Game Preview: DAL at PHI
The MATCHUP
DALLAS COWBOYS (5-2) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-1)
Game time: Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CST
TV/radio: ESPN-WFAA 8 / Compass Media, Westwood One Radio, Sirius XM-NFL, 105.3 The Fan, KMVK 107.5 La Grande (Spanish)
Broadcast teams: National TV – Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Erin Andrews (sidelines), Tom Rinaldi (sidelines); National Radio (Compass) – Jerry Recco, Danny White; Local Radio (English) – Brad Sham, Babe Laufenberg, Kristi Scales (sidelines); Local Radio (Spanish) – Victor Villalba, Luis Perez
Head Referee: Tra Blake
Officiating Crew: Tony Michalek, Patrick Turner, Daniel Gallagher, Tom Hill, Don Willard, Todd Prokup, Andrew Lambert, Larry Hanson
Last 5 Meetings:
12/24/2022 – Cowboys 40, Eagles 34
10/16/2022 – Eagles 26, Cowboys 17
01/08/2022 – Cowboys 51, Eagles 26
09/27/2021 – Cowboys 41, Eagles 21
12/27/2020 – Cowboys 37, Eagles 17
All Time Head-to-Head: Cowboys lead 73-55-0
WHAT’s at STAKE
While a victory for either team on Sunday is not a must to win the division or make the playoffs, but it will give the winner the early lead in the race for the NFC East title and the inside track to a bye week in the postseason. Lincoln Financial Field is always a tough place for visitors, but the Cowboys are 11-9 in the last 20 meetings in Philadelphia and 31-31 all time in the City of Brotherly Love.
WHEN the COWBOYS HAVE the BALL
The Cowboys need to build on what they accomplished last week offensively against the Rams. Quarterback Dak Prescott had his best game of the season, while CeeDee Lamb had a career showing. They will need to get the same performance from both, and a solid day in the running game from Tony Pollard to be successful. Pollard is the part of the offense that the Cowboys need to get going, but it will be tough sledding against the Eagles top ranked run defense. It will come down to how well the Cowboys offensive line can play. Will the Cowboys have a healthy Tyron Smith at left tackle? Or will it be another game of Chuma Edoga and Asim Richards? Whether it’s Smith or Edoga or Richards, they will have their hands full with Josh Sweat and Fletcher Cox on the defensive right side for the Eagles.
WHEN the EAGLES HAVE the BALL
The Eagles are loaded with weapons – wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Dallas Goedert, for quarterback Jalen Hurts to get the ball too on offense. Together, they are averaging 387.4 yards and 28.0 points per game, which will put the pressure on a Cowboys defense that has gotten thinner because of injury since the start of the season. The Cowboys run defense has still been their Achilles heel this season, so expect a heavy dose of Swift, Hurts and an Eagles ground attack that is averaging 132.3 yards per game. Through the air, Hurts has been prone to interceptions, with eight already this season. That plays into the Cowboys hands, literally, with nine interceptions as a team, including three from DaRon Bland returned for touchdowns. It will come down to how well the Cowboys defensive front seven does against the Philadelphia offensive line that includes All Pros Jason Kelce at center and Lane Johnson at right tackle.
KEY COWBOYS to WATCH:
TE Jake Ferguson – After missing wins over the Jets and Giants with an injury, Ferguson returned for 12 catches and 125 yards against the Cardinals and Patriots. But since then, he has just eight catches for 90 yards against the 49ers, Chargers and Rams. He did haul in his first touchdown of the season, on maybe the best catch of his young career. He now has three career touchdowns, one more and he will be the fifth Cowboys tight end in history with five touchdown catches in his first two seasons. The last Cowboys tight end to catch five TDs in his first two seasons is the late Gavin Escobar (2013-14).
LB Damone Clark– In just his sophomore season, Damone Clark is becoming one of the most important pieces of Dan Quinn’s defense. Clark started the season at weakside linebacker, but moved to the middle when Leighton Vander Esch injured his neck in Week 5. Clark has played 298 snaps this season, leads the team in tackles with 45, including a team high nine against Arizona and eight against the Chargers, and has one tackle for loss. He’s also been able to use his speed to cover running backs and tight ends. He will have his hands full with Philadelphia tight end Dallas Goedert (35 catches, 360 yards, 2 touchdowns) and the Eagles running game that is averaging over 132 yards per game.
SS Jayron Kearse – Kearse has been the defacto leader for the Dallas defense since his arrival in 2021, and now makes the defensive calls after the injury to Leighton Vander Esch. Kearse is responsible for making sure everybody gets the call, and that all coverage responsibilities are correct. This season, the eight-year veteran is third on the team in tackles with 32, including three tackles for loss and one sack. In coverage, he has three passes knocked down, one forced fumble and one interception that he returned 32 yards in the fourth quarter to help seal the win over the Jets in Week. 2. Kearse will be key in shutting down a Philadelphia offense that is averaging 387.4 yards and 28.0 points per game.
KEY EAGLES to WATCH:
WR A.J. Brown – There is no hotter wide receiver in the game than Brown. Since Week 3, the fifth-year veteran has put up at least 127 yards six catches in every game, including a season high 175 yards at home against Washington and a season high 10 catches at home against Miami. He has five touchdowns this season, and on pace for his third 11 touchdown season. To counter Brown’s effectiveness, the Cowboys will certainly double him with an outside corner and either a safety or the nickel corner. Even with a double team, Brown will have his opportunities to impact the game on Sunday.
C Jason Kelce – In what is probably his last season, the Eagles anchor of the offensive line has six pro bowls selections and five years as a first team All Pro in 12-plus seasons in the NFL. Kelce is still at the top of his game, leading a rushing attack that is sixth in the NFL this season. In the passing game, he makes the line calls and will be key in picking up stunts and blitzes that Dallas will try to employ on Sunday. This season, Kelce has played 578 snaps, tied for first in the NFL, and committed no penalties and allowed no sacks.
DT Jalen Carter – When the Eagles landed Carter with the No. 9 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, it was a case of the rich getting richer. He had the talent to be the top overall selection, but landed in Philadelphia and has been producing since the opening game of the season. Backing up fellow Georgia Bulldog Jordan Davis, Carter has racked up 14 tackles this season, including five tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. He will be one of several Philadelphia defensive tackles that will put pressure on the middle of a Cowboys offensive line that has been banged up.
The BOTTOM LINE
The Cowboys need to keep stacking wins if they want to reach their first goal of a berth in the postseason. They also need to prove that home or away they are one of the top teams in the NFC. They failed to show that in San Francisco in Week 5, Sunday is their second opportunity to prove they are one of the NFL’s top teams against the league’s best. A loss and questions about their ability in big games will again be asked. I expect their best effort of the season, in all three phases.
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Eagles 30