Cowboys vs. Eagles score, takeaways: Dak Prescott throws 3 TDs as Dallas rallies past Philadelphia in shootout

There won't be an NFC East champion crowned this week. Dak Prescott threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the second half, to lead the Dallas Cowboys past the Gardner Minshew-led Philadelphia Eagles, 40-34, to stay alive in the division race. 

Philadelphia put up a valiant effort with Minshew at quarterback, but four turnovers that led to 20 Cowboys points resulted in their undoing. Dallas scored the final 13 points to win the game, six of which came off of a Minshew interception and a Miles Sanders fumble to give them short fields and take control of the game. 

Prescott tied the game at 34 with 5:49 left with a seven-yard touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb to erase the Cowboys' second 10-point deficit of the day. The Cowboys took their first lead since the first quarter after converting a 48-yard field goal by Brett Maher with 2:19 to play. After Sanders' fumble, the Cowboys drove down to the Eagles eight-yard line -- but T.J. Edwards kept the game alive with a tackle on Prescott in the final two minutes. Maher kicked a 26-yard field goal with 1:41 to play to put Dallas up 40-34.

Minshew and the Eagles offense got to the Cowboys' 19-yard line in the final minutes, but couldn't go any farther as Dallas stopped Philadelphia by forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down to seal the victory. 

Minshew finished 24 of 40 for 355 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. DeVonta Smith finished with eight catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns, while A.J. Brown had six catches for 103 yards. 

Lamb had 10 catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys. Prescott completed 26 of 35 passes to eight different receivers while also having six carries for 41 yards. 

The Eagles won't clinch the NFC East, but still need one win in the final two games to lock that up and home-field advantage. The Cowboys clinched at least the No. 5 seed in the NFC with the win. 

A recap of the game can be found in the live blog below, but here are some takeaways from this NFC East thriller. 

Why the Cowboys won

Dak Prescott deserves a lot of credit for throwing for 347 yards and three touchdowns against the No. 1 pass defense, but the Cowboys also forced four turnovers against the Eagles -- and scored 20 points as a result. If it wasn't for the Eagles' errors, the Cowboys may not have had an opportunity to win the game in the fourth quarter.

CeeDee Lamb had 100 receiving yards in the first half to erase the first 10-point deficit, while Prescott made clutch throws in the second half to keep Dallas within striking distance before the defense give him an opportunity to win the game with the turnovers forced. 

It wasn't the prettiest of games for Dallas, but the Cowboys are still alive in the NFC East race. 

Why the Eagles lost

Four turnovers that led to 20 Cowboys points led to the loss. The Eagles have turned the ball over four-plus times in two games this year -- and lost both games. Minshew threw two interceptions, but those could be attributed to Quez Watkins as much as to him. Miles Sanders also had his second fumble in two games and Minshew botched a handoff to Boston Scott.

The Cowboys scored points off of all the Eagles turnovers. There's the 40-34 final. 

Turning point

What else can you say about Dak Prescott completing a 52-yard pass on third-and-30? Prescott found T.Y. Hilton on a simple go route during which Hilton beat Darius Slay and Josiah Scott for the long completion and the first down. This was Hilton's only target of the game (and he wasn't in the league two weeks ago), and he beat the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL. 

The Eagles just forced a fumble on Prescott and sacked him to create the third-and-30, and the defense let Dallas off the hook. Keep in mind the score was 34-27 in the fourth quarter when the catch occurred. Dallas scored the tying touchdown four plays later and didn't look back as the Cowboys rallied for the victory. 

An incomplete pass on third-and-30? The Eagles may be NFC East champions. 

Play of the game

Prescott's throw to Hilton was the turning point, but Daron Bland's interception was vital toward the Cowboys completing the fourth-quarter rally. Facing a third-and-4 on the Cowboys' 46-yard line, Bland stole a pass intended for Quez Watkins that resulted in a crucial interception for the Cowboys in a 34-34 game.

Dallas used the turnover to get a field goal and take a 37-34 lead with 2:24 left. Judging by the play, Bland just outdueled Watkins on a ball the Eagles wide receiver could have snagged for the first down to keep the drive alive. 

This was the Cowboys' third turnover of the game. 

The quote

"I'm still fast. They gotta respect me." -- Cowboys wide receiver T.Y. Hilton on catching the 52-yard pass from Dak Prescott on third-and-30 to keep Dallas in the game. The Cowboys scored four plays later to tie the game at 34. 

Hilton, playing his first game with the Cowboys, caught one pass for 52 yards. 

Up next

The Cowboys (11-4) finish up on the road with games against the Titans (7-8) and Commanders (7-7-1), with the Tennessee game on Thursday. The Eagles end the year with home games against the Saints (6-9) and Giants (8-6-1), with the Saints game on Sunday, Jan. 1. 

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The Cowboys beat the Eagles. Too many mistakes for the Eagles in this one to win it. Home field advantage still in their grasp.

December 25, 2022, 12:28 AM
Dec. 24, 2022, 7:28 pm EST
 
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4th-and-10 at the 19-yard  line. 27 seconds left. This is the game. 

December 25, 2022, 12:27 AM
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DeVonta Smith has 1,000 yards on the season.

First time in #Eagles history two players have 1,000 yards in the same year (A.J. Brown). 

December 25, 2022, 12:25 AM
Dec. 24, 2022, 7:25 pm EST
 
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The Eagles gained 34 yards in 42 seconds.

At the Cowboys 41 with 59 seconds left. 

December 25, 2022, 12:22 AM
Dec. 24, 2022, 7:22 pm EST
 
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I think Dallas should have went for it on 4th-and-goal. A sweep to Pollard could have scored. Ice the game. 

December 25, 2022, 12:20 AM
Dec. 24, 2022, 7:20 pm EST
 
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Maybe not. Not over yet! Cowboys up 40-34 with 1:41 left. Eagles need a TD to win. Philly has given up 20 points off turnovers. 

December 25, 2022, 12:20 AM
Dec. 24, 2022, 7:20 pm EST
 
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That should do it. 

December 25, 2022, 12:12 AM
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Dallas has the lead after the turnover. 17 points off turnovers today. Eagles probably need a TD to win this one. They have 2:19 to do it. 

December 25, 2022, 12:09 AM
Dec. 24, 2022, 7:09 pm EST
 
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Bad things just seem to happen when quarterbacks throw to Quez Watkins.

Just another mistake by this team. 

December 25, 2022, 12:05 AM
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Lane Johnson is down. Hope he's alright. 

December 25, 2022, 12:03 AM
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The Eagles are making a lot of mistakes to lose this game today.

And it's tied 34-34 with 5:49 to go. They may have the ball last. 

December 24, 2022, 11:59 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:59 pm EST
 
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Josiah Scott. Come on man.

T.Y. Hilton wasn't in the league two weeks ago. 

December 24, 2022, 11:56 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:56 pm EST
 
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DeVonta Smith has 6 catches for 68 yards and 2 TD.

969 yards and 7 TD on the year. Not bad for someone who didn't have a catch Week 1.

December 24, 2022, 11:51 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:51 pm EST
 
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Gardner Minshew read that zero coverage -- and easily found DeVonta Smith for the TD.

The Eagles offense is so, so good. 

December 24, 2022, 11:49 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:49 pm EST
 
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The Eagles have two injuries in the last two weeks they just can't have.

Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown. They need Brown to go to the Super Bowl.  

December 24, 2022, 11:45 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:45 pm EST
 
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Tie game going into the 4th. This has been fun folks. 

December 24, 2022, 11:39 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:39 pm EST
 
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Ndamukong Suh has been a force for this team since he arrived. Stats won't show up in the box score, but he's impacted that pass rush.

Dallas still gets teh TD anyway on an incredible catch by Michael Gallup. That's two 10-point leads the Eagles have blown today. 

It's 27-27 with 2:12 to play in the 3Q. 

December 24, 2022, 11:31 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:31 pm EST
 
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Jayron Kearse with an INT and fumble recovery now. That last recovery was a gift. Just a poor exchange on the handoff. Unforced error on the Eagles which will probably lead to a score. 

December 24, 2022, 11:28 PM
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The Eagles holding Cowboys to FGs is the smart play. They can get a 14-point lead with another good drive here. 

December 24, 2022, 11:24 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:24 pm EST
 
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This Eagles coaching staff has ben strong all year.

Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen have pushed all the right buttons. They know their personnel so well.

A.J. Brown wasn't even on the field on that 4th down TD pass! 

December 24, 2022, 11:16 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:16 pm EST
 
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Shane Steichen is going to be a head coach in tis league.

What a play call for that DeVonta Smith TD. he knows the weakness of Trevon Diggs.

Eagles up 27-17

December 24, 2022, 11:12 PM
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Jordan Davis and Avonte Maddox ruled OUT.

December 24, 2022, 11:11 PM
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It doesn't show up in the box score, but Kenny Gainwell has made some vital plays for this team the past few weeks.

That 3rd down catch was one of them.

December 24, 2022, 11:09 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:09 pm EST
 
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Dallas Goedert just took an interception away from Gardner Minshew. He's good folks.

December 24, 2022, 11:08 PM
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That's a big 3-and-out by the Eagles defense. Excellent coverage on that 3rd down by James Bradberry. Good opportunity to regain that 10-point lead. 

December 24, 2022, 11:03 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 6:03 pm EST
 
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Nick Sirianni can't be happy with taking that timeout there after that false start. Good call by the official there. 

December 24, 2022, 10:42 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 5:42 pm EST
 
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Good hold by the Eagles there. James Bradberry with good coverage, especially on that Prescott pass. Receiver may have lost it in teh sun. Either way, it's 17-17. 

December 24, 2022, 10:36 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 5:36 pm EST
 
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Dallas is 5-of-6 on 3rd down and the pass defense can't stop CeeDee Lamb.

He's taking over this game.

December 24, 2022, 10:28 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 5:28 pm EST
 
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Another mistake by the Eagles defense. this is poor. Another poor penalty on 3rd down. Dallas is going to torch them if they keep this up. 

December 24, 2022, 10:25 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 5:25 pm EST
 
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No Jalen hurts to run it in on 4th-and-goal. Eagles get creative and Gardner Minshew does it. Up 17-14 midway through the 2nd. 

December 24, 2022, 10:21 PM
Dec. 24, 2022, 5:21 pm EST
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