Eagles Go Out On High Note By Beating Cowboys
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — It just had the feel of one of those after-school, pick-up tackle games you played in some open field as a kid. Neither the Eagles nor the Dallas Cowboys were playing for anything on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Dallas holds the top seed in the NFC playoffs and will be playing further into January, possibly even into February. The Eagles will be watching.
It didn't mean that they couldn't use this 2017 preseason game as a springboard for something better.
Maybe it could be.
Zach Ertz caught a season-best 13 passes for 139 yards, which included two touchdowns and an amazing diving third-quarter TD, mixed with a nice heaping dose of Cowboys' third-string quarterback Mark Sanchez in the Eagles' 27-13 season finale victory over Dallas.
The Eagles finished the season 7-9 while Dallas dropped to 13-3 and will receive a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.
Carson Wentz completed 27 of 43 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns, both to Ertz.
With Sanchez manning the Dallas offense, the Cowboys were only able to manage a field goal, while the Eagles scored 17 points in the second half, including 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, linebacker Jordan Hicks intercepted the human-interception machine Sanchez twice, and the Eagles held the Dallas' B Team, holding the Cowboys to 195 yards of total offense, but 78 yards of offense in the second half and just five first downs.
"It's nice to end the season this way, despite that people said this was a meaningless game without a lot at stake," Eagles' tackle Lane Johnson said. "For our team to go out to play as hard as we did and put a blemish on Dallas' record, it's a great way to end a season. The pieces are here to win. I really believe that.
"I think if I played in the first Dallas game, we would have put two 'Ls' on them. We still have a lot to prove coming into next year. We have a lot of positives. In the time I've been here, there's been a lot of interchangeable parts, with people coming and going, but I'm sure the right moves will be move to make us more competitive. I think the nucleus is here for us to win. We're right on the brink from breaking out as winners and giving the city what it needs."
Darren Sproles feels the Eagles are also real close to being a playoff team, though admits pieces are needed.
"We get those pieces, we can be right there," said the dynamo, who rolled for 32 yards rushing on 9 carries. "We have the parts here to build on and be alright. I have some serious things to think about, and the possibility of retiring. My kids want their daddy around a little more, and I'm out here by myself and my kids out in San Diego.
"I want to win here, though. I want a shot to win a Super Bowl here and that's really important to me. We ended strong, and it's definitely something to build on for next year."
