ARLINGTON, Texas − Gardner Minshew led two touchdown drives and Josh Sweat’s 42-yard interception return for a touchdown kept the Eagles in front well into the third quarter.
And the defense, which struggled in the first half, tightened up in the second half.
But it wasn’t enough as Dallas twice recovered from a 10-point deficit. The game was tied 27-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the first half, Dallas racked up 210 yards and converted 6 of 8 third downs. The Eagles did get a stop on 3rd-and-goal from the 3 late in the first half, when Dak Prescott threw incomplete into the end zone. The Cowboys settled for a field goal to tie the game at 17-all.
Then Minshew took the Eagles down to the Cowboys’ 29, where they settled for Jake Elliott’s 47-yard field goal with 11 seconds left for a 20-17 halftime lead.
Sweat gave the Eagles an early 10-0 lead. Prescott was trying to throw in the flat to a receiver, but he couldn’t get the ball over the 6-foot-5 Sweat, who picked it off then returned it for a touchdown.
That gave the Eagles a 10-0 lead. But it didn’t last long as the Cowboys drove down the field, scoring on Ezekiel Elliott’s 1-yard TD run. Minshew then threw an interception that eventually led to Prescott’s 36-yard TD pass to CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys had the lead.
Then Minshew drove the Eagles down the field, and scored on a QB sneak from the 1.
But it was a costly first half as rookie defensive tackle Jordan Davis left to be examined for a concussion and cornerback Avonte Maddox left with a toe injury. Both were ruled out for the rest of the game.
Still, Dallas Goedert made his return after missing 5 games with a shoulder injury. He had 2 catches for 45 yards in the first half.
Eagles’ mistakes costly
Minshew threw an interception early and had a bad exchange with Boston Scott in the third quarter. That led to a fumble that the Cowboys recovered at the Eagles’ 31.
Dallas converted both mistakes into touchdowns as the Cowboys twice recovered from 10-point deficits.
There was a lot at stake for Minshew on Saturday, and for however much longer he’ll remain the Eagles quarterback while Hurts heals from his sprained shoulder.
Minshew, after all, can be a free agent after the season, and he has in the past expressed a desire to be a starting quarterback again.
So Minshew knows that he could be auditioning for all 32 NFL teams against the Cowboys. This is his first start of the season after playing in three previous games − all in the fourth quarter of blowout wins. Minshew has thrown just 4 passes this season, completing 2, for 34 yards.
“I think every time you step out there, that’s what it is, an audition,” Minshew said earlier in the week. “That tape never goes away. So you’re just going out and trying to help your team win. I think if you do that, everything works out well for you.”
Minshew started two games for Hurts last season. The first was a crucial game for the Eagles’ playoff chances last Dec. 5. Minshew completed 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and 2 TDs. He also started the season finale against the Cowboys. The Eagles had already clinched a playoff spot and decided to rest Hurts that day.
Minshew wasn’t as successful in that game, going 19-for-33 for 186 yards with 2 TDs and an interception in the Eagles’ 51-26 loss.
But this is a new season, and Minshew is confident in the players around him.
“We got a lot of really good players,” he said. “I’m excited to get out there with them. I mean pretty much the whole offensive line is in the Pro Bowl. That’s pretty cool, you know? Lot of great guys to throw to, and a defense that’s playing really well. So I gotta go out there and do my job and help us win any way I can.”
Eagles lose lead, take it back
The Eagles’ defense is struggling early against the Cowboys.
Dallas faced a 3rd-and-5 from midfield in the first quarter when Avonte Maddox had Prescott wrapped up for a sack. Instead, Prescott broke free and completed an 11-yard pass to Michael Gallup and a first down. The Cowboys eventually scored to cut the Eagles’ lead to 10-7.
Later, Dallas converted a 4th-and-8 when Darius Slay was called for illegal contact as Prescott threw incomplete to Gallup. The Cowboys scored soon after on Prescott’s 36-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb.
That gave the Cowboys a 14-10 lead with 11:34 left in the first half.
Josh Sweat hits the pick-6
Defensive end Josh Sweat is known more for sacking the quarterback than he is for scoring touchdowns.
Yet there he was, picking off Dak Prescott’s pass and returning it 42 yards for a touchdown with 9:18 in the first quarter, giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead.. For Sweat, it’s his first career interception. Sweat did have one his freshman year at Florida State in 2015.
Sweat’s play came shortly after Minshew hit AJ Brown for 48 yards on a perfectly-executed play-action pass down to Dallas’ 10 yard line. That led to Jake Elliott’s 25-yard field goal.
Eagles make some pregame moves
As expected, Hurts was among the Eagles’ list of inactive players on game day. Joining Hurts were RB Trey Sermon, LB Kyron Johnson, DE Janarius Robinson, G Josh Sills and G Sua Opeta.
But the Eagles did make some other adjustments leading up to the game. They signed LB Christian Elliss to the 53-man roster and placed TE Tyree Jackson on injured reserve. Jackson has a knee injury, and won’t be able to return until well into the playoffs.
In addition, S Reed Blankenship returned after missing last week’s game with a knee injury, and started next to Marcus Epps.
Elliss, a special teams ace, had received the maximum three practice-squad elevations. So the Eagles couldn’t use Elliss in a game again unless he was added to the roster. Punter Brett Kern got the practice-squad elevation for this game. It’s his second.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.