In the wake of the Philadelphia Eagles’ narrow 28-23 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson offered a humorous take on the challenge of going up against Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons. Having faced Parsons in each of his five career starts against the Eagles, Johnson is in a unique position to assess the elite talent.
Johnson, known for his candidness, painted a vivid picture of the encounter, saying, “It’s like taking on hell with a squirt gun,” as reported by Tim McManus of ESPN.
The Eagles played the game without their injured starting right guard, Sua Opeta, which led the Cowboys to target Opeta’s replacement, Tyler Steen. A third-round pick in April, Steen faced a formidable task in his first career start, as the Cowboys frequently lined up Parsons against him.
Eagles avoid an absolute disaster here. D'Andre Swift collides with A.J. Brown, forcing a fumble. Rookie lineman Tyler Steen was on the spot for the recovery. pic.twitter.com/F0tpGevkPg
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 6, 2023
Parsons made his presence felt, recording nine tackles (including one for a loss), three quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. While Johnson had his hands full with Parsons, he praised the rookie’s performance, acknowledging the challenge he posed.
“Hats off to Steen, man. That’s a hell of a first start,” Johnson commended. “This is one of the better defensive fronts in the league. So, I was proud of how he did — I was really proud of how he battled.”
Steen also played a crucial role in a pivotal moment during the game. With 1:07 left in the fourth quarter and the Eagles holding a 28-23 lead, running back D’Andre Swift collided with motioning wideout A.J. Brown, resulting in a fumble at the Eagles’ 32-yard line. Steen’s determination and effort helped the Eagles recover the football, preventing a potential disaster.
Eagles avoid an absolute disaster here. D'Andre Swift collides with A.J. Brown, forcing a fumble. Rookie lineman Tyler Steen was on the spot for the recovery. pic.twitter.com/F0tpGevkPg
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 6, 2023
The Eagles emerged victorious against Parsons and the Cowboys, but the win, much like their season, was far from flawless and required hard-fought efforts. Despite trailing 17-14 at halftime, the Eagles surged ahead to a 28-17 lead entering the fourth quarter. However, the Cowboys remained within striking distance, and if not for some breaks, they could have stolen the game.
While the Eagles managed to recover fumbles in the second half, the Cowboys came agonizingly close to turning the tide on several occasions, coming within inches of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Despite their imperfections, the Eagles have maintained a winning record throughout the season. Nevertheless, Johnson and the Eagles are aware that they have yet to reach their peak performance nine weeks into the season.
“We’re not satisfied. We know we have a lot of big games coming up,” Johnson emphasized, underlining their commitment to continued improvement.