Demarcus Ware is expected to miss Sunday's game while Nick Foles makes his second consecutive start. Photo Courtesy of NFL.com
Perhaps since 2009 has there been a meeting between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys that provided similar
meaning to this Week 7 game.
The Eagles and Cowboys, a long-storied rivalry, a must-win
in the eyes of Eagles fans everywhere, is here and it’s a battle of two 3-3
teams, both tied atop the NFC East.
Obviously with such a storied rivalry and the high stakes,
the matchup doesn’t need any more drama. But Michael Vick’s joint press conference with Sunday’s starter Nick Foles shows that the Eagles are
caught in the middle of a quarterback controversy.
Foles is coming off a Week 6 win against the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers where his individual numbers earned him NFC Offensive Player of the
Week honors. However, Foles performance has been questions because of the
opposition. This is Foles first true test and with a solid performance, it may
leave Chip Kelly no choice but to
keep him as the starting quarterback.
The Eagles are not nearly as battered a team as Dallas. Early
in the week it was known that running back DeMarco
Murray and defensive end Demarcus
Ware are likely out with injury. Wide receiver Miles Austin also did not participate in practice for most of this
week.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has a healthy running back in LeSean McCoy. DeSean Jackson
is a receiver who normally elevates his game when facing division rivals. Riley Cooper is coming off a career
game on Sunday.
The Cowboys still have receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason
Witten as the top targets for Tony
Romo. The Cowboys offense, even without Murray, is far from the problem.
The Eagles possess the worst team defense in the NFL by
yards allowed. The second-worst team defense belongs to the Cowboys.
Still, the Dallas defense may be in the better position to
contain the Eagles offense. To fill the void of Ware, the Cowboys may rely
heavily on Nick Hayden. The linebacking core of Sean Lee, Bruce Carter and
Justin Durant are going to be heavily relied on to stop McCoy.
For Jackson and the Eagles receivers, Morris Claiborne and
J.J. Wilcox power the Dallas secondary.
It is not a great defense, but it is more than the Eagles
can claim. Either way, the offenses will be the focus and the quarterbacks will
be in the spotlight. If either defense can impact the game, that team will
likely find a way to win.
Injury Report
Eagles
- RB Chris Polk (shoulder) is out for today's game.
- S Patrick Chung (shoulder) is doubtful for today’s game.
- QB
Michael Vick (hamstring) is questionable for today’s game. - TE James
Casey (groin) is probable for today’s game. - P Donnie
Jones (foot) is probable for today’s game. - T Jason
Peters (shoulder) is probable for today’s game.
Cowboys
- RB Lance
Dunbar (hamstring) is out for today’s game. - DE Edgar Jones (groin) is out for today’s game.
- LB DeVonte Holloman (neck) is out for today’s game.
- DE
Demarcus Ware (quadriceps) is doubtful for today’s game. Ware did not
practice this week. - RB DeMarco Murray (knee) is doubtful for today's game. Murray did not practice this week.
- DT Jason
Hatcher (neck) is questionable for today’s game. Hatcher was limited in
practice this week. - DE George
Selvie (shoulder) is probable for today’s game. - WR Dwayne
Harris (hip) is probable for today’s game. - WR Miles
Austin (hamstring) is probable for today’s game. Austin did not practice
this week.
Staff Predictions
Matt Lombardo
Nick Foles is averaging 8.9 yards per attempt and posted a 133.3 quarterback rating while Eagles running backs ran all over the Buccaneers last Sunday to the tune of a 5.5 yards per carry average. Against a Cowboys defense that ranks 30th in the league, today could be the day that Foles and Chip Kelly truly endeer themselves to the Philadelphia fanbase.
Eagles 37, Cowboys 30
Andrew Albert
Eagles 24, Cowboys 38
Frank Klose
Eagles 27, Cowboys 17
I think the stars lineup for an Eagles victory. The Cowboys are hurting, the Eagles have the home field advantage, and they are feeling good after last week's victory. Michael Vick and Nick Foles showed this week there in no quarterback controversy on the Eagles, just teamwork.
Andrew Gillen
Eagles 34, Cowboys 31
This is the first week I'm not 100% confident in my prediction. While the Eagles will have some momentum coming off Nick Foles' impressive performance, the Cowboys have more ability than they're letting on. We all like to poke fun at Tony Romo, but he can truly take a game into his hands and dominate. Ultimately, it feels like an Eagles victory is coming, as well as a noteworthy Nick Foles showing.
Kevin Durso
Eagles 34, Cowboys 37
The two worst defenses in the league? It’s going
to be an offensive shootout. I expect another solid game from Nick Foles. But
in predictable fashion, the defense will not be able to make a timely stop
while defending a slim lead. Contrary to popular belief – and I hope I’m wrong
– there will be no late-game turnover from Tony Romo and the Cowboys will
scoring in the final two minutes to grab a lead. It will be Foles and the
Eagles with the late-game turnover as they try to rush up the field to score.
Kevin Durso is a contributor for Eagledelphia. Look for his Monday Review the morning after every Eagles game. You cal follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
