Eagles-Cowboys Day-After Dissection
Breaking down the Eagles' 38-33 loss to the Cowboys:
PASS DEFENSE
For the second time in three weeks, Tony Romo carved up the Eagles' defense Sunday night, completing 22 of 27 passes for 303 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. In the Cowboys' two wins over the Eagles, Romo had a 138.2 passer rating, completing 77.3 percent of his passes, averaging 9.6 yards per attempt and throwing five touchdown passes and no interceptions.
As I mentioned in my post-game column, the Eagles' opponent passer rating in the six games since Todd Bowles replaced Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator is a horrible 142.4. They have given up 16 touchdown passes in those six games and have no interceptions. I repeat, no interceptions.
They haven't had an interception in six games. Haven't forced a turnover of any kind in four games.
Their ineptness on third down in those six games has been unbelievable. Opponents have converted 51.4 percent of their third-down opportunities. Opposing quarterbacks have a – are you ready for this? – 152.4 third-down passer rating against the Eagles in those six games.
They've completed 75.6 percent of their third-down passes, have averaged 11.5 yards per attempt, have thrown six touchdown passes and no interceptions. In his two starts against the Eagles, Romo completed 14 of 18 third-down passes for 205 yards. He was 7 for 8 for 122 yards with seven first downs Sunday. That doesn't include a 15-yard third-down run for a first down.
BRYCE IS RIGHT
In his two starts, Bryce Brown has rushed for 347 yards and four touchdowns. He's averaging 8.1 yards per carry in those two games, and 6.5 yards per carry for the season. He has 20 rushing first downs in the last two games, which is just 18 fewer than LeSean McCoy has in 10 games.
In just 75 carries this season, Brown already has 16 runs of 10 yards or more, including 11 runs of 17 yards or more.
A look at Brown's rushing yards this season by quarter and down:
By Quarter
1Q: 23-145 (6.3)
2Q: 18-191 (10.6)
3Q: 17-72 (4.2)
4Q: 17-80 (4.7)
By Down
1D: 41-253 (6.2)
2D: 28-221 (7.9)
3D: 5-14 (2.8)
4D: 1-0
SOLID PERFORMANCE FOR FOLES
Rookie Nick Foles played well Sunday night. Stretched the field a little more than he did against the Panthers, when none of his 21 attempts traveled more than 17 yards in the air.
Foles was 5-for-8 for 89 yards and a touchdown on third down. Was 2-for-2 for 22 yards and a touchdown in the red zone as the Eagles converted all three of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns. Foles was sacked just once by the Cowboys, and that came late in the fourth quarter. In his last two starts, he's been sacked just two times. He hasn't thrown an interception in his last 91 pass attempts. His last pick was in the first quarter of the Washington game.
BY THE NUMBERS
--Cowboys TE Jason Witten had six receptions for 108 yards against the Eagles. Through 12 games, opposing tight ends have 60 catches for 652 yards (10.9 yards per catch) and 4 touchdowns against the Eagles. Last season, the Eagles gave up 66 catches for 765 yards (11.6) and 5 TDs to opposing tight ends.
--Trent Cole, who shared a sack with Brandon Graham Sunday, has just two sacks this season. He hasn't had a solo sack since the first quarter of the Eagles' Week 2 win over Baltimore.
--Ten of the Eagles' 20 sacks have come on third down. Last season, 19 of their 50 sacks were on third down.