Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles Match Player Stats (Dec 29, 2024)

Philadelphia secured the division crown Sunday in dominant fashion, riding backup QBs and Barkley’s historic day to victory

The Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats from Week 17 painted a brutal picture for Dallas fans. The Birds completely dismantled their division rivals 41-7 at Lincoln Financial Field, clinching the NFC East title while ending the Cowboys’ playoff hopes.

Philadelphia (11-5) won despite missing starting QB Jalen Hurts, while Dallas (7-10) suffered their most lopsided defeat of the season, cementing their first losing record since 2020.

Eagles Backups Shine While Cowboys Implode

Three minutes into the contest, the tone was set.

Cooper Rush stared down Brandin Cooks on a third-down out route. Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson jumped it perfectly, racing 69 yards untouched for a pick-six. The Linc erupted. The rout was on.

“Film study. Pure film study,” Gardner-Johnson said. “They run that same route concept on third-and-medium. Once I saw the formation, I knew exactly what was coming.”

Though Dallas briefly tied the game at 7-7 on Rush’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert, Philadelphia scored the game’s final 34 points behind stellar play from backup quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee.

Pickett, acquired from Pittsburgh in March for a third-round pick, completed 10-of-15 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown before exiting with a rib injury on a hit from Micah Parsons. Third-stringer McKee stepped in seamlessly, connecting on 3-of-4 throws for 54 yards and two scores.

Rush, meanwhile, completed just 15-of-28 passes for 147 yards with the one touchdown and two killer interceptions.

“Our prep was outstanding this week,” Pickett noted. “Kellen [Moore] put together a perfect game plan to neutralize their pass rush with quick throws and protection slides. Guys made plays when the ball came their way.”

Key Offensive Stats Comparison

Barkley Joins Elite 2,000-Yard Club

While quarterback play created separation, Saquon Barkley delivered the hammer blows.

The fifth-year back pounded out 167 yards on 31 carries (5.4 avg), pushing his season total to 2,005 yards. With that performance, Barkley became just the ninth player in NFL history to reach the 2,000-yard threshold in a single season.

“Front five dominated today,” Barkley said, deflecting praise to his offensive line. “Jason [Kelce] and those guys were calling out every front, every blitz. All I had to do was hit the holes.”

A 28-yard burst in the fourth quarter pushed Barkley past the milestone, bringing the crowd to its feet. He now sits just 101 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season record (2,105 yards, set in 1984) with one game remaining.

Rico Dowdle provided Dallas’s lone bright spot, grinding out 104 yards on 23 carries, though his fourth-quarter fumble effectively ended any remote comeback hopes.

Rushing Production

Smith Torches Dallas Secondary

DeVonta Smith doesn’t care who’s throwing him the ball.

The third-year wideout dominated Dallas corners all afternoon, hauling in six catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns. His precise route-running gave fits to Cowboys defensive backs, particularly on his 22-yard second-quarter score that put Philadelphia ahead for good.

“He’s just different,” Eagles receivers coach Aaron Moorehead said. “His ability to set up defenders and create separation at the top of routes is as good as anyone in football.”

A.J. Brown added three receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Grant Calcaterra provided the highlight of the day with a one-handed 34-yard grab on third-and-8 that sustained a crucial second-quarter drive.

Dallas’s passing game never found traction. Brandin Cooks managed four catches for 52 yards, well below his recent production. Jake Ferguson’s second-quarter fumble (forced by Oren Burks, recovered by Jordan Davis) further crippled the Cowboys’ attack.

Eagles Defense Swarms After Early TD

Following Dallas’s lone touchdown, Philadelphia’s defense slammed the door.

The Eagles generated four takeaways (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries) while allowing just 268 total yards. After the Cowboys gained 105 yards on their first two possessions, they managed just 163 yards over their final eight drives.

“We made coverage adjustments after that first quarter,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio explained. “Started disguising our pre-snap looks better and taking away their crossing routes with more man-match principles.”

Gardner-Johnson’s two interceptions led the way, but contributions came from all three levels. Oren Burks tallied eight tackles and forced a fumble, rookie corner Quinyon Mitchell registered five solo stops while locking down the boundary, and Jordan Davis controlled the interior while recovering Ferguson’s fumble.

Dallas’s defense, despite entering with a league-leading 19 interceptions, failed to generate a single turnover.

Team Stat Comparison

Game Flow: Eagles Seize Control Early

The contest’s trajectory changed drastically after Gardner-Johnson’s pick-six, but the Eagles truly seized control during a decisive second quarter.

After Philadelphia took a 14-7 lead on Pickett’s 22-yard strike to Smith, the defense forced two critical turnovers. Oren Burks stripped Ferguson (recovered by Davis), setting up Jake Elliott’s 31-yard field goal. Minutes later, Gardner-Johnson snagged his second interception, which the offense converted into Pickett’s 1-yard touchdown plunge just before halftime.

“Those second-quarter turnovers broke the game open,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy admitted. “We never recovered mentally.”

Philadelphia’s 24-7 halftime advantage grew steadily in the second half. McKee’s third-quarter touchdown pass to Brown (20 yards) and fourth-quarter connection with Smith (25 yards) only padded the already comfortable margin.

Fourth-Quarter Focus: Barkley’s Milestone

With the outcome decided, attention shifted to Barkley’s pursuit of 2,000 yards.

The back needed 28 more yards entering the fourth quarter to reach the milestone. Head coach Nick Sirianni, despite the lopsided score, kept feeding Barkley until he broke through with his historic 28-yard burst off left tackle with 7:42 remaining.

“Some things transcend the scoreboard,” Sirianni explained. “The opportunity to witness and be part of NFL history doesn’t come around often. Our guys wanted that for him.”

Barkley joins an exclusive club featuring Eric Dickerson (2,105), Adrian Peterson (2,097), Jamal Lewis (2,066), Barry Sanders (2,053), Derrick Henry (2,027), Terrell Davis (2,008), Chris Johnson (2,006) and O.J. Simpson (2,003).

• Also Read: Cincinnati Reds vs Houston Astros Match Player Stats (May 11, 2025).

What’s Next: Record Chase vs. Playoff Rest

With the division title secured and playoff seeding locked in, Philadelphia faces an interesting decision heading into Week 18’s home finale against the Giants.

The primary question: Will Barkley get his shot at Dickerson’s all-time rushing record? He needs 101 yards to surpass the NFL’s 40-year-old mark.

“We’ve got bigger goals ahead,” Sirianni said carefully when asked about playing starters. “But there’s also something special about chasing history. We’ll make those decisions as a staff this week.”

For Dallas, the bitter defeat ends a disappointing campaign that began with Super Bowl aspirations. Their third consecutive season without playoff football represents their longest drought of the Jerry Jones ownership era since 2011-2013.

“Unacceptable performance across the board,” Jones stated bluntly. “Changes coming.”

Notes From The Trenches

• Eagles center Jason Kelce allowed zero pressures for the sixth consecutive game
• Cowboys LB Micah Parsons was held without a quarterback hit until his third-quarter collision with Pickett
• Eagles rookie CB Quinyon Mitchell allowed just two completions on six targets
• Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks saw his streak of three straight 80+ yard games snapped
• Eagles K Jake Elliott remained perfect on the season from inside 40 yards (18/18)
• Philadelphia’s offensive line has now allowed just four sacks over their last five games

Inside The Matchup: Key Factors

Turnover Differential: The Eagles’ +4 margin proved decisive, directly leading to 17 Philadelphia points.

Third Down Defense: After Dallas converted 3-of-5 third downs on their first two drives, the Eagles held them to 3-of-9 for the remainder of the game.

Pressure Packages: Philadelphia disguised their blitzes effectively, forcing Rush into a 31.8 passer rating when blitzed compared to 64.2 against standard rushes.

Red Zone Efficiency: The Eagles converted 3-of-5 red zone trips into touchdowns (60%), while Dallas went 1-for-2 (50%).

Field Position: Thanks to turnovers and superior special teams play, Philadelphia’s average starting position was their own 42-yard line, compared to Dallas starting at their own 24.

When examining the Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats, the overwhelming edge for Philadelphia across every statistical category reinforces what the scoreboard already told us – this NFC East showdown was complete domination from start to finish.