The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t quite get the job done at the end of regulation, but a perfect hook-up from quarterback Sam Bradford to receiver Jordan Matthews to help the Eagles defeat the Dallas Cowboys by the final score of 33-27.
The first half of the NFC East battle was mostly uneventful. It looked as though the Eagles would start yet another game with a three-and-out. Bradford and the offense took just 50 seconds off the clock before punter Donnie Jones saw the field for the first time. However, a penalty for running into the punter gave the Eagles the ball back, though the failed to do anything with it.
Quarterback Matt Cassel and the Cowboys produced a much more efficient offensive start than the Eagles. After a huge 30-yard connection between Cassel and wide-receiver Dez Bryant, and a fourth and one conversion from running back Darren McFadden, Cassel found receiver Cole Beasley for a five-yard score.
Early in the second quarter, the Eagles offense got going, seeing a good amount of DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews. Murray, who had a dismal two rushing yards in the Eagles last meeting with Dallas, picked up some solid gains. Murray would cap the drive off with a one-yard touchdown run.
Murray ran for 37 yards in the first half, while Mathews had 38 of his own. Bradford finished the half 10/17 for 74 yards.
Bradford and the Eagles put together a solid drive in the beginning of the thrid quarter, highlighted by a 43-yard catch by Murray. The seven play, 95-yard drive ended with a six-yard touchdown run by Mathews.
The Eagles defense continued to show some solid play, including two strips from linebacker Brandon Graham. Although Graham was able to get pressure, the defense did show holes in some of their coverage, including giving up yet another touchdown to Beasley.
The defense would bounce back huge during the next Cowboys drive as rookie linebacker Jordan Hicks added to his already impressive season with a pick-six to give the Eagles the lead.
The lead wouldn’t last long as a pressured Cassel threw up a miracle that was hauled in by Bryant in the endzone for a touchdown.
After back and forth field goals from both teams, the game’s fate came down to the final minutes. With under two minutes left in the game, Caleb Sturgis hit a huge 53-yard field-goal to help the Eagles regain the lead.
The Cowboys took advantage of two highly-questionable pass interference calls on cornerback Byron Maxwell to set up kicker Dan Bailey to hit the game-tying 44-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
The Eagles won the coin toss to get the ball to start overtime. After solid running by both Mathews and Murray, Bradford hit Matthews for the 41-yard touchdown to give the Eagles the thrilling win, and send the Birds to 4-4.
Next Sunday, the Eagles will host the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
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