NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The (13-1) Philadelphia Eagles will battle the (10-4) Dallas Cowboys in their 2nd meeting of the season. There is much on the line here even with both teams having already clinched a playoff berth. According to the numbers, the Cowboys still have a chance at overtaking the Eagles in the NFC East but a win by the Eagles will put clamps on the Boys’ dreams of repeating as division champs.
The Cowboys are coming off a disappointing and stunning loss at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars in OT while the Eagles slipped by the Chicago Bears last week. With no Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ offense will be led by backup Gardner Minshew. Can they continue their torrid offensive output or will the Cowboys’ defense offer payback for their Week 6 loss?
Here are 3 keys to victory for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys.
Eagles Must Protect Gardner Minshew
Running the ball, controlling the cock, playing mistake-free football are all keys to the Eagles leaving Dallas with a victory and the NFC East title. But it won’t be that easy unless they can find a way to protect Minshew. The Cowboys are good at rushing the QB with positive results and with Minshew not as mobile as Hurts, the Cowboys will blitz until Minshew proves he can handle the pressure.
In their last meeting, the Cowboys sacked hurts 4 times. And while Parsons registered 0 sacks, he was still disruptive. The Eagles will need to handle the Cowboys’ front seven the same way they did in the first game. Another key is to run the ball. What this does is provide Minshew with another layer of protection. If the ground game can get rolling, that will force the Cowboys to play the run more as the Eagles will drop back less.
Keep A Level Head
Leading up to the game, the Philadelphia Eagles have done a good job of saying the right things even when Parsons did his best to try to rattle their cages. But that doesn’t mean the Eagles did not circle this game on their calendars. With a win, the Eagles can lock up the NFC East Division as well as the top seed in the NFC. However, a vast majority of this roster is young and with Minshew starting instead of Hurts, the idea is for some of these guys to see the bigger picture.
What nich siaraisna must do is keep his team focused and not let anyone try to play hero ball. Even with a loss, the Eagles can still do everything they want to do the following week. For the Cowboys, this is a must win game even after clinching a playoff berth. Things can get chippy between these rivals and the Eages must play with a level head and not let the Cowboys’ talk or actions get to them.
Philadelphia Eagles Must Control The Clock
The Philadelphia Eagles can score the ball at will but this is not the week to try to go score for score with their opponent. The Cowboys are a dangerous team on the offensive end, especially since the return of Dak Prescott. Last week against the Bears, the Eagles’ offense sputtered at times and looked out of sync, especially during the first half when the Bears won the time of possession game.
Against the Cowboys in their first meeting, the Eagles won the TOP aspect by 9 minutes. Although Prescott did not play, the Eagles offense must stay on course. With Hurts out, the ground game will become important. If the Eagles can win in the trenches with Miles Sanders, Kennetth Gainwell, and Boston Scott, that will keep the explosive Cowboys’ offense off the field.
