Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
After three straight losses, the Dallas Cowboys were in must win mode and needed to put up a good fight against the Philadelphia Eagles. On this day the Cowboys came through and absolutely dominated the Eagles from start to finish. The final score was 37-10 and was the largest margin of victory the Cowboys have had over the Eagles since 1998. With this win, the Dallas Cowboys now sit alone a top of the NFC East.
The Good
The good from Sunday night's game for the Cowboys was their ability to get off to a fast start. Slow starts were becoming the norm for the Cowboys after three straight losses, so it was a sight for sore eyes to see the Cowboys get two turnovers early in the first quarter. Dak Prescott finally looked like the Dak of the first three weeks of the season. He went 21-27 and threw a touchdown, and had one rushing touchdown in the 4th quarter. He did have one interception, but played with more confidence and composure than he did in the previous three weeks.
The Bad
The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most penalized teams in the NFL. According to The Football Database, the Cowboys rank seventh in the NFL in penalties and yesterday was no exception. Sunday's game saw six penalties for 65 yards. The Cowboys absolutely need to clean up this area of their game.
The Ugly
Injuries are becoming a concern. Tyron Smith obviously is still injured, and maybe needs another week off to fully recover. Luckily, the Cowboys are going to enter their bye-week and that should give him time to recuperate. The O-Line is a completely different unit when he is on the field, and he gives Prescott that extra line of security to give him more time in the pocket. In addition to Smith, Robert Quinn, Leighton Vender Esch and Jeff Heath all left Sunday's game with injuries. If key players keep getting hurt, it could have negative long-term ramifications for the rest of the season.
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A new challenge awaits, and the Astros know what’s at stake
Jun 27, 2025, 2:05 pm
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
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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