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By Zach Berman, Brooks Kubena and Jon Machota
Oct. 26, 2026 Updated 11:20 pm CDT
PHILADELPHIA — The Dallas Cowboys talked about getting their run game going before their Monday night matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
They went out and did just that. Javonte Williams ran for a career-high 155 yards and the Cowboys totaled 204 rushing yards in beating the Eagles 38-21 in what Dak Prescott called a must-win game prior to kickoff.
The Eagles came out like a team on a mission. They drove 80 yards on four plays, buoyed by the return of Saquon Barkley, who capped off the drive with an 8-yard TD run. But Barkley, who was returning after a hamstring injury, struggled to stay on the field the rest of the game. He finished with 62 yards on seven carries.
Still, after a tight first half, Philadelphia (2-5) shifted momentum its way to start the second half with a 17-play, 84-yard scoring drive. Tanner McKee hit Makai Lemon for a 4-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a 21-20 lead.
But it was all Dallas from there.
The Cowboys (3-4) responded with a Prescott to CeeDee Lamb 16-yard TD pass — Lamb’s second TD of the game — to put the Cowboys ahead 28-21 after Prescott ran in the two-point conversion. The Cowboys’ defense came up with a big three-and-out that led to a Brandon Aubrey field goal to extend the lead to 10. The Eagles’ next two possessions ended with a DeMarvion Overshown interception and a turnover on downs at their own 17. Williams ran it in from the 2 to seal the game after Dallas took over with the short field.
Prescott finished the night with 212 passing yards and three TDs. George Pickens (four catches, 57 yards) had the other TD reception. McKee threw for 211 yards with the TD and interception.
Do the Cowboys still have defensive issues despite their big fourth-quarter stops?
Absolutely. There aren’t many areas where Dallas looked that much better in Week 7 than it did in Week 2. Overshown’s interception was a nice takeaway the defense has been missing. Joey Porter Jr. has looked like an elite player, that’s another upgrade since the start of the season. But there are still so many areas of concern. Wide receivers running wide open, Barkley with one hamstring did just about whatever he wanted. That would’ve likely been a completely different game if he was healthy. It was also concerning how good McKee looked at times when considering how he played against Carolina. The Cowboys badly needed the win, so they’ll take it. But they didn’t do much to quiet the critics. — Jon Machota, Cowboys beat reporter
Saquon Barkley gave it a shot, but couldn’t stay on the field. How much do the Eagles miss him?
The first drive was a tease for Eagles fans because Barkley showcased what’s been apparent for limited glimpses this season: When he’s on the field, he’s a difference-maker. He just hasn’t been able to stay on the field. The offense wasn’t necessarily the problem for the Eagles in this loss and showed encouraging signs at times, but it’s clear they would have been more electric if Barkley could have stayed healthy.
On the opening possession, Barkley touched the ball on three of four plays and accounted for 49 yards and a touchdown. He played sparingly thereafter. He’d try to enter, only to retreat to the sideline after a play. By the second half, a back injury was added to his hamstring injury. It seemed emblematic of the season for the offense. Just when you think they’re getting stronger, there’s a setback. Without Barkley, the Eagles were down six Day 1 starters on offense — including quarterback Jalen Hurts, right tackle Lane Johnson and top wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Barkley was set to add life to the offense.
It lasted for about one drive before it was clear he wasn’t himself. It’s hard to say the game would have been different had Barkley been healthy because of the defense’s performance, but his absence was a demoralizing reminder of how this season has gone in Philadelphia. — Zach Berman, Eagles beat reporter
Why are the Eagles still in search of that complete game?
Throughout their struggles this season, the Eagles have at the very least been able to hang their hats on stellar defensive play. Entering the weekend, it seemed a defensive letdown in a Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears was an anomaly. Now, the state of the defense is a concern. The Eagles allowed the most points in a regular-season or playoff game since hiring defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in 2024.
They failed to pressure Prescott on Monday night. They neither recorded a sack or a quarterback hit. Prescott’s comfort in the pocket allowed him to toss three on-the-money touchdown passes that were quite difficult for the coverage defenders to prevent. Equally concerning: Williams rushed for a season-high 155 yards at 6.2 yards per carry.
The Eagles failed to record a tackle for loss. The organization has far too much invested in its defensive front for it to perform this poorly. Jalen Carter, the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackle, and Jordan Davis, who also signed a three-year, $78 million extension in the offseason, were both neutralized. Jonathan Greenard, whom the Eagles traded and signed to a $100 million contract in the offseason, and Jalyx Hunt both returned to the field after being sidelined with injuries, but they collectively failed to generate pressure. — Brooks Kubena, Eagles beat reporter
Dallas found its run game. How much difference did that make for its offense?
A huge difference. It’s not a surprise they committed to the run game after abandoning it too early in Green Bay. That’s the best Williams has looked this season. That then led to things opening up for the passing game. The offense played like it should. The expectations are to be one of the NFL’s best offenses. No excuses for how they played against the Buccaneers and Packers. This was a good game to get back on track. — Machota
Oct. 26, 2026 Updated 11:20 pm CDT
PHILADELPHIA — The Dallas Cowboys talked about getting their run game going before their Monday night matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
They went out and did just that. Javonte Williams ran for a career-high 155 yards and the Cowboys totaled 204 rushing yards in beating the Eagles 38-21 in what Dak Prescott called a must-win game prior to kickoff.
The Eagles came out like a team on a mission. They drove 80 yards on four plays, buoyed by the return of Saquon Barkley, who capped off the drive with an 8-yard TD run. But Barkley, who was returning after a hamstring injury, struggled to stay on the field the rest of the game. He finished with 62 yards on seven carries.
Still, after a tight first half, Philadelphia (2-5) shifted momentum its way to start the second half with a 17-play, 84-yard scoring drive. Tanner McKee hit Makai Lemon for a 4-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a 21-20 lead.
But it was all Dallas from there.
The Cowboys (3-4) responded with a Prescott to CeeDee Lamb 16-yard TD pass — Lamb’s second TD of the game — to put the Cowboys ahead 28-21 after Prescott ran in the two-point conversion. The Cowboys’ defense came up with a big three-and-out that led to a Brandon Aubrey field goal to extend the lead to 10. The Eagles’ next two possessions ended with a DeMarvion Overshown interception and a turnover on downs at their own 17. Williams ran it in from the 2 to seal the game after Dallas took over with the short field.
Prescott finished the night with 212 passing yards and three TDs. George Pickens (four catches, 57 yards) had the other TD reception. McKee threw for 211 yards with the TD and interception.
Do the Cowboys still have defensive issues despite their big fourth-quarter stops?
Absolutely. There aren’t many areas where Dallas looked that much better in Week 7 than it did in Week 2. Overshown’s interception was a nice takeaway the defense has been missing. Joey Porter Jr. has looked like an elite player, that’s another upgrade since the start of the season. But there are still so many areas of concern. Wide receivers running wide open, Barkley with one hamstring did just about whatever he wanted. That would’ve likely been a completely different game if he was healthy. It was also concerning how good McKee looked at times when considering how he played against Carolina. The Cowboys badly needed the win, so they’ll take it. But they didn’t do much to quiet the critics. — Jon Machota, Cowboys beat reporter
Saquon Barkley gave it a shot, but couldn’t stay on the field. How much do the Eagles miss him?
The first drive was a tease for Eagles fans because Barkley showcased what’s been apparent for limited glimpses this season: When he’s on the field, he’s a difference-maker. He just hasn’t been able to stay on the field. The offense wasn’t necessarily the problem for the Eagles in this loss and showed encouraging signs at times, but it’s clear they would have been more electric if Barkley could have stayed healthy.
On the opening possession, Barkley touched the ball on three of four plays and accounted for 49 yards and a touchdown. He played sparingly thereafter. He’d try to enter, only to retreat to the sideline after a play. By the second half, a back injury was added to his hamstring injury. It seemed emblematic of the season for the offense. Just when you think they’re getting stronger, there’s a setback. Without Barkley, the Eagles were down six Day 1 starters on offense — including quarterback Jalen Hurts, right tackle Lane Johnson and top wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Barkley was set to add life to the offense.
It lasted for about one drive before it was clear he wasn’t himself. It’s hard to say the game would have been different had Barkley been healthy because of the defense’s performance, but his absence was a demoralizing reminder of how this season has gone in Philadelphia. — Zach Berman, Eagles beat reporter
Why are the Eagles still in search of that complete game?
Throughout their struggles this season, the Eagles have at the very least been able to hang their hats on stellar defensive play. Entering the weekend, it seemed a defensive letdown in a Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears was an anomaly. Now, the state of the defense is a concern. The Eagles allowed the most points in a regular-season or playoff game since hiring defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in 2024.
They failed to pressure Prescott on Monday night. They neither recorded a sack or a quarterback hit. Prescott’s comfort in the pocket allowed him to toss three on-the-money touchdown passes that were quite difficult for the coverage defenders to prevent. Equally concerning: Williams rushed for a season-high 155 yards at 6.2 yards per carry.
The Eagles failed to record a tackle for loss. The organization has far too much invested in its defensive front for it to perform this poorly. Jalen Carter, the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackle, and Jordan Davis, who also signed a three-year, $78 million extension in the offseason, were both neutralized. Jonathan Greenard, whom the Eagles traded and signed to a $100 million contract in the offseason, and Jalyx Hunt both returned to the field after being sidelined with injuries, but they collectively failed to generate pressure. — Brooks Kubena, Eagles beat reporter
Dallas found its run game. How much difference did that make for its offense?
A huge difference. It’s not a surprise they committed to the run game after abandoning it too early in Green Bay. That’s the best Williams has looked this season. That then led to things opening up for the passing game. The offense played like it should. The expectations are to be one of the NFL’s best offenses. No excuses for how they played against the Buccaneers and Packers. This was a good game to get back on track. — Machota