After two-quarters of Christmas-Eve football, the Philadelphia Eagles lead the Dallas Cowboys 20-17. The highlights of the games from both sides were WR Ceedee Lambs’ massive first half (eight catches and 103 yards) and the Eagles’ tenacious defense and gameplay from QB Gardner Minshew, who has picked apart the Cowboys’ defense.
1st Quarter
The start of the game wasn’t so “jolly” for the Cowboys, as they allowed the Eagles to move the ball quickly downfield on their opening drive — with a big 48-yard catch allowed by CB Trevon Diggs being the highlight. However, the defense responded to the quick start by QB Gardner Minshew and the Eagles’ offense and held them in the red zone.
A 25-yard FG made by K Jake Elliott later, the Eagles got the first lead of the game, 3-0.
Now with a chance to respond, QB Dak Prescott and the offense moved quickly, as Prescott found his teammates on quick routes — and the running game was finding lanes.
However, the game continued to not be so “jolly” for the Boys, as Prescott made a massive mistake and lobbed a ball to what he thought was going to TE Dalton Schultz right into DE Josh Sweat’s hands.
Sweat would house the interception for 42 yards, and the Eagles led 10-0 early.
https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1606766020588453889?s=20&t=3KkXkfKXOWTmlrC-rqT9_w
Now down 10-0, and with momentum battling against them — the Cowboys silenced the naysayers and responded with a one-yard Ezekiel Elliott rushing touchdown. Elliott’s score came after 14 plays, 75 yards. During their long drive that spanned over seven-plus minutes, you saw a mix of Prescott runs for first downs — and key catches from CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard, and Michael Gallup.
The score cut the Eagles’ lead to 10-7 — and this was arguably the highlight play of the drive:
Dak Prescott avoids the sack on third down, finds Michael Gallup for the first-down grab pic.twitter.com/WNxlN3mgfS
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 24, 2022
2nd Quarter
The Eagles got the ball back and moved the ball efficiently once again. With a chance to go up two scores, Minshew committed his first mistake of the game by throwing an interception, as S Jayron Kearse got his hands on it.
Well, one hand, if we’re being technical.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1606772254842421249?s=20&t=3KkXkfKXOWTmlrC-rqT9_w
Following the turnover, the offense had several stalls. A blown-up trick play that pushed the Boys back ten yards, a failed run by Pollard, and a short gain by Lamb had the Boys quickly seeing fourth down.
But after newly-signed wideout T.Y Hilton drew a penalty on CB Darius Slay on fourth down, the Boys held onto the ball and scored three plays later on a 36-yard catch and spin from Prescott to Lamb.
The Boys got their first lead of the game, 14-10.
Following his turnover, Minshew wouldn’t show any phases of concern as he was wheeling and dealing on their corresponding drive. Minshew and the Eagles’ offense once again moved the ball seamlessly over the Cowboys’ defense — and they worked their way into the endzone.
After three failed attempts at punching it into the endzone, it felt like the Boys got another massive stop on the Eagles — and they were going to hold them another field goal. However, Minshew hugely responded for his team, as he slivered his way on a QB sneak on fourth and goal to grab the lead again.
And the QB sneak works with Gardner Minshew as well!
17-14 Eagles
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 24, 2022
With Minshew’s score, the Eagles led 17-14.
The Boys would get the ball back before halftime, and after 13 plays, 72 yards, they got some points on the board. While they were hoping to punch it in the endzone before halftime (they were close), the team tied things up with a 21-yard FG by K Brett Maher — and the score was 17-17.
It was shaping that the Cowboys and Eagles were heading into halftime all tied up, but the Eagles moved the ball quickly in less than two minutes. After 10 plays, 46-yards, they snagged a 47-yard FG to take a 20-17 lead into the second half
