Dak, Cowboys romp past Eagles
Dak Prescott threw a career-high five touchdown passes against Philadelphia Eagles backups, Cedrick Wilson and Dalton Schultz each had two scoring catches and the Dallas Cowboys kept their slim hopes for a No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs alive with a 51-26 victory Saturday night in Philadelphia.
The Cowboys still had seeding to play for against an Eagles team that rested Jalen Hurts and other key starters ahead of an NFC wild-card game next week.
The NFC champion Cowboys (12-5) need losses Sunday by reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay against last-place Carolina and also for the Rams and Cardinals to lose to earn the No. 2 seed. There also is a path to the No. 3 seed for Dallas.
The Cowboys can’t finish worse than the fourth seed. The Eagles (9-8) still could be the sixth seed.
Prescott stayed in the game until the fourth quarter, the lead increasing seemingly with each throw and so, perhaps, the risk of injury for a QB nearly 15 months removed from the gruesome compound fracture of his right ankle that ended his 2020 season.
TITANS: After returning to the top spot in the AFC playoff race last week, the Titans were hoping to welcome a stalwart back for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the host Texans, but will settle for waiting until the postseason.
Tennessee this week designated running back Derrick Henry to return to practice from injured reserve, beginning a 21-day window for the team to activate him. Henry has been on IR since suffering a foot injury against the Colts in Week 8 and underwent surgery Nov. 2.
On Saturday, the Titans declined to activate Henry for Sunday’s game.
The Titans (11-5) have won five of eight without Henry, who still ranks sixth in the league in rushing yards (937) and rushing touchdowns (10).
49ERS: The Niners got major reinforcements for their depleted secondary with four key players being activated to play in the crucial season finale against the Rams on Sunday.
The Niners activated safety Jimmie Ward and cornerbacks Dontae Johnson and K’Waun Williams from the COVID-19 list on Saturday. All three players tested positive earlier in the week but have been cleared to play.