End of game: Philadelphia Eagles 33-10 Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles maintain their perfect record on Thanksgiving, with Mark Sanchez burying memories of the Buttfumble, which I managed to avoif mentioning until now. Well done me for not falling back on lazy sports cliches. Well, one of them anyway.
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INTERCEPTION! Philadelphia Eagles 33-10 Dallas Cowboys 4:13, 4th quarter
Oh, Tony! Allen has his second takeaway of the game after a fumble recovery earlier on. Romo passes deep but it is (I think) deflected and this one is done and dusted. Or more done and dusted. It’s basically been dusted to within an inch of its life.
Philadelphia Eagles 33-10 Dallas Cowboys 4:22, 4th quarter
There appears to be some kind of fight over who gets the remote after the Thanksgiving dinner tonight. Or maybe because it’s Harris just got an unnecessary roughness penalty. Sanchez is looking very happy on the sidelines as the seconds tick down. Hey! If he keeps Foles out the team, his old team are looking for a quarterback. He settles down to watch the start of a decent drive from te Cowboys after the Eagles punt. Bryant and Romo hook up for a 23-yard gain and we’re on the Eagles’ 49.
Philadelphia Eagles 33-10 Dallas Cowboys 5:47, 4th quarter
DeMarco Murray narrowly avoids being taken down for a safety, just getting out of the end zone. The Cowboys peaked about three seconds into this game and have got steadily worse. They’re forced to punt from their own 11.
Philadelphia Eagles 33-10 Dallas Cowboys 7:17, 4th quarter
The Eagles are, for the first time in a long time, taking their time over this. They amble about until they eventually punt and the Cowboys have it on their own four.
Philadelphia Eagles 33-10 Dallas Cowboys 9:31, 4th quarter
Romo has a heave downfield for Bryant but it doesn’t quite enough on it. Romo then throws a perfect one to Beasley. If he’d been 15ft8in tall. As it is, it sails over the receiver’s head. The next one does go to Beasley though and the Cowboys are lefy with a fourth and one. They go for it – they have no other choice – but Murray is stuffed for a six-yard loss. Sad face.
Philadelphia Eagles 33-10 Dallas Cowboys 11:01, 4th quarter
Sanchez and Cooper are having an argument about something. Maybe about who has to meet Pitbull after the game. Mark deserves to avoid the pleasure. The drive peters out for a field goal. That’s Parkey’s fourth of the game – if there’s one criticism of the Eagles today it’s they haven’t converted in the red zone, this could be MUCH worse than 33-10.
Philadelphia Eagles 30-10 Dallas Cowboys 12:27, 4th quarter
Yep, McCoy was down already so the Eagles keep the ball. It’s a 1st and 10 on the Cowboys 13.
Philadelphia Eagles 30-10 Dallas Cowboys 12:27, 4th quarter
McCoy is silcing thr... ah. Another fumble for McCoy - his second of the game. They’re reviewing it though, McCoy may have been down before it came out.
That INT was Romo's first since his return from his most recent back injury. Might have another back injury if pressure keeps up #BirdDay
— Eagles Insider (@EaglesInsider) November 27, 2014
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Philadelphia Eagles 30-10 Dallas Cowboys 0:27, 3rd quarter
LeSean McCoy brings up 1,000 rushing yards for the season and has 141 for the game so far today. The Eagles are up to the 50.
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INTERCEPTION! Philadelphia Eagles 30-10 Dallas Cowboys 2:37, 3rd quarter
Yep, that one was coming. Romo had looked flustered and rushed as the Eagles put plenty of pressure on him this drive. He hurries his throw and it’s picked off by Williams.
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Philadelphia Eagles 30-10 Dallas Cowboys 4:48, 3rd quarter
The Eagles have an interception scratched off after a holding penalty. That could be the crucial difference between the Cowboys losing 31-17 rather than 35-13.
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Tony Romo reimagined. You’ll notice this isn’t taken today because Romo is wearing a blue jersey and doesn’t actually have a turkey on his head.
Romo'd #CSNTurkeyTalk pic.twitter.com/geobimXHSN
— The700Level (@The700Level) November 27, 2014
TOUCHDOWN! Philadelphia Eagles 30-10 Dallas Cowboys 7:29, 3rd quarter
Superb job from the Eagles’ offensive line, opening up a huge hole for McCoy, who blazes through for a 38-yard TD run.
Philadelphia Eagles 23-10 Dallas Cowboys 7:35, 3rd quarter
“Happy Thanksgiving, Tom,” writes Jess Abbey. Thanks, it means something. Sanchez has his neck snapped back and gets a roughing the passer call in his favour. That takes the Eagles to their own 42.
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AD BREAK! Philadelphia Eagles 23-10 Dallas Cowboys 9:16, 3rd quarter
There’s an extended trailer for the Exodus movie in the ad break as Moses’s Jews take on the physical Egyptians, who have home field advantage. I fancy the chances of Moses’s men though, they’ve got a strong special teams unit what with the locusts, frogs, river of blood and God.
FIELD GOAL! Philadelphia Eagles 23-10 Dallas Cowboys 9:16, 3rd quarter
The Eagles do a fine job of holding up Dallas though. They stop Murray and then get pressure on Romo and the Cowboys are forced to settle foe the three points.
FUMBLE! Philadelphia Eagles 23-7 Dallas Cowboys 11:18, 3rd quarter
McCoy, who has only had one lost fumble this season, coughs it up and The Cowboys have it on the Eagles’ 12. Murray takes it down to the Eagles’ 1.
Philadelphia Eagles 23-7 Dallas Cowboys 11:48, 3rd quarter
Right, that didn’t last long. Dunbar can only make a short gain on 3rd and 3 and Sproles takes the fair catch on his own 10 after the punt.
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Philadelphia Eagles 23-7 Dallas Cowboys 12:27, 3rd quarter
Pitbull signs off by wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. He is the only person to have done so so far today. Cowboys get off to a decent start after halftime. They’ve stopped Pitbull and are soon on their own 45 after some good work from Murray.
I may be on my own eating non-traditional leftovers on Thanksgiving but at least I’m not at the Cowboys being forced to watch Pitbull at the half-time show. Although I am being forced to watch him on television. Hmmm. Anyway:
"I don't get his popularity at all, I guess I'm too old" - my 91 year old grandma on Pitbull #takesgiving @sportspickle
— Club (@ClubDoty) November 27, 2014
Half time: Philadelphia Eagles 23-7 Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles were superb in the first half, with Sanchez in complete control. He threw for 202 yards and completed 17 of his 24 passes. And ran for a tocuhdown. Apart from that he was rubbish. Still, it could easily have been 31-7 to the Eagles and Dallas are still in this.
FIELD GOAL! Philadelphia Eagles 23-7 Dallas Cowboys 0:25, 2nd quarter
Well, things could have been a lot worse for the Cowboys, who have held the Eagles to two field goals in their last two trips in the red zone.
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Philadelphia Eagles 20-7 Dallas Cowboys 0:35, 2nd quarter
Poor old Beasley is on the sidelines looking like a man who just fumbled the ball at a crucial stage of a crucial game. He’s a method actor.
FUMBLE!
Romo looks like he’s starting a promising drive as he picks out Beasley but the ball is stripped from his loving arms and the Eagles dive on it. That’s a big play as we rumble toward half-time. They’re reviewing it now ... and yup, the Eagles have the ball.
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FIELD GOAL! Philadelphia Eagles 20-7 Dallas Cowboys 1:35, 2nd quarter
Barry Church, who has been excellent for the Cowboys today stops McCoy on the three-yard line. Moore leaps brilliantly to bat away a Sanchez pass that was heading for Riley Cooper on third down. Plenty of time for Dallas to score before half-time
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Philadelphia Eagles 17-7 Dallas Cowboys, 1:53 2nd quarter
Two minute warning comes and the Eagles are dominating. They’re in the redzone. The Cowboys haven’t been bad as much as Sanchez and the Eagles have been pretty much perfect. The Cowboys defense look VERY tired. And remember they played on Sunday night.
Philadelphia Eagles 17-7 Dallas Cowboys, 4:09 2nd quarter
The NFL has just used Thanksgiving to thank its UK fans. Well done, Britain. You may even get the Jaguars one day as a reward. The Cowboys are doing a better job of stopping the Eagles now but Sproles converts on 3rd and 5. He scampered.
Philadelphia Eagles 17-7 Dallas Cowboys, 5:44 2nd quarter
Hmmm. That didn’t end well for the Cowboys with Romo sacked. Jones puts up a huge 58 yard punt, which Sproles scampers back for 12 yards. I am contractually obliged to say Sproles has “scampered” at least four times a quarter. Did I mention Sproles just scampered?
Philadelphia Eagles 17-7 Dallas Cowboys, 6:50 2nd quarter
Murray gets his team away from their own end zone, bringing it out to the 15 - he’s got 42 yards so far today without doign anything spectacular.
Philadelphia Eagles 17-7 Dallas Cowboys, 9:27 2nd quarter
The Cowboys are showing a bit of fight in defense now. Moncey stuffs McCoy for a six yard loss. Sanchez can’t summon any magic on third down and the Eagles actually have to punt. Cowboys will start on their own 2 though.
Philadelphia Eagles 17-7 Dallas Cowboys, 10:31 2nd quarter
The Cowboys are forced to punt after Romo fails to find Witten. Sproles returns the punt for 10 yards to the Eagles’ 33.
FIELD GOAL!
Philadelphia Eagles 17-7 Dallas Cowboys, 11:55 2nd quarter
“How’s that chicken and pasta Thanksgiving meal going,” asks Dan Jenkins. I haven’t been able to eat it because of the Eagles’ pesky offensive efficiency, Dan. So now I’m lonely AND hungry. The Eagles drive comes up short but they so get a FIELD GOAL
Philadelphia Eagles 14-7 Dallas Cowboys, 12:55 2nd quarter
“You think you’re lonely for Thanksgiving,” says Joe Davey, who I suspect is about to tell us he’s lonely. “I’m currently on my own in the office. Even the cleaners have left. Although I do live in Canada so it’s not that bad.” Oooh, fumble from the Eagles. But then Maclin picks up a 59-yard gain after Sanzhez finds him on his own.
TOUCHDOWN! Philadelphia Eagles 14-7 Dallas Cowboys, 14:56 2nd quarter
Murray finds the gap and rumbles over for the Cowboys’ first score of the day
Philadelphia Eagles 14-0 Dallas Cowboys, End of first quarter
Right that average per play for the Cowboys may just have gone up slightly. Romo finds Bryant for 38 yards and it’s first and goal for the Cowboys. Murray then takes it to the one-yard line
Philadelphia Eagles 14-0 Dallas Cowboys, 2:30 1st quarter
The Cowboys start their drive with the shocking decision to hand off to Murray. Then follow it up with the shock decision to hand it off to Murray. This is all very well but the Eagles are averaging 10.5 yards per play at the moment to the Cowboys’ 3.3.
Philadelphia Eagles 14-0 Dallas Cowboys, 4:01 1st quarter
Some good news for the Cowboys at last as Dunbar gets a good kickoff return, taking it back for 28 yards to the Cowboys 33.
Mark Sanchez advancing on the Cowboys if he was a storm in Australia rather than a football player in Texas. Look it’s symolic, not literal.
Like a movie scene #brisbanestorm (Credit Kai Linkerhof) pic.twitter.com/QeGsUm8QMy
— Vanessa O'Hanlon (@VanessaOHanlon) November 27, 2014
TOUCHDOWN! Philadelphia Eagles 14-0 Dallas Cowboys
Another one. Eagles are unstoppable. Sanchez rumbles out of the pocket and connects with Matthews for a 27-yard touchdown. He’s 9/11 for 99 yards. Decent.
Philadelphia Eagles 7-0 Dallas Cowboys, 5:00 1st quarter
Cowboys are forced to punt and Sanchez connects with Maclin, who now has 1,000 receiving yards for the season (yay). Cooper then bobbles a catch but clutches it to his chest and the Eagles are on the Cowboys 35
Philadelphia Eagles 7-0 Dallas Cowboys, 6:55 1st quarter
Hey! DeMarco Murray can catch too. He picks up a first down, although Connor Barwin should have stopped him shy of the marker. This is what happens when you let hipsters play football. Cowboys on the Eagles 45
Philadelphia Eagles 7-0 Dallas Cowboys, 8:55 1st quarter
My word, that opening drive from Sanchez couldn’t have been more clinical if it was led by a surgeon. A very athletic surgeon. The Cowboys start their opening drive with a few DeMarco Murray runs. And why not, it’s worked so far this season. Romo misteps slightly and is nearly picked off by Williams on 2nd and 6. Beasley then squirms over just for a first down after a short pass.
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TOUCHDOWN! Philadelphia Eagles 7-0 Dallas Cowboys, 11:55 1st quarter
Damn the Eagles and their 0.0004 seconds between plays, it makes them very hard to liveblog. Their commitment to entertainment and winning must be stopped. A superbly orchestrated drive form Sanchez who ends the drive with another pass to Cooper before the QB himself crashes into the end zone with a two-yard run on the next play. And the extra point is good.
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Philadelphia Eagles 0-0 Dallas Cowboys, 13:30 1st quarter
Sanchez gets off to a peppy sttart with a nine yard pass to Riley Cooper. Sproles then does his wriggly stuff to scamper for a first down. The next play McCoy powers through for a 36 yard pick-up and the Eagles are closing in on the red zone.
Kickoff
It’s a touchback. So the Eagles will start at the 20. Because that’s the rules.
“Sorry to hear you’re on your own for Thanksgiving, Tim,” says Paul Seba. You got my name wrong on purpose, didn’t you? Just to make me feel more lonely? “You can always come over to my house. As long as you live in Phoenix.” I don’t live in Phoenix. Yet.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are having a stubble off on Fox. Despite the fact the Alpha Male blood that oozes through Aikman’s veins, I’m actually going to give Buck the edge here. Here you go, it offsets his forehead issues:
Joe Buck 2.0 probably drives a Camaro. (via @smartfootball) pic.twitter.com/Gdtu8hshrx
— SB Nation (@SBNation) November 27, 2014
Predictions? You want predictions? We’ll give you predictions. Well, the Eagles have never lost on Thanksgiving, with a 5-0 record. Having said that they were completely different games played with different sets of players in different conditions so that means absolutely nothing. I think it’s going to be the Cowboys who end the Eagles Thanksgiving run - Philadelphia have struggled on contain the top level of QBs this season and Romo is playing out of his skin of late. I was thinking Eagles 10-24 Cowboys. but in an effort to keep you reading about a stone cold classic I’m predicting it will end Eagles 49-52 Cowboys. Do not put money on that.
Because it’s a national holiday and I don’t technically have a desk, they’ve let me report on this game from the comfort of my own home. I’m not saying I’m lonely but on a day where thoughts inevitable turn to family I’m sat on my own with just Fox for company. I had pasta and chicken for lunch. My dinner will consist of:
- Chicken and pasta
- Salty tears
- Leftover chicken and pasta from lunch
- An oreo
- Whatever chicken and pasta is left in the pan
The salty tears form quite a pleasant contrast with the sweetness of the Oreos actually.
Hello and happy Thanksgiving! And for our non-US readers: hello and happy Thursday, the poor man’s Friday.
We’re all set for a tasty clash between the Eagles and Cowboys for (semi) control of the NFC East. To my mind this is the best Cowboys team since 2007 when they lost to the Giants in the divisional playoffs (and the season didn’t end too badly for New York). The good news for the Cowboys is that, unlike last weekend, they won’t be up against this kind of devilry today:
The even better news for the Cowboys is that they they will be facing Mark Sanchez who, after a promising game or two, has started to revert to his Jets-era form.
In the early game, the Lions came back to beat the Bears 34-17. CBS asks Calvin Johnson what he’s going to do for the rest of Thanksgiving. I can exclusively reveal he will have a shower. Actually, that’s not even an exclusive, CBS got their first. It’s hard to get to the big stories first in the internet age.
