The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t part with the game regardless of how inadequately they played.
Carson Wentz tossed a couple of score passes to defeat four turnovers, Rodney McLeod restored a bobble 53 yards for a score and the Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys 23-9 on Sunday night.
A couple of two-win groups battling for the lead position in the frail NFC East in Week 8 put on a messy show fit for the preseason rather than early evening.
The Eagles (3-4-1) assumed responsibility for the division with their second consecutive triumph. Dallas (2-6) has lost three of every a line.
“It didn’t look pretty,” said Eagles cautious end Brandon Graham, who had one of the group’s two strip-sacks. “We knew it was going to be a battle. We held strong.”
Dallas tenderfoot Ben DiNucci, a seventh-round pick from James Madison making his first beginning, was sacked multiple times and lost two bumbles. He finished 21 of 40 passes for 180 yards.
“We clearly understand what this loss does to us,” Cowboys first-year coach Mike McCarthy said. “But we need to rally and get together here and move on. … We took a step in the right direction in a number of areas, and felt a number of components of our football team also improved.”
Wentz tossed two capture attempts and lost two bobbles however his 9-yard TD pass to Travis Fulgham in the second from last quarter gave Philadelphia the lead for good. Wentz associated with Jalen Reagor on the 2-direct change toward make it 15-9.
“Too many turnovers. I got to be better,” Wentz said. “I’m not good enough.”
Dallas was driving at the Eagles 21 with an opportunity to start to lead the pack in the final quarter when DiNucci was sacked by T.J. Edwards and bobbled. McLeod got a free ball and took care of business for a 21-9 lead. The 2-point change fizzled, however Dallas later took a security on a punt.
DiNucci began on the grounds that Andy Dalton is out with a blackout and Dak Prescott broke his correct lower leg in Week 5.
“I thought I played well at times,” DiNucci said. “Obviously. had two costly turnovers. The spot that we were in the game, field position, all that stuff, can’t really have that. So that’s on me.”
Boston Scott ran for a profession best 70 yards for the Eagles. Wentz completed 15 of 27 for 123 yards.
“A win is a win,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. “We have to start stacking them together. We’re happy and excited to get the win, but we have some things to figure out.”
Greg Zuerlein hit a 59-yard field objective to give Dallas a 9-7 halftime lead. The Cowboys transformed two fourth-down stops at their 44 into short-drive field objectives.
DiNucci drove Dallas successfully on the initial belonging and Zuerlein kicked a 49-yard field objective.
The Cowboys at that point had a superb open door after Donovan Wilson strip-fired Wentz and recouped at the Eagles 25. Dallas had a first down at the Eagles 4 preceding Brandon Graham stripped DiNucci on second down and recouped.
Philadelphia transformed that turnover into a score as Wentz threw a 2-yard TD pass to Reagor for a 7-3 lead. Reagor, the 21st by and large pick, missed the past five games following thumb medical procedure. A 32-yard leave to Fulgham set behind the score.
The Eagles went for a fourth-and-3 at the Cowboys 44 on their next drive. Leighton Vander Esch fired Wentz, thumping the ball away and Dallas recouped at Philadelphia’s 46. Zuerlein’s 49-yarder slice it to 7-6.
The Eagles had a first down from the Cowboys 34 late in the main half when Trevon Diggs made a sliding capture in the end zone. Dallas had three takeaways in the main half and four all out subsequent to getting just three in the initial seven games.
Diggs picked Wentz again on a profound pass on Philadelphia’s initial drive in the second from last quarter. Yet, Zuerlein missed a 52-yarder wide right on the following drive.
“I feel like we’re doing a heck of a job growing together,” Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence said. “We’ve just got to peak our game (from) tonight and come up with a win next time.”
TRICKERY
The Eagles pulled out the Philly Special in the second quarter with wideout Greg Ward, a school quarterback, hoping to toss to Wentz, who was secured. Ward wound up running for 2 yards.
The Cowboys had Elliott and Cedrick Wilson take direct snaps in a wildcat development with DiNucci split wide.
INJURIES
Eagles: CB Darius Slay (ankle) and DT Malik Jackson (quad) left in the second from last quarter.
UP NEXT
Cowboys: Host the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-0) next Sunday.
Eagles: Visit the New York Giants (1-6) on Nov. 15 after a bye.
