Eagles vs Cowboys: 4 takeaways from the first half

The Philadelphia Eagles trail the Dallas Cowboys, 20-17 at the half, as Michael Gallup has carried the home team with two high-impact scores.

Eagles running back Miles Sanders rushed 11 times for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Dallas QB Andy Dalton has 224 yards passing on the Eagles defense and he’s had some help.

Both teams are scoreboard watching, as Washington trails the Carolina Panthers 20-3, but neither team has been able to gain a serious edge through 30-minutes of football.

Here are four takeaways from the first half.

Dec 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) runs for a touchdown after catching a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Gallup’s 6 catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns paced the Cowboys and he’s taken advantage of rookie cornerback Michael Jacquet, at every turn. With Darius Slay shadowing Amari Cooper and Nick Robey-Coleman on CeeDee Lamb, the Eagles will need to adjust.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Vinny Curry #75 and Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrate after a sack in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Eagles were already without Josh Sweat and Derek Barnett, but the team will now finish the second half at Arlington without star defensive tackle, Fletcher Cox.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs after a catch for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Dec 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) runs the ball against Dallas Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith (58) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

In his first matchup against the Cowboys in the state of Texas, Hurts has been steady for the Eagles and made a dazzling throw on his 81-yard TD to DeSean Jackson. Hurts has five carries for 53 yards while completing 9 of 14 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles scored 17 points in the first half for the fourth time this season, three with Hurts at the helm.