ARLINGTON, Texas -- LeSean McCoy was not in the mood to celebrate Saturday night.
He had a tough day rushing, he fell more than 100 yards behind Maurice Jones-Drew in the race for the NFL rushing lead, he hurt his ankle, and for the first time in his NFL career he had to deal with his team being eliminated from playoff contention.
It sucks, McCoy said with a hint of a smile on his face.
McCoy was hobbling around after the Eagles beat the Cowboys, 20-7, for their third straight win (see story). X-rays on his right ankle were negative, but he was sore.
McCoy began the day 60 yards behind Jones-Drew, but while the Jaguars veteran was rushing for 103 yards in a loss to the Titans, McCoy was held to 35 yards on 13 carries by the Cowboys. Thats 150 fewer yards than he rushed for in the Eagles first win over Dallas.
They were stacking the box, left tackle Jason Peters said. They knew if they let him get going, theyre not going to be able to stop us. So they were just stacking the box, and it worked for them early.
So with one game to go -- the Jaguars finish with the Colts, the Eagles with the Redskins -- Jones-Drew holds a 128-yard lead on McCoy at 1,437 to 1,309. No Eagle has led the NFL in rushing since Steve Van Buren in 1949.
NFL
I laid an egg today, so I probably wont get it, but thats OK, McCoy said. It doesnt matter. I think I rushed pretty well this year.
McCoy still has a solid lead for the NFC rushing title. Hes up 107 yards on the 49ers Frank Gore with one game left. No Eagle has led the conference in rushing since the AFL-NFL merger. He should learn Tuesday that hes made his first Pro Bowl team.
But just like Westbrooks All-Pro season in 2007, McCoys career year will ultimately go to waste.
McCoy is only the fourth Eagle ever with 1,300 rushing yards in a season. Wilbert Montgomery did it twice, including his franchise-record 1,512 yards in 1979, and Ricky Watters and Brian Westbrook also surpassed 1,300 yards.
Montgomery is probably smiling right now because I didnt get the record, McCoy said with a laugh. Ill get it next year. Hopefully.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com