Dak Prescott and the starters of the Cowboys begin into the playoffs

“I rested gamers, I did not relaxation any gamers,” mentioned McCarthy, who beforehand coached the Inexperienced Bay Packers for 13 seasons. “However we felt the place we have been as a crew, in our first 12 months within the playoffs, it was essential for us to play.”

It was essential for Prescott, feeling comfy, as he dissected the Eagles’ defenses and accomplished 21 of 27 passes for 295 yards. It was essential for receiver Cedrick Wilson, who, after Michael Gallup failed for the season with a torn knee ligament, continued his rise as a reliable third receiving choice, catching 5 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. And it was essential to the return run from Ezekiel Elliott, who suffered from a knee harm for a lot of the season, gained 87 of Dallass 171 dashing yards, after which declared wholesome for the postseason.

The cowboys scored on eight out of 9 possessions, excluding squats, and for such an antipathy rivalry, with tales of bounty bowls and cucumber juice and flying pork chops, that portion was the joy of a beige couch.

When Dallas traveled with out linebacker Micah Parsons, together with Tyron Smith with left sort out and Tony Pollard, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni determined to relaxation 16 starters – with out heart Jason Kelce, who solely performed the primary snap simply to look at his episode prolong. Begin streak to 122 – and elevated 12 gamers from the apply crew.

Below Sirianni, Philadelphia’s first-year head coach, the Eagles have greater than doubled their mixture wins from final season’s 4-11-1 fiasco, throttling unhealthy groups and backup quarterbacks with a robust offensive led by quarterback Jalen Hurts and 6 their final gained eight video games. Nonetheless recovering from a excessive ankle sprain, Hurts sat rather than Gardner Minshew on Saturday however Sirianni mentioned he was prepared for the Eagles playoff recreation.

Philadelphia can solely transfer as much as sixth place within the NFC if New Orleans beat Atlanta and the Rams beat San Francisco. The Cowboys won’t fall below fourth place as NFC East champions, however they may transfer as much as second place.

Both approach they are going to have a playoff recreation, and whereas everybody from Prescott to McCarthy to DeMarcus Lawrence put their concentrate on the following weekend, it did not take a lot creativeness to appreciate that with a primary spherical win, the Cowboys have been chilly Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin, might find yourself in opposition to the highest seeded Packers.