Eagles improve to 6-0, Hurts key in 26-17 win over Cowboys

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Jalen Hurts threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns, CJ Gardner-Johnson had two of Philadelphia’s three touchdown passes on the Cooper Rush and the Eagles remained undefeated with a 26-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

The Eagles hung on after their 20-0 lead fell to 20-17 early in the fourth quarter, improving to 6-0 for the first time since 2004 – when they won their first seven games to go to the Super Bowl.

Philly put the game away with an efficient drive that took up more than half of the fourth quarter. The Eagles converted three third downs, and Hurts hit DeVonta Smith for a 7-yard touchdown. Cowboys quarterback Trevon Diggs ripped off his helmet and threw a tantrum after the score, one last chance to hang on and wrest the NFC East lead from the Eagles.

The Eagles failed the 2-point conversion and led 26-17.

Hurts converted two of the third downs on rushing attempts, and Philly needed a run after the Cowboys (4-2) got back into the game. Ezekiel Elliott scored on a 14-yard run in the third to make it 20-10, and the mostly struggling Rush threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson in the fourth for a 20-17 game.

Gardner-Johnson made a diving catch for his second interception to end one late drive, and Brett Maher missed a 59-yard field goal attempt in a last-gasp attempt to stay within striking distance.

Rush led Dallas to four straight wins in place of the injured Dak Prescott, but was outplayed under the lights in front of a raucous crowd — and by an Eagles defense that ranks second in the NFL in turnovers. Rush threw two interceptions in the first half that led to 10 points for the Eagles, and the ineffective QB finished the half with a 1.0 rating.

No wonder the Eagles are the NFL’s only undefeated team.

The Eagles scored 20 points in the second quarter and have now outscored opponents 112-27 in that quarter this season.

The Eagles went 8 of 12 on fourth down attempts coming into the game and kept the gamble on their first score. Pains connected with AJ Brown on fourth-and-3 for 11 yards. Then on fourth-and-4-from-10, the Eagles caught Dallas on a neutral-zone offense for an automatic first down. Miles Sanders scored on a 5-yard TD run to make it 7-0.

Rush, solid but hardly lighting up the scoreboard as a starter, had a pass that was deflected and intercepted by Gardner-Johnson, who swung his arms after the pick and sent Eagles fans wild. Philly sports fans haven’t had much of a chance to settle down this fall. The Eagles are perfect, the Phillies are in the NL Championship Series, the Union hosts a playoff game this week and the 76ers open the season on Thursday.

Hurts took the pick and hit Brown for a 15-yard TD and a 14-0 lead.

Jake Elliott, who missed last week’s game with a sprained ankle, added field goals of 51 and 34 yards to make it 20-0. Elliott’s second field goal came after Darius Slay intercepted Rush.

ROOM for trainers

Eagles T Lane Johnson out with concussion.

FIRST LADY OF THE HOUSE

First Lady Jill Biden attended the game as part of a cancer awareness night. Biden met with cancer patients, cancer survivors and their families. She also spoke with 76ers center Joel Embiid and was at midcourt for the coin toss.

OLD REPORT

Embiid and several other Sixers were at the game. So is New Jersey native Anaheim Angels player and Eagles fan Mike Trout. Slay made a layup earlier this season to Sixers star James Harden. After his pick against Rush, Slay gave the ball to rapper Meek Mill. Questlove and Bradley Cooper, wearing an Allen Iverson jersey, were also at the game.

NEXT

The Cowboys return home next Sunday to play Detroit.

The Eagles go next week and host the Steelers on October 30th.

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