Cowboys 38, Eagles 21: Williams gives Dallas a ground game to trust

Javonte Williams carried the ball 25 times Monday night. Dallas had been averaging fewer than 21 rushing attempts as a team. That change in commitment helped the Cowboys beat the Eagles 38-21 in Philadelphia, with Williams supplying a career-high 155 yards and the closing touchdown.

The Cowboys finished with 204 rushing yards and 212 passing yards. Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes without an interception, two to CeeDee Lamb and one to George Pickens. Dallas moved to 3-4; Philadelphia fell to 2-5.

Williams credited the offensive line and the emphasis on giving the running game more opportunities, according to the Cowboys' postgame report. His 155 yards on 25 carries work out to 6.2 yards per attempt. Volume mattered because the runs were productive, not simply because Dallas kept calling them.

One night does not establish a repaired offense. It does give Dallas something specific to build on: enough success on the ground that Prescott did not have to provide every answer. The important follow-up is whether that balance survives a less accommodating defensive performance.

Philadelphia's drive, then Dallas's answer

Philadelphia was not out of the game at halftime. The Eagles opened the third quarter with an 84-yard touchdown drive that consumed almost 10 minutes. Tanner McKee's four-yard pass to rookie Makai Lemon put them ahead 21-20. Lemon finished with seven catches for 67 yards and his first NFL touchdown reception.

Dallas answered with a Lamb touchdown and a two-point conversion, then added a field goal and Williams's two-yard scoring run. Those were the final 17 points. The Eagles' long possession had changed the lead without changing their ability to stop the Cowboys.

Philadelphia's own account lists no sacks, quarterback hits or tackles for loss by its defense. That is a more useful explanation of the result than treating the loss solely as a quarterback problem. McKee gave the Eagles a second-half lead. Their defense could not protect it.

Saquon Barkley returned after missing two games and ran for 62 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. The Eagles reported that he remained limited by injury. His availability going forward is a separate question; this game report does not establish a recovery timetable.