Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles: SportDFW Staff Predictions
The Dallas Cowboys lost last week to the undefeated Atlanta Falcons, this week they continue on their road trip to the Linc to take on their NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams, at 3-5, have underperformed in comparison to the pre-season expectations for each club. Both teams are desperate for a win; both teams face virtual elimination from the playoffs if they lose; and both teams have Head Coaches who may be looking for a new job in 2013 if their team loses this game.The SportDFW staff picks:
Sep 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
Brady Parker:
Well Dallas Cowboy fans, our backs are against the wall again. Thankfully, two of the other three NFC East teams, the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins , also lost last week. Those losses provide the Dallas Cowboys with a small glimmer of hope for a wild card berth. The Cowboys are at a point where they may have to win out to secure a realistic shot at making the playoffs. That’s not likely.
The game this week against the Philadelphia Eagles is a must win for the Cowboys. A loss would drop them to 2-6, which would pretty much eliminate them from playoff contention and possibly affect Head Coach Jason Garrett’s future job security.
The absence of star RB DeMarco Murray (out for the 4th consecutive week) from the Dallas Cowboys offense is a game killer, and it makes the offense one-dimensional.
The Philadelphia Eagles will pin their ears back this week. The Dallas Cowboys offensive line is weak to say the least; the Philadelphia Eagles have plenty of talented pass-rushers like Trent Cole, Jason Babin, and now rookie Brandon Graham who appears to have found his groove giving Babin a rest. I see Cowboys QB Tony Romo on his back 4 to 5 times and hit more times than I care to think.
Cowboys – 24 Eagles -10
Nathan Stacken:
November 5, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Easgles 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE
This game features the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, who enter the game Sunday as two vastly under-performing 3-5 teams. The Eagles offensive line is in shambles. Michael Vick is struggling. Can they right the ship? Sure they can. I just don’t see how. Then again, they are going against a Cowboys team that makes a couple of bone-headed plays each week that can cost them a victory. A toss-up game for sure.
Cowboys 23 Eagles 20
Erasmus:
I continued my travels to search out wisemen to question about the Dallas Cowboys. This week, I ended up in Arkansas in a area that seemed like the swamps were as big as the ocean, in some ‘house’ that looked like it could have been used on the set of “Angel Heart”. Anyway, I finally got to sit down with the “Conjure Man”.
He was a strange little man: he was only about 5 feet tall, but he had the arms and legs of man at least a foot taller. When he discovered that my sole reason for bothering him was to ask about the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, he was initially angry that I was wasting his time for something less than “official business”. When I explained that I would pay for a “normal session”, he went to work making ‘tea’. I was instructed to be silent until I had finished my tea and waited at least 25 minutes. After I waited, I asked, “So, who will win this week, the Cowboys or the Eagles?”. The “Conjure Man” looked at me perplexed. He said nothing, got up, and went outside. I heard noises; they didn’t seem human; they sounded sacrificial, but I was trying not to listen because of the fear. After what seemed like hours, the “Conjure Man” returned. He said two sentences, “The Cowboys will win. Please go now.” Then he pointed to the door.
Despite the Dallas Cowboys mind-boggling start to this season, they will beat the Philadelphia Eagles. More importantly, the victory against the hated Eagles (with the fans who cheered when Michael Irvin suffered a serious injury) will inspire this club to future greatness. The Dallas Cowboys, by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in their home stadium, will begin a new phase to the 2012 NFL Season that will end with them winning the Super Bowl. Winning a Championship is just the beginning, the really important part is what will happen after the Dallas Cowboys win the Super Bowl. For a full explanation for the dynamic impact the Super Bowl victory will have on world history, please click here.
Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the NFL shield logo before the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE
Justin Brumit:
Neither the Dallas Cowboys or the Philadelphia Eagles have had a good season, and the team that loses this game will need to pack it up and call it a year. The Eagles offense has not been good at all, and the defense may be worse: they can’t tackle anyone. The Cowboys have been very close to winning a few of the games they lost, but the fact is they still aren’t getting the job done. I think the Eagles will find the offense they have been missing and turn it around against the Cowboys this weekend. Unfortunately, it looks like the Dallas Cowboys are going to be headed to a top 10 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Cowboys 17 Eagles 27
C. Joseph Wright:
Oct 28, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (25) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. The Falcons defeated the Eagles 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE
Well, as the Dallas Cowboys prepare to head into the hostile enemy territory known as “The Linc”, I can’t help but remember that I haven’t picked the Cowboys to lose yet this year. I don’t intend on that changing.
Cas, if you are wondering, I stopped drinking the kool-aid send by Jerry Jones. I figured out how to get it into me through an IV, that is much more effective.
Speaking of Cas, she wrote a post earlier this season arguing that, as a general rule, NFL football games are won and lost in the trenches and the Dallas Cowboys, although stacked at some of the skill positions, lacked the players along the offensive and defensive lines to win Championships.
Her general point holds the key to this week’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. If the Cowboys offensive line can open some running lanes for their RB’s and protect QB Tony Romo (give him time to survey the field and make his reads), the offense will score enough points to win. If the Cowboys defensive line can contain Eagles RB LeSean McCoy and get consistent pressure on Michael Vick, they will cause turnovers and limit the Eagles to enough points that they will win the game.
If the Dallas Cowboys lose too may of the ‘battles in the trenches’, then the Philadelphia Eagles will win the game.
Before I make my prediction, let me re-fill my IV bag with Kool-Aid. Ahhh.
Dallas Cowboys 24 – Philadelphia Eagles 17
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