10. With zero impact from DeMarco Murray, Miles Austin or DeMarcus Ware, the Cowboys waltzed into Philadelphia and smothered the Eagles. Gotta admit, I’m surprised. Didn’t think 17 points would be nearly enough to win this one. Cowboys’ point totals at home: 36, 31, 48, 31. Cowboys’ point totals on the road: 16, 21, 17. Last time the Cowboys won a game without Ware on the field their quarterback was Vinny Testaverde (2004).
9. Speaking of Austin, no doubt he’s been supplanted as this team’s No. 2 receiver by Terrance Williams and – by my math – as the No. 3 receiver by Cole Beasley.
8. Philadelphia is a tough place to play with bad weather and passionate fans and … Yawn. The Cowboys have won four of their last five trips. And somehow the Eagles have lost nine straight at home.
7. Tony Romo wasn’t his best. Yes, he threw a touchdown for the 20th consecutive game and became the most prolific all-time NFL quarterback through 100 starts with 27,000+ yards. One of his two interceptions was a Hail Mary at the end of the first half, but the other was ridiculous bad. Romo was throwing to Beasley across the middle and Phillip Tanner mistakenly ran his defender (DeMeco Ryans) into the passing lane, but Romo’s footwork, balance and mechanics were all amateurish on the crossing route. With only minimal pressure, he jumped up and backward to the left on a throw that more floated than zinged.
6. More-than-adequate fill-in duty by rookie running back Joseph Randle, who produced 93 total yards and zero glaring errors.
5. B.W. Webb almost had his wig yanked off during an otherwise forgettable first half that featured 13 punts, 12 penalties and 3 punts. And it was also a forgettable scoring drive by Philly. Don’t remember the last time we were treated to a 10-play, 17-yard “march” that produced a field goal.
4. Cowboys had lots of defensive heroes. Barry Church had an interception and several solid open-field tackles. Brandon Carr was a blanket again, this time picking off a pass and holding DeSean Jackson to three harmless catches for 21 harmless yards. And, of course, Sean Lee was … Sean Lee, and the main reason NFL leading rusher LeSean McCoy was limited to only 55 yards.
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3. Good for Monte Kiffin. At USC, his defenses were scorched by Chip Kelly’s Oregon offense to the tune of 50 points and 600 yards per game. But no doubt Round 1 in the NFL goes to the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Philly hadn’t been held under 400 yards all season, but managed just 278 today. Cowboys held an opponent on the road without a touchdown for the first time since Dec. 27, 2009 when they shut out the Redskins, 17-0.
2. Two weeks ago the Cowboys faced Peyton Manning. Today they faced Nick Foles. Not surprisingly, they held Foles to 48 fewer points. The Eagles’ quarterback was as accurate as Wile E. Coyote, as mobile as your mailbox, and just generally horrible. Yet, somehow, Matt Barkley was worse.
1. Fox was wrong, it's actually the first time the Cowboys have started 3-0 vs. the NFC East since '07, on their way to 13-3. The Cowboys aren’t a great team by any stretch of the imagination. But at 3-0 in the division, they are undoubtedly the best team in the NFC East.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
