In just over 24 hours, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will be kicking off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, and all eyes will be on this matchup. The Eagles sit atop the NFC East, NFC, and entire NFL with a record of 8-1. The Cowboys are at 5-4. The team to beat two weeks ago won’t be the team to beat tomorrow.
After a rocky start, the Cowboys strung together three wins in convincing fashion, against the Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, and Kansas City Chiefs. Then, last week, Ezekiel Elliott lost his suspension battle and LT Tyron Smith was ruled out for the game.
You could say things were expected to get a little rough for our ‘Boys, but nobody expected it to be THAT bad. Sean Lee injuring his hamstring was just icing on the cake.
One potential saving grace for Dallas this week is the Eagles are fresh off a bye week. When a team in the NFL starts a season as hot as they have, a bye week can destroy momentum and cohesion.
Another potential saving grace is the Eagles’ schedule this year. They’ve had an awfully easy schedule, based on their finish last year, and have enjoyed the confidence that comes with beating weaker teams regularly.
However, the Eagles are not to be trifled with.
Don’t forget, they’re a division team and division teams have a way of going after each other like no other. That’s something the Cowboys can look forward to just as much as the Eagles, as every game between the two is a bit of a tossup.
S Jeff Heath and LB Sean Lee have already been declared. Heath is technically listed as questionable but it is highly unlikely that he’ll be active at game time since he wasn’t even cleared to practice. Tyron Smith is also listed as questionable. If there is any way the Cowboys can get Smith on the field, even in a limited role, their odds increase. That’s how terrible Chaz Green and Byron Bell were at LT against the Atlanta Falcons in week 10. But I suspect they’ll save the risk with the short week and let Tyron rest before Thursday’s Thanksgiving tilt.
We need Tyron Smith for the next four games more than this game tomorrow.
The Cowboys are starting off hamstrung by injuries at crucial positions. The Eagles are hoping the hot hand hasn’t cooled off. This is going to be an interesting game, if not a complete blowout.
As always, I encourage you to add your own predictions for the game in our comments section below.
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Lee Proves to be Invaluable, Once Again
I think the Cowboys will go out there and fight. The importance of this game for them, the rivalry, the stage on Sunday Night Football will give this team a shot. However, without Sean Lee on the field, the Eagles will be too much for Dallas. This would be a tough game even if the entire team was healthy (or not suspended). Even if Tyron Smith plays, I’m picking the Eagles to win this Sunday Night. Sigh. Mauricio Rodriguez – @PepoR99
Cowboys 20 – Eagles 27
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Offense Rebounds, but Defense Struggles
The offense rebounds from its poor week 10 showing, but can’t overcome the poor play of the defense without LB Sean Lee. John Williams – @john9williams
Cowboys 24 – Eagles 31
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No Lee, No Chance
Until they prove otherwise, Dallas’ defense can’t be trusted without Sean Lee in the lineup. The Eagles are coming off their bye week and have had this game circled on their calendar all year. It won’t be pretty. Jess Haynie – @CowboysAddicts
Cowboys 23 – Eagles 34
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Cowboys Steal One From Eagles
Moving the ball is going to be a struggle for the Cowboys. Especially if Tyron Smith doesn’t play. I do think the Cowboys somehow pull this out. Philadelphia is coming off a bye and sometimes that can hurt teams who have been on a roll. I would expect to see the coaching staff make a lot of adjustments to help get the ball out quick and put some early points on the board. Connor Livesay – @Connorx147
Cowboys 17 – Eagles 16
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Fly Eagles Fly, Back To Philadelphia Without A Victory
I’m probably going to be in the minority here, but I think the Dallas Cowboys have a good chance to win this game. Yes, the Eagles are 8-1 and coming off their bye week, but they are not completely dominating their opponents. I expect the Cowboys to play angry after their embarrassing performance last week and do just enough to outlast the Eagles at home. Brian Martin – @BrianMartinNFL
Cowboys 27 – Eagles 24
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Bailey, Come Back
A classic NFC East scratch and claw game that stays close throughout. Dez comes up big with two touchdowns and the defense is able to force a few punts. Even though the Eagles had a lead, Dak drives in the last minutes, but Nugent shanks another field goal. Wentz kneels on the hearts of Cowboys fans to kill the clock. Christopher Wätjen – @SingForTheDay
Cowboys 17 – Eagles 20
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Hopeless-Lee
This has been a rough week for Cowboys Nation, and a win over the Eagles would go such a long way in collectively reinstalling hope for this 2017 season, while keeping the division race alive. Unfortunately, I see a spirited performance by the short-handed Cowboys falling three points short, as Carson Wentz’s Eagles are just too much for a Rod Marinelli defense to handle without Sean Lee. Sean Martin – @SeanMartinNFL
Cowboys 31 – Eagles 34
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Dallas’ D Can’t Stop the Hot Hand, Eagles Ball Out
I still don’t trust Alfred Morris, and I definitely don’t trust him if the offensive line plays anything like last week. Add to that Awuzie’s first game of the season, and missing Heath and Lee, and this is just too much of the wrong pressure for Dak Prescott. The offense will struggle, have a bright spot or two, miss a field goal, make a few more. The defense will be gassed by halftime. And I really hope I’m wrong. smh. Bryson Treece – @BrysonTreece
Cowboys 16 – Eagles 31
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The Eagles may not be an absolutely dominant team this year, not play-by-play, but they’re finding ways to win and that’s a hard thing to stop when a team finds it. This Cowboys team is a shell of its former self without Zeke, Smith, and Lee. Like I said before, this is going to be interesting, if it’s not a total blowout.
Share your game picks below and, as always, Go Cowboys!
The bad moon rose after Denver, and then went away… :^)
Those (and myself) forecasting Dallas victory, are on a limb. Here are the positives;
– Dallas must win / Philly, not close to a must win
– Far, far better that this pivotal game in the Cowboys season, is not in Philadelphia
– The Cowboys have the firepower to hang with Philly and outscore them
They have to stop the siv at LT or it’s all academic. If Smith does not play, this has to involve different tactics than we saw in Atlanta. Quick hook for Green, and / or do not run as many pass plays from the pocket. What we saw last week has to go away.
I know I am going to get lit up on defense without Lee. So I’m not playing passive 2-deeps and waiting for it to happen. I’m attacking Wentz, pure and simple. If he can burn it, at least the defense got off the field quickly. Better than giving up 7 points after 12 plays.
Exactly as Dak, Wentz is not a seasoned veteran QB. Marinelli is a seasoned DC. It’s not unreasonable to ask him to bring some looks & pressure packages to the stadium, that Wentz has never seen. One timely turnover, can win this game.
Dallas 31-24