NFL
By: Greg Rector
Dallas Cowboys (4-1) vs Philadephia Eagles (5-0) Sunday Night at 8:20 PM NBC
So about that whole NFC Least narrative. I think it doesn’t apply this season. Sunday night the unbeaten Eagles will host the Cowboys in what will be a battle for the top spot in the division. There is no love lost between these rivals whatsoever. This should be a highly entertaining game. Let’s look at the matchup.
Dallas Cowboys Offense vs Philadelphia Eagles Defense
Let me repeat myself. I DO NOT CARE who gains the yards on the ground or catches the passes. I do care about the result after 60 minutes. Simply put Cooper Rush has done enough to put the Cowboys in positions to win. This Sunday night though they face an Eagles defense that ranks 7th overall defensively. The Eagles rank 10th in rushing yards against and it will be absolutely vital for Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott, to gain positive yards on a consistent basis. The Eagles’ pass rush has been effective and that will also mean Rush must stay consistent against the blitz. The Eagles will be coming after him without a doubt. Philadelphia leads the league in creating turnovers (Dallas did in 2021) so the Cowboys will be challenged to protect the ball at all costs. This shapes up to be quite the battle. For me, the key will be the Cowboys’ receivers not having dropped passes and being a ball control offense to keep the Eagles’ offense on the sideline. The Cowboys’ offensive line must not repeat the penalties that they had against the Rams, while they are good Tyler Smith isn’t dealing with Aaron Donald this week either. The line must be able to get push against the Eagles when running the ball and get to the Eagles’ linebackers. That will be easier said than done.
Dallas Defense vs Philadelphia’s Offense
The Eagles have feasted on early success offensively and relied on their defense to win games in the second half. The offense has played quite poorly in the second halves of their games so far. This week they will need to be far more consistent in facing the 3rd ranked defense in the league. Overall this Eagles’ offense ranks 15th in the league and is in the bottom half of the league in the passing game. Where they have excelled is in the ground game where they are 4th in yardage, 1st in attempts, and TDs. The Cowboys may rank 19th in rush yards allowed but surprisingly have given up the fewest rushing TDs in the league. The yards against have improved especially in the last two games where the Commanders and Rams both struggled to get anywhere on the ground. One big reason for the improvement has been the interior defensive line (Trysten Hill Osa Odigizuwa and others) has been getting penetration and making tackles for losses. Stopping Miles Sanders and especially Jalen Hurts will be the focus. The Cowboys want to make the Eagles one-dimensional and make them use their weaker passing game rather than allowing them to run wild. One reason they may have success again is the Eagles’ offensive line isn’t at full health. Three of the five starters are either out or in the case of Jason Kelce playing at less than 100%. As we’ve seen all season long this Cowboys’ defense has been in attack mode. If they can limit the Eagles’ rushing this will go a long way to helping them. Jalen Hurts might want to practice sliding this week, he has to limit exposing himself to big hits and possibly turning that ball over. Twice on Sunday, the Cowboys caused strip sacks on Matthew Stafford, and if they repeat that it’s going to be a long night at Lincoln Field for the home team. The Eagles’ line will have to protect Hurts in the passing game as well. Pressure and sacks have been coming from all over the defensive line and thrown in a few Donovan Wilson safety blitzes as well.
Prediction
The leader of the Cowboys’ defense Micah Parsons coming back to his home state and you know he will have friends and family in attendance. Despite a tight groin, he had two sacks in the second half against the Rams. You better believe the former Nittany Lion will be ready to pounce Sunday night. As I said last week the more consistent team has been the Cowboys. The Eagles haven’t been challenged the way they will be Sunday night. It’s pretty simple if Philadelphia runs the ball successfully they get the win. If not and I believe they can be contained, the Cowboys should do just enough over the course of a full game to get the victory over their hated foe. I will say the surviving members of the 1972 unbeaten Dolphins get to pop the champagne bottles Sunday after the Eagles’ fall from the ranks of the unbeaten. In a classic NFC East battle, I have the Cowboys winning 20 to 14.
As always you can find me on Twitter @GregCowboys
