As we approach one of the biggest games of the regular season for the Dallas Cowboys, it’s always good to know what flaws your enemy has. Even if that team happens to be the improbable 5-0 Philadelphia Eagles.
A quote from the great Sun Tzu is “keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” This sums up what the Cowboys need to figure out before Sunday. Even though the Eagles are arguably the best team in the NFL due to their record, there are still areas where they lack.
Here are some of the positions and places the Eagles have trouble with.
Offensive Line
While the Eagles have a quarterback who is performing to his full potential, we have a small problem when it comes to protecting him. The Eagles’ offensive line has let up 17 total sacks from opponents this season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have racked up nine total sacks this year. This means many Cowboys defenders have an opportunity to increase that number.
I wouldn’t be too surprised if the Cowboys get three total sacks this game, or perhaps maybe a fourth. Cowboys’ Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn has been doing an amazing job as he now holds a top 3 defense in the NFL.
Turnovers
Having a turnover in your game can kill a team. This is one reason why the Cowboys have been having much success with Quarterback Cooper Rush. He has yet to throw a pick in his career which makes winning games a whole lot easier.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown 2 so far. Not bad, however, Jalen has also fumbled it twice too. If the Cowboys can manage to force a turnover either by interception or fumble, then the game will be much easier to control. The way the defense is playing, it’s not unlikely.
Penalties
I can already tell that this game will be a fun one with the number of penalties to expect!
Yes, the Cowboys have been doing much better with their penalty addiction. On the other hand, the Eagles haven’t. They have had 29 penalties for 223 yards. The Cowboys must try to force as many penalties as possible. They can do that by having Rush throw to receivers who are being covered too tight, making them jump offsides, etc.
Schedule
Hmmm, an interesting topic I have chosen but don’t worry, it’s a good point. At the moment the Eagles have an explosive offense that can seemingly score on anyone. However, when you look deeper into who they have played this season, you can easily find why they have had such success on offense.
They have played the Lions, Vikings, Commanders, Jaguars, and Cardinals. Can someone tell me if any of those teams are good defensively? The best team is the Arizona Cardinals, a game the Eagles almost lost.
The Eagles will probably not be ready for this elite defense they are about to face. If the Cowboys do find ways to improve on these matters such as forcing turnovers, rushing Jalen Hurts, and forcing penalties, then a win over an aggressive rivalry will be more likely.
