Eagles Finish Off Cowboys, in More Ways Than One

On the Cowboys’ last drive, Prescott overthrew receiver Tavon Austin, who had a full step on his defender. Receiver Michael Gallup then let a pass fall through his hands. On fourth down on the Eagles’ 23 with 1:21 left, Prescott had Gallup one-on-one in the end zone, but cornerback Sidney Jones broke up the pass.

“Stats don’t matter,” Prescott said of his team’s talented roster. “It’s all about the best team out there.”

It was yet another dreadful performance by the Cowboys, who came into the game as the seventh best team in the league, according to EdjSports, a sports analytics company whose power index analyses N.F.L. teams’ offense, defense, passing and rushing.

The Cowboys are stocked with talented players. Prescott is ranked in the top five in pass completions, yards and touchdowns. Elliott (whom Jones made the game’s wealthiest running back with a six-year $90 million extension in the off-season) is fifth in yards gained. The team has one of the best offensive lines in the league, and its defense has given up the seventh fewest yards per game.

Their talent helps explain why, after the Cowboys lost 13-9 to the Patriots, Jones took aim at Garrett. “With the makeup of this team, I shouldn’t be this frustrated,” Jones told reporters.

Garrett was criticized for settling for a field goal late in the fourth quarter of that game when the Cowboys were down by a touchdown. Given the Cowboys’ popularity and their strong roster, Garrett’s decisions are scrutinized more than most coaches’. With the loss to an Eagles team that has struggled even more than the Cowboys, that scrutiny looks to be merited.

“Jerry Jones has a reason to be impatient,” Frank Frigo, EdjSports’ co-founder, said. “I definitely think there’s some meat on the bone about Garrett. He’s definitely been given a chance.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/sports/football/eagles-cowboys-score.html?emc=rss&partner=rss