What's The Cowboys' 'Identity'? Win Over Eagles Reveals Major Change In Philosophy

The Dallas Cowboys registered a crucial win against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

And in the 38-21 victory, the Cowboys might have just discovered that their true offensive identity isn't what they or others in Cowboys Nation thought it was.

When you have Dak Prescott throwing to CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Ryan Flournoy, the passing game could be seen the go-to for head coach/play-caller Brian Schottenheimer.

But against the Eagles, Dallas flipped the script with Javonte Williams rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. 

Dak Prescott only threw it 27 times.

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For reference, the last time Dak threw it 27 times or fewer in a full game was back in 2024 (Week 4 vs. the Giants).

And for more reference, the last time Williams had 25+ carries was back in Week 8 of 2023 when he was with the Denver Broncos.

Oh, and one more tidbit: The last time a Cowboy rushed for more than 150 yards? That would be Ezekiel Elliott, way back in 2016.

So, there was an identity shift on Monday night.

Now, can coach Brian Schottenheimer, despite the weapons on the outside, see this offense as a run-first unit?

"Yeah, because you see what we can do when we throw it 27 times," Schottenheimer said. "Each week is different, and Javonte Williams is a hell of a football player. There's a ton of resources invested in the offensive line. I think I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the way the tight ends blocked.

"Philadelphia likes to play a lot of shell defense, and so that was part of the plan. Then when you're running the ball with the success that we have, they have to make adjustments, and when they do, then you get one-on-one opportunities. It was really cool to see both CeeDee and George get in the end zone when they were matched up one-on-one."

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We know that when Elliott was in his prime, Dallas was a run-heavy team, but we haven't seen it since.

Well, Monday night proved that this version of the Cowboys, with Javonte plowing behind the offensive line of Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker and Terence Steele, can overwhelm an Eagles defensive line that is one of the better units in football.

Dallas made Philadelphia quit in that fourth quarter.

The final drive for Dallas saw the offense run six straight running plays that ended with Javonte picking up a touchdown to take his tally to eight for the year.

Bully ball, folks.

Said Dak: "When you follow that offensive line, trust them, trust those blocks, that's the production you want to get.”

After a season-low 11 carries for just 41 yards in Week 6 vs. Green Bay, Williams had 25 carries and a touchdown.

“It was good to give Schotty the confidence to keep calling the runs," said Williams, who posted a season-low 11 carries for 41 yards in the loss at Green Bay. "He made a big emphasis on that this week.”

Now, as Schotty stated, it won't be like that every week, but what we saw in Philadelphia was perhaps the birth of a new identity that this Cowboys team can cling to in 2026.

Being a run-first team not only helps the passing game with CeeDee and George, but it also helps the defense. Grinding out the clock with long, sustained drives keeps coordinator Christian Parker's shaky defense off the field.

It's a win-win.

And who knows, we might look back on this Week 7 as the game that changed the trajectory of the Cowboys' 2026 season because they found a different way to win. ... and because they found their "identity.''