NFL
By: Greg Rector
The Dallas Cowboys have won 14 straight games at AT&T Stadium. Can that continue against the Philadelphia Eagles? If so can the Detroit Lions end up beating the Dallas Cowboys on December 30th the night they finally put Jimmy Johnson into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor? My money says it is the Philadelphia Eagles that can endanger the Dallas Cowboys’ winning streak to come to an end. Let’s look at the matchup for Sunday Night Football.
Dallas Cowboys Offense
The Dallas Cowboys offense has been on fire, so Dak Prescott is now being mentioned as a possible regular season MVP candidate. Unlike the first game in Philadelphia, the Dallas Cowboys must use Rico Dowdle much more as the running back and feature Tony Pollard in the passing game. Unlike week nine they must also use Hunter Luepke in the red zone, especially inside the five-yard line. Dear Coach McCarthy, it’s called the “I” formation it works go back in time and watch Emmitt Smith with Darryl Johnston.
As well as the passing game has looked lately I don’t see aging yardage through the air being much of an issue at this point for the Dallas Cowboys offense. As long as the “Texas Coast Offense” has been playing such great football they will repeat their outstanding numbers even against the Eagles and their new linebacker Shaq Leonard.
Just please remember traditional football always works Coach McCarthy. Please also look at what the Buffalo Bills did when they added an extra tackle to get their running game going against the Eagles as well.
When this unit plays as they are capable of including Terence Steele you best not be getting another repeat of the week nine game where he gave up four sacks. They have returned to being a scary unit and that’s only been good news for the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys Defense
This is my area of concern for the Sunday Night Football game. I’m not upset that the defense gave up yardage to the Seattle Seahawks but I am certainly hoping the defense comes out on fire against the Philadelphia Eagles offense. In particular, I don’t want Davonte Smith being wide open because everyone’s focus goes to AJ Brown.
I’m not concerned with the rush defense either as the Dallas Cowboys have been so much better facing ground games all season long. I am concerned that Jalen Hurts can get the Philadelphia Eagles back into any game with his arm and his legs. I want to see Osa Odiguzuwa and others get through the tough Eagles offensive line and sack Jalen Hurts up the middle of the line. I don’t care if Micah Parsons gets any sacks at all. I want Micah Parsons to do his role and that has to be containing Jalen Hurts using his legs.
Putting the Eagles into third and long matters just so they can’t use their “tush push” play. I want to see the Dallas Cowboys on the attack as they have played against the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders. Winning this game matters as the likes of Stephen A Smith and others won’t have anything to say about the schedule anymore. Simply put beating the Philadelphia Eagles allows the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East and maybe just maybe the first overall seed for the playoffs.
It matters to Cowboys Nation to be hosting the San Francisco 49ers. As both teams in this Sunday Night Football game have found out playing the Niners is not much fun either at home or away.
My Prediction
I have the Dallas Cowboys giving the Philadelphia Eagles a second straight loss. If the Dallas Cowboys defense attacks the Eagles like they do their other divisional opponents. That’s the missing piece I want to see from the Dallas Cowboys. I can only pray they do a number on the Philadelphia Eagles much like the Niners did. However, since this is an NFC East game it most likely doesn’t happen so I will say the Dallas Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 as rookie field goal Brandon Aubrey wins the game for Dallas.
As always you can find me on X @GregCowboys
