Dallas Cowboys 38, Philadelphia Eagles 23

Cowboys take advantage of free-falling Eagles team for biggest win of the season.

The Dallas Cowboys took advantage of a team in complete disarray Sunday in Philadelphia, defeating the Eagles 38-23. The win improved Dallas to 4-5 on the season, just two wins behind the 6-4 New York Giants for first place in the NFC East. Philadelphia lost their fifth straight and are now 3-6.

Photo not provided by the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys

Finally, the Cowboys faced an even bigger hot mess than themselves.

The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, taking the opening drive 81 yards for their most impressive first-quarter score of the season. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick put Philly up 7-0 when he hit Riley Cooper for a two-yard touchdown pass.

Dallas immediately responded with a terrific drive of their own, moving 80 yards in 13 plays, capped by an 11-yard pass from Tony Romo to Felix Jones to tie it up at 7-7.

The two teams traded punts for most of the first half following that -- with Vick leaving the game at one point due to an apparent concussion -- until Romo hit Dez Bryant for 49 yards down to the Eagles 19. There the Dallas offense stalled again, and settled for a Dan Bailey 30-yard field goal to go up 10-7.

Neither team managed any offense until a minute into the third quarter, when rookie Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles hit Jeremy Maclin for a 44-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-10. After another Dallas three-and-out, Foles led the Eagles back down the field on the ensuing possession, going 5-of-5 but ultimately settling for a 40-yard field goal to make it 17-10 Philadelphia.

At that point, the wheels completely came off for the Eagles as Dallas scored three touchdowns in a span of 2:35. First Romo connected with Bryant for a 30-yard touchdown as the third quarter expired to tie it at 17-17. Then, following a three-and-out Eagles drive, Cowboys punt returner Dwayne Harris broke free untouched for a 78-yard touchdown return to make it 24-17. Finally, three plays later Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr snatched a tipped Foles pass in the air and ran it back 47 yards for a 31-17 lead.

The Eagles did manage to score a touchdown with under two minutes left when Stanley Havili ran it in from the one, although the extra point kick was missed. After the Eagles forced Dallas into a three-and-out, they got the ball back at their own 11 with no timeouts and 53 seconds to score a touchdown and a two-point conversion. The Eagles were then hit with a false start penalty to push them back to the six, then Foles was sacked and fumbled on the goaline. Jason Hatcher recovered in the end zone for Dallas' second defensive touchdown of the game.

Romo had a decent day statistically, going 19-of-26 for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Felix Jones led the rushing attack with 16 carries for 71 yards, and Dez Bryant led the recievers with three catches for 87 yards and a touchdow.

Vick was 6-of-9 for 70 yards and a touchdown before he left with injury, and Foles, in his first career game, went 22-of-32 for 219 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. LeSean McCoy led the Eagles in rushing with 16 carries for 82 yards, while Maclin caught 8 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Dallas next heads back to Arlington for a three-game homestand, starting next Sunday against the 2-7 Cleveland Browns.