Kyle Orton starts in place of the injured Tony Romo for the Dallas Cowboys against the Eagles. (Photo Courtesy of Philly.com)
This is it. The winner-take-all game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
The game has lost some hype with injuries to Tony Romo and Sean Lee leaving the Cowboys shorthanded.
But the stakes are greater than ever: win or go home. The winner gets a playoff spot. The loser gets an early offseason.
With that, here are the weekly six keys to the game.
Stay Focused – Perhaps the most important thing for the Eagles is to forget all of the injury reports, replacements and hype surrounding the game. The Eagles are a team of focused play. Stick to the plan, and things will pan out. Chip Kelly is all about his system. His system has the Eagles one win away from a playoff berth and division title. Stay the course and keep focus and the Eagles will be hosting a playoff game in a week.
Battered But Not Beaten – It’s been said way too much this week, but it is true: don’t take the Cowboys lightly. Sure, they have many injuries and there is no way the Eagles should lose this game. Keyword: should. With the Eagles expected to win, a major disappointment hangs in the balance.
Eagles Pass Defense vs. Cowboys Offense – The Eagles defense is now facing Kyle Orton. The game plan is obviously different than expected. Orton is a very different quarterback from what the Eagles were expecting to face in Romo. Romo has a stronger arm and the ability to make longer passes to the various receiving weapons the Cowboys have. The Eagles pass defense will be tested with a series of short passes and screens, the top targets likely being Jason Witten and DeMarco Murray. Stopping the Cowboys as they try to slowly drive up the field will be important.
Record Watch for Shady – With 37 yards, LeSean McCoy will set a new single-season franchise rushing record. Thinking 37 yards for McCoy would be foolish though. It seems like a given that the Pro Bowl running back will not only shatter the record but also have the biggest impact on the game, just like he has several times this season. The NFL’s leading rusher could be saving his best for last.
Nick Foles vs. Cowboys Defense – The last game for Nick Foles against the Cowboys wasn’t pretty. The three quarters Foles played in Week 7 were probably his worst of the season. That said, the quarterback isn’t just trying to lead his team to a division title, he’s got a personal chip on his shoulder. With that one bad game being the focus for many critics and skeptics, Foles could also turn in one of his best games, if that’s even possible after a 21-for-25 night against the Bears in Week 16.
Spotlight on Jackson – Being highly ignored in the discussion is Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson. In a game where the offense clicked on all cylinders, Jackson was held to four catches for 29 yards. The Sunday Night lights will be shining even brighter this week, and with the Eagles needing a win for the playoffs, this may be the stage when Jackson shines. Certainly, Jackson should have more than 29 yards against the Cowboys.
Kevin Durso is a contributor for Eagledelphia. Look for his Game Preview and recap every weekend and his Monday Review the morning after every Eagles game. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
