Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admitted before Monday’s 38-21 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles that this was probably as biggest seventh game of the season as he could remember for the franchise.
Coming in at 2-4 and riding a two-game losing streak, the Cowboys’ season was decidedly on the line.
And with a 9-13-1 mark since taking over as the 10th coach in franchise before last season, the same could be said about the job status of coach Brian Schottenheimer following a disappointing and underachieving start to a season that began with talk of reaching the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1995 season.
At least for more week, consider the Cowboys and Schottenheimer saved from the chopping block.
The maligned Cowboys defense struggled against an injury-riddled Eagles offense, playing with backup quarterback Tanner McKee in place of starter Jalen Hurts, who is for the season with blood clots in his lung.
The defense allowed 20 or more points in a 14th straight game. Their current streak of 13 straight games is not only the longest streak in the NFL, it’s also the longest streak in the 66-year history of the franchise.
But it was the return of a high-powered offense led by quarterback Dak Prescott and well-criticized running game that saved the day and season.
The Cowboys had scored just 16 and 13 points in back to losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers.
But they got back above their previous average 30.5 points game through the first four against the Eagles.
Prescott tossed three touchdown passes, including two to receiver CeeDee Lamb and one to George Pickens that was as pretty a catch as you will ever see.
But it Javonte Williams and the running game who made the difference.
Schottenheimer promised to run it more and run it better than they have the past two weeks.
Williams rushed 25 times for 155 yards, both season highs, and a touchdown. Backup Tyler Goodson had 10 carries for 28 yards.
The Cowboys rushed for 204 yards to balance out 212 yards passing from Prescott to produce their most complete offensive performance of the season.
And when the Cowboys took a 31-21 lead in the fourth quarter on the third field goal by Brandon Aubrey, the Cowboys defense stepped up and turned the Eagles back thanks to an interception by linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.
Actually after the Eagles scored on a 84-yard drive to open the third quarter, making the score 21-20, the Cowboys forced a punt, got an interception, stopped Eagles on downs before the game ran out on their final drive.
Prescott and the offense answered with 18 unanswered point to what was surprisingly close game away.
At 3-4, the Cowboys remain in must-win mode heading into next Sunday’s game at the Arizona Cardinals (2-5).
With the 2-5 Indianapolis Colts up the following, the Cowboys have gone from saving their season to an opportunity to get on a roll and possibly make up some ground on the NFC East-leading New York Giants (4-2-1).
Considering the up and down nature of the team’s seemingly unforgivable start to the season and remaining concerns on defense, nothing can be taken for granted, especially against a Cardinals team that has won four straight in the series.