This week, the Eagles travel to Dallas for each team's most critical game of this young season. It's Sunday night football and it's the battle for first place in the NFC East.
Who am I kidding, is either side excited for this game right now?
Both the Eagles and Cowboys are struggling at the moment, sitting at 3-3 and feeling like the sky is falling in their respective cities. But, all of that can change with a win this week, which would put one of them in firm control of the division through 7 games.
This is a small line as expected, with the Cowboys giving the customary 3 points for being at home.
The Line
Cowboys -3. O/U 49 points.
Dallas Cowboys
A tough stretch of games for the Cowboys got even tougher last week, when they were upset by the previously winless New York Jets 24-22. Once 3-0 and atop the NFC, the Cowboys now need a win Sunday to just avoid falling below .500.
While he has shouldered much of the blame from the media during this losing streak, quarterback Dak Prescott has actually been one of the few bright spots for the Cowboys. Prescott has been a warrior as of late, carrying this offense through injuries and penalties to keep them alive in second halves. The problem for this offense, though, is how putrid their output has been in the first half of games.
The Cowboys have only scored 9 points over their last 6 first-half quarters. If this trend continues on Sunday, they could be in for a long night against the Eagles.
Philadelphia Eagles
While Cowboys Nation has been distraught over their team's confusing season, Eagles fans have been just as disappointed with their own team. Considered Super Bowl contenders heading into the 2019 season, the Eagles have looked like anything but most weeks.
Philadelphia's secondary is in shambles, and has been abused by just about every non-Luke Falk quarterback this season. Their pass rush has also been disappointing by their own standards, despite their stand-out performance against the Jets two weeks ago.
Offensively, injuries have plagued their passing game, as Carson Wentz has gotten little help from the previously highly regarded receiving corps. Still, this remains a dangerous team who is capable of making a run at any time. And, just as it is for the Cowboys, Sunday is a season-changing type of game for Philadelphia.
Trends
- The Eagles are 4-8 against the spread their last 12 games against the Cowboys.
- The Eagles are 5-2 against the spread their last 7 road games.
- The score total has gone over in 7 of the Cowboys' last 9 games.
- The Cowboys are 7-1 outright their last 8 games at home.
Prediction
Honestly, how are you supposed to pick this game?
Which version of each team will show up is beyond me, especially as the Cowboys are dealing with a plethora of injuries on the offensive side of the ball. This is the most critical game on either team's schedule thus far, and it's impossible to know how they'll respond.
I'll take the over in this one as both defenses have been disappointing, and both quarterbacks have been playing excellent late in games to score points in bunches.
