(Sportsbooks) - For the
Philadelphia Eagles, just about every game can be classified as a must-win right now. When the opponent is the
Dallas Cowboys, there's an even greater sense of urgency.
The two bitter NFC East rivals will clash for the first time this season Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in a matchup that transcends the obvious implications in the division landscape.
Philadelphia has dominated the NFC East for the majority of this decade, having captured the division crown in five of the last six years. It appears a changing of the guard may about to be taking place, as the 3-4 Eagles currently reside at the bottom of the standings and enter tonight's showdown three games behind the first-place Cowboys.
That in itself is enough to put Philadelphia's passionate fan base in a rather surly state, but the second coming of ex-Eagle Terrell Owens to the City of Brotherly Love is sure to send the home crowd into an even greater frenzy on Sunday night.
Number 81 has become public enemy No. 1 in Philadelphia ever since Owens forced his release from the organization in March of 2006 with a string of team-disrupting incidents that eventually led to the star wide receiver being deactivated for the final nine games of the 2005 campaign. Just days after being let go by the Eagles, Owens signed a three-year contract with Dallas.
The Eagles got a measure of revenge when Owens returned to Lincoln Financial Field in Week 5 of last season. The five-time Pro Bowl selection was held without a catch for the entire first half, while his Cowboys were handed a stinging 38-24 defeat.
Philadelphia sorely needs a repeat performance this Sunday, as the club has already dropped divisional tests to Washington and the New York Giants this season and can't afford to fall further behind in the playoff race. The Eagles will also be aiming for their first win streak of the year, having posted a 23-16 victory at Minnesota this past Sunday.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb, a frequent target of Owens' outrageous outbursts during the controversial wideout's two-year tenure with the Eagles, shredded a soft Vikings' secondary for 333 yards, while an upgraded Philadelphia run defense limited Minnesota phenom Adrian Peterson to 70 yards on 20 carries.
Dallas, which comes in owning a half-game edge on New York in the NFC East standings, was also last in action against the Vikings. The Cowboys earned a 24-14 home win over Minnesota on October 21 before heading into a bye week.
The break was particularly enjoyable for Tony Romo. Dallas' confident young quarterback received a six-year contract extension from the team worth a reported $67.5 million on Tuesday. The deal will keep the undrafted free agent in a Cowboys uniform through the 2013 season.
Romo, who was not the starter for last year's loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia, has directed a Dallas offense that ranks second in the NFL in both total yards (402.0 ypg) and scoring (32.4 ppg) in 2007. The Cowboys have gone 12-5 since the 27-year-old took over signal-calling duties midway through last season.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cowboys hold a 51-41 advantage in their all-time regular season series with the Eagles, but were swept in a home-and-home with their long-time NFC East rival last season. As previously mentioned, Dallas was a 38-24 road loser when the teams met in Week 5, and dropped a 23-7 home decision on Christmas night. Dallas swept the 2005 home-and-home, including a 21-20 win in a Monday night classic at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philadelphia is 11-3 against Dallas since 2000.
In addition to their regular season advantage, the Cowboys have a 2-1 edge in the postseason series. The Eagles were 20-7 winners in the 1980 NFC Championship, while Dallas won NFC Divisional Playoff games over Philadelphia following the 1992 and 1995 seasons.
Eagles head coach Andy Reid has a career record of 12-4 against the Cowboys. Dallas' Wade Phillips is 1-0 all-time against both Philadelphia and Reid all- time, with that win coming in the form of a 26-0 rout for Phillips' Bills over the Eagles in 1999.
WHEN THE COWBOYS HAVE THE BALL
With Romo (1984 passing yards, 16 TD, 9 INT) throwing to a strong contingent of receivers headed by Owens (34 receptions, 5 TD) and tight end Jason Witten (42 receptions, 4 TD), Dallas has compiled the third-most passing yards in the league (271.6 ypg) thus far. The duo of Owens and Witten combined for 189 yards and a touchdown on 17 catches in the Week 7 win over Minnesota, with Witten finishing with a career-best 10 grabs. Patrick Crayton (26 receptions, 4 TD) has been mostly solid at the other wideout spot, while a steady offensive line has done a good job protecting Romo, who's been sacked just 11 times. The newly-wealthy quarterback has had some inconsistent outings on the road, however, including a five-interception performance in a narrow victory at Buffalo in early October.
The Cowboys have displayed good offensive balance as well, with the running back tandem of Marion Barber (479 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 6 total TD) and Julius Jones (296 rushing yards, 10 receptions, 1 TD) helping Dallas to a No. 9 overall ranking in rushing yards (130.4 ypg). Neither player has lost a fumble this season either. Barber's been the more effective member of the combo, as he's averaging a healthy 5.7 yards per carry.
Romo will be attacking a Philadelphia secondary that will be at full strength for the first time since Week 2, as perennial All-Pro free safety and emotional leader Brian Dawkins (7 tackles) is set to return to action after missing the last five games with a neck stinger. Despite missing Dawkins and two-time Pro Bowl corner Lito Sheppard (13 tackles), the Eagles are a respectable 15th in the league in pass defense (210.3 ypg). The backfield corps has been aided by a strong pass rush headed by end Trent Cole (38 tackles), the NFL's current leader with nine sacks. Philadelphia has racked up 24 quarterback takedowns through seven games, with linemen Juqua Thomas (9 tackles, 4 sacks) and Jevon Kearse (11 tackles, 3.5 sacks) also contributing to that strong total.
The Eagles did a good job bottling up the dangerous Peterson last week and are yielding just 90.4 rushing yards per game (9th overall) on the season, a significant improvement in that category from a year ago. Veteran Takeo Spikes (42 tackles) has provided a stabilizing presence to a young group of linebackers, while third-year tackle Mike Patterson (32 tackles, 1.5 sacks) has been an active force along the interior.
WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL
McNabb (1780 passing yards, 8 TD, 2 INT) is slowly regaining the form that earned him five straight Pro Bowl trips from 2000-04. The oft-injured quarterback has been intercepted just twice in 241 pass attempts this season and displayed good mobility on his surgically-repaired knee in last week's outstanding showing against the Vikings. Wideout Reggie Brown (25 receptions) had a career-best eight catches for 105 yards in the victory and appears to have rebounded from an early-season slump, while offseason signee Kevin Curtis (32 receptions, 4 TD) has been a number of big plays in his first season as an Eagle. Philadelphia's 10th-ranked aerial attack (234.4 ypg) could get a further boost once tight end L.J. Smith (5 receptions), who's missed three games this year due to groin surgery, rounds back into health.
The Eagles' most consistent threat in the pass game has been do-everything back Brian Westbrook (536 rushing yards, 5 total TD), who leads the club with 35 catches and enters the contest second in the NFC with 881 yards from scrimmage. A well-regarded offensive line has done a good job opening holes for Westbrook but has struggled at times in protection, as McNabb has been sacked 25 times on the year.
That's not particularly good news for Philadelphia, which will have to deal with the Cowboys' formidable outside linebacker duo of DeMarcus Ware (34 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and Greg Ellis (8 tackles). Ellis has racked up 4 1/2 sacks in four games since coming back from a torn Achilles and took down Minnesota's Tarvaris Jackson twice in Dallas' most recent win. Like Philadelphia, the Cowboys secondary has its share of injury concerns but has held up pretty well. The unit could have all of its key members back on Sunday, with cornerback Anthony Henry (12 tackles, 4 INT, 8 PD) slated to play in nickel situations after missing the last three games with a high ankle sprain.
While Dallas has been vulnerable at times defending the pass, the team has been tough against the run all season long. The Cowboys rank fifth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (87.0 ypg) and have yet to allow an enemy back to eclipse the 100-yard mark this year. Strong safety Roy Williams (37 tackles, 2 INT) is among the league's best at his position in stopping the run, while leading tackler Bradie James (47 tackles, 2 sacks) and Akin Ayodele (28 tackles) form a quality inside linebacking tandem.
FANTASY FOCUS
Romo, Westbrook, Owens and Witten have all been among the best at their respective positions in the fantasy ranks this season, and all qualify as every-week starters regardless of the opponent. Owens owners should be a little cautious, however, as the Eagles will be geared towards stopping the mercurial receiver and will often roll coverage to his side. That makes Crayton a nice sleeper play on Sunday and could lead to another big day out of Witten as well. McNabb hasn't been an elite fantasy performer this year but still makes a worthy play at quarterback, especially as a bye-week fill-in. Brown and Curtis, Philadelphia's top two wide receivers, are riskier alternatives due to their week-to-week inconsistency.
Those with Barber in their stable have to be encouraged that he saw the bulk of the ball-carrying work in the Minnesota game. The third-year pro is a good option as a No. 2 running back or flex player this week. Jones owners should bench the other half of the Dallas backfield duo, however.
Finally, if Eagles kicker David Akers is somehow still available in your league, snatch him up. The reliable left-footer has booted three field goals in three straight games and Philadelphia has struggled scoring touchdowns all year long.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Eagles will certainly have the motivation for a top-notch effort on Sunday, but Dallas has been the more explosive and more consistent of the two rivals this season. Although it wouldn't be much of a surprise if Philadelphia's blitz-oriented defense pressures Romo into a bad mistake or two, the Eagles have had trouble forcing turnovers throughout the year. And if the Cowboys are able to provide Romo with ample protection, Dallas has the weapons capable of producing the big play. Unless Philadelphia figures out how to protect McNabb better and solves its constant struggles within the red zone, Sunday's contest figures to be another nightmare befitting this Halloween season.
Sportsbooks Predicted Outcome: Cowboys 23, Eagles 16
