Eagles-Cowboys Rivalry Stuffed With Backup QBs And Vacation Beatdowns

As soon as each so a few years, the holidays fall proper in keeping with the NFL season. 

The NFL is transferring its full slate of video games to Christmas Eve on Saturday this week. Sunday, Christmas Day, options three stand-alone video games, which might all be wager on at Pennsylvania sportsbooks. 

Whereas households are collectively across the tree for Christmas Eve dinner, the Eagles and Cowboys kickoff at 4:25 p.m. on Saturday within the largest sport of the season for each groups.

With a win in any of the Eagles’ closing three video games, they clinch the No. 1 seed. Dallas is entrenched within the No. 5 seed within the NFC, however a win retains its slim division hopes alive.

The Eagles and Cowboys have a ton of historical past collectively, particularly across the holidays and with backup quarterbacks.

Vacation editions of Eagles-Cowboys rivalry

There isn’t any additional motivation gamers and followers want for an Eagles-Cowboys rivalry sport. Nonetheless, when the sport falls on a vacation, it provides gas to the fireplace.

Here’s a vacation version of Eagles-Cowboys moments:

Thanksgiving Day 2014: Eagles 33, Cowboys 10

Eagles followers maybe noticed a Tremendous Bowl journey of their sights because the Eagles dominated the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 2014. The Eagles improved to 9-3 on the season and the Cowboys dropped to 8-4.

Although the Cowboys acquired the final snort profitable the division at 12-4 whereas the Eagles collapsed to 10-6, households within the Philadelphia space received’t neglect blowing out the Cowboys on Turkey Day.

Thanksgiving Day 1989: Eagles 27, Cowboys 0

Buddy Ryan’s protection dominated the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1989. Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson accused the Eagles of setting a bounty on Luis Zendejas and Troy Aikman.

Ryan needed his revenge on the Cowboys, who he thought ran up the rating in opposition to the Eagles in 1987 throughout the strike season. Later that season when full-time gamers returned, Ryan known as a pretend kneel-down as Randall Cunningham threw a landing go whereas already main by 10 factors.

Ryan acquired it that day and by embarrassing the Cowboys on their residence area on Turkey Day in 1989, whereas allegedly putting a number of bounties. 

Christmas Day 2006: Eagles 23, Cowboys 7

The Eagles acquired the most effective of the Cowboys once more, this time on Christmas Day in 2006.

This sport had division implications with the Cowboys 9-5 and the Eagles 8-6. The win propelled the Eagles to 9-6 and so they in the end received the division the subsequent week with a win over the Falcons and the Cowboys dropping to the Lions.

The Eagles beat the Cowboys in each matchups in 2006. 

Different notable Christmas matchups between Eagles and Cowboys

Over the past 20 years, the Eagles have confronted the Cowboys on Dec. 18 or later 14 times, together with playoffs.

The Eagles dominated the above matchups, and even received on Christmas Eve in 2011. Although with each groups ending 8-8, the matchup lacked anticipation.

Not each sport has mattered within the standings, both. The Eagles and Cowboys confronted one another in Week 17 in 2016 and 2017. The Cowboys and Eagles, respectively, every clinched the division prior to the matchup.

Listed below are another notable Eagles-Cowboys video games that occurred proper across the holidays:

• Dec. 28, 2008: The Eagles clinched a playoff spot after a 44-6 throttling of the Cowboys in Week 17. The Eagles fell to the Cardinals within the NFC Championship.
• Jan. 3 + 9, 2010: The Cowboys acquired their revenge the next season, thrashing the Eagles 24-0 to clinch the NFC. Matched up the subsequent week within the playoffs, the Cowboys received the rematch 34-14 within the Wild Card spherical.
• Dec. 29, 2013: The Eagles clinched the NFC East in Chip Kelly’s first season in a 24-22 victory over the Cowboys in Week 17. Kyle Orton quarterbacked the Cowboys after Tony Romo was dominated out with an damage.
• Dec. 22, 2019: The NFC East was up for grabs with each the Eagles and Cowboys at 7-7. Carson Wentz led the Eagles to a 17-9 win over the Cowboys and so they clinched the division the next week with a win over the Giants.

Historical past of backup quarterbacks in massive Eagles-Cowboys video games

In a few of the largest and most memorable video games between the Eagles and Cowboys, the backup quarterback has been the highest story.

The final six video games alone have not featured the identical two quarterbacks in back-to-back video games:

• 2019: Wentz vs. Prescott
• 2020: Wentz vs. DiNucci
• 2020: Hurts vs. Dalton
• 2021: Hurts vs. Prescott
• 2021: Minshew vs. Prescott
• 2022: Hurts vs. Rush

Saturday’s sport would possibly function one other QB matchup as Jalen Hurts’ standing is unsure with a sprained shoulder. 

In two of the three vacation video games above, the Eagles received with backup quarterbacks.

Mark Sanchez took over for an injured Nick Foles in 2014 and led the Eagles to a 33-10 victory. Sanchez went 20-for-29 for 217 yards, with a passing and dashing landing. Sanchez had assist from LeSean McCoy, who had 159 dashing yards and a landing.

Jeff Garcia led the Eagles to a 23-7 Christmas Day win in opposition to the Cowboys in 2006. Garcia crammed in admirably for Donavan McNabb, who suffered a season-ending damage, going 5-1 and profitable a house playoff sport in opposition to the Giants within the Wild Card spherical.

The Eagles may need to show to Gardner Minshew on this Christmas version of Eagles-Cowboys.

Minshew has began 22 video games in his four-year profession, together with two for the Eagles final season. Minshew was 7-13 in his two seasons in Jacksonville.

Listed below are Minshew’s stats in his two begins final season:

• Week 13 at Jets: 20-for-25, 242 yards, 2 TDs – Eagles received 33-18
• Week 18 vs. Cowboys: 19-for-33, 186 yards, 2 TDs, INT – Eagles misplaced 51-26