Cowboys-Eagles 1st half summary: Rush, blunders lead to 20-3 hole

In a big game on the road, all that could go wrong did except for a timely kickoff return and drive to end the shutout before half. | From @CDBurnett7

While the honeymoon of quarterback Cooper Rush was an enjoyable one, the Dallas offense has been mediocre, at best, in Weeks 2-5. Taking on the 5-0 Eagles, the Cowboys had to know mediocre wasn’t enough but rushing back quarterback Dak Prescott would be ill advised.

Rush started the game with a rough three-and-out but the Dallas defense got to business with a stop. With the ball back, the Cowboys offense showed no life again but Philadelphia answered on their second offensive drive. The run game led the Eagles down the field but Dallas forced a 4th-and-4 in the red zone. While this defense has stayed discipline early, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. committed a neutral zone infraction and Philadelphia cashed in on a Miles Sanders touchdown on the next play.

The biggest factor in Rush’s success has been the ability to avoid turnovers. After going down 7-0 in Lincoln Financial Field, Rush’s luck ran out and a tipped pass led to his first interception. Two drives later, Rush threw it straight to Darius Slay Jr. and it appeared that his confidence had disappeared.

On the other side, the Cowboys defense could only do so much and the Eagles schemed linebacker Micah Parsons into option situations where he couldn’t cover two people at once. This play design led to a fourth down conversion and an AJ Brown touchdown.

While struggles on the field were enough, Dallas had a chance to regain themselves down 14-0. On a long third down, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb made a catch and stretched for what appeared to be a clear first down. The Cowboys panicked after a short spot and went for it on 4th-and-inches, not even entertaining a potential challenge and failing on the ensuing attempt.

All that could went wrong for Dallas in the first half until a 62-yard kickoff return by wide receiver KaVontae Turpin. The short field sparked a strong drive but a few close efforts, including a miraculius grab out of bounds by wide receiver Noah Brown, came up short. The Eagles receive the ball to start the second half and they hold a 20-3 edge at home.