PHILADELPHIA – Dak Prescott’s feelings notwithstanding, it wouldn’t be fair to characterize Monday night’s meeting between the quarterback’s Dallas Cowboys and the archrival Philadelphia Eagles – at least what’s left of them – as a must-win for “America’s Team,” especially given the sad state of affairs in the NFC East. Still, this outcome could mark the turning point Prescott and Co. desperately needed after two lifeless performances sullied what's supposed to be a Super Bowl-caliber operation.
The Cowboys (3-4) pulled away for a 31-21 victory Oct. 26 on “Monday Night Football,” pulling them closer to the division-leading New York Giants (4-2-1) while sending the spiraling Eagles to their fifth straight loss … and perhaps informing how EVP/GM
Howie Roseman operates in the coming weeks as the Nov. 10 trade deadline draws closer.
Quite a few winners and losers to sift through aside from the verdict on the scoreboard:
WINNERS
Dak Prescott and Cowboys offense
The Dallas quarterback told ESPN that “it’s a must win, division opponent” prior to kickoff. And the Cowboys delivered with their best offensive showing in at least three weeks. Prescott led the way with a trio of gorgeous touchdown passes to his high-priced wideouts – two to CeeDee Lamb and one to George Pickens. RB Javonte Williams also put down a powerful bass line with a career-high 155 ck yards on the ground. That could portend better things for a team that was always supposed to be a fueled by an offense that had only managed 29 total points in the previous two games (both defeats).
Troy Aikman and Joe Buck
Body language experts will see what they want, but it was another professional broadcast from the longtime tandem – including a poignant moment they shared when talking about recently deceased colleague David Moulton. Whatever tension exists between play-by-play man Buck and Aikman, the Hall of Fame quarterback who’s openly pondered his future, it’s not coming through during the game itself, which even included some of their familiar repartee.
JAŸ-Z
During halftime, he was announced as the featured halftime performer for Super Bowl 61 … which, a little self-nomination from the man the league has consulted for years while raising the stakes for the highly coveted entertainment showcase? Also, good luck topping the performance of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, et al. five years ago, when the game was also based in the greater Los Angeles area.
Saquon Barkley
He played for the first time since suffering the first hamstring injury of his NFL career three weeks ago and made the most of his touches – nine for 71 yards and a touchdown, the bulk of the damage coming on Philly’s opening drive when he had three touches for 49 yards and scored on an 8-yard run.
LOSERS
Saquon Barkley
One of the Eagles’ captains, he was clearly laboring and ultimately played limited snaps. Could get interesting if the Eagles decide to ultimately trade Barkley.
Eagles’ 2026 lineup
Philadelphia can’t catch a break, aside from the fairly literal ones. Barkley was clearly not 100%, and OLB Nolan Smith and top WRs DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks were all out for a team starting a quarterback (Tanner McKee) who began the season third on the depth chart.
Eagles' 2027 lineup?
Crazy to think it hasn't yet been two years since Philadelphia steamrolled the dynastic Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. But Roseman has interesting decisions to potentially make on Barkley, maybe LB Zack Baun, Nolan Smith and/or perhaps others − to say nothing of the clouded future that surrounds QB Jalen Hurts.
NFC East
Dallas' convincing W certainly doesn't bode well for the Eagles and Washington Commanders, who are already on the fringes of the coalescing playoff race and sends a clear message to the Giants that the race to the top of the divisional mountain is far from over.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wounded Eagles' face murky future after loss to Cowboys: Winners and losers
