Eagles 41-7 Cowboys (December 29, 2024) Game Recap

PHILADELPHIA – Nick Sirianni wore the hat awarded to the NFC East champions as he sat at the podium and reflected on all the greatness his Eagles could still achieve this season.

Personal goals, of course. Saquon Barkley has his sights set on Eric Dickerson’s NFL rushing record.

Team goals, absolutely. There are playoff games and a Super Bowl to win – and this Philadelphia team is certainly playing like one that could win it all.

“It’s cool, I’m not going to downplay it,” Barkley said of the division title. “At the end of the day, you won’t remember being the NFC East division champions in 2024.”

Barkley rushed for 167 yards, topping 2,000 on the season, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett ran and threw for scores before exiting with injured ribs, and the Eagles secured the division title on Sunday by beating the Dallas Cowboys 41-7 defeated.

Barkley has 2,005 yards and needs 101 in next Sunday’s mostly meaningless regular-season finale to surpass Dickerson and his 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.

The Eagles (13-3) led 24-7 in the third quarter when Pickett was drilled by defensive end Micah Parsons and made his first start in place of the stricken Jalen Hurt. Tanner McKee, a career third-string striker, entered the game and the Eagles ended the drive with a field goal.

McKee later threw two TD passes, a 20-yarder to AJ Brown and a 25-yarder to DeVonta Smith, in front of a cheering crowd that rejoiced as the Eagles dominated their rivals and secured the division title and at least the No. 2 seed Seeds in NFC.

“We always want to do something special. I think winning the division is always special and then our goals are much bigger from here,” Sirianni said. “I think we have special people.”

Hurts was injured in last week’s loss at Washington and remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol — he hasn’t practiced all week — which opened the door for Pickett to start.

Pickett, acquired from Pittsburgh in the offseason, played with extra protection under his jersey after suffering a rib injury while playing against the Commanders.

Sore ribs or not, Pickett was excited about this start all week. He grew up a die-hard Eagles fan in central New Jersey, about 80 miles from Lincoln Financial Field, and recalled “great memories” of the games he attended with his father and grandfather since he was 5 years old.

Pickett, 26, said he has plenty of family at Linc to cheer him on against Dallas (7-9).

More than 60,000 other Eagles also cheered him on, but Pickett’s dream day ended prematurely. He finished 10 of 15 for 143 yards.

With the Eagles no longer having a division title to play for, it’s likely that Hurts will sit out another week before the playoffs. Now Pickett could also be out – potentially forcing McKee into the starting lineup.

Barkley had 31 carries and his last went for 23 yards, putting him over 2,000 yards rushing. He could also sit out rather than risk injury while chasing Dickerson’s record. Barkley, who left the Giants and signed a three-year contract with the Eagles for $26 million guaranteed, set the NFL mark for most yards rushing in a player’s first season with a new team.

The friends and family who had traveled to see Pickett play had to wait a bit after Eagles safety CJ Gardner-Johnson returned an interception 69 yards for a score on Dallas’ opening drive. Cooper Rush — who threw for 147 yards and had two interceptions — followed with a 4-yard TD pass to Jalen Tolbert on Dallas’ next drive.

Pickett hit Grant Calcaretta for 34 yards and then hit Smith — who totaled six catches for 120 yards — for a 22-yard score and a 14-7 lead.

The Eagles’ defense opened the game when a recovered fumble led to Jake Elliott’s 31-yard field goal and Gardner-Johnson’s second pick of the day set up Pickett’s rushing score on a tush push.

Just like Hurts.

Pickett made two tough shots in the third: Osa Odighizuwa was warned for roughing the passer on a late hit, and Parsons delivered the knockout blow.

The Eagles were thrilled to have a capable backup QB who posted a 14-10 record as a starter with the Steelers. His performance prompted Pittsburgh legend and Fox broadcaster Terry Bradshaw to say the Steelers should never have gotten rid of him.

“All I wanted to do today was get the win, for the team, for the city,” Pickett said.

Cowboys fight

The injury-depleted Cowboys had won four of five games but were no match for Philadelphia.

“We knew with the schedule it was going to be a different game this week,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “To be honest, we didn’t really achieve some things that we had hoped for.”

A scuffle broke out between the teams near the end of the game, and Eagles defender Sydney Brown was sent off after an altercation in a stadium tunnel. Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Brooks and cornerback Troy Pride were also ejected.

Injuries

Cowboys: S Donovan Wilson suffered a knee injury. … All-Pro WR CeeDee Lamb was sidelined the last two weeks with a sprained right shoulder.

Eagles: DE Bryce Huff was briefly sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in his first game back since coming off the injured list. He underwent wrist surgery.

Next

The Cowboys host Washington next Sunday in their final game of the season.

The Eagles prepare for the playoffs with a home game against the Giants next Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL