By Marvin Moore November 3, 2023
One of the NFL’s most heated rivalries will take place Sunday in the City of Brotherly Love when the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles butt heads in an NFC East showdown. The Cowboys have won three of the last four meetings, but the Eagles are the reigning conference champion and a top contender to reach their second straight Super Bowl.
Philadelphia (7-1) boasts the league’s best record, and triple-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts has won 21 of 23 starts over the past two seasons. The second-team All-Pro has developed into one of the NFL’s top offensive playmakers with nearly 6,000 passing yards, over 1,000 rushing yards, and 54 total touchdowns since 2022. Hurts is the heart and soul of a talent-laden Eagles roster.
Dallas (5-2) sports an elite roster but is led by a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback who has won just two of six playoff contests. Although Prescott has posted a 66-38 regular season card and is 8-3 versus the Eagles, his inability to lead the Cowboys to the NFC Championship Game has cost him the allegiance of most Dallas supporters.
The Eagles have won 10 of their previous 12 home games and have an array of offensive standouts. Wide receiver A.J. Brown has tallied 127 or more receiving yards in six straight games and is on pace to catch 128 passes for 1,950 yards. Running back D’Andre Swift is the league’s fifth-leading rusher with 571 yards, and Philadelphia’s rushing attack is ranked seventh with 132.2 yards on the ground each week. To say that the Eagles have an explosive offense is an understatement.
The Cowboys have the NFL’s second-highest scoring offense with 28.1 points per game, but the Eagles are ranked third with 28 points an outing. Prescott has thrown 10 touchdowns but has also tossed five interceptions in only 157 throws. Tony Pollard has struggled with a lackluster 3.9 yards per rush, but wideout CeeDee Lamb enjoyed a breakout game last week with 12 receptions for 158 yards and two scores.
The 129th meeting between the two division rivals will showcase a pair of top-10 defensive units. Dallas is allowing a meager 17.1 points per game and ranks third and fourth in total yards and passing yards allowed, respectively. However, the Cowboys were roasted for 421 yards in a blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers. All-Pro Edge Rusher Micah Parson has six sacks, and cornerback DaRon Bland has four interceptions, including a trio of pick-sixes.
Philadelphia’s defense has not been as dominant as last season but has limited opposing teams to a league-low 65.5 rushing yards. Haason Reddick has a team-high 6.5 sacks for a squad ranked seventh with 25 quarterback takedowns. Although the Washington Commanders put up 31 points in both games against the Eagles this season, the defending NFC East champion has held four opponents to 17 or fewer points.
Dallas will have to throw the ball to move the chains and should find success against an Eagles’ pass defense that is surrendering 247.5 passing yards. Speedy receiver Brandin Cooks has found the end zone in the Cowboys’ last two games and should have plenty of opportunities this week with Philadelphia
focused on slowing down Lamb. Look for the Cowboys to increase Pollard’s touches in the passing game to offset the Eagles’ stout run defense.
The Eagles will look to connect on big-play passes against the Cowboys’ fourth-ranked pass defense, but the ground attack is the best option to attack Dan Quinn’s defensive unit. Hurts is reportedly nursing a bone bruise in his knee, which could force the Eagles to use fewer read-option plays. Look for Swift to be active in both the running and passing game this week.
The Cowboys are out to prove they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender after suffering an embarrassing primetime loss to the 49ers. But the Eagles are rolling on offense, and I trust Hurts more than Prescott. Dallas will win if Hurts knee problems force him out of the game. But my gut tells me that Philadelphia will force enough turnovers to notch their eighth win of the season.
