Week 7 Preview: Philadelphia Eagles (3-3) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
Week 7 Preview: Philadelphia Eagles (3-3) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
Sunday, October 20, 8:20 PM at AT&T Stadium, Cowboys 2.5-point favorites
This game could very well decide the trajectory of both of these teams’ seasons. Can the Eagles take control of the division with a victory, or will they allow Dallas to take over the NFC East throne?
Injury Report:
OUT
Philadelphia: Nigel Bradham (LB, ankle), DeSean Jackson (WR, abdomen), Timmy Jernigan (DT, foot), Avonte Maddox (CB, concussion/neck), Jason Peters (OT, knee), Darren Sproles (RB, quad)
Dallas: Anthony Brown (CB, hamstring)
DOUBTFUL
Philadelphia: —
Dallas: —
QUESTIONABLE:
Philadelphia: Ronald Darby (CB, hamstring)
Dallas: Dorance Armstrong (DE, neck), Randall Cobb (WR, back), La’el Collins (OT, knee), Amari Cooper (WR, ankle/quad), Byron Jones (CB, hamstring), Joe Looney (C, back), Zack Martin (OG, ankle/back), Tyron Smith (OT, ankle)
Both teams had plenty of players on the injury report to begin the week but now it’s leaning in Dallas’ favor. This would’ve been a great time for DJax to return, but we have to wait at least one more week. The Eagles are actually becoming very thin at linebacker now that Zach Brown is gone from the team and Nigel Bradham won’t play on Sunday. Andre Dillard’s first career start will come this week against Robert Quinn. Jalen Mills will return (and should start) for Philadelphia, and it appears that Amari Cooper will be on the other side waiting for him. Ronald Darby may also return. After watching the way Cooper mistreated Jaire Alexander a couple of weeks ago, I’m not too excited to see him go up against two CBs coming off of injuries. Most of the players on Dallas’ report are expected to suit up.
Analysis:
Dallas has been trending downwards lately, losing three consecutive games after a 3-0 start. Many have been quick to blame QB Dak Prescott for the team’s recent struggles, but besides an outlier three-interception performance against Green Bay (a game in which he still threw for a career-high 463 yards), he’s been playing pretty good football. That’s not a good sign for an Eagles’ secondary ranked 29th in opponent pass yards per game, ahead of only Arizona, New York (Giants), and Tampa Bay. Also working against Philly is the return of receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb. While the Eagles may get back both of their Super Bowl starting cornerbacks, remember that both of them weren’t exactly playing great football when we last saw them. Don’t expect them to magically transform into shutdown cover guys in their first game back.
We haven’t even touched on the presence of Ezekiel Elliott, one of the best running backs that the NFL has to offer. In two games against the Eagles last year, he totaled 379 total yards. Philadelphia has bottled up every back they’ve faced so far this season, and the hope is that the trend continues. But then again, if we bottle him up, we put the ball into Prescott’s hands, and forcing quarterbacks to take over hasn’t worked too well for the Birds this season. A pass defense as porous as this one just results in too many problems.
With the nagging injury to Jackson coupled with Nelson Agholor leaving his development in 2018, the Eagles lack a big-play threat. The offense doesn’t have many options, and it takes them far too long to get started. Philadelphia cannot afford to fall behind in this one, so Doug Pederson and his staff must come up with an exceptional game plan to begin the contest. The Cowboys’ defense has been underwhelming over their losing streak, so it’s up to the Eagles to take full advantage. The tools aren’t there to go toe-to-toe with Dallas in a shootout, so establishing the run will be a huge boon for the offense. They tried to do that last week, but it’s just not effective when you’re down by so much. The Eagles most recent win over Dallas came in 2017 when Philadelphia rode Jay Ajayi and Co. in a 200+ yard rushing performance. They won by 28.
I believe that the Eagles can pound Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders effectively, but I don’t believe that either of our corners can slow down Amari Cooper. Cooper’s route running is maybe top in football, and he has also mastered Philadelphia’s kryptonite, the double move. If he gets going, I’m not sure which of Philadelphia’s receivers can finally step up and help Carson Wentz and the offense keep up. This team is always at its best with its back against the wall, but motivation and desperation can only take you so far. The last time I picked the Eagles to lose was a few weeks ago against Green Bay, and it worked out well for us, so I’m crossing my fingers that we can get the same luck this time around.
Prediction: Eagles 26, Cowboys 30
-By: Micah Jimoh