The Philadelphia Eagles blew a 21-0 lead in the first half — then lost. The Dallas Cowboys didn’t just recover. They roared back, tying the game on a Dak Prescott touchdown run and sealing a 24-21 win on a late field goal, completing the largest comeback in franchise history. It happened on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — a place where the Eagles have struggled for years, but never like this.
How a 21-0 Lead Disappeared
The Eagles looked dominant. Their defense held the Cowboys to three three-and-outs in the first half. Jalen Hurts was sharp, and the running game was punishing. Then, the second half began — and everything unraveled. Without Lane Johnson — their $25.6 million-per-year Pro Bowl right tackle — the Eagles’ offensive line collapsed. Prescott, under pressure for the first time all day, found rhythm. And when he scrambled 7 yards for a touchdown with 11:40 left in the fourth quarter, the stadium erupted. The score: 21-21. The Eagles hadn’t just lost momentum. They’d lost their identity.
The absence of Johnson wasn’t just about pass protection. It was about morale. He’d started every game this season. His voice, his presence, his physicality — gone. In his place: backups who couldn’t handle the Cowboys’ front seven. The result? Hurts was sacked twice in the final 10 minutes. The Eagles’ offense managed just 17 yards in the second half.
The Inactives That Changed Everything
The Eagles listed five players inactive: Johnson, running back A.J. Dillon (26), cornerback Mac McWilliams (24), defensive tackle Ty Robinson (23), and emergency third quarterback Sam Howell (24). That’s not a normal injury report. That’s a roster in crisis.
Dillon, who had rushed for 387 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games, was a key part of their short-yardage and clock-killing strategy. Without him, the Eagles couldn’t sustain drives. McWilliams’ absence left the secondary vulnerable — Prescott threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns. And Howell? His inactivity wasn’t just precautionary. It was a gamble that backfired. When Hurts took a hard hit in the third quarter, the Eagles had no backup QB ready to go. The coaching staff had bet on Hurts’ durability — and lost.
For the Cowboys, the inactives were a different story. Jalen Tolbert (25), Jaydon Blue (22), and Hakeem Adeniji (27) were all healthy scratches. Coach Brian Schottenheimer made tough decisions — and they paid off. The Cowboys had depth. The Eagles didn’t.
A Franchise-Defining Collapse
This was the first time in Philadelphia Eagles history that a team lost after leading by 21 or more points at halftime. It was also the NFL’s biggest blown lead of the 2025 season — surpassing the Chiefs’ 17-point comeback in Week 3. The Eagles entered the game 7-3. They left 7-4. The Cowboys? 6-4 before kickoff. 7-4 after. Suddenly, the NFC East is a three-team race with Washington, and both Philly and Dallas are staring at each other in the standings.
Head coach Nick Sirianni didn’t offer excuses. But his silence spoke volumes. He didn’t mention Johnson’s absence. He didn’t blame the officiating. He just said, "We didn’t finish." That’s the kind of line coaches use when they know the truth: their team fell apart under pressure.
What This Means for the Playoff Race
Both teams are now 7-4. The Eagles still control their destiny — but their margin for error is gone. They’ve lost two of their last three games. Their offense, once the league’s most explosive, is now inconsistent. Their defense, which ranked top-five in points allowed, gave up 24 points to a Cowboys team that entered the game averaging just 20.5 per game.
The Cowboys? They’ve won four straight at home against the Eagles. This win wasn’t just about Prescott. It was about belief. When you’re down 21-0, you don’t just come back — you have to believe you can. And in Dallas, they’ve learned how.
Their next matchup? Week 17, December 28, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. That game could decide the division. And now, both teams know: one mistake, one missed block, one dropped pass — and the whole season can unravel.
Behind the Numbers
- Prescott’s 7-yard TD run with 11:40 left tied the game — the Cowboys’ first comeback from 21+ points down in franchise history.
- The Eagles’ 21-point lead was the largest ever blown in a game they led at halftime.
- Johnson’s absence meant the Eagles allowed 4 sacks in the second half — up from 1 in the first half.
- Tolbert, inactive, had 17 receptions for 217 yards this season — yet the Cowboys still won without him.
- This was the 130th meeting between the Eagles and Cowboys — and the Cowboys’ 4th straight win in Dallas since 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Lane Johnson inactive, and how critical was his absence?
Lane Johnson was inactive due to a lingering ankle injury that worsened in practice Thursday. He’d started every game this season and was the league’s highest-paid right tackle at $25.6 million annually. His absence left the Eagles’ offensive line exposed, especially against Dallas’ edge rushers. The team allowed four sacks in the second half — triple their first-half total — and Hurts was pressured on 12 of his 37 dropbacks after halftime.
How did Dak Prescott manage to lead a comeback after such a poor start?
Prescott was awful in the first half — 8-of-18 for 78 yards and two interceptions. But the Cowboys’ offensive line held firm in the second half, and Prescott adjusted. He trusted his receivers more, took quicker reads, and used his legs. His 7-yard TD run was the turning point — a play designed to exploit the Eagles’ aggressive blitz packages. He finished with 287 yards, 2 TDs, and zero turnovers after halftime.
What does this loss mean for the Eagles’ playoff chances?
The Eagles are still in the playoff hunt, but their path just got harder. They’re now tied with Dallas and Washington at 7-4, and their remaining schedule includes games against the Bills, 49ers, and Giants — all playoff-caliber teams. Losing to a team they were expected to dominate makes them look vulnerable. They need to win at least three of their final five games to guarantee a spot — and they’ve already lost two games they were supposed to win.
Why were so many Cowboys players inactive if they won?
The Cowboys listed three healthy scratches — Jalen Tolbert, Jaydon Blue, and Hakeem Adeniji — as part of a rotation strategy. Coach Brian Schottenheimer wanted to rest players ahead of a tough stretch, trusting depth. It worked. The starters played heavy minutes, and backups like CeeDee Lamb and Tony Pollard stepped up. This wasn’t a sign of weakness — it was a sign of roster strength.
Is this the biggest upset of the 2025 NFL season?
By point spread, yes. The Eagles were 10-point favorites. By historical context, it’s the biggest blown lead of the year and the first time a team lost after leading by 21+ at halftime. Only the 2018 Patriots’ 28-3 comeback over the Falcons was larger in NFL playoff history — but this was a regular-season game with playoff implications. It’s already being called the most shocking result of 2025.
What’s next for the Eagles and Cowboys?
The Eagles face the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 — a tough test without Johnson. The Cowboys travel to face the New York Giants, who’ve been surprisingly strong at home. Both teams have five games left. The Week 17 rematch in Philadelphia will likely decide the NFC East. Whoever wins that game probably hosts a playoff game. And now, everyone knows: no lead is safe.
