ARLINGTON, Texas -- Hold off on those playoff tickets until further notice. In what was billed as an NFC East showdown, only one team bothered to make an appearance.
The Philadelphia Eagles manhandled the Dallas Cowboys from the opening snap. It was a 33-10 score that could've been so much worse. The Cowboys (8-4) are now effectively two games behind the Eagles (9-3), with a game left in Philadelphia.
The defense allowed 17 points on the Eagles' first three drives. The offense didn't respond like it did against the Giants. Quarterback Tony Romo was rarely on point and he was picked off twice by the Eagles. Save for one play in the first half, Dez Bryant couldn't get any separation for what had been a much-maligned Eagles secondary.
DeMarco Murray finished with 73 yards and a touchdown, but he was held in check for much of the game. The Eagles played at a torrid pace in the first half. LeSean McCoy sliced through the Cowboys' defense for big gains, which set up the play-action game for quarterback Mark Sanchez.
He was 20 of 29 for 217 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a 2-yard score. The Cowboys had a brief opportunity to get back in the game in the third quarter when Tyrone Crawford forced a McCoy fumble deep inside Eagles territory. After getting to the 4-yard line, Murray was hit behind the line on second down and Romo was sacked on third. A short field goal made it 23-10, but the Eagles quickly responded with a long touchdown run from McCoy.
The Cowboys will be thrilled to return to the road, where they are 5-0 this season. But winning in Chicago isn't close to a given after Thursday's embarrassing performance. The Eagles owned the line of scrimmage on both sides. The vaunted Cowboys offensive line never got a foothold in this game. The Eagles' front seven whipped the Cowboys into submission. The only slightly positive development was holding the Eagles to field goals for much of the day.
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The Cowboys need to win three of their final four games to have a good shot at the playoffs. And it's hard to imagine them having any success in Philadelphia. The biggest question involves Romo. Perhaps the quick turnaround after an emotional game against the Giants was too much for him. He didn't have any answers for the Eagles' defense and was outplayed by Sanchez.
Look for the Cowboys to put him on ice as they prepare for next Thursday's game in Chicago. It was the time since the opener against the 49ers where the Cowboys were completely outclassed. The only saving grace will be a long rest before heading to Philly in two weeks.
They need to spend that time figuring out a much better plan than what was displayed Thursday. Every flaw was exposed by the Eagles, a team that has momentum and an easier schedule down the stretch.
And after Thursday's demolition that schedule looks easier than ever.
