Cowboys vs. Eagles score: Live updates, game stats, highlights, analysis for ‘Sunday Night Football’ showdown

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy underwent a procedure to get his appendix removed on Wednesday and had to stay home from the team’s practice facility for two days. However, his offense and game management decisions were essentially perfect in the first half of the Cowboys’ Sunday night rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles as Dallas took a 24-6 lead into the halftime locker room.

The Cowboys had four first-half drives, and they included three touchdowns, a field goal, a fourth-down conversion and a challenge that successfully turned a ruling of 1 yard short of the end zone into a rushing touchdown.

McCarthy’s offense took the field to start the game and masterfully marched down the field for 75 yards in 10 plays with Pro Bowl receiver CeeDee Lamb capping the drive with a 13-yard catch-and-run touchdown. 

Philadelphia was unable to answer with a score on their opening drive. Quarterback Jalen Hurts took off to scramble, and he did well in picking up a first down after a gain of 11. However, Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson poked the football loose at the end of the run and recovered the fumble for the first takeaway of the night.  

Rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey capped the extra possession by improving to 27 of 27 on field goals in his young career after draining a career-long 60-yarder. Dallas jumped out to a 10-0 lead after just three drives in total, two for their offense. Aubrey’s 60-yard make was the longest first quarter field goal made in NFL history with the previous high being 59 yards by Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson in Week 1 of the 2022 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Hurts looked like he hit A.J. Brown in the hands on third-and-5 from the Cowboys 34 for a huge gain and a first down on the ensuing drive, but it went through his hands. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott connected on the 52-yard field goal to make it a one-score game again at 10-3. 

The Cowboys then clapped back with Rico Dowdle’s 1-yard TD. The play was initially ruled short of a touchdown on third-and-goal, but after a McCarthy challenge, Dallas was given their second touchdown of the night to go up 17-3. After another Eagles drive ended with a field goal, this one from 44 yards, Prescott and Co. got the ball back with 1:48 left in the half. 

The critical play on the Cowboys’ final drive of the half was a 30-yard dart Prescott dropped right into receiver Brandin Cooks’ arms at the 1. Two plays later, Prescott threw his second touchdown of the night, this time to Michael Gallup.

Stay tuned to our live blog to see if the Eagles can rally for yet another comeback victory or if the Cowboys can continue to roll at home this season.