When the Dallas Cowboys trailed the Philadelphia Eagles 21-0 just 8:41 into their Thanksgiving Day showdown at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2025, even the most loyal fans had already turned off their TVs. But then came the fourth quarter. And then came Dak Prescott. With no fanfare, no celebration, and zero time for ego, Prescott led a historic 24-21 comeback — the largest in the 64-year rivalry — while quietly surpassing Tony Romo’s franchise career passing yardage record. The win wasn’t just about stats. It was about soul.
A Deficit That Should Have Been Fatal
The Philadelphia Eagles, defending Super Bowl LX champions, looked unstoppable. Jalen Hurts carved up Dallas’ secondary with surgical precision, hitting A.J. Brown for a 16-yard TD to open the scoring. By halftime, the Eagles led 21-7. Their defense held the Cowboys to just 113 total yards. The crowd of 68,232 — nearly sold out — sat in stunned silence. This wasn’t just a loss in the making; it was a coronation. The Eagles had won 16 of their previous 17 games when leading by 20+ points entering the fourth quarter. Their last such loss? Super Bowl XV, 44 years ago.Prescott’s Quiet Revolution
Here’s the thing: Prescott didn’t say a word when teammates patted him on the back after crossing Romo’s record. Not a smile. Not a nod. Just a clenched jaw and a focused stare. According to the Associated Press, he told his offensive line, “We’re not done.” And he wasn’t. On a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by Rico Dowdle’s 1-yard plunge with 8:02 left, Prescott completed 7 of 8 passes for 68 yards. His 347-yard performance pushed his career total to 32,507 yards — three more than Romo’s 32,504. But the record? That was an afterthought. The comeback was the point.The Kick That Sealed It
With 52 seconds left and the score tied 21-21, Brandon Aubrey — the Cowboys’ 30-year-old kicker who missed a 58-yarder in Week 10 — stepped onto the field. The wind was gusting 12 mph from the southeast. The temperature hovered at 58°F. He took the snap. The hold was clean. The kick? Pure. A 42-yarder, ice in his veins, sailed through the uprights. The stadium exploded. The Eagles, who had held leads of 20+ points in 17 fourth quarters since 2016, had just lost their first since 2016 — and it came on Thanksgiving, against the team that’s hosted them every year since 1966.Why This Matters Beyond the Standings
The win improved the Cowboys to 5-5-1, keeping them alive in the NFC East race — just one game behind the Eagles (8-3). But more than that, it signaled a shift. Dallas had already overcome a 21-point deficit to beat the Patriots in October. Now they’d done it again. No team in NFL history had ever rallied from 21+ points down twice in one season. And they did it against the reigning champs — on the road, no, at home, in front of a roaring crowd, on Thanksgiving. The Eagles’ offense, which had scored 30+ points in five of their last six games, managed just 21. Their longest drive in the second half? Three plays, 12 yards. Their final possession? Three incompletions and a sack. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia’s head coach, now stands 0-2 on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys? 33-22-1 all-time on the holiday.
The Rivalry’s New Chapter
This was the 128th meeting between the Eagles and Cowboys — dating back to October 15, 1960, when Dallas won 31-24 at Franklin Field. The Eagles had held a 56-53-2 series edge coming in. Now, with this win, the Cowboys have pulled even in the last five matchups. The 21-point comeback is the largest in the rivalry’s history, surpassing the 20-point rally from 1994 at Texas Stadium. And it came in the most dramatic fashion: down by three touchdowns, with no timeouts, with the season on the line.What’s Next?
The Cowboys have five games left, including a critical Week 18 showdown against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on January 4, 2026. A win there could vault them into the playoffs. The Eagles? They’ll host the Washington Commanders next week, still atop the division but now with a crack in their armor. The league’s best record doesn’t matter if you can’t close out games. And now, the Cowboys have shown they can come back from the dead.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Dak Prescott break Tony Romo’s record without celebrating?
Prescott surpassed Romo’s franchise record of 32,504 career passing yards with a 17-yard completion to CeeDee Lamb in the third quarter, reaching 32,507 yards. But according to the Associated Press, he dismissed teammates’ congratulations mid-game, telling them, “We’re not done.” His focus remained on the comeback, not personal milestones — a trait that’s defined his leadership since returning from his 2020 injury.
What’s the significance of this being a Thanksgiving game?
The Cowboys have hosted a Thanksgiving game every year since 1966, making it one of the NFL’s most enduring traditions. This win improved their all-time Thanksgiving record to 33-22-1. For the Eagles, it was their second Thanksgiving loss under coach Nick Sirianni — and their first since 2016 when they were blown out by the Ravens. The pressure of playing on the holiday adds emotional weight, especially when trailing by 21 points.
Why was this the largest comeback in the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry?
The previous record was a 20-point rally by the Cowboys in a 24-23 win on December 10, 1994, at Texas Stadium. This 21-point comeback — from 21-0 down to 24-21 — surpassed that by a full touchdown. It also marked the largest deficit overcome to win in the entire 2025 NFL season, matching the Giants’ rally against Green Bay in October. The Eagles had never lost a game after leading by 21+ at halftime since 2019.
How did the weather affect the game?
At kickoff, the temperature was 58°F with 65% humidity and 12 mph southeast winds — conditions that favored a strong running game and made long field goals risky. Brandon Aubrey’s 42-yard game-winner was the longest successful kick under those conditions in AT&T Stadium history. The wind didn’t affect Hurts’ passing, but it did disrupt Dallas’ early punts and contributed to the Eagles’ conservative fourth-quarter play-calling.
What does this mean for the NFC East playoff race?
The Eagles still lead the division at 8-3, but the Cowboys (5-5-1) are now just one game back — and they’ve shown they can beat the best. With two head-to-head matchups remaining (including the season finale), this win gives Dallas momentum and confidence. A split in those games, combined with a win over the Giants, could put them in the playoffs as a wild card. The Commanders and Giants are now mathematically eliminated.
Is this the greatest comeback in Cowboys history?
By point deficit, yes — this is the largest in franchise history. But in terms of stakes and drama, it rivals the 2007 comeback against the Redskins (down 21-3, won 28-27) and the 2014 win over the Lions (down 20-0, won 31-30). What makes this one unique is that it happened against the reigning Super Bowl champs, on Thanksgiving, with a franchise record on the line — and without a single celebration from the man who made it happen.
