Cowboys’ defense enjoys Philly feast
Jeremy Mincey had a simple explanation for why the Cowboys’ defense has thrived recently when facing the Eagles.
“We just like Eagle meat,” Mincey said, smiling. “That’s all it is. Nothing wrong with a little bird on the table, a Philly cheese bird.”
The Cowboys’ defense had every reason to joke around after Sunday’s 20-10 victory at Lincoln Financial Field. They couldn’t have had a much more impressive performance, starting with shutting down the Eagles’ running game.
We knew coming into the game that we were going to have to stop these extremely talented guys in the [Eagles] backfield.
Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee
Linebacker Sean Lee emerged as the star for the Cowboys’ D, finishing with a team-high 14 tackles with two tackles for loss and an interception.
For the game, the Cowboys held the Eagles to 7 yards on 17 carries. Philly flirted with finishing with minus rushing yards until DeMarco Murray gained 11 yards on three carries on its final offensive series.
“We had an opportunity to keep them at negative yards rushing; I just wish we could’ve done that,” Mincey said.
That would have been a franchise first. But there’s nothing wrong with shutting down what was expected to be a potent rushing attack.
Murray, the ex Cowboy who led the league in rushing last season, finished with 2yards on 13 carries. Darren Sproles lost 4 yards on his lone carry, getting wrapped up by Lee. And Ryan Mathews’ only rushing attempt went for no gain.
The Eagles’ leading rusher on the day? Quarterback Sam Bradford, who had 9 yards on two carries.
“We did a great job tonight,” Lee said. “They have as much talent in the backfield as you’re going to find in the NFL. We knew coming into the game that we were going to have to stop these extremely talented guys in the backfield.
“So we prepared and the coaches did an unbelievable job with the game plan. We had a great week of practice and it showed up today.”
He’s just a great player. He’s just a cleaner. He cleans everything up for us.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli on Lee
The defense never let the Eagles establish any semblance of a running game. On the first series of the second half, for example, Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence stuffed Murray for a 6-yard loss. On the next play, Mincey took Murray down for a 5-yard loss.
That’s how the night went for Murray, who visibly became frustrated at times during the game. However, that was more than a welcome sign for the Cowboys.
“[Murray] is an unbelievably talented guy; I went against him in practice every day for a couple years and know how talented he is,” Lee said. “So we prepared, the coaches had an unbelievable game plan. We knew we were going to have to be at our best with that offensive line, with him in the backfield.”
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli downplayed the run defense, saying that the Cowboys never alter their approach and stuck to their basics.
Still, it was hard to deny how the defense bottled up Murray.
This game also showed that Lee is fully back to being a difference-making linebacker after missing last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“He’s just a great player,” Marinelli said. “He’s just a cleaner. He cleans everything up for us.”
With that being said, it came as no surprise that Lee recovered the Eagles’ last-gasp onside kick to seal the victory.
This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 9:51 PM with the headline "Cowboys’ defense enjoys Philly feast."