Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are set up for their rematch with the Eagles. But first, a short break

31

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys have been on an impressive four-game winning streak, a necessary feat to keep their hopes alive in their pursuit of catching up to the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles, with whom they have a rematch scheduled. While the first three victories came relatively easily, the most recent win required a fourth-quarter rally, resulting in a hard-fought 41-35 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Cowboys, currently standing at 9-3, have a brief respite before they face the reigning NFC and division champions, the Eagles, on December 10th. During this break, part of their time will be dedicated to watching a critical NFC championship game rematch between the Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The Eagles, boasting a strong 10-1 record, have already secured close victories against two of the AFC’s best teams, Kansas City and Buffalo. This has enabled them to maintain a two-game lead over Dallas, a lead they’ve held since their previous encounter when they handed the Cowboys their most recent loss with a score of 28-23 in Philadelphia.

Dak Prescott attributes the Cowboys’ ability to keep pace to their unwavering focus on running their own race, not letting emotions get entangled in the outcomes of other teams. He stated, “The focus of running our own race is why we didn’t drop a game. We didn’t try to put our emotions in hoping that they won or lost. They pulled off some close ones, but that’s not for us to focus on or get overwhelmed about.”

For the remainder of the week, the Cowboys will prioritize rest, marking the conclusion of their challenging three-games-in-12-days stint, a tradition they have upheld around Thanksgiving, hosting a holiday game almost every year since 1966.

Coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged the fatigue within the team, saying, “Yeah, they’re tired. You could see it during the week. I mean, it took them a while to get back.”

In McCarthy’s fourth year as head coach and first as the play-caller, Dallas is guaranteed a third consecutive winning season and appears poised for a third consecutive playoff appearance, a feat not achieved since the 1990s when the team secured three Super Bowl victories in four seasons.

The recent victory over the Seahawks was particularly satisfying for the Cowboys, as it marked their first win against a team with a winning record this season. Furthermore, it sets the stage for their upcoming showdown with the Eagles, as they seek to maintain their impressive 14-game home winning streak, the franchise’s longest in over four decades.

Dak Prescott continues to shine, matching his career-best with a sixth consecutive game featuring at least two touchdown passes. Since a disappointing performance in a 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Prescott has thrown 21 touchdowns with just two interceptions. This resurgence has elevated him to second in the NFL MVP odds, trailing only Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

While the defense came through with three crucial fourth-down stops in the fourth quarter to fuel the comeback and protect the lead, they also gave up over 400 yards for the third time this season, with 406 yards surrendered. Dallas struggled to prevent third-down conversions, allowing nine out of the first 11 attempts to succeed, reminiscent of their previous loss to San Francisco when they gave up 25 first downs.

Jourdan Lewis made significant contributions with two critical third-down pass breakups that set up key fourth-down stops. The defense also had issues with penalties, committing six out of nine enforced penalties, including costly pass interference fouls covering 40 yards (Rashaan Evans) and 29 yards (DaRon Bland, who recorded his NFL-leading eighth interception but also faced multiple burn situations). Dallas accounted for three of the four penalties that were declined during the game.

In terms of injuries, TE Peyton Hendershot, who has been a full participant in practice, has yet to be activated off injured reserve, though this could change in time for the upcoming clash with Philadelphia.

A notable statistic is the Cowboys becoming the fifth team in NFL history to score at least 40 points in four consecutive home games, the most recent being Cincinnati in 2014.

Looking ahead, another loss to the Eagles would significantly favor Philadelphia in securing the division title, potentially making them the first back-to-back winners in the NFC East since their four consecutive titles from 2001 to 2004. At present, the tiebreakers seem to be in favor of the Eagles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Cowboys-Eagles Rematch

More about Cowboys-Eagles Rematch

• Dallas Cowboys Official Website
• Philadelphia Eagles Official Website
• NFL Official Website
• Dak Prescott’s NFL MVP Odds
• NFL Defense Rankings
• San Francisco 49ers Official Website
• Seattle Seahawks Official Website