The Eagles found their difference maker.
That was the strongest Eagles thought on my mind prior to a late Carson Wentz fumble, Greg Ward heroics and Wentz atoning for the error with another clutch game-winning drive. Sanders' huge game (25 touches, 172 total yards, 2 touchdowns) now feels like an afterthought heading into Cowboys Week.
It shouldn't be.
In fact, the emergence of Sanders (5.3 yards per carry since the last time the Eagles and Cowboys faced off) give the Eagles the weapon that can even the score in a rivalry that hasn't gone Philadelphia's way in years.
As Doug Pederson and his offensive staff sit down to devise a way to beat Dallas for the first time since November 2017, Sanders should be the focal point.
Related: Pederson on Wentz's TD pass to Sanders: 'There's no way'
Yes, a confident and suddenly-clutch Wentz will throw the ball plenty. The Eagles will go as Wentz goes. But when scheming up where Wentz should go with the ball (both in run game checks and the passing game), the Eagles need to ride Sanders all the way to the playoffs.
This fact won't change regardless of Jordan Howard's health status. It would be easy to simply insert Howard into his pre-injury role if the workhorse back is cleared for contact this week. But the easy way would be the wrong way. Pederson can't ignore what Sanders has become: One of the most dynamic young play makers in the league.
Here's the full list of NFL running backs with at least 675 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards this season: Sanders, Aaron Jones, Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, and Christian McCaffrey. That's it. That's the whole list.
The player Sanders has morphed into is a night and day contrast to the back that couldn't see or hit the hole correctly on a third and four in Dallas in October. We're watching a running back with confidence, poise, speed and an uncanny, young Le'Veon Bell-esque ability to remain patient before hitting the hole.
Give him an inch and he'll take a mile! #PHIvsWAS | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/IfbeDdBiW6
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 15, 2019Sunday's huge effort (the first 100-yard rushing game from an Eagles back since LeGarrette Blount at the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 1, 2017) in a must-win game wasn't just Sanders running through gaping holes or through poor defenders. It was everything the Eagles hoped for when using a second-round pick on the former Penn State star: Dual-threat ability, power, speed and toughness.
For the first time since LeSean McCoy's best days in midnight green, the Eagles have a star back capable of taking over the game. It's not Pederson's style to lean on one back, but this possibility had to exist within the coaching staff and front office when using a premium pick to take Sanders last spring. The day was coming. It just may have come sooner than anyone anticipated.
Wentz buys time and delivers an absolute DIME to Miles Sanders!#PHIvsWAS | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/6ENiCvEhBW
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 15, 2019Sanders, when asked about carrying so much of the load, sounded ready for his biggest test yet.
"I'm going to go out there and do my job regardless, but when you have guys banged up like that and the type of season I'm having?" Sanders said to reporters after Sunday's win. "Lock in and put the game on my shoulders and let's go ball out."
'Ball out' isn't a term used lately in the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry. While it's natural (and correct) to make the game a Dak Prescott vs. Wentz battle, let's not overlook this reality: Philadelphia hasn't defeated Dallas with Ezekiel Elliott on the field. Not once. Part of the reason: The Eagles have never had a counter to balance out the dynamic production the Cowboys get from their workhorse back.
That's no longer the case.
Sanders is healthy, fresh (only 202 touches this year, and barely used in his collegiate career) and playing his best football at the perfect time. The more he touches the ball at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday evening, the better chance of an improbable Eagles rally to the postseason actually becoming reality.
