Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles: Game Recap by Possession
The Dallas Cowboys travelled to Pennsylvania this week to play the Philadelphia Eagles. For a review of the 1st half, please click here. The following is a brief synopsis of each possession in the 2nd half:
Possession 1, Dallas Cowboys:
November 11, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) passes in front of Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE
Dunbar took a knee in the endzone after the kickoff to open the second half. On 1st down, the Eagle CB broke up a pass intended for Dez Bryant. On 2nd down, Romo was sacked for the 3rd time, which brought up 3rd and 14. On 3rd down, Romo scrambled to buy some time, but still could not find any open receivers and therefore he threw it away. The Cowboys punted.
Possession 2, Philadelphia Eagles:
Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE
The Eagles started their first possession of the 2nd half on their 38. On 1st down, Foles led Maclin into Sensabaugh who delivered a big hit and Maclin dropped the ball. On 2nd down, Morris Claiborne had Riley Cooper one on one; Claiborne was called for holding. That was the Cowboys’ 6th penalty of the day which gave Philly 1st and 10 around their 45. LeSean McCoy then made a big run for 23 yards. The Eagles went back to McCoy who gained 9 yards, but the play was called back for a holding penalty. Instead on 2nd and 1 at the 25, it was 2nd and 20 at the 44. The Cowboys secondary then blew a coverage on Jeremy Maclin who was wide open for a 44 yard TD.
Dallas Cowboys 10 – Philadelphia Eagles 14
Possession 3, Dallas Cowboys:
Lance Dunbar returned the kickoff to the 15 and then fumbled the ball. The Cowboys recovered, which set up 1st and 10 from the Cowboys 17. Felix Jones took another delayed draw up the middle for a gain of 4 yards. Jones then carried the ball over the LG for 2 yards. On 3rd and 4, Romo hit FB Lawrence Vickers, but he was tackled before the 1st down. The Cowboys, having started the 2nd half with two consecutive ‘3-and-outs’, punted again .
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE
Possession 4, Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles started on their own 28. Foles hit Jackson on 1st down for a gain of 8. On 2nd down, Foles was under pressure and therefore dumped the ball off to Brent Celek for a loss of 1 yard. On 3rd and 3, Claiborne appeared to knock down the pass to force a punt, but CB Orlando Scandrick was called for holding which gave the Eagles a new set of downs. Foles then hit Maclin on a quick out for 4 yards. Morris Claiborne made a great tackle on McCoy in the open field to force a 3rd and 2. On a pass from Foles that looked like it had no hope of being completed, Morris Claiborne was called for pass interference to give the Eagles yet another unearned 1st down. McCoy ran for 12 yards on the next play to give the Eagles 1st and 10 from the Cowboys 18. McCoy then ran over his RG for another 6 yards. On 2nd down, the Eagles tried another WR screen which the Cowboys finally recognized and dropped the receiver for a loss. On 3rd and 4, the Cowboys only rushed 3 players, Foles completed a pass for a 1st down, but an Eagle lineman was called for illegal hands to the face. Instead on 1st and goal from the 1, it was 3rd and 15 from the 24. The Eagles stayed conservative calling a run; Bruce Carter made a quick tackle to force a FG attempt.
Dallas Cowboys 10 – Philadelphia Eagles 17
Possession 5, Dallas Cowboys:
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE
The kickoff went through the endzone, so the Cowboys began at their own 20. On first down, Romo tried a short toss to Witten who got dropped for a 1 yard loss. On 2nd down, Romo finally had time to survey the field and he found Witten for a gain of 15 yards. On 1st down, Romo continued to look like he has only 1 receiver, so he hit Witten (despite tight coverage)for 6. After a carry by Dunbar for no gain on 2nd down, Romo did his impression of Houdini to buy time; he found Miles Austin downfield for a gain of 25 and a new sert of downs. On 1st down they gained 9 via a completion to Bryant, but on 2nd down they lost 3 yards on a run by Vickers. On 3rd and 4 from the Eagles 30, Romo threw to the endzone for Dez Bryant. The play was called a TD on the field and they called a pass interference penalty on the Eagle defender. After review of the catch by Bryant, it was ruled a touchdown.
Dallas Cowboys 17 – Philadelphia Eagles 17
Romo completed big plays on 2 3rd downs during that drive.
END of 3RD QUARTER
Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIRE
Possession 6, Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles began their drive at their own 22. Anthony Spencer picked off a Foles pass, but the interception was negated by a holding penalty on Morris Claiborne. The Eagles earned their 6th first down by a Cowboys penalty. McCoy then rushed for a short gain to bring up 2nd and 8. Under pressure from NT Jay Ratliff, Eagles QB Foles was forced to throw the ball away. On 3rd and 8, Anthony Spenver put pressure on Foles who had to throw the ball away again and force another punt.
Possession 7, Dallas Cowboys:
Dwayne Harris fielded the punt at his own 22 and then took the ball all the way up the sideline for a TD.
Dallas Cowboys 24 – Philadelphia 17
Possession 8, Philadelphia Eagles:
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE
The Eagles began on their own 20. Foles hit TE Brent Celek, who was being covered by Bruce Carter for 11 yards. On the next play, McCoy was able to get to the outside, but Claiborne came up and made a nice tackle to limit McCoy to 3 yards. On the next play, CB Brandon Carr made an interception after the ball was bobbled by the Philly receiver; Carr returned the pick for a TD.
Dallas Cowboys 31 – Philadelphia Eagles 17
Possession 9, Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles started their drive on their own 21. Josh Brent was called for encroachment, bringing the total of Cowboys’ offsides penalties to 5. The Eagles went to a semi-hurry-up offense. They completed a couple plays and had a 1st down at the 47. The Eagles were called again (Dunlap) for illegal hands to the face. On 1st and 20, Scandrick dropped his 2nd pick of the evening. On 2nd and 20, the Eagles tried a screen to McCoy, but Scandrick read it beautifully and shot through to the backfield to drop McCoy for a 4 yard loss. The Eagles were able to gain just 8 yards on 3rd down, and the Eagles had to punt again.
November 11, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones (28) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Mychal Kendricks (95) and defensive tackle Cedric Thornton (72) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE
Possession 10, Dallas Cowboys:
McBriar’s punt sailed into the endzone, so the Cowboys took over on their own 20. On a minimal gain by Felix Jones, the Eagles were called for illegal hands to the face. Jason Garrett was content to continue running the ball. On 1st down, Jones gained 3 yards. John Phillips was called for a false start, leaving the Cowboys with 2nd and 12. Romo pitched to Jones for a gain of 3. On 3rd and 9, with 6:30 remaining, Garrett called a timeout. The Cowboys stayed conservative by calling a run on 3rd down and then punting.
Possession 11, Philadelphia Eagles:
On a broken play caused by Anthony Spencer’s pressure on Foles, Scandrick suffered some kind of injury. The Eagles had 1st and 10 with 5:05 left at their own 37. Foles hit Maclin for about 13; the Eagles then went to a no-huddle and McCoy rushed for 9 yards. Foles then hit Maclin for 7. The Eagles then went back to McCoy who picked up 6 yards. On 2nd and 4, Foles overthrew Maclin who appeared to be open to force a 3rd and 4 from the Cowboys 28. Victor Butler beat his man to the outside and then ran down Foles for the sack. On 4th and 9, Foles had tons of time to wait for a WR to get open; he hit Johnson who was tackled at the Cowboys 2 yardline. The next play was incomplete, but Claiborne was called for lining up in the neutral-zone. The Eagles, with less than 2 minutes remaining, were able to punch it in from the 1 yardline.
The Eagles kicker missed the extra point attempt.
Dallas Cowboys 31 – Philadelphia Eagles 23
Possession 12, Dallas Cowboys:
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE
The Eagles attempted an onside kick, but TE Jason Witten secured the kick. With only 1:50 left in the game, Garrett continued to feed the ball to Felix Jones. The Eagles used their last timeout with 1:44 left in the game as the Cowboys faced 3rd and 9. Garrett remained content to run the ball with Jones. The Cowboys, being up by 8 points, punted to the Eagles with just under a minute left to play.
Possession 13, Philadelphia Eagles:
Another great punt by Mormon stuck the Eagles at their own 11 yardline. After a false start penalty, Foles was sacked near the endzone; the fumble was recovered by Jason Hatcher for a Cowboys TD.
Dallas Cowboys 38 – Philadelphia Eagles 23
Possession 14, Philadelphia Eagles:
After a squib kick, the Eagles took over with 52 seconds left.
This game marks the 1st five game losing streak under Andy Reid, and their first 5 game losing streak since 1998.
Final Score:
Dallas Cowboys 38 – Philadelphia Eagles 23
EDITOR’S NOTE: This post was published within minutes of the end of the game and therefore is unedited.