ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – No kicker, no problem for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Carson Wentz threw for two touchdowns and three 2-point conversions after Philadelphia lost kicker Luke Elliott to a head injury, and the Eagles all but wrapped up the NFC East with a 37-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
The Eagles (9-1) outscored the Cowboys 30-0 in the second half while extending their winning streak to eight games, their longest since 2003-04 and tied with New Orleans for the best current run in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (27) defends as Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) catches a pass for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Philadelphia leads the second-place and defending division champion Cowboys (5-5) by four games with six to play after handing Dallas its worst home loss at 8-year-old AT&T Stadium.
Dallas’ Dak Prescott threw a career-high three interceptions and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in his second straight loss without star running back Ezekiel Elliott, serving a six-game suspension for alleged domestic violence.
Luke Elliott’s injury wasn’t a factor for nearly a half because the NFL-leading Eagles couldn’t get in scoring position. They failed to get a first down on five straight first-half drives, starting with one at the Dallas 15 when Elliott missed a 34-yard attempt and soon after left the field.
Trailing 9-7 at halftime, Wentz led the Eagles on scoring drives of 75, 90 and 85 yards, the middle one boosted by Jay Ajayi’s 71-yard run against his hometown team in his second game since getting traded by Miami.
Ajayi had 91 yards on seven carries and LeGarrette Blount added 57 on 13 carries, including a 30-yarder leading to the last offensive touchdown.
Eagles coach Doug Pederson declared at halftime that he would go for every fourth down and try 2-point conversions after every touchdown.
It came into play right away when Corey Clement scored on an 11-yard run to open the second half and ran in a screen pass behind three blockers for the 2-pointer.
The first fourth-down try was Wentz’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery for a 29-9 lead. That 2-point pass failed. Torrey Smith had the other TD catch, an 11-yarder.
After Derek Barnett hit Prescott’s leg and arm as he was throwing, Nigel Bradham picked up the loose ball and ran it 37 yards for a touchdown. Wentz’s pass to Trey Burton provided the final margin.
The Cowboys appeared to have fixed the problems of missing injured left tackle Tyron Smith and 2016 All-Pro linebacker Sean Lee from a week earlier, when they allowed eight sacks of Prescott along with three Atlanta scoring drives following Lee’s injury in a 27-7 loss to the Falcons.
But after protecting Prescott fairly well before halftime, Dallas allowed three sacks and 180 of Philadelphia’s season-high 215 yards rushing in the second half.
Prescott was 18 of 31 for 145 yards for a career-worst 30.4 passer rating before backup Cooper Rush took mop-up duty.
BRING A JACKET
The Cowboys had their retractable roof open for the first time this season despite a game-time temperature of 54 degrees, chilly for the Texas types. It was just the sixth time the roof was open while the huge sliding glass doors behind each end zone were closed since $1.2 billion AT& Stadium opened in 2009.
JERRY’S RING
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, embroiled in what has become a public dispute with fellow owners over a contract extension for Commissioner Roger Goodell, received his Hall of Fame ring in a halftime ceremony. He shared the stage with wife Gene Jones and Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker.
INJURIES
Eagles: After missing wide right on the 34-yard field goal in the first quarter, Jake Elliott was evaluated for a head injury. He was in on the tackle on Switzer’s long return on the opening kickoff, but made an extra point and kicked off again before the missed field goal.
Cowboys: Already missing Lee, replacement Anthony Hitchens left with a groin injury.
UP NEXT
Eagles: Home against Chicago next Sunday.
Cowboys: Los Angeles Chargers visiting for annual Thanksgiving game.
___
More AP NFL: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.pro32.ap.org
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) and Chris Long (56) celebrate a touchdown scored by Bradham after Bradham recovered a Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott fumble in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) runs back a fumble recovery for a touchdown as defensive end Chris Long (56) protects against pressure from Dallas Cowboys’ Jonathan Cooper (64) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz (11) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery (17) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor (13) escapes pressure running the ball from Dallas Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant (52) and Xavier Woods (25) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Philadelphia Eagles’ Brent Celek, from left, LeGarrette Blount (29), Carson Wentz, rear, and Stefen Wisniewski, right, celebrate a touchdown catch made by Alshon Jeffery (17) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Philadelphia Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount (29) breaks a tackle attempt by Dallas Cowboys’ Xavier Woods (25) as LeGarrette carries the ball for long yardage in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) catches a pass or a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys’ Anthony Brown (30) defends in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) evades pressure from Dallas Cowboys’ David Irving (95) before throwing a pass for a two-point conversion to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Philadelphia Eagles running back Jay Ajayi (36) leads Dallas Cowboys’ Xavier Woods (25) and Byron Jones (31) on a long run as Ajayi carries the ball in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.