Cowboys down Eagles 38-21 as Prescott and Williams shine

Dak Prescott threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to CeeDee Lamb, as the Dallas Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-21 on Monday night to inflict a fifth consecutive defeat on Nick Sirianni's side.

Javonte Williams ran for a career-high 155 yards and a touchdown as the Cowboys improved to 3-4 and stayed in the hunt for the NFC East title, according to the Guardian. The New York Giants lead the division at 4-2-1.

The Eagles played the game without Jalen Hurts, who was absent through injury, and fell to 2-5 as their troubled season deepened further.

Analysis from Yahoo Sports credited Dallas's offensive line with dominating the line of scrimmage from the opening snap, routinely reaching the second level and overpowering an Eagles defensive interior that the outlet described as no pushover. Prescott was not sacked all night, and the line did not concede a single tackle for loss.

That protection transformed Williams, who Yahoo Sports said showed patience before hitting his holes and used jump cuts to turn modest gains into bigger ones, navigating defenders with a shiftiness not previously on show.

Prescott spread the ball effectively when Dallas did throw, helped by what Yahoo Sports called the elite body control and ball-tracking of his receivers, with his first two touchdown passes singled out as standout plays. Ryan Flournoy caught all four of his targets for 70 yards, while Brevyn Spann-Ford logged a career-high 53% of offensive snaps as his role continues to grow at the expense of Jake Ferguson, who played 56%.

Yahoo Sports was more critical of other aspects of the display, noting that Prescott continued to throw into coverage more than he should, with two slant passes deflecting off defenders and nearly leading to interceptions. The outlet suggested opposing cornerbacks have begun sitting on those routes and that Prescott needs to read coverages more carefully.

Dallas's execution in scoring position also drew scrutiny, with Yahoo Sports describing the team's repeated settling for field goals inside the ten-yard line as baffling given the circumstances, and questioning head coach Brian Schottenheimer's playcalling and clock management in those situations.

The Cowboys defence was also exposed early, allowing Philadelphia to march 75 yards on just four plays on the Eagles' opening possession despite the hosts fielding a depleted offensive unit. Yahoo Sports said the unit struggled with poor angles and tackling on catch-and-run plays throughout, and credited some fortune that Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee was not more precise.

Dallas will look to build on the win as they continue their pursuit of the Giants at the top of the NFC East, while Philadelphia must find answers during Hurts's continued absence to arrest a losing run that has now stretched to five games.