The Dallas Cowboys pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in recent NFL history, erasing a 21-point deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 on a walk-off 52-yard field goal by kicker Brandon Aubrey in Week 12 of the 2025 season. The game, played under flickering stadium lights at Lincoln Financial Field, ended with a roar that shook the home crowd — not because they were celebrating, but because they were stunned. The Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Aarion Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley, looked destined for a statement win. Instead, they watched their playoff hopes take a brutal hit.
The Early Dominance That Never Lasted
It started with chaos. At the 2:34 mark of the first quarter, Zack Baun punched the ball loose from Cowboys running back Tony Pollard. The fumble rolled into the end zone, where Baun pounced on it. The Eagles capitalized immediately. Hurts hit A.J. Brown for a 28-yard touchdown. Two drives later, Barkley broke free for a 47-yard scamper, and the Eagles were up 14-0. The broadcast commentary captured the mood: "WOW, SLOPPY START FOR DALLAS — AND JUST WHEN THEY GET MOMENTUM, IT DISAPPEARS." By halftime, the Eagles led 21-7. Barkley had 122 yards on 14 carries. Hurts was 18-for-22. The Cowboys’ offense? Stagnant. They’d managed just 78 total yards. Their only points came on a 43-yard field goal by Aubrey — a sign of things to come, though no one saw it then.The Turning Point: When Everything Changed
The third quarter was a funeral march for Philadelphia. The Cowboys’ offense, dormant for 45 minutes, finally woke up. Quarterback Dak Prescott, playing through a sore shoulder, found CeeDee Lamb for a 38-yard strike. Then, after a 12-play, 78-yard drive that ate up 7:12 of clock, Tony Pollard punched in a one-yard touchdown. The score: 21-14. The crowd fell silent. The Eagles’ defense, which had been impenetrable, suddenly looked vulnerable. "Late in the third quarter, and the last five drives they’ve got 42 total yards and one first down," the announcer noted — referring to Dallas’s earlier struggles. But now, the script had flipped. The Cowboys were moving the ball. The Eagles weren’t.The Comeback, Step by Step
The fourth quarter belonged to Aubrey and the Dallas defense. After a stalled Eagles drive, Prescott led a 14-play, 63-yard march that ended with a 29-yard Aubrey field goal — cutting the lead to 21-17. Then came the clincher: a forced fumble by linebacker Micah Parsons on a Hurts scramble. The Cowboys got the ball at their own 32 with 1:47 left. Prescott, calm as ever, hit Michael Gallup on a crossing route for 18 yards. Then a 12-yard pass to Noah Brown. A 15-yard run by Pollard. And with 12 seconds left, Aubrey lined up for a 52-yarder — the longest of his career under pressure. The snap. The hold. The kick. The ball sailed through. The Cowboys sideline exploded. The Eagles stood frozen. "AUBREY, UP, AND HE HAS GOT IT!" the announcer screamed. "THE COWBOYS WIN. 21-POINT COMEBACK. AND AUBREY THE WALKOFF FIELD GOAL."
Why This Matters
The win moves the Cowboys to 7-5, keeping them alive in the NFC East — and just one game behind the Eagles, now 8-4. For Philadelphia, it’s a gut punch. They were 6-0 at home this season. They led the NFC by three games in the standings just three weeks ago. Now, they’re in a dogfight with Washington and New York. This was more than a comeback. It was a statement. The Cowboys, long criticized for their inability to close games, showed poise under pressure. Aubrey, a former soccer player turned kicker, has now made 14 consecutive field goals — including six from 50+ yards this season. Prescott, despite a limited offense, played like a veteran who refuses to lose. For the Eagles, the questions mount. Can Hurts elevate his game when it matters? Why did the defense collapse when it mattered most? And why did a team that looked like a Super Bowl favorite suddenly look brittle?What’s Next?
The Cowboys travel to Kansas City next week to face the Chiefs — a true test of their playoff legitimacy. The Eagles host the Arizona Cardinals, a game they must win to stay in control of the division. Both teams have six games left. The NFC East is a three-team race now — and the margin for error has vanished.The Bigger Picture
This comeback ranks among the largest in NFL history. Only five teams have overcome 21-point deficits in the final 10 minutes since 2010. The last time it happened? The 2022 Eagles — against the Cowboys. Now, the roles are reversed. The emotional whiplash was real. Fans who left early came back to find their team trailing. Those who stayed? They witnessed history.Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is a 21-point comeback in the NFL?
Only five teams have completed a 21-point comeback in the final 10 minutes of a game since 2010. The Cowboys’ win is the largest such comeback of the 2025 season and the first since the 2022 Eagles did it against these same Cowboys. Historically, only 12 comebacks of 20+ points have occurred in the last 15 years — making this a statistical outlier.
Who is Brandon Aubrey, and why is he so important to the Cowboys?
Brandon Aubrey, a former college soccer goalkeeper, transitioned to football in 2022 and became the Cowboys’ primary kicker in 2024. He’s now 28-for-29 on field goals this season, with a league-leading 14 straight makes. His 52-yard game-winner against the Eagles was his sixth from 50+ yards this year — the most in the NFL. He’s become the most reliable weapon in Dallas’s offense.
What does this loss mean for the Eagles’ playoff chances?
The Eagles’ loss drops them to 8-4 and ties them with the Commanders for first in the NFC East, but they now trail in the tiebreaker. With three divisional games left — including two against Dallas — they can’t afford another slip-up. Their path to a first-round bye just got harder, and their defense, which allowed 17 unanswered points, looks increasingly suspect.
Did Jalen Hurts play poorly in this game?
Not really. Hurts threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He ran for 56 more. But his third-quarter fumble — the one that led to the Cowboys’ first touchdown — was a turning point. More than his stats, it was his inability to respond to pressure in the fourth quarter that raised concerns. He’s still elite, but now he’s under fire.
Why did the Cowboys’ offense suddenly work in the fourth quarter?
The Eagles’ defense shifted to prevent big plays, but that left short routes open. Prescott exploited it with quick slants and screens. The offensive line, battered all game, finally held. And most importantly, the Cowboys stopped trying to force everything to CeeDee Lamb. They spread the ball — to Gallup, Brown, and even tight end Dalton Schultz — keeping the Eagles guessing.
Is this a sign the Cowboys are turning their season around?
It’s the most convincing sign yet. After a 2-4 start, they’ve won five of their last six. The defense has tightened, the special teams are elite, and Prescott is playing like a playoff QB again. If they can beat Kansas City next week, they’ll be legitimate Super Bowl contenders — and the Eagles will have no one to blame but themselves.