The Cowboys Report
Cowboys Crush the Eagles to take lead in NFC East
Oct 24, 2019, 7:24 am
Tim Warner/Getty Images
The Dallas Cowboys (4-3) smashed the Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) Sunday night by the score of 37-10.The victory sends them into their Week 8 bye week on a positive note and stopped a three game losing streak.
Recap
The Cowboys caused an early turnover on the Eagles' first possession that they quickly turned into a 7-point lead and they never looked back.They won the all-important turnover battle 4-1 and held the Eagles to less than 300 yards of offense.
Both of Dallas' starting offensive tackles were back from injury and it showed.The Cowboy offense had their highest scoring game of the year. Quarterback Dak Prescott was 21/27 for 239 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He also ran the ball 5 times for 30 yards and a touchdown. He connected with six different receivers. All-Pro receiver Amari Cooper returned from injury and led the way with 5 catches for 106 yards.
Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott ran through the 4th best rushing defense all game long. He had 28 touches, 22 carries for 111 yards and 1 touchdown, and caught 6 passes for 36 yards.When the Cowboys feed Zeke the ball more than 20 times a game, a victory tends to come with it.
The Dallas defense was amazing. They held the one dimensional Eagles offense to less than 175 yards passing and only allowed 16 first downs.They recovered three fumbles and sacked Philly quarterback Carson Wentz three times as well. Sadly, they lost their best player, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch to a neck injury towards the end of the 1st half. Hopefully the bye week will allow him to not miss anytime going forward.
Dallas improves to (4-3) and takes over first place in the NFC East. Most importantly, they are now (3-0) against their division opponents.The Cowboys enter their bye week off of a HUGE win and will be on the road taking on their division rival New York Giants on Monday night November 4th.
For you gamblers out there, the over of 49 just missed but hopefully you were able to get the Cowboys at either -2.5 or -3 for an easy win.Most Popular
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The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the defending champs this weekend, they changed the tone of their season.
Dominant pitching. Star power. Road swagger. The three-game dismantling of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine wasn’t about revenge or validation. It was about showing, once and for all, that this version of the Astros, short-handed and all, belongs squarely in the conversation with baseball’s elite.
A statement series
The Astros pitching staff was lights out against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, holding the Dodgers to just six runs across three games, including two contests where LA managed just a single run. Lance McCullers Jr., much-maligned after getting shelled by the Cubs last week, bounced back in a big way. He worked around four walks, giving up just one run on a solo homer, a much-needed course correction as the Astros evaluate their playoff rotation options.
On the offensive side, the stars delivered in a big way. Jose Altuve torched Dodgers pitching with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. Christian Walker matched him with six hits of his own, including a pair of long balls and six RBIs.
A shift in expectations?
This wasn’t just a series win. This was a proof of concept.
Houston came into the series already heating up, now they’re officially on fire. Over the last 30 days, the Astros rank third in runs and fifth in RBIs. For the season, they’re top 10 in nearly every key offensive category: eighth in OPS, first in batting average, ninth in slugging. Defensively, the numbers are just as strong. They lead MLB in strikeouts and opponents’ batting average, and rank second in WHIP.
Put it all together, and you’ve got a team with top-five upside in both pitching and offense. The pieces are clicking. The vibes are real. And the Astros suddenly look like a legitimate World Series contender again.
Is help on the way?
Reliever Hector Neris rejoined the team this week, offering a veteran boost to a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily. Neris brings postseason pedigree and a reputation as a clubhouse leader. The Astros hope a return to familiar surroundings, and the guidance of one of the best pitching development staffs in the league, can get him back on track.
Tayler Scott returns on a minor league deal, and while the move may not turn heads, it adds another layer of depth to a bullpen that’s already one of the league’s best.
Background noise in LA
No Astros-Dodgers series goes by without a little extra noise and this one was no different. During the broadcast, former Cy Young winner and Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser raised eyebrows by implying that Houston’s offensive surge might not have been entirely on the level.
Predictable? Absolutely. Meaningful? Not even close.
If anything, it’s a weird kind of compliment. No one questions legitimacy when you’re losing. But after a lopsided 18-1 beat down people start reaching for answers, or excuses.
Inside the Astros clubhouse, though, that chatter doesn’t register.
They know exactly what this sweep meant. And so does the rest of the league.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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