It doesn’t get much better than the NFC East rivalries in the NFL – especially when we get (a) a playoff matchup and (b) a rematch of the previous week.
After upsetting the Eagles in Philadelphia earlier this season and shutting them out at Cowboys Stadium last week, the Cowboys have major momentum entering Sunday’s matchup.
Before week 17, however, the Eagles had won six straight. So was last Sunday’s stinker a blip on the radar or a sign of things to come for Andy Reid’s team?
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys Quick Preview
- Eagles-Cowboys Date: Saturday, January 9th
- Eagles-Cowboys Kickoff Time: 8:00 ET
- Eagles-Cowboys TV Network: NBC
- Eagles-Cowboys Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
- Eagles-Cowboys Point Spread: Cowboys -4 (as of 1/6)
- Eagles-Cowboys Over-Under Odds: 45
- Eagles-Cowboys Spread Pick by Jerod: Cowboys -4
- Dallas Sports Fans: Cowboys-Eagles Preview
Note: The information above is taken from the NFL Playoffs Wild Card round TV schedule, spreads, and picks post from earlier this week. Keep in mind that spread information is from early in the week. For updated spreads and other up-to-the-minute playoff handicapping info, here are some links for your convenience:
- DocSports: NFL Odds |Â NFL Picks
- DocSports:Â NFL Playoff Predictions | NFL Playoff Tree |Â NFL Playoff Brackets |Â NFL Playoff Schedule
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Eagles-Cowboys Analysis
The Eagles have toyed with us all season. First pundits everywhere anointed them the class of the NFC before anyone took a snap. Only the Patriots had higher sportsbook odds to when the Super Bowl. Then, they stumbled early, dealing with Donovan McNabb’s injury.
But in the mid-to-late part of the year, Philly hit its stride.
Led by Andy Reid’s pass-happy attack, they ignited the scoreboard. DeSean Jackson emerged as one of the most electrifying players in football, catching a pass of 50 yards or longer in seven different weeks. Youngster Brent Celek became an elite offensive tight end, catching 76 passes for 971 yards and eight scores.
Clearly, the Eagles’ aerial attack poses a major threat to Dallas’ average-at-best pass defense; we’ll give Philly a mulligan for last week’s doughnut.
But the Cowboys match the Eagles offensively and then some.
Tony Romo and Miles Austin led the NFC in passing and receiving yards, respectively. After years of struggling in December, Romo finally turned a corner. He was sensational down the stretch against the tough, aggressive pass defenses of the Giants, Redskins, Saints, and Eagles. He averaged 343 passing yards per game in temperatures under 40 degrees Fahrenheit. So much for his winter-choker reputation.
The key to this matchup is the running game. The Cowboys execute well via the three-pronged attack featuring Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Even better than their top-10 rushing offense is their fourth-ranked rushing defense.
That could pose major problems for the Eagles.
LeSean McCoy has plenty of talent but he’s a smallish back and he never got a chance to spread his wings under Reid, who has the most lopsided pass-to-run playcalling ratio in NFL history. McCoy hit 20 carries just twice all season. He thus can’t be relied upon to move the chains at important moments should Philadelphia stake out a lead.
The name of the game is balance. Both teams pass the ball and pressure the quarterback very well but Dallas is a more complete team. Its offense ranked second in the NFL this season, just a hair behind the mighty Saints in total yardage.
The Cowboys can hurt opponents in ways the Eagles can’t. If they get ahead early, their rushing attack can keep them in the driver’s seat; but can McCoy and the Eagles get those same crucial first downs if the situation is reversed?
The Cowboys are peaking at the right time, playing at home and facing a team they beat twice already this season. They’re finally ready to take another step forward and win some big games.
Eagles-Cowboys Spread Pick: Cowboys -4
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* – Wade Phillips photo credit: G.J. McCarthy, Dallas Morning News
* – Andy Reid photo credit: All Around Philly
