24 Nov 2025
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The Dallas Cowboys didn’t just win a game on Sunday, November 23, 2025—they rewrote history. Trailing the Philadelphia Eagles by 21 points at halftime in front of a stunned crowd at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Cowboys erupted for 24 unanswered points to pull off one of the most improbable victories in NFL history. The final score: 24-21. And the man orchestrating it all? Dak Prescott, who shattered Tony Romo’s franchise passing record while refusing to let his team quit.
The Collapse That No One Saw Coming
The Philadelphia Eagles looked unstoppable early. With Jalen Hurts slicing through Dallas’ defense and A.J. Brown turning short passes into touchdowns, Philadelphia raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. By halftime, they’d added another touchdown, putting the defending Super Bowl champions up 21-7. The Cowboys? Silent. Zero points. Zero momentum. Fans were already heading for the exits.
But here’s the thing—football isn’t played in halves. It’s played in downs. And in the third quarter, something changed. The Eagles’ offense, which had averaged 23.2 points per game through 11 weeks, went quiet. Their offensive line, already battered by injuries, completely unraveled. Cam Jurgens missed critical snaps. Lane Johnson didn’t play. Landon Dickerson was in and out like a broken door hinge. The result? Hurts was pressured on 11 of his 17 third-down attempts in the second half. No rhythm. No time. No points.
Dak’s Moment
Meanwhile, Dak Prescott was playing with a quiet fury. On the Cowboys’ first drive of the third quarter, he connected with CeeDee Lamb for a 38-yard strike to the end zone. Seven points. Then, after a forced fumble by DeMarcus Lawrence, Prescott led a 75-yard march capped by a 1-yard plunge from Tony Pollard. 21-14.
With 6:12 left in the fourth, Prescott threw a 22-yard dart to Michael Gallup on 4th-and-3. The crowd exploded. Then, after a defensive stop, he methodically drove Dallas into field goal range. Greg Zuerlein nailed a 47-yarder. 24-21. The Eagles had one last shot—but a tipped pass in the end zone ended it. Prescott finished with 347 yards and three touchdowns. He also passed Romo’s 46,922-yard career mark. The locker room was silent when teammates tried to congratulate him. "He wasn’t having it," an AP reporter noted. "They were trying to rally from 21 down. He wasn’t thinking about records. He was thinking about survival."
Why This Matters Beyond the Standings
The Eagles entered the game at 8-3, riding high as defending champions with a +30 point differential. Their path to home-field advantage in the playoffs looked smooth. Now? They’ve lost their aura. That 21-point lead? It’s the largest blown by a defending Super Bowl champ in NFL history. The pressure is mounting. Their offensive line issues aren’t a glitch—they’re a systemic flaw. And with Jalen Hurts now facing constant pressure, the Eagles’ championship defense might be crumbling faster than anyone expected.
The Cowboys? They were 5-5-1. A .500 team. A afterthought. Now? They’re alive. With the win, they’re just one game behind the Eagles in the NFC East. And more importantly, they’ve proven they can win under fire. Prescott’s leadership, the defense’s grit, and the offensive line’s resilience in the second half—this wasn’t luck. It was character.
What’s Next?
The Eagles host the New York Giants next week, a team they’ve beaten easily in recent years. But can they handle the pressure? Their offensive line must heal—or they risk losing more games they’re supposed to win. The Cowboys, meanwhile, face the Washington Commanders on the road. A win there would put them in sole possession of second place. And with the NFC wild-card race tightening, every game from here on out feels like a playoff elimination.
The Bigger Picture
This game echoes the 2007 Patriots’ comeback against the Giants in the Super Bowl—not in scale, but in shock value. It’s the kind of game that changes narratives. Prescott, once criticized for inconsistency, now looks like a franchise savior. Hurts, the MVP frontrunner, suddenly looks vulnerable. And the NFC East? It’s no longer a two-team race. It’s a bloodbath.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Dak Prescott break Tony Romo’s passing record during the game?
Dak Prescott surpassed Tony Romo’s franchise record of 46,922 career passing yards during the fourth quarter of the game against the Eagles. He needed 18 yards to break the record and finished with 347 total yards, putting him at 47,019 for his career. The milestone came on a 12-yard completion to CeeDee Lamb with 9:17 left in the third quarter, though Prescott didn’t acknowledge it until after the game.
What were the key injuries that hurt the Eagles’ offense in the second half?
The Eagles’ offensive line was decimated by injuries. Center Cam Jurgens left the game with a knee sprain in the second quarter, right tackle Lane Johnson was inactive due to a calf strain, and guard Landon Dickerson played only 42 of 71 snaps after battling a back issue all season. Without consistent protection, Jalen Hurts faced pressure on 11 of 17 third-down attempts in the second half, leading to three punts and two turnovers.
Why did the Eagles score zero points in the second half?
The Eagles’ second-half collapse stemmed from a combination of offensive line breakdowns, poor play-calling, and Dallas’ defensive adjustments. After halftime, the Cowboys switched to a hybrid zone-blitz scheme that confused Hurts. Philadelphia’s offense went 0-for-6 on third downs after halftime and turned the ball over twice. Their only second-half drive reached the Cowboys’ 35-yard line—then stalled due to a false start and sack.
How did this loss affect the Eagles’ playoff chances?
Despite still leading the NFC East at 8-3, the Eagles’ loss damaged their seeding. They now trail the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in the conference standings. Their +30 point differential is no longer dominant, and they’ve lost two of their last three games against division rivals. Home-field advantage is now in jeopardy, and they’ll need to win out to guarantee a first-round bye.
What does this win mean for the Cowboys’ postseason hopes?
The win lifted the Cowboys to 5-5-1, putting them just one game behind the Eagles in the NFC East. More importantly, it gave them their first four-game winning streak since 2023. With three of their final five games against teams under .500, they’re now legitimate wild-card contenders. Dak Prescott’s leadership and the defense’s ability to clamp down under pressure have turned their season around—from mediocrity to momentum.
Is this the biggest comeback in NFL history?
No, but it’s among the most dramatic. The NFL’s largest comeback is 32 points, set by the Buffalo Bills in 1993. This 21-point rally is tied for the second-largest by a team trailing at halftime in the Super Bowl era. It’s the largest ever by a team facing the defending Super Bowl champions, and the first time a team overcame a 21-point deficit against a team with an 8+ win record since 2011.