Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray finished Sunday's game against the Redskins in street close after spraining his MCL and will likely be out against the Eagles Sunday. Photo: Dallas News.com
The weight of Sunday's outcome at Lincoln Financial Field is far from a secret.
A win not only pushes the Philadelphia Eagles above .500 but it also catapults Chip Kelly's squad into the driver's seat of a very mediocre and winnable NFC east race. With a 4-3 record, the Eagles would be 4-0 in the NFC and a stout 3-0 in division play.
Getting a victory in front of the home crowd for the first time in nearly 13 months may have gotten a little more managable on Sunday after two key Dallas Cowboys went down with significant injuries against the Washington Redskins.
Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware suffered a pulled quadriceps during Sunday's 31-16 win over the Washington Redskins and was forced to leave the game. Ware says he doesn't expect to play Sunday but that he won't be out for long.
"My body recovers really fast," Ware said. "I'm not going to be out that long."
Ware said he was feeling better.
"It wouldn't be 100 percent if I had to go out and play right now," Ware said. "There wouldn't be a point to this day. If I had to play, I wouldn't. I couldn't get off the ball."
The Cowboys defense is going through some growing pains under new defensive coodinator Monte Kiffin, to the tune of being ranked 30th in the league. However, Ware has been his typical disruptive self, already posting four sacks this season.
Facing Dallas without a healthy Ware will certainly benefit whoever the Eagles line up under center be it Nick Foles or a healthy Michael Vick.
Perhaps the bigger injury for Dallas this week is to running back DeMarco Murray. Murray sprained his MCL after posting 29 yards and a touchdown on seven carries against the Redskins. He likely will not be able to suit up Sunday.
For a defense that has struggled mightily, especially against the run, facing the Cowboys with Joseph Randle in the backfield rather than Murray certainly could be just the kind of boost the doctor ordered.
Granted the Eagles came out of their early season struggles against AFC west opponents largely unscathed, this is the type of game that can turn the tide in the locker room of a team on the fringe of being competitive to a group that realistically can begin thinking about making the postseason for the first time in three years.
Seeing the Cowboys when they are far from full strength certainly goes a long way towards helping build that type of momentum.
Matt Lombardo is the Editor-In-Chief of Eagledelphia and also an on-air personality on 97.5 FM The Fanatic in Philadelphia. Join the conversation and follow Matt on Twitter.
