PHILADELPHIA -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has been around long enough to know there was added importance to Monday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Having lost two straight to fall to 2-4, Prescott helped make sure the streak ended, throwing three touchdown passes in the Cowboys' 38-21 win.
The Cowboys averted a three-game losing streak, kept pace with the 4-2-1 New York Giants in the NFC East and at least temporarily interrupted the unease that was developing around the team.
"We say the division's right in front of us. It is as long as we win," Prescott said. "And if you lose another game, then you're probably checking to see what New York's doing. You're probably checking and watching the other teams more than we should. So yeah, I mean you got to win games, got to win division games. How big of a game this was, understanding how much they're hurt on their offensive side, yeah, huge road win for us."
With their defense raising concerns all season, the Cowboys entered Monday facing questions about an offense that scored a combined 29 points in its past two games. Prescott threw four interceptions in those games, while head coach and playcaller Brian Schottenheimer received outside pressure after he said during the week, "I know how great of a coach I am," despite a 9-13-1 record, and that he is an "elite playcaller" on 105.3 The Fan despite the recent woes.
Though Schottenheimer had his normal postgame celebration inside the locker room with the players Monday night, highlighting key plays offensively and defensively, he was unusually reserved in his postgame comments.
"Had nothing to do with desperation," Schottenheimer said. "Our guys just played good."
Asked why he wasn't as exuberant after a win and if he was OK, Schottenheimer said, "I'm great. Excited for our guys."
Though Prescott said he did not discuss the criticism with Schottenheimer, Prescott said he noticed a "definitely hungry, pissed-off version of Schotty."
"It's not like he's naive," Prescott said. "It's not like he hadn't heard some noise about him and whether it's the call in the games or whatever doubt that's been out there. But we've got his back. He knows that. He's a guy that takes a lot of pride in his job, a lot of pride in his team. Everybody handles everything different, so I don't blame him to an extent. We've got his back. More importantly, it's just about us going out there and executing on Sundays."
For the first time since 1983, the Cowboys had more than 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing against the Eagles. Javonte Williams ran for a career-high 155 yards on 25 carries, scoring the game-sealing final touchdown from 2 yards out with 2:21 to play.
Prescott had his sixth career game of at least three passing touchdowns against the Eagles. He threw two to CeeDee Lamb and one to George Pickens.
Defensively, the Cowboys allowed the Eagles' first touchdown of the opening possession and first touchdown on the opening possession of the second half but did enough to help. The Cowboys picked off one of Tanner McKee's passes (DeMarvion Overshown) and sacked him twice (Quinnen Williams, Donovan Ezeiruaku).
"We didn't put together a perfect game," Williams said. "We've got to learn from it. But it's amazing to get a win."
Only 22 days had passed since the Cowboys' last win -- Oct. 4 at the Houston Texans -- but Dallas needed this victory against a team that was struggling even more. The Cowboys next face the 2-5 Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Dallas has not won back-to-back games since a three-game winning streak in Weeks 11-13 last year.
"Nobody's going to give it to us. Nobody's going to say, 'Yeah, you're the better team. You got it,'" Prescott said. "That's what's so great about the NFL, so we've got to come out and earn it each and every week, and there's going to be no difference coming next Sunday."
With the win, the Cowboys have a 57% chance of winning the division, according to ESPN Analytics.
Said Schottenheimer: "I think it gets us right back into the hunt in the NFC East."