Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
Final Score: Cowboys 38, Eagles 21
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
Three Up
-
Javonte Williams – Williams ran all over the Eagles’ defense, consistently finding running lanes and breaking tackles throughout the game. He took full advantage of his offensive line, showing impressive power and explosiveness on his way to a dominant rushing performance. Williams capped off his big night with a late touchdown, rewarding fantasy managers with one of his best performances of the season.
-
Makai Lemon – The rookie receiver stepped up in a big way, leading the Eagles in targets, receptions, and receiving yards for the first time this season. Lemon showed off his quickness and ability to create yards after the catch. He also scored his first NFL touchdown on a short slant route, making this an encouraging breakout performance for the young receiver.
-
CeeDee Lamb – The star receiver bounced back in a big way, hauling in two receiving touchdowns on beautifully placed passes from Dak Prescott. Lamb consistently created separation against the Eagles’ secondary and could have finished with an even bigger performance if not for a few missed opportunities. His 12 targets and two touchdowns were a welcome sight for fantasy managers, reinforcing his elite weekly upside.
Three Down
-
Jake Ferguson – Ferguson finished the game without a reception despite seeing a few targets. His involvement in the Cowboys’ passing attack has been declining in recent weeks, making it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him. With Lamb and George Pickens commanding most of the opportunities, Ferguson continues to struggle to establish a consistent role in the offense.
-
Darious Cooper – Cooper had an opportunity to step up with the Eagles dealing with injuries at wide receiver, but he failed to make much of an impact. Outside of an impressive 17-yard catch-and-run on a wide receiver screen, Cooper struggled to get anything going.
-
Eagles RB Injuries – The Eagles’ backfield took a concerning turn despite some encouraging moments on the ground. Saquon Barkley returned from injury but clearly didn’t look like himself. To make matters worse, Dameon Pierce suffered an injury in the fourth quarter and was unable to return. Both situations will be worth monitoring closely, as Philadelphia could face some difficult decisions regarding its backfield moving forward.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: 15/27, 212 Yards, 3 TD| 2 Carries, 8 Yards
Dak Prescott was really sharp for most of this game. Early on, Prescott had some issues connecting with his pass catchers, including a few throws that sailed too high. However, once he settled in, Prescott started making big plays downfield, completing at least six passes of 10 or more yards. All three of Prescott’s touchdown passes were beautiful, as his ball placement was nearly perfect on each throw. He also did an excellent job of manipulating the secondary with his eyes, disguising where he intended to throw the ball until the last moment before finding his target.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: 25 Carries, 155 Yards, TD
Javonte Williams had a big day on the ground, rushing for 155 yards. Williams had struggled to find success running the ball in recent weeks, but he took full advantage of his offensive line, especially Tyler Smith, as he ran all over the Eagles’ defense. Williams consistently picked up yards after contact and broke several tackles throughout his impressive performance. He didn’t provide much value in the passing game, but with the Cowboys leading for most of the contest, there wasn’t much need to get him involved as a receiver.
Williams’ biggest play came in the fourth quarter on a 34-yard run, as he took advantage of a massive hole created by his offensive line and burst upfield untouched to help set up a field goal. His efficiency continued to improve as the game went on, with the Eagles’ defense beginning to wear down. Thanks to Philadelphia going for it on fourth down deep in its own territory, the Cowboys eventually had an opportunity to get Williams into the end zone.
Tyler Goodson: 10 Carriers, 38 Yards
Tyler Goodson saw an increased workload in this game, helping give Javonte Williams a breather as the Cowboys leaned heavily on their rushing attack. Goodson’s best run came early in the game when he found an opening for an 11-yard gain, picking up a first down and keeping the offense moving. He also received a few touches in the red zone but was unable to capitalize on those opportunities or make a significant impact.
Hunter Luepke: 1 Carry, 3 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
CeeDee Lamb: 12 Targets, 5 Receptions, 74 Yards, 2 TDs
CeeDee Lamb had a really solid night against the Eagles’ secondary. He led the Cowboys with 12 targets but managed to haul in just five receptions. Prescott overthrew Lamb a few times, while Lamb also had a couple of drops himself. Despite those missed opportunities, Lamb still managed to find the end zone twice. His first touchdown came in the opening quarter on a nine-yard reception, where he made an excellent adjustment with his body to haul in a perfectly placed pass from Prescott. He struck again in the fourth quarter on a fade route, creating separation from his defender before Prescott dropped another beautiful pass into his hands. Lamb also took advantage of a blown coverage for a wide-open reception of over 30 yards, helping set up a field goal just before halftime. Lamb’s performance could have been even better, as there were several plays where Prescott failed to recognize him running wide open downfield for potential big gains.
George Pickens: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 57 Yards, TD
George Pickens put together a solid performance on Monday Night Football, finishing with 57 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Eagles. Pickens made several nice catches throughout the game, but his 21-yard touchdown reception was easily the highlight of his night. Running a vertical route along the sideline, Pickens created just enough separation from his defender for Dak Prescott to drop a perfectly placed pass over his shoulder in the end zone. Pickens showed impressive body control and concentration to secure the catch while keeping both feet in bounds for the touchdown.
Ryan Flournoy: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 70 Yards
Ryan Flournoy took advantage of an Eagles defense that allowed opportunities for receivers operating out of the slot. Flournoy made several solid plays throughout the game, including receptions of 13 and 16 yards. However, his biggest highlight came on a 35-yard catch-and-run. Running a deep out route, Flournoy created separation from his defender before turning upfield, breaking a tackle, and picking up additional yards after the catch.
Jake Ferguson: 1 Target
Jake Ferguson was practically a no-show in this game, seeing only a few opportunities in the passing attack, including one target that was wiped out by a penalty. Ferguson actually had a chance to score a touchdown on a play where Prescott ultimately connected with CeeDee Lamb. Ferguson had beaten his defender and was open in the end zone, but Prescott chose to go in Lamb’s direction instead.
Brevyn Spann-Ford: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards
Jonathan Mingo: 1 Target
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Tanner McKee: 23/35, 211 Yards, TD, INT | 1 carry, 1 Yard
McKee earned another start against the Cowboys and delivered an uneven performance. On the positive side, McKee showed a willingness to push the ball downfield at times, keeping the Dallas secondary on its toes. In the first half, he looked like a more confident and composed passer, connecting on several solid throws over the middle of the field. The Eagles also found success using play-action, which helped McKee find openings in the Cowboys’ defense. His lone touchdown pass came midway through the third quarter on a short four-yard throw to Makai Lemon.
Unfortunately, McKee’s performance began to unravel after that touchdown. He struggled to consistently move the offense downfield, took several sacks, and forced a throw into coverage that resulted in an interception. McKee also caught a break earlier in the game when he fumbled during a tush push attempt, only for the turnover to be wiped out by a penalty. Overall, there were some encouraging moments from McKee, particularly in the first half, but his inconsistency and costly mistakes ultimately overshadowed those positive plays.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley: 7 Carries, 62 Yards, TD| 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 9 Yards
Saquon Barkley returned to action after missing the last few games due to injury. The veteran running back got off to a fast start, making an immediate impact with a 12-yard reception and a 29-yard run. However, even on that long run, it was noticeable that Barkley wasn’t quite himself. His usual speed and explosiveness weren’t there, suggesting he was still dealing with some lingering effects of his injury. Later in that same drive, Barkley bounced a run to the outside and found the end zone for an easy touchdown. Despite the strong start, Barkley saw a lighter workload than usual, as the Eagles appeared to be cautious with their star running back. His final touch came in the third quarter, raising further concerns that his injury was still bothering him. Still, Barkley deserves credit for battling through the discomfort and finding a way to contribute.
Dameon Pierce: 14 Carries, 47 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 1 Yard
Dameon Pierce operated in more of a 1B role alongside Saquon Barkley in this game. Pierce looked noticeably more explosive, showing off impressive burst and power on several of his runs. He also received some important touches in the red zone, suggesting the Eagles were comfortable giving him opportunities in key situations. Unfortunately, Pierce suffered an injury midway through the fourth quarter and was unable to return to the game.
Elijah Mitchell: 3 Carries, 1 Yard | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 21 Yards
Elijah Mitchell stepped in as a replacement for Pierce after the latter suffered an injury. He has an impressive 19-yard catch-and-run where he zigzagged through multiple defenders, showing off his agility and ability to make defenders miss in the open field.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Makai Lemon: 8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 67 Yards, TD
Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon stepped up with the Eagles’ top two pass catchers sidelined due to injury. Lemon got involved early with a 21-yard reception on a crossing route over the middle, turning upfield to pick up additional yardage. He primarily operated as a short-area receiving option for Tanner McKee, providing a reliable target on underneath routes. Lemon’s biggest play came on a four-yard touchdown reception, where he caught a quick slant and bounced off defenders to fight his way into the end zone.
Dallas Goedert: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 48 Yards
Goedert got off to a slow start in this game, with most of his early receptions coming on short underneath routes that resulted in minimal yardage. The Eagles continued to rotate their tight ends throughout the contest, although Goedert remained the primary option at the position. His best play came in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard reception up the seam, where he found an opening in the Cowboys’ secondary for a solid gain.
Darius Cooper: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 17 Yards
Darius Cooper failed to make much of an impact in what could have been a favorable game script for the Eagles’ passing attack. He did have a solid 17-yard catch-and-run that helped set up a scoring opportunity for Philadelphia, but outside of that play, Cooper struggled to make his presence felt in the offense.
Hollywood Brown: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 30 Yards
Elijah Moore: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards
Eli Stowers: 1 Target