Two weeks ago, the Eagles rolled through Dallas and asserted themselves as the class of the NFC East. But after last Sunday's loss to Seattle, all is even again atop the division standings.
It sets up a Week 15 match against the Cowboys for all the marbles. The NFC East title could very well be at stake on this night.
Here are this week's six keys to the game in Sunday Six Pack.
Division on the Line – These two teams have been neck and neck all season. Similar to last season, the Eagles may need to win the final game against the Cowboys to clinch another division. A win on Sunday won't officially seal the division, but in the Eagles case, they would hold the advantage in all tiebreakers if they won.
Stop DeMarco Murray – The Cowboys running game ranks third in the NFL and a big reason for that is DeMarco Murray. The Eagles run defense did an excellent job containing Murray in their first meeting in Dallas. If Murray stalls, so does the Dallas offense. They require balance to succeed. Take away the one area where they could truly beat you and the Eagles should have defensive success.
Offensive Revival – The Eagles offense was awful against Seattle. Credit the Seahawks excellent defense, but the Eagles really failed to execute on most of their plays. That, of course, followed a nearly perfect offensive game in Dallas. So which offense shows up? It could be the difference in this game.
Strong Start – The Eagles opened the game in Dallas with the first two scores and opened up a 14-0 lead. That set them on their way to a 33-10 win. Dallas is one of those teams where you simply can't let up. An early scoring drive and no mercy are key to this game.
Special Teams – Keep an eye on the Eagles special team unit throughout the game. Always dangerous, they could strike for a score or make a game-changing play at any moment. Special teams has been excellent all season long and they could cap off a great season with a strong game.
Home Field Advantage – With their loss to Seattle, the Eagles basically ended their bid at a bye week for the playoffs. But the loss to Seattle also marked a first this season. The Eagles were 6-0 at home before that loss, their first at home since losing to the Saints in the NFC Wildcard Round in January. Proving they can be beat at home, can the Eagles turn the Linc into a nightmare for opponents again?
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
