Cowboys Snap Two-Game Skid With 38-21 Road Win Over Eagles

The Dallas Cowboys stopped a two-game slide on Monday night with a 38-21 road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, improving to 3-4 and staying within reach in the NFC East.

Quarterback Dak Prescott led the way with three touchdown passes, two of them to CeeDee Lamb and one to George Pickens. It was the sixth time in his career that Prescott has thrown for at least three touchdowns against the Eagles. The win kept Dallas from a third consecutive loss and left the team one step behind the 4-2-1 New York Giants in the division.

Prescott said the stakes were clear. "We say the division's right in front of us. It is as long as we win," he said. He added that another loss would have left the team watching other results more than it should, and called it a "huge road win" given how banged up the Eagles are on offense.

The offense had been under scrutiny coming in. Dallas scored a combined 29 points over its previous two games, and Prescott threw four interceptions in that span. Head coach and playcaller Brian Schottenheimer also drew outside criticism after saying during the week on 105.3 The Fan, "I know how great of a coach I am," and calling himself an "elite playcaller" despite a 9-13-1 record.

Schottenheimer held his usual postgame celebration in the locker room, but he was noticeably restrained with reporters. "Had nothing to do with desperation," he said. "Our guys just played good." Asked if he was all right, he replied, "I'm great. Excited for our guys." Prescott said he did not talk with the coach about the criticism but saw a "definitely hungry, pissed-off version of Schotty," and stressed that the team supports him.

The ground game was a major factor. Dallas topped 200 yards both rushing and passing against the Eagles for the first time since 1983. Javonte Williams ran 25 times for a career-high 155 yards and sealed the game with a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:21 remaining.

The defense was not flawless, giving up the Eagles' opening touchdown in each half, but it made enough plays. DeMarvion Overshown intercepted a pass from Tanner McKee, and Quinnen Williams and Donovan Ezeiruaku each sacked him. "We didn't put together a perfect game," Williams said. "We've got to learn from it. But it's amazing to get a win."

Only 22 days had passed since Dallas's previous win, on Oct. 4 at the Houston Texans, and the Cowboys have not won consecutive games since a three-game streak in Weeks 11 through 13 last year. They next host the 2-5 Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium.

ESPN Analytics gives Dallas a 57% chance of winning the division after the result. Schottenheimer said the win "gets us right back into the hunt in the NFC East," while Prescott cautioned that nothing will be handed to the team: "We've got to come out and earn it each and every week."