didn’t take long for the Eagles to take the lead. A Morris Claiborne penalty on third down extended what was a 95 yard TD drive – as the Eagles took a 14-7 lead.
However, the second half would have it’s fireworks, as the Cowboys answered with a ten play drive, tying the game on Cole Beasley’s second score.
Beasley converted two third downs on the drive, before scoring from 17 yards out. The Cowboys looked to gain momentum after this, forcing a three and out with a Greg Hardy sack.
That momentum was lost in the blink of an eye, with Cassel throwing an interception to Jordan Hicks – who returned it for a touchdown.
As soon as the Eagles retook the lead, the Cowboys were right back in scoring position thanks to Lucky Whitehead. His 79-yard kickoff return set up a ridiculous Dez Bryant touchdown (welcome back!).
https://instagram.com/p/92aCz6lmKB/?taken-by=insidethestardc
The teams then traded field goals, with both teams taking ten plays to put three points on the board and tie the game at 24. Another Eagles field goal made it 27-24, before Matt Cassel led a game-tying drive to force overtime.
Dan Bailey kicked a tying 44-yard field goal, which stopped the hearts of silver and blue fans as it banked off the upright and in.
The Eagles won the coin toss in overtime and received the ball. The drive started at the twenty, and Dallas quickly got ahead of the chains with a false start on first down.
However, DeMarco Murray quickly got those yards back and then some – turning a first and 15 into a second and 1.
The Cowboys then backed the Eagles up to a second and 14 from the 28, and Murray once again moved the chains with a gain of 20.
Before this Cowboys defense could breath, they faced a fourth and one at the 43. Ryan Matthews appeared to fumble after picking up the first down, but the call was overturned and the drive continued.
At the very least, the replay break gave this defense a much-needed timeout. They took the field after coming so close to getting the ball back to the offense, and in one play allowed Jordan Matthews to go 41 yards into the end zone.
Game over. Eagles win. Cowboys go to 2-6. They travel to Tampa Bay next week, to face the Buccaneers – who are coming off of a loss to the Giants.
The Eagles will play the Dolphins at home.
