ARLINGTON, Texas— With 74 points scored, including both teams going back and forth in the lead, this will be a game remembered for big moments like highlight reel touchdowns and diving interceptions.
But games have these moves that can be overlooked but still change the course of the game. Here are five that made a difference.
Dak avoids sack on third down – The Cowboys were already down 10-0 after an interception return and desperately needed a big game to stay in the game and keep it from spiraling out of control. In third and fifth from the Cowboys’ 48-yard line, Dak Prescott appeared to be in the bag, but he was able to fend off defenders and rally enough to find Michael Gallup for an 8-yard gain over the middle . The drive moved into Philadelphia territory, where the Cowboys kept it going, scoring on a 1-yard run by Ezekiel Elliott.
Eagles hold Hilton, drive lengthened – Before TY Hilton made a massive game-changing play in the fourth quarter, he was held by an Eagles defender on a fourth and eight at the Philadelphia 45-yard line early in the second quarter. The pass fell imperfectly, but the flag extended the drive and the Cowboys scored for a 14-10 lead a few games later.
Fourth relegation opens big comeback – The tense finish might not have happened if Dallas hadn’t made key plays earlier in the second half. The Cowboys were fourth and first at their own 34-yard line, 10 points behind. The offense called for a run around the right side to Elliott, who had his longest rush of the game, going 22 yards on the Eagles’ 44. That resulted in a field goal that put the Cowboys back on a score.
Cowboys get the fumble back, pass Hilton – Yes, the pass to Hilton changed the whole game. The Cowboys were able to convert a third-and-29 with a bombshell into the recently signed receiver, who made his first catch of the season. But it doesn’t happen when center Tyler Biadasz recovers a fumble from Prescott at the Cowboys’ 38-yard line and Dallas doesn’t seven. A turnover there would have been devastating, but the Cowboys kept the ball and ended up with a third and eternal win. However, Prescott still had enough confidence to bomb the pass to Hilton, whose catch not only turned the field but resulted in a crucial result.
Wright tackles Pascal with limits – They had plenty of time and a timeout on the final drive of the game when the Eagles needed a touchdown to win. But on the first down, the pass in the flat to Zach Pascal had sent the wide receiver out before Nahshon Wright hit him first. Under NFL rules, that keeps him “in bounds” and the clock is ticking. Instead of the next snap at 1:35, the Eagles didn’t get the ball until 1:19. While the Eagles were still moving to the Cowboys’ 19-yard line, those seconds were huge in forcing Philadelphia to become more aggressive late in the game.