The Dallas Cowboys lost 34-6 at home to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10. This was Dallas’ first game without Dak Prescott following his hamstring injury, and the offense could not move the ball at all.
The Eagles restricted the Cowboys to just 49 yards, raising concerns about both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. Pro Football Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champion Shannon Sharpe never shies away from critiquing the Cowboys, and he had some words to say about their performance against the Eagles.
Shannon Sharpe Reacts To Cowboys Loss vs. Eagles
The Cowboys signed Prescott to a four-year, $240 million extension before the start of the season. When the move was made, many questioned if Prescott was deserving of becoming the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback. After a number of missed games due to injuries, including both season-ending ankle and thumb injuries, Cowboys fans were right to be a tad concerned.
Before this game, backup Cooper Rush was 5-1 as a starter, and some believed that he could keep the Cowboys afloat in Prescott’s absence. Unfortunately, that did not happen, as he threw for just 45 yards on 23 attempts, completing 56.6% of his throws, and fumbled the ball twice. His performance landed him the worst Pro Football Network QB+ grade of the week behind names like Caleb Williams and Daniel Jones.
After Rush struggled against the Eagles, Sharpe called out the people who thought he was better than Prescott. “People actually thought Cowboys would be better off IF* Rush was their starting QB,” said Sharpe. “Dallas must be the comedian capital of the world because that’s extremely funny.”
Ppl actually thought Cowboys would be better off IF* Rush was their starting qb. Dallas must be the comedian capital of the world because that’s extremely funny. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 #EaglesCowboys #NFCEast #NFLSundayFootball.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 10, 2024
Not only Rush but even Lance failed to make an impact. He entered the game late in the third quarter but still managed to throw an interception. This display from Cowboys’ QB2 and QB3 made Prescott look a lot better as he was able to put up respectable numbers despite a subpar supporting cast.
Skip Bayless, who is a huge Cowboys fan, was also disappointed to see how the team played against the Eagles. “The Dallas Cowboys have 3 quarterbacks … and they have none.” wrote Bayless on X.
Another fumble. Another @Eagles recovery!
📺: #PHIvsDAL on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/EjD5Emkzb4— NFL (@NFL) November 11, 2024
With this loss to the Eagles, Dallas is now 3-6 on the season. Making the playoffs is nearly out of the picture. According to Pro Football Network’s Playoff Predictor, the Cowboys have only a 1.29% chance of making the playoffs. And, without their starting QB, that number even seems high.
Their next two games are against the Houston Texans and Washington Commanders. The Cowboys must at least avoid getting blown out in these standalone games. If Dallas continues to get embarrassed, head coach Mike McCarthy, who is in the final year of his contract, could lose his job much sooner than the end of the season.
When Will Dak Prescott Return?
Prescott partially tore his hamstring during the Cowboys’ Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He is expected to have surgery and be placed on the IR.
Due to his injury, the Cowboys could end up with a top-seven draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The pick will undoubtedly help them address issues on their roster, but will Jones be happy if the team continues to play like they did against the Eagles?
Rush provided no spark to the offense and proved why he is a backup quarterback. Since everyone has already given up on the Cowboys’ season, it will be better for the team to start Lance.
The former 49ers quarterback is turnover-prone, but at least he will make games entertaining. He can make explosive plays with his arm and legs, which the team desperately needs in Prescott’s absence.
The worst-case scenario is that Lance leads them to one of the league’s worst records, which will put them in a better situation at the draft. However, if he plays like a player Kyle Shanahan viewed as the future of the 49ers, Dallas can take advantage of his value and trade him to collect more draft capital.
More people will be tuned in to watch Lance over Rush, and based on what we know about Jones, he likes his team to stay relevant. Lance will keep them relevant even if it is for the wrong reasons.