Cowboys defeat Eagles 38-21 as Javonte Williams sets rushing record

The Dallas Cowboys traveled to Lincoln Financial Field on Monday and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-21. Running back Javonte Williams led the offensive effort with a career-high performance that propelled Dallas to a win against the division rival for the first time since 2021.

Williams rushed for 155 yards and scored his eighth rushing touchdown of the season. That touchdown ties him for the lead in the NFL. The Cowboys' ground game accounted for 204 total yards, marking the best rushing performance for the team all season. The offense moved the ball efficiently and did not turn the ball over on the night.

Quarterback Dak Prescott contributed three touchdown passes, two of which went to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and one to George Pickens. Prescott completed 15 of 27 passes for 212 yards. The Eagles' defensive pressure on Prescott was limited, with only 15% of his dropbacks through three quarters under pressure. Prescott now has a record of 39-11 against NFC East opponents.

The Cowboys' defense struggled early, allowing a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. This marked the fifth time this season that Dallas has conceded a score on the first possession. That statistic ties for the most in the league with the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins. The Cowboys allowed 35 points on opening drives this season, the second highest total in the NFL.

Philadelphia's offensive line and quarterback play showed improvement despite the loss. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee threw for 211 yards and one touchdown on 23 of 35 attempts. He also threw one interception. Running back Saquon Barkley played through a hamstring injury to finish with six carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for nine yards.

Barkley appeared to sustain a new back injury during the fourth quarter. Team officials listed him as questionable after the game, and he did not return to the field. He became the first starter in the last 20 seasons to touch the ball on every offensive snap he played in a game. He handled the ball on all nine offensive snaps he attempted.

The Eagles' defense allowed 416 total yards, a number that contributed to their fifth consecutive loss. Coordinator Vic Fangio's unit gave up 330 yards of offense before the fourth quarter even began. This marked one of the worst defensive performances during his tenure with the team, which spans more than two years.

The Eagles did show a different start compared to previous games. They scored 10 points and gained 124 yards in the first quarter, both season highs. The team had averaged 0.5 points and 56.7 yards in the first quarter prior to this matchup. This was the third time since the start of last season that Philadelphia scored on its first two drives, with all three instances occurring against the Cowboys.

The win moves the Cowboys to a 3-4 record and into second place in the NFC East. The New York Giants hold the division lead with a 4-2-1 record. ESPN Analytics currently assigns the Cowboys a 57% probability of winning the division. The Eagles remain at 2-5 following the defeat.

The Cowboys will host the Arizona Cardinals at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Eagles will travel to the Washington Commanders at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.