The Philadelphia Eagles dropped their fifth consecutive game on Monday night, falling 38-21 to the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field in a matchup that exposed more concerns on both sides of the ball. Philadelphia fell 21-38 despite taking a 21-20 third-quarter lead on Tanner McKee's touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon. Dallas responded with 18 unanswered points, as Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes and the Cowboys rushed for 204 yards.
The Eagles entered the matchup dealing with injuries at several key positions, but they welcomed back Saquon Barkley, Landon Dickerson, Jalen Hurts and Jonathan Greenard. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers also made his NFL debut, while Philadelphia continued adjusting to the absence of
Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith and several other contributors.McKee completed 23 of 35 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Barkley rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, while Lemon led Philadelphia with seven receptions for 67 yards and his first career touchdown.
Philadelphia's snap counts offered additional insight into the offensive rotation, the defensive workload, and several decisions that could shape the team's approach moving forward.
Eagles-Cowboys playing time: pic.twitter.com/J9lRdVxBpO
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) October 27, 2026
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the Eagles' playing time against Dallas, using the supplied snap-count report.
Quarterbacks
Tanner McKee played all 66 offensive snaps as Philadelphia continued to navigate Jalen Hurts' absence. McKee completed 23 of 35 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, showing improved command at times but struggling to sustain production as Dallas took control.
McKee connected with Lemon for a third-quarter touchdown that briefly gave Philadelphia the lead, but the offense failed to build on that momentum. His performance highlighted the challenges facing an offense missing several established playmakers, particularly when protection breaks down or the running game cannot consistently create favorable situations.
Running backs
Saquon Barkley's return gave Philadelphia a much-needed boost, but the veteran ran just 10 offensive snaps, accounting for 15% of the total workload. Barkley rushed seven times for 62 yards and a touchdown before a back injury limited his availability.
Dameon Pierce handled the majority of the work, playing 42 snaps (64%), while Elijah Mitchell contributed 14 snaps (21%). Pierce rushed 14 times for 47 yards and a touchdown, providing the Eagles with a physical option between the tackles as the offense adjusted without Barkley.
Barkley's limited playing time was one of the most significant developments from Monday night. The Eagles have already dealt with significant backfield injuries, and another setback involving their most accomplished offensive player could create additional problems as Philadelphia tries to stabilize its rushing attack.
Wide receivers
Makai Lemon continued establishing himself as one of Philadelphia's most important offensive contributors, playing 60 snaps (91%) and leading the team with seven receptions for 67 yards and his first NFL touchdown. The rookie has taken on a much larger role with DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks out, and Monday's performance showed his growing chemistry with McKee.
Darius Cooper led Philadelphia's wide receivers with 61 snaps (92%), while Marquise "Hollywood" Brown played 36 snaps (55%) and Elijah Moore contributed 22 snaps (33%). Cooper caught one pass for 17 yards, while Brown and Moore combined for four receptions and 46 yards.
The workload illustrated Philadelphia's reliance on its younger receivers, with Lemon and Cooper playing more than 90% of the offensive snaps. Lemon has increasingly become a focal point of the passing game, and the Eagles will need additional production from the rest of the receiving corps while their established starters remain sidelined.
Tight ends
Dallas Goedert remained Philadelphia's primary tight end, playing 48 offensive snaps (73%) and catching five passes for 48 yards. Johnny Mundt played 16 snaps (24%), while rookie Eli Stowers made his NFL debut with 12 snaps (18%). Grant Calcaterra contributed eight snaps (12%) as the Eagles used four tight ends during the matchup.
Stowers' debut was encouraging for an offense looking for additional receiving options. The rookie got one target in his first NFL appearance, and his involvement could grow as he gets more comfortable with the offense and the coaching staff evaluates different personnel combinations.
Goedert's workload reinforced his importance to Philadelphia's passing attack, especially as the wide receiver group deals with injuries. His ability to work underneath coverage and give McKee a reliable target remains valuable as the Eagles try to generate more consistent production.
Offensive line
Philadelphia finally had some continuity along its offensive line, with Jordan Mailata, Markel Bell, Tyler Steen, Landon Dickerson and Drew Kendall each playing all 66 offensive snaps. Dickerson's return was particularly important after the veteran guard missed time with an injury, while Bell continued handling right tackle responsibilities following Lane Johnson's retirement.
The Eagles rushed for 121 yards, with Barkley providing their most explosive production before leaving with a back injury. Philadelphia also allowed two sacks, and the offense struggled to stay consistent in the second half as Dallas extended its lead.
Having all five offensive linemen available for the entire game was an encouraging development for offensive line coach Chris Kuper, but the group still needs to improve its execution. Philadelphia has made several lineup changes throughout the season, and keeping the same combination together could help the offense build better communication and consistency.
Defensive line
Jalen Carter carried the heaviest workload among Philadelphia's defensive tackles, playing 59 snaps (87%), while Jordan Davis contributed 44 snaps (65%) in his return from an ankle injury. Moro Ojomo played 35 snaps (51%), followed by Byron Young with 26 snaps (38%) and Ty Robinson with five snaps (7%).
The Eagles struggled to control the line of scrimmage against a Dallas rushing attack that finished with 204 yards on 38 attempts. Javonte Williams was particularly effective, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries as the Cowboys consistently created opportunities between the tackles and on the perimeter. Dallas averaged 5.4 yards per rushing attempt, exposing problems with Philadelphia's defensive front and its ability to consistently finish plays.
Carter's heavy workload showed how much the Eagles relied on their top interior defender, while Davis's return gave Fangio another physical presence against the run. However, Philadelphia couldn't slow Williams or force Dallas into obvious passing situations, contributing to another frustrating defensive performance. The Eagles will need more consistent production from their defensive line to correct their struggles against the run.
Edge rushers
Arnold Ebiketie led Philadelphia's edge rushers with 48 defensive snaps (71%), while A.J. Epenesa played 29 snaps (43%). Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt each played 25 snaps (37%) as both returned to the defensive rotation after dealing with injuries.
Greenard's return was encouraging after an ankle injury limited his availability during the week, while Hunt gave Philadelphia another option on the edge. Their participation gave Fangio more flexibility, though neither player got a full workload in his return.
The Eagles failed to sack Dak Prescott, who completed 15 of 27 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Philadelphia's inability to consistently pressure the Dallas quarterback contributed to the secondary's struggles, particularly when Prescott had time to locate CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens downfield. Getting Greenard and Hunt back to full strength will be key as the pass rush needs to become more disruptive in the second half of the season.
Linebackers
Zack Baun played all 68 defensive snaps, remaining the centerpiece of Philadelphia's linebacker corps. Jihaad Campbell played 37 snaps (54%), while Jeremiah Trotter Jr. contributed 24 snaps (35%). Smael Mondon Jr. played nine snaps (13%), and Keyshawn James-Newby received four snaps (6%).
The distribution showed Philadelphia continuing to rotate players alongside Baun, with Campbell handling the second-largest workload among the linebackers. Trotter also got substantial playing time as the Eagles tried to find a combination that could limit Dallas' rushing attack and handle coverage responsibilities.
Philadelphia's defensive struggles went beyond any individual linebacker, but the Cowboys' success on the ground raised questions about gap discipline, tackling and communication throughout the front seven. The Eagles allowed Dallas to produce 25 first downs and sustain possession for more than 30 minutes, preventing the defense from consistently getting off the field. Improving the run defense will be essential if Philadelphia hopes to end its losing streak.
Cornerbacks
Cooper DeJean played every defensive snap, while Riq Woolen contributed 67 snaps (99%) and Quinyon Mitchell played 64 snaps (94%). Kenny Moore II received 44 defensive snaps (65%), giving Philadelphia another experienced defensive back in its coverage packages.
The heavy workload placed on DeJean, Woolen and Mitchell reflected Philadelphia's reliance on its primary defensive backs against a talented Dallas receiving corps. Lamb caught five passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns, while Pickens added four receptions for 57 yards and another score. Ryan Flournoy also contributed four catches for 70 yards, including a 35-yard gain.
Philadelphia struggled to generate consistent pressure, leaving its defensive backs to hold coverage against receivers who created separation. The Eagles will need better coordination between their pass rush and secondary, especially with opponents continuing to attack a defense that has struggled to consistently prevent explosive plays.
Safeties
Andrew Mukuba played all 68 defensive snaps, joining DeJean and Baun as the only Philadelphia defenders to play every defensive snap. The second-year safety remained an important part of Fangio's coverage structure, with Philadelphia relying heavily on its primary defensive backs throughout the matchup.
Mukuba's workload also illustrated the lack of significant rotation at safety, as Marcus Epps and Sydney Brown did not record defensive snaps in the supplied report. Epps contributed nine special teams snaps, while Brown played 26.
The Eagles surrendered three passing touchdowns and 416 total yards, with Dallas repeatedly exploiting breakdowns in coverage and run support. Philadelphia's defensive backs will need to improve their communication and execution, particularly when offenses use play-action and formation changes to create favorable matchups.
Special teams
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Jalyx Hunt and Kelee Ringo each played 22 special teams snaps (88%), tying for the team lead. Darius Cooper contributed four snaps, while Elijah Mitchell played 15 and Smael Mondon Jr. added 16.
Johnny Mundt played 13 special teams snaps, Grant Calcaterra contributed 13, and Eli Stowers received nine in his NFL debut. James-Newby played 16 snaps, giving Philadelphia additional depth in its coverage units.
Jake Elliott made all three extra-point attempts, while Braden Mann handled punting. Long snapper Rocco Underwood played six special teams snaps.
Biggest takeaways from the Eagles' snap counts
Philadelphia's fifth consecutive loss exposed several concerns that extended beyond its 38-21 defeat to Dallas. Lemon and Barkley delivered encouraging performances, while Dickerson's return provided some stability along the offensive line. However, the offense struggled to maintain momentum, and a defense that entered the season with high expectations continued to give up explosive plays and significant rushing production.
Lemon's development was arguably the most encouraging takeaway, particularly with Philadelphia missing several established receivers. The rookie played more than 90% of the offensive snaps and scored his first career touchdown, reinforcing his potential as a foundational piece of the passing attack. Barkley's limited participation, meanwhile, raised another concern for a team already struggling with injuries at several important positions.
Defensively, the Eagles leaned heavily on Carter, Baun, DeJean, and their starting secondary, but those heavy workloads didn't translate into consistent production. Dallas finished with 416 yards, converted eight of 13 third downs and scored 18 unanswered points after Philadelphia briefly took the lead in the third quarter.
The Eagles are 2-5, and their margin for error continues to shrink. Finding consistency along the offensive line, getting healthier at the skill positions, and improving the defensive front will be critical as Philadelphia attempts to salvage its season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles snap counts vs. Cowboys: Breakdown, analysis from 38-21 loss
