The Dallas Cowboys gave fans a little scare earlier this week when quarterback Dak Prescott was added to the injury report with a hip injury. While head coach Brian Schottenheimer was confident that it was little more than extra precaution, fans couldn’t help but feel a hint of worry with a crucial matchup against Philadelphia coming up on a short week.
Prescott would return to full participation the following day, so with that out of the way, the full focus can be on the game with the season on the line. Coming off a dominant win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas hopes to continue that momentum against the Eagles.
Where the Eagles Stand
Despite the 8-2 record, not all has been sunny in Philadelphia. As the pressure of returning to the Super Bowl continues to mount, winning has only done so much to suppress the growing frustrations.
Receiver A.J. Brown has been at the forefront of these frustrations with his role in the offense, and went as far as to indirectly call out Saquon Barkley in his own defense. This was clearly meant to be a jab at the overall health of the offense, but the wording doesn’t help Brown’s point.
There’s also been rumblings about quarterback Jalen Hurts’ approach to the game and aggressiveness in the passing offense, though Hurts mentions that it hasn’t come directly from the coaching staff, or at least not from Nick Sirianni. It’s unknown if this sentiment is widely held or simply more anger coming from Brown.
The Cowboys will catch a break as their new-look defensive line won’t have to face All-Pro lineman Lane Johnson, who’ll miss the game with a foot injury. They remain healthy around the depth chart otherwise, but a litany of other offensive linemen, including starting center Cam Jurgens, are questionable.
Where the Cowboys Stand
With Dak Prescott’s injury nothing more than a scare, the Cowboys will be entering this matchup as healthy as they have been all year. Last week, the entire starting offensive line played 100% of snaps together, while major deadline acquisition Quinnen Williams had a significant impact with just 55% of snaps.
While all things are quiet on the Dallas front, they face their own football mortality, sitting at 4-5-1 heading into this game. The Eagles will all but clinch the division with a win, which could set the Cowboys back as far as 12th in the conference. While there isn’t an elimination scenario for them, there’s very little room for error if Dallas wants to rally for a late-season playoff push.
The Cowboys Win If…
They can further push the Eagles’ buttons. Back in Week 1, Dallas pushed Philadelphia to the brink, falling 24-20. They kept Barkley in check with just 60 rushing yards, but erased Brown by holding him to just a single catch for eight yards. A similar game might break a fragile Eagles’ sideline, forcing them into mental mistakes that they have so far been avoiding.
Brown jealously had to watch from the sideline as CeeDee Lamb went off for 110 yards of his own. If George Pickens can make a similar impact, the Eagles’ secondary may be overwhelmed. Scoring early would force the Eagles out of their preferred game plan, which could lead forcing more of those mistakes the Cowboys will need.
Dallas avoided Jalen Carter in their last game, which no doubt played a part in their 116 rushing yards between their RBs, but Philadelphia didn’t have to face Quinnen Williams in that matchup, either. If Dallas can control the ball better than Philly can and win the time of possession, you can siphon away things like a patient run game and tush-push opportunities if this becomes a race.
The Cowboys Lose If…
They can’t keep the Eagles off balance. So far, Philadelphia has won by sucking the life out of teams by forcing them into a box. They play great defense, don’t turn the ball over, and do just enough offensively. This is ultimately what worked in their Week 1 matchup, and it’s worked for them nearly all season.
The Dallas defense hasn’t typically been able to do much about dictating their matchup, and they’ll face a tall task this week as well. Quinnen Williams will need to show his worth and beyond by doing enough single-handedly to free others up to make plays against a loaded, though uninspiring, offense.
The Cowboys are far better built to win from behind if needed, but that doesn’t make it an ideal situation. Dallas must run at a decent clip to both keep it away from them and to keep the defense honest. If the run game fails to gain momentum, they’ll play right into that box the Eagles want you in.
Prediction
Cowboys 27-24
Dallas turns the tables and attacks the Philly secondary early and often, leading to an opened-up run game late. This game should be the Eagles’ to lose, but the Cowboys will play with an air of desperation with their backs against the wall.
