PHILADELPHIA – You needed an updated scorecard to keep track of the Eagles’ roster in their regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night.
The Eagles used backups and deep reserves like Gardner Minshew at quarterback, Kenny Gainwell at running back and Tyree Jackson at tight end – and at every position on defense.
Still, they managed to keep it close for about 28 minutes against Cowboys stars in quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver Amari Cooper.
That’s when the Cowboys scored two touchdowns in the final 1:45 of the first half, then continued to pull away in the second half, sending the Eagles to a 51-26 loss.
The Eagles decided to rest just about all of their starters, including quarterback Jalen Hurts and the entire offensive line, except for center Jason Kelce, who played the first snap to extend his consecutive games started streak to 122, the most among active NFL centers.
It was easy to see why.
The Eagles (9-8) had clinched a playoff spot last Sunday, but the game was meaningless. They could move up from the No. 7 seed to the No. 6 seed whether they had won or lost, depending on what transpires with other games on Sunday.
That, of course, is when the Eagles will find out who they’re playing in the first round next weekend. The possible opponents include defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay, the Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals or the Cowboys.
The Eagles would be the road team regardless.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, had clinched the NFC East weeks ago, but decided to play their starters at least through the first half. Like the Eagles, the Cowboys’ opponent will be determined by the results of other games Sunday.
So it was hard to glean much from the Eagles’ performance Saturday night.
Other than Kelce, rookie DeVonta Smith was the only starter to play on offense, unless you include Quez Watkins or Jalen Reagor. Smith broke DeSean Jackson’s record for receiving yards by an Eagles rookie in the first quarter. Jackson had 912 yards receiving in 2008.
Smith didn’t play in the second half.
Prescott, meanwhile, carved up an Eagles defense that didn’t use any starters. Prescott completed 21 of 27 passes for 295 yards and 5 touchdowns, for a near-perfect passer rating of 151.8 before coming out in the fourth quarter. Elliott gained 87 yards, surpassed 1,000 for the season, and came out, too.
On paper, the game resembled one of those “money games” in college football where a powerhouse like Alabama pays a hefty sum to the likes of Western Carolina. But unlike Alabama’s 66-3 win over Western Carolina earlier this season, the Eagles kept pace – at least for a while.
In fact, the Eagles scored on their opening drive as Jackson caught Minshew’s 3-yard shovel pass for a touchdown. It was Jackson’s first career reception.
The Eagles’ defense couldn’t put up much resistance against the Cowboys’ starting offense. Prescott threw for 4 TDs in the first half alone as the Cowboys had 308 yards of offense in the first half and 475 for the game.
Still, the Eagles tied the game at 17-17 on Gainwell’s 7-yard TD run with 3:40 left in the first half. Gainwell was playing because Miles Sanders sat out his third straight game with a broken hand, and Jordan Howard and Boston Scott are on the COVID-19 list.
Gainwell finished with a career-high 78 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Minshew, starting his second game in place of Hurts, went 19-for-33 for 186 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception.
The Cowboys scored two touchdowns in the final 1:45 of the first half, both on Prescott passes to Dalton Schultz as they outscored the Eagles 34-3 until Minshew hit Quez Watkins for a 36-yard TD with 1:50 left.
Rough night for Arcega-Whiteside
Wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, getting a rare opportunity to play, struggled to say the least.
He dropped a pass in the end zone in the third quarter, then was called for offensive pass interference on the next play. Later in the game, Minshew’s pass went through his hands and into the arms of linebacker Leighton Vander Esch for an interception.
In all, Arcega-Whiteside was targeted three times and didn’t have a catch.
DeVonta sets Eagles receiving record
It didn’t take long for Smith to set the Eagles’ record for receiving yards by a rookie, breaking the mark set by DeSean Jackson when he had 912 receiving yards in 2008.
Smith came into the game needing 38 yards to break the mark. He caught a 25-yard pass from Minshew on the third play of the game, but didn’t get another catch until the final minute of the first quarter.
He caught a 12-yard pass from Minshew to the Eagles’ 48. Then Minshew came right back to him on the next play, a quick-out for 4 yards. That gave Smith 916 yards receiving this season.
Granted, Smith needed the extra 17th game to get it, but it’s still a nice accomplishment.
Kelce makes (very) brief appearance
Kelce was one of 12 players placed on the COVID-19 list last Monday. Many of them were starters.
But Kelce was the only one to come off. After all, Kelce came into the game having started 121 consecutive games, the longest among NFL centers.
Kelce extended the streak to 122. He took the first snap of the game, then came out.
As for the other 11 on the COVID list, the Eagles elevated the following players from the practice squad as COVID replacements – T Kayode Awosika, LB Christian Elliss, DB Jared Mayden, DB Mac McCain, TE Richard Rodgers, TE Noah Togiai, T Casey Tucker and DT Raequan Williams.
Tyree Jackson’s 1st catch memorable
Tight end Tyree Jackson had played in the previous eight games, but had not caught a pass in his NFL career.
That changed Saturday. With Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll on the COVID-19 list, Jackson became the Eagles’ top tight end. They also elevated Richard Rodgers from the practice squad.
So on 3rd-and-goal from the Cowboys’ 3, Jackson got his chance when he caught a shovel pass from Minshew and scored the first touchdown of the game.
Jalen Hurts out, DeVonta Smith in
Hurts was not on the game-day roster, so Minshew was making his second start of the season.
Reid Sinnett served as the backup quarterback. He has never played in an NFL game.
Minshew started in place of Hurts against the Jets on Dec. 5, when Hurts was out with a sprained ankle suffered the week before. Minshew completed 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and 2 TDs that day in the Eagles’ 33-18 win.
In addition, right tackle Lane Johnson (rest/knee) and left guard Landon Dickerson (thumb) were not on the game-day roster. They didn’t practice this week.
At cornerback, Darius Slay and Steve Nelson were inactive, as were defensive linemen Josh Sweat, Derek Barnett and Javon Hargrave. Fletcher Cox is on the COVID-19 list, so all four starting defensive linemen didn’t play.
At running back, Miles Sanders (hand) was also on the inactive list, and Jordan Howard and Boston Scott are on the COVID-list. That left Gainwell and practice squad elevation Jason Huntley as the only running backs.
The only position where the Eagles had all of their players was at wide receiver.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
