What can you even say about the Eagles’ passing game after this?

They got off to a dazzling start and then they just fizzled out.

Just when you start to think they have something figured out, they fall to pieces.

“There are a lot of instances where it’s showing up, and we’ve been able to figure it out and will ourselves to a win,” Jalen Hurts said. “Tonight, we didn’t.

“We played a hell of a first half, and we didn’t play even close enough to our standard in the second half. … Lots of room to learn from and we’ve got a short week to respond.”

After racing out to a 21-0 lead, the Eagles fell to 8-3 with their 24-21 loss to the Cowboys Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

If we take a look at the passing game drive-by-drive focusing on Hurts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, it sheds some light on the inconsistency Hurts was talking about:

1st Drive [Touchdown]: Hurts 5-for-6, 48 yards; A.J. 3-for-32, TD
2nd Drive [Touchdown]: Hurts 5-for-7, 42 yards, A.J. 2-for-35
3rd Drive [Touchdown]: Hurts 3-for-4, 67 yards, DeVonta 2-for-51
4th Drive [Punt]: Hurts 1-for-2, 6 yards, DeVonta 1-for-6
5th Drive [End of Half]: Hurts 0-for-0
6th Drive [Punt]: Hurts: 1-for-3, 8 yards
7th Drive [Punt]: Hurts 1-for-4, 12 yards, DeVonta 1-for-12
8th Drive [Punt]: Hurts 0-for-0
9th Drive [Missed field goal]: Hurts 4-for-5, 43 yards, A.J. 1-for-13
10th Drive [Fumble]: Hurts 4-for-4, 28 yards, Brown 1-for-19, Smith 2-for-20
11th Drive [Punt]: Hurts 3-for-4, 35 yards, Brown 1-for-11, Smith 1-for-16

So Hurts was 13-for-17 for 157 yards with a touchdown on the Eagles’ first three drives, then 3-for-9 for 26 yards on the next five drives, then 11-for-13 for 106 yards on the last three drives.

It was during that middle stretch that the Eagles’ 21-0 lead disappeared. So the passing game was sharp early, but when the Eagles needed to make plays to hold off the Cowboys’ comeback bid they just couldn’t do it. That combined with the ineffective running game opened the door for Dallas.

So while Hurts, Brown and Smith all put up decent numbers, the passing game’s inconsistency was too much to overcome.

“We’ve got to find a way to finish the game and find some consistency in what we do,” Hurts said post-game.

“It was definitely a tale of two halves. But in the end, we didn’t play a good game as a team. Today, it got us. Give a lot of respect to Dallas and their team, how they competed. Something we question right now is how we respond to it and I have a lot of confidence in how we’ll respond.”

This was only the second time this year Smith and Brown both had more than 85 yards. The eight catches were Brown’s most this year. The 11 targets were Smith’s most this year. Hurts’ numbers were fine – 289 yards, a TD pass, no turnovers.

So Hurts was solid, the Eagles got both WRs involved, but they still failed to score a point on their last eight drives.

“Do I think the passing game took a step forward? Whatever it was, it wasn’t enough,” Hurts said. “Everything we’ve been able to do hasn’t been for lack of capability. We got a lot of confidence for how we can go out there and play. Ultimately, can’t focus on the things we did or didn’t do. Can only focus on the things that we can control that didn’t go our way.

“So you don’t think about the success. You think about the things you let slip away. I think the things we can control, those are the things we let slip away in this game.”

Things don’t get much easier. The Eagles have a short week and then face a Bears team Friday at the Linc that’s won eight of nine since an 0-2 start and would move ahead of the Eagles in the NFC playoff race with a win.

Oddly, they’ve been outscored this year despite an 8-3 record, but they have wins by 1, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 points.

“How we respond is very important,” Hurts said. “I’ve said it before. After moments like this, I have a lot of confidence in how we respond. So we’ll get back to work and we have another opportunity coming forward.

“Today wasn’t our day. And, I look at myself in the mirror and I say, ‘I have to do more.’ I have to dig, and muster things out and try to figure it out. For all of us. But you know, that is the type of character that you like everyone to have.

“We just have to have the right type of synergy. The right type of energy. And come together and push forward like I know we are capable of. We’ll be just fine.”