Well, well, well… we’ve certainly got a treat tonight. The Dallas Cowboys host long-time divisional foe, the Philadelphia Eagles, tonight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, and it’s quite a matchup from start to finish. The biggest story of the night is undoubtedly the rookies at work in this one, and thanks to them, I think we can safely save the tricks for Halloween tomorrow night.
Dak Prescott has looked good, real good, in 2016. Not only is he a rookie QB playing like a good second or third year vet, but he’s a fourth round pick, the eight QB selected in the 2016 NFL draft, and he’s making millions of fans — not to mention the Cowboys front office — actually consider if he should start, or if it should be Tony Romo.
All the petty arguing and trolling aside, just let that sink in for a moment.
Let it sink in that all the experts said 2016 was a weak class for QBs, that while there were several good QBs, nothing spectacular would come out of this class at that position. Paxton Lynch and Jared Goff may be experiencing rather typical rookie struggles, but Dak Prescott certainly isn’t.
And neither is Carson Wentz.
Granted, Wentz may have come down a level or two the last coupe of weeks, but he’s been keeping step with Prescott for the rookie QB battle to watch in the NFL. Tonight he’s going to step onto one of the biggest stages in the world with his team and try to, at the very least, keep momentum going.
Wentz and the Eagles maybe didn’t look so hot last week, but it was a rough game all around. And lest we forget, they did play, and defeat, the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings. Ugly or not, a win is a win.
That’s something to remind ourselves for this contest; a win is a win. It doesn’t actually matter if the ‘Boys knock off the who-care’s like the Bengals or a hated rival like the Eagles, a win is a win. It’s all another number at the end of the season, and the number we’re shooting for tonight is an NFC East best 6-1.
Enough pontificating. It’s time to get to the staff’s picks.
Brian Martin | @Bmart0204
Division games are always tough to predict because the two teams know each other so well, but I believe the Dallas Cowboys continue their hot streak this week against the Philadelphia Eagles. I think this game will ultimately be decided by whoever wins in the trenches. If the Cowboys offensive line dominates the Eagles front-seven, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott will take care of the rest.
Cowboys 24 – Eagles 17
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Kevin Brady | @Kevinbrady88
Flat out, I think the Cowboys are better than the Eagles. At home, coming off of a bye, and riding this five-game win streak, I see no reason why the Cowboys shouldn’t come out on top this week.
Sure, the Eagles present some problems with their front-seven and can create big plays on Special Teams, but the Cowboys rushing attack will be too much. Dallas plays another week of (almost) mistake free football, and improves to 6-1.
Cowboys 31 – Eagles 21
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RJ Ochoa | @RJOchoa
The Cowboys Coaching Staff is en fuego this season.
You give those guys an extra week of preparation (and some historical knowledge from Scott Linehan) and this thing is over. Cowboys are going to run right at Philly.
Cowboys 27 – Eagles 17
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Sean Martin | @ShoreSportsNJ
Can you really pick against this Cowboys team right now? Fresh off of a bye week and looking for their sixth straight win, I’ll take Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott to do just enough offensively – with Dez Bryant finding the end zone twice. Carson Wentz throws an interception on the Eagles final drive to increase Dallas’ lead in the division for good.
Cowboys 21 – Eagles 14
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Ian Koplowitz | @BleedingTheStar
I think the Cowboys are looking at this game as their chance to assert themselves as the team to beat in the division. They liked their chances before, but learning that Bennie Logan will be out of the lineup certainly bodes well.
I believe there’s enough tape on Carson Wentz at this point for Rod and this defense to scheme up a nice game plan, especially coming off the bye. Divisional games are never easy, but I think we start to win games at home with the crowd excitement being generated by our fantastic rookie class.
Cowboys 31 – Eagles 23
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Jess Haynie | @CowboysAddicts
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The Eagles will be without two key defensive players (DT Bennie Logan, CB Ron Brooks) while the Cowboys are getting Dez Bryant back. Carson Wentz is the Eagles’ best chance to win, but he’s cooled off lately.
Cowboys 30 – Eagles 23
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John Williams | @John9williams
This game is being billed as a matchup of rookie quarterbacks, but to me it’s a matchup that will be won or lost by the guys playing in the trenches.
I expect the Cowboys to continue to make good opposing defensive lines look average as they open up holes for Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris to run, and provide enough protection for Dak Prescott to get the ball to his plethora of play-making wide receivers. Dallas’ defensive line should be able to make plays against the Philadelphia Eagles average offensive line.
Cowboys 30 – Eagles 14
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Justin Grohowski | @Grohowknowhow
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Dallas faces yet another test Sunday night against a strong defensive unit. But the Eagles haven’t faced an offensive line of this elite level yet and that will be the difference here.
Both rookies continue to shine as the running game dominates. Dez Bryant has a big game as well. He typically owns the Eagles and that continues here. Dallas gets a big cushion in the NFC East.
Cowboys 27 – Eagles 20
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Bryson Treece | @BrysonTreece
The Eagles are just off an upset against the Vikings, so even if Carson Wentz wasn’t so pristine at the end of it, don’t count them out just yet. Plus, division rivals tend to surprise with a deep knowledge of the team and that extra fire motivating players.
It’s gonna be tough; no doubt about that. The Eagles are going to come into our house and do what they do, leaving the Cowboys to stop them if they want to win. I won’t lie, I’m not convinced. This Cowboys defense has holes that can be exploited, we’ll just have to see if they continue to upset opposing offences enough for Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott to make things happen.
Cowboys 30 – Eagles 23
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Tonight is the 115th meeting between the Cowboys and Eagles, and you know it’s going to be a game worth talking about afterward. These teams rarely face-off without some excitement, some controversy, someone upset.
So, as always, be safe, be happy, and if you’re at AT&T Stadium tonight… MAKE SOME NOISE!!!
