Cowboys 'didn't miss a beat' after Mike McCarthy's surgery - ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike McCarthy didn't break his routine.

He arrived at AT&T Stadium on Sunday about five hours before the evening kickoff against the Philadelphia Eagles. If he was anxious about anything it was the amount of traffic he encountered on his way in and if his players would arrive on time.

It wasn't nerves about the appendectomy he underwent Wednesday after complaining of pain upon arriving at The Star.

«That was really part of my angst, was just to get here and stay in a routine and get ready to call the game,» McCarthy said. «I mean, I was excited to compete.»

McCarthy directed the Cowboys to a 33-13 win against the Eagles that, thanks to a tiebreaker, has them in first place in the NFC East with a month to play. His offense put up 394 yards. Dak Prescott threw two more touchdowns. The Cowboys ran for 138 yards on 32 carries. They converted 9 of 16 third-down chances and their only fourth-down opportunity. They were a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone.

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«Really, I just wanted to do my part. I just wanted to make sure that I was prepared as I normally am,» McCarthy said. «I was a little nervous about it. Because it's a long year, we're all creatures of habit, you go through these normal seven-day weeks, and when you miss time, [it's strange]…. But the players did a great job. The coaches did a great job, and we didn't miss a beat. I think we demonstrated that.»

McCarthy missed practices on Wednesday and Thursday but only one meeting — the short-yardage and goal-line plan on Wednesday. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said McCarthy was