Dallas QB DiNucci falters in first start
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t give the game away no matter how poorly they played.
Carson Wentz threw a pair of touchdown passes to overcome four turnovers, Rodney McLeod returned a fumble 53 yards for a score and the Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys 23-9 on Sunday night.
A pair of two-win teams fighting for first place in the weak NFC East in Week 8 put on a sloppy performance fit for the preseason instead of prime time.
The Eagles (3-4-1) took control of the division with their secondstraight victory. Dallas (2-6) has lost three in a row.
“It didn’t look pretty,” said Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham, who had one of the team’s two strip-sacks. “We knew it was going to be a battle. We held strong.”
Dallas rookie Ben DiNucci, a seventh-round pick from James Madison making his first start, was sacked four times and lost two fumbles. He completed 21 of 40 passes for 180 yards.
“We clearly understand what this loss does to us,” Cowboys firstyear coach Mike McCarthy said. “But we need to rally and get together here and move on. … We took a step in the right direction in a number of areas and felt a number of components of our football team also improved.”
Wentz threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles but his 9yard touchdown pass to Travis Fulgham in the third quarter gave Philadelphia the lead for good. Wentz connected with Jalen Reagor on the two-point conversion to make it 15-9.
Dallas was driving at the Eagles’ 21 with a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter when DiNucci was sacked by T. J. Edwards and fumbled. McLeod picked up a loose ball and went the distance for a 21-9 lead. The two-point conversion failed, but Dallas later took a safety on a punt.
DiNucci started because Andy Dalton is out with a concussion and Dak Prescott broke his right ankle in Week 5.
Boston Scott ran for a careerbest 70yards for the Eagles. Wentz finished 15 of 27 for 123 yards.
“A win is a win,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. “We have to start stacking them together.
We’re happy and excited to get the win, but we have some things to figure out.“
Greg Zuerlein hit a 59-yard field goal to give Dallas a 9-7 halftime lead. The Cowboys turned two fourth-down stops at their 44 into short-drive field goals.
DiNucci drove Dallas effectively on the first possession, and Zuerlein kicked a 49-yard field goal.
The Cowboys then had an excellent opportunity after Donovan Wilson strip-sacked Wentz and recovered at the Eagles’ 25. Dallas had a first downat the Eagles’ 4before Brandon Graham stripped DiNucci and recovered.
Philadelphia turned that turnover into a score as Wentz tossed a 2-yard TD pass to Reagor for a 7-3 lead.
Dallas had three takeaways in the first half and four total after getting only three in the first seven games.