While the Philadelphia Eagles rostered a wide receiver that was dubbed the “Cowboy Killer”, Dallas had a bigger and better version of DeSean Jackson.
Dez Bryant seemed to save his best performances for when he was lined up across the team with the ugly green jerseys.
My third favorite Cowboys win versus the Eagles was no different.
Follow me as I take a look back at the game where the Eagles defense had no answer for Dez.
To read about my fourth favorite win in these rankings, click here.
Dez Bryant Completes Hat Trick
When: December 14, 2014
Where: Lincoln Financial Field
Final Score: DAL 38, PHI 27
Back Story
Many argue that the 2014 Dallas Cowboys is the most talented version of the team to not make a deep playoff run.
The evidence to back that up can be found in the accolades of that year’s team.
It featured six All-Pro players. Four of them 1st team (Dez, DeMarco Murray, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith).
Tony Romo and Travis Frederick made the 2nd team All-Pro list.
It wasn’t Romo’s best season from a yards standpoint, but he did hit statistical career highs in completion percentage (69.9), touchdown percentage (7.8), and QB rating (113.2).
Dez had more receptions and yards in 2012, but his 16 touchdowns in 2014 were a career high.
Dallas went into the game two weeks removed from a Thanksgiving blowout loss to the Eagles at AT&T Stadium.
With Mark Sanchez leading the way, the Eagles left Dallas with a 33-10 beat down of the favored Cowboys.
Dallas responded with a big win at Soldier Field against the Bears the following week to move to 9-4.
Philadelphia couldn’t build on the Turkey Day win, and lost at home to Seattle to drop to 9-4.
That combination of events setup one of the most anticipated Sunday Night Football matchups in recent memory.
Game Summary
The home team Eagles won the toss, and elected to receive.
K Dan Bailey dropped a perfect pooch kick in between the levels of the Eagles return team.
The ball bounced at the 15 yard line, just behind the blocking team, and just out of reach of return man Josh Huff.
Dallas special teamer CJ Spillman pounced on it, and setup the Cowboys offense at the Eagles 18 yard line.
Four plays later RB DeMarco Murray punched it into the endzone from one yard out.
After an Eagles 3 & out, Romo and the offense went to work again.
Highlighted by gains of 21 and 17 yards by TE Jason Witten, Dallas completed an 88 yard drive for a touchdown.
It culminated in a four yard touchdown pass from Romo to Dez, increasing the Cowboys lead to 14-0.
Another 3 & out by Philadelphia setup the Cowboys at their own 44 yard line.
Three plays of 10+ yards got Dallas deep into Eagles territory.
Facing a 2nd & 11 from the Philly 26 yard line, Romo dropped back to pass and hit Dez up the right sideline for his second touchdown of the day.
Dallas now held what felt like an insurmountable 21-0 lead at the time with 12:01 left in the 2nd quarter.
The Eagles needed to get back on track after six plays for negative five yards and two punts on their first two possessions.
They did just that after an 11 play 84 yard drive ended with a RB Chris Polk five yard scamper.
The Philly defense then stepped up, stopping the Dallas offense for the first time that evening.
A big sack by DE Connor Barwin on a 3rd & 1 play forced Dallas to punt.
Taking over at their own 28 yard line, Sanchez and the offense got rolling once again.
They chipped away at the Dallas defense, advancing the ball to the Cowboys 26 yard line.
Sanchez threw a screen pass on 2nd & 10 to RB Darren Sproles that LB Bruce Carter read like a book for a three yard loss.
The 3rd & 13 play was an incomplete pass, and K Cody Parkey knocked through a 47 yard field goal to bring the score to 21-10.
2nd Half
Dallas punted to end the 1st half, and promptly punted for the third drive in a row to start the 3rd quarter.
Starting at the 14 yard line, Sanchez and the offense gained a 1st down through penalty.
Facing a 3rd & 12 from the 27 yard line, Sanchez completed a 72 yard pass to Jeremy Maclin.
Initially ruled a touchdown, replay review spotted the ball at the one yard line.
No matter, Polk scored on the next play, closing the gap to 21-17.
Dallas’ 2nd half continued in the wrong direction.
On 3rd & 19 from their own 18 yard line, Romo was sacked by DE Vinny Curry.
Romo fumbled on the play, and the ball was picked up by DT Fletcher Cox at the 14 yard line.
Three plays later, Sproles dove in from one yard out and gave the Eagles the lead 24-21.
After four straight failed drives, it was time for the Dallas offense to get back on track.
Starting at their own 22 yard line, three plays of 20+ yards set Dallas up at the Eagles two yard line.
Murray ran it in from there, giving the Cowboys the lead once again at 28-24.
Attempting to answer, Sanchez threw an interception to S J.J. Wilcox on the last play of the 3rd quarter.
Three plays later on 3rd & 7, Romo hit Dez again up the right sideline from 25 yards out, marking Dez’s third touchdown of the night.
Eagles CB Bradley Fletcher getting toasted for the third time of the evening put Dallas up 35-24.
With 12:08 left, the game was far from over.
Sanchez drove Philadelphia down the field, where they would settle for another Parkey field goal to close the gap to 35-27.
After a quick Dallas 3 & out, the Eagles tried to seize the opportunity.
Tried and failed.
After a big 14 yard completion to TE Brent Celek, Wilcox again came up big for Dallas, forcing a fumble that the Cowboys recovered.
Setup at the Eagles 34 yard line with an eight point lead, Dallas tried their best to flounder the opportunity.
A holding penalty and two plays totaling six yards lost setup a long field goal that K Dan Bailey pushed right through the uprights from 49 yards away.
That would end the scoring for the game at 38-27.
The Eagles final two drives would end with a punt and an interception.
Season Results
The Romo to Dez connection was the best it had ever been in 2014.
In that Eagles game specifically, they connected six times for 114 yards and three touchdowns.
Dallas would win their final four games to end the season after the Thanksgiving Day blowout.
They finished the season 12-4, and NFC East Champions.
In the Wildcard round, Romo would win his second (and final) playoff game of his career at home versus the Detroit Lions.
The next week came the infamous “Dez Caught It” game at Lambeau Field that would end the Cowboys season.
After the Thanksgiving Day blowout of Dallas, the Eagles went in the complete opposite direction.
Philly lost three of their last four games to fall to 10-6, and just outside the playoff picture.
The regular season could not have ended on a better note if you’re a Cowboys fan.
Beating the Eagles on their own field to catapult the team to an NFC East title and playoff berth is like drinking the nectar of the gods.