NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys will do battle in Week 10 this week. The Eagles are coming off a close win against the Jacksonville Jaguars while the Cowboys are reeling after a loss at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons. This is a divisional and rivalry game where anything can happen regardless of who’s playing and records. The Eagles cannot afford to look past the Cowboys this week.
With the Philadelphia Eagles still a game behind the surprising Washington Commanders, this is a must-win game for the Birds. The Cowboys have dealt with a ton of negative press with their season hanging in the balance. Can the Cowboys find a way to right the ship or will the Eagles continue to up their wins?
Here are 3 keys to victory for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys.
Ride The Saquon Barkley Wave
The Eagles got a steal this offseason with Saquon Barkley. He has been as advertised and possibly better since joining the team. The Cowboys are surrendering 147 yards per game on the ground and Barkley is coming off a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars where he gained 159 yards on 27 carries. This trend must continue for the Eagles to leave this game with a victory. There is no doubt that Mike Zimmer will do everything in his power to have his defense geared up to stop the run. They will stack the box and try to make Jalen Hurts beat them with his are.
Barkey doesn’t need to have a great game but he does need to assert his will. Whether it’s running or catching the ball. So far, he has been the best player in the Eagles offense and they should continue to call his number as much as they can.
Dont Look Past The Cowboys
This is still a divisional and rivalry game. There is no way the Eagles should look past the Cowboys. Despite their struggles, the Cowboys will enter this game with a chip on their shoulders and will look to play spoiler to the Eagles’ season while trying to turn theirs around as well. There will be no Dak Prescott and the word is still out on Lamb but all reports have Micah Parsons returning for the defense.
Jerry Jones failed the Cowboys this season but that has nothing to do with the Eagles, This is a game they have circled on their calendar, especially with all the negative press. The Cowboys want to hurt the Eagles and a defeat in Week 10 will go a long way. The team may be in a slight decline but this is still a game the Eagles cannot afford to take lightly no matter what their record and the media say.
Stop The Run
Yes, the Dallas Cowboys have struggled running the ball this season, which has accounted for them sitting where they are so far. However, this is still a game where the Eagles’ defense must continue that trend for the Cowboys. They cannot allow Rico Dowdle to have a breakout game or for Copper Rush to resemble Lamar Jackson. The Eagles are surrendering 101 yards per game on the ground while the Cowboys are averaging 82 yards per game. Stay the course.
The Philadelphia Eagles must make Rush beat them through the air. Even with a young secondary, if the front seven can get in the backfield and pressure Rush, the Eagles will have a chance to shut the Cowboys out. There’s a chance the CeeDee Lamb may not play and that will put more emphasis on Rush and the Cowboys passing attack. Stopping the run is the key point here.
