It was a disastrous night for the Dallas Cowboys in Philadelphia, as they were obliterated by the Eagles in a 41-7 loss, despite the absence of Jalen Hurts. The Cowboys had hopes of continuing their playoff push, but instead, they saw their postseason aspirations take a massive hit, leaving them at a disappointing 7-9 record. Meanwhile, the Eagles, while still missing their star quarterback, kept their slim chances alive for the No. 1 seed, which will remain in play for now—unless the Detroit Lions clinch with a win on Monday.

This game, a divisional matchup that many had anticipated to be competitive, turned out to be anything but. It was a performance that left Dallas fans frustrated and questioning the future of their team as they look to regroup in the final week of the regular season. Let’s break down the key takeaways from this one-sided affair, where the Cowboys couldn’t seem to get anything going right.

Turnovers Once Again Haunt the Cowboys

One of the most glaring issues for the Cowboys all season has been turnovers, and this game was no different. Entering Week 17, Dallas had turned the ball over four times in five games. Against the Eagles, they managed to match that number in just one half of football. Quarterback Cooper Rush threw two ugly interceptions, both of which put the Cowboys in precarious positions. Meanwhile, running back Rico Dowdle and tight end Jake Ferguson each contributed to the turnover woes by fumbling the ball at critical moments.

It’s hard to win games, especially against a tough opponent like the Eagles, when you’re constantly giving the ball away. Even though the Eagles were without Hurts, they were still able to control the game thanks to the early lead they established. With a commanding advantage, the Eagles could lean heavily on their run game, which in turn, allowed them to play their game with ease.

Jalen Tolbert Continues to Impress

On a positive note for the Cowboys, wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has continued to show growth and reliability. He recorded a touchdown in his third consecutive game, a streak that’s been one of the few bright spots for Dallas. In this game, the touchdown came on a well-designed run play with a built-in alert for Rush to throw it to Tolbert, who had a one-on-one matchup on the outside. Tolbert went up and grabbed the ball in contested coverage, extending his arms to secure his seventh contested catch of the season.

While Tolbert still has a long way to go before becoming a fully polished receiver, his ability to make plays in tight situations has been impressive. Particularly in the red zone, where he’s been one of the most reliable options for the Cowboys. As the season progresses, it’s clear that Tolbert is beginning to build trust and chemistry with his quarterback, which could bode well for Dallas moving forward.

Cowboys’ Pass Rush Completely Neutralized

One of the most underwhelming aspects of the game was the Cowboys’ inability to generate any pressure on the Eagles’ quarterbacks, despite a defensive line that has had success at times this season. While the Eagles stuck to the run game for the most part, there were plenty of clean pockets for both quarterbacks—Tanner McKee and Pickett—throughout the game.

The Eagles’ offensive line did a fantastic job picking up the Cowboys’ blitzes, leaving no room for Dallas’ defensive line to make an impact. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is known for dialing up pressure and confusing quarterbacks with creative blitz schemes, but the Eagles’ O-line neutralized every attempt, allowing their quarterbacks to have far too much time to make plays down the field.

Dallas’ Cornerback Struggles Exposed

The Cowboys’ secondary was another area that was exposed in this game. Cornerback DaRon Bland had the tough task of shadowing the Eagles’ top receiver, A.J. Brown, but the Eagles were able to exploit the other side of the field where backup corner Andrew Booth Jr. filled in. That combination proved disastrous for Dallas. Both Pickett and McKee targeted the Cowboys’ secondary relentlessly, finding success with receiver DeVonta Smith. Bland gave up two touchdowns to Smith, and a third reception set up a one-yard touchdown for the Eagles.

At one point, practice squad cornerback Troy Pride Jr. was called up and replaced Booth, but it was clear that the Cowboys were severely lacking in depth at cornerback. Their inability to cover the Eagles’ wideouts allowed Philly to build on their lead without much resistance, further compounding Dallas’ struggles.

In the end, the 41-7 loss to the Eagles was a sobering reminder of just how much work remains for the Cowboys to do—especially in terms of ball security, defensive depth, and overall execution. As the season winds down, Dallas faces tough questions about their roster and coaching decisions. The Eagles, on the other hand, showed resilience in the face of adversity, keeping their playoff hopes alive for another week. For Dallas, the road to redemption will require a significant turnaround in the final week of the regular season if they hope to make a deep playoff run.