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Cowboys at Eagles: Predictions and Game Info

By Reid Hanson

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Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

Time and Day: Sunday, September 20th 3:25pm (CDT)

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

TV Channel: Fox

Online Game Video Stream: NFL.com

Online Game Radio Stream: CBS

Updated Injury Report: Cowboys IR

The Cowboys face the Philadelphia Eagles in week two of the 2015 NFL season. Questions surround both franchises early in the season. Will the Cowboys go up 2-0 this week, or will Philly level the record and hand the Cowboys a loss? Here’s what the writers think:

Predictions

Christian Blood, Sport DFW Editor

The Cowboys are 1-0 on the strength of last week’s heroic comeback led by quarterback Tony Romo following a rather ugly contest.

That game was played amidst the friendly confines of AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

On Sunday, things will be a bit different.

Traveling to Philadelphia to play the Eagles has always been a dicey affair for the Cowboys. Since the beginning of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-era, which began following the 1980 season, Dallas has a record well-below .500 at just 21-15. This obviously includes two losses during the ’80 season when you take into account the NFC Championship Game played at Veteran’s Stadium that year. The Cowboys futility at Philly is highlighted by a six-game losing streak from 1999-2003.

Despite having a three-game winning streak heading into Sunday’s game, the longest such streak during this time frame, I’m concerned that the Cowboys are a bit short-handed for this game. When Dallas goes to Philadelphia, it’s like a playoff game for an Eagles fan base that just can’t stomach the fact that Dallas has five Lombardi Trophies while their getup has zero.

Without the services of wide receiver Dez Bryant, pass-rushers Randy Gregory and Greg Hardy, linebacker Rolando McClain and possibly Ronald Leary at left guard, I think that the team that wants this game more will end up victorious, and that’s no question the Eagles. There’s far more pressure on Philly (0-1) to win this game than there is on the Cowboys, and that usually wins out in the ‘City of Brotherly Love.’

Prediction: Dallas 23 Philadelphia 34

Cole Mentzel, Sport DFW Staff Writer

The Cowboys will go into Sunday without some very important players. Dez Bryant and Ronald Leary will be missed on offense, while Randy Gregory is out for the defense. This should play a role in the game’s outcome.

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This is going to be a tough game for two reasons: One, it’s in Philly and that’s always proved difficult for the Cowboys. Two, the Eagles looked great in the second half of last week’s game and could continue that momentum on Sunday. It certainly won’t hurt that the Cowboys are without Dez Bryant and have no other receiver who demands double-coverage. Tony Romo will play just as well as he did against the Giants and pull it out in the end.

Prediction: Dallas 24 Philadelphia 20

Reid Hanson, Sport DFW Editor

When completely healthy, the Dallas Cowboys are the better football team, but as we all know, the Cowboys will be without key contributors on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys offense is built around Dez Bryant and his demand for constant double-coverage. He keeps opponents from packing the box and stopping the run.

With no Dez this week, the Eagles will key in on the running game, pack eight in the box, and dare the other Cowboys receivers to beat them. This will be a bigger test for the Cowboys offensive line as they will face a substantially better defensive line than what New York brought to Dallas last week.

The secondary will tested early and often against this pass-happy Chip Kelly offense that often uses a no-huddle to keep players from substituting. The Cowboys will try to run the ball early but if they fall behind, a running game may never get established.

Prediction: Dallas 26 Philadelphia 32

Next: Are the Cowboys Still Contenders?

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