This Sunday, the Eagles will take on the Dallas Cowboys. To call it a must win is almost cliche- in the NFL, every game is a must win- especially this late in the season. The game became even more important when every team the Eagles needed to lose won on Sunday, keeping the pressure on the Birds. A loss this Sunday, combined with a win by the Giants, would knock the Eagles out of first place in the NFC East. With the two wild card teams in the NFC right now having 9-3 and 8-4 records, a loss could also knock the Eagles out of the playoffs all together.
A few weeks ago it would have been easy to mark this one down in the win column, but after the Cowboys impressive win in Indianapolis this past weekend, many fans now fear that the Cowboys are back, here to ruin the Eagles playoff run.
But looking at the numbers, even at 1-7, this Cowboys team was always dangerous.
In the early part of the season, the Cowboys were more victims of bad luck then bad play. Despite only winning 1 of their first 7 games, each of their 6 losses were decided by 1 possession- and 3 by less then a touchdown. In fact, if you take away their 2 blow outs by Jacksonville and Green Bay, none of Dallas’s loses have come by more then 1 possession. In addition, the Cowboys had the bad fortune of playing teams like Minnesota, Houston and Washington early in the year, when they were still playing competitive football. The fact is, the Cowboys all season have been competitive, and a hard team for anybody to beat. Only in their two week lull where there coach was a standing carcass on the sideline were they not in a game.
The big difference in the Cowboys recent 3-1 streak has been their offensive improvement. Before the firing of Wade Phillips, the offense averaged 20 points per game. Since his departure, and really since Jon Kitna has taken over, the offense has been very productive, to the tune of 33 points a game. Although Kitna has not been amazing, he does have a quarterback rating of close to 90, and put up comparable numbers to Tony Romo. What has really let the team down this season has been the defense. The unit is letting up the 2nd most points in the league, and might have one of the worst secondaries in the league.
However, one of the key reasons this team has been able to string some wins together is that teams are almost literally giving it to them. Peyton Manning gave the game away yesterday like it was an early christmas present, throwing 4 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. In the Cowboys win over the Giants, Eli Manning threw 2 interceptions, one that was returned 101 yards for a score. Drew Bree’s, the only quarterback to beat Dallas since Phillip’s firing, only threw 1 interception.
The fact is that really except for two weeks in the season, at no point should the Eagles have expected to walk over Dallas. The Cowboys have lot’s of weapons on offense, even with Dez Bryant out. The Cowboys can score, they can pass the ball in what is now a pass happy league, and have multiple home run threats on their team. What has done the Cowboys in this season is perhaps the most lethal combination in the NFL- they can’t pressure the quarterback (dead last in sack’s), because of that have to blitz, but don’t have the secondary to make up for it. Many people would say the Eagles have this problem, but the Eagles have 2 more interception then any team in the league, and 7th in the league in sacks. Both teams are forced to play a hit or miss defense- the Cowboys just always miss.
The Eagles should win the game on Sunday. But they will have to win it by not turning the ball over and picking apart the Cowboys secondary. They will not win it by expecting the Cowboys to hand it to them. The Cowboys are not good enough to beat this Eagles team, but they are talented enough to keep it close and take advantage of the Eagles mistakes.
If the Eagles enter this game with anything less then an attitude that this will be a battle, it could get ugly for the Birds.
Its payback time. I want that LB that was crying when bret farve rubbed it in on the field as djax scores on a wr reverse with 1 second left and we are up 72-0.
spadaro spit on the field last year, this time his gift will be the ari gold special.
Alex Smith looked like Joe Montana, J Cutler looked liked Unitis. The pathetic Washington offense and McNabb torched us for 28 points. Kerry Collins humiliated us. The Detroit Lions killed this defense. To think that Kitna and the Dallas offense isnt gonna go up and down the field against this defense is laughable. The defense is HORRIBLE, plain and simple. The worst redzone defense in 22 years are you kidding me? We arent whooping nobodys ass with this defense. Hopefully we can out score the Cowboys. I love our chances against the Giants. They dont strike fear in me at all. This Cowboys game I just dont know. The thing I hoped for most was that Dallas would continue to sit the best back on that team Choice. Choice was dynamic last year when he played and now he finally got another shot and will be playing against us. Need to take them out of the game early. Cowboys are playing with alot of confidence.
Look plain and simple….. If we stop some of these stupid penalties on defense to prevent extending drives….. We’ll be straight… It can be 3rd down and 15….. We’ll stop an offense but get a penalty like illegal touching or hands to the face penalty…….. Yes our defense has been terrible at times but other teams as well have not been peforming greatly either but have winning records…… Patriots and Jets to name a few (as of late)….. We have gotten turnovers thats one thing we can this defense has gotten well at for the past few years…….. If we stop the run and prevent that DAMN dallas screen play…. We’ll be fine……. I just hope Mcdermott wont be too aggressive with his blitz packages……
This will be a playoff type of game for the Cowboys,
they are playing loose,with confidence and Coach Garrett has gotten off to a good start on impressing himself to get the permanent HC postiion. He’s 3-1 and they have averaged 30 pts + a game..
I expect a shootout down at the OK Jones Corral. Red-Zone efficiency by both teams will most likley determine the winner for I don’t expect either teams Defense’s to stop either teams Offense’s..
As usual, Turnovers,and Negative plays (Sacks,Penalties) will tell the story
I see a 34-31 type of game
I see us 38-16………. Eagles will sore and confuse the S*** out of John Kitna…….. We have to play physical……. Let Asante play the way he wants to play but keep a extra LB to play out more to the flats to expect a screen plass……… LOOK plain and simple we just have to play 3 games in Dallas this year…….. plain and simple…….. Can we do that this year…….. I feel good about our chances…..
Yes the Cowboys are dangerous like most teams. But I refuse to sit here and hype up the cowboys and act like little scared punks because it’s the cowboys. I think it’s going to be a tight game for most of the game but I also wouldn’t be surprised if we crushed them. Just stop it with the Cowboys hype. Each week we talk about how good our opponent is and what they are going to do to us and never talk about what we will do to them. I’m tired of it. Sure we need to watch out for every team but stop it with the Cowboys.
anyone think Vick will pull out the air guitar???
We have a new team this year with a new leader. Any players left from last year should want some revenge for the last 2 games. Unfortunately I see a high scoing game like the Texans game, but the birds will win…BIRDS WILL WIN
Eagles Key TO Victory – Offense
#1) Exploit the middle of the field – Cowboys weakness on Defense is pass coverage with ILB/Safeties
TE’s/Slot Receivers/Backs of out the backfield should be open early and often
#2) Have a moer balanced game plan with more rushing the ball, more screen plays to RB/TEs’
#3) Score TD’s once in the Red-Zone and not settle for FG’s, once in the Red-Zone, run routes and throw the ball into the End Zone and not to the 5 yard line..
#4) Stay away from Turnovers and Negative plays (Penalties & Sacks)
on Defense
#1) Tackle and run to the ball, Cowboys will throw WR Screens,Bubble Routes early in which they were very successful in last years game. (Patterson,Samuel and Safeties need to takle well)
#2) Get QB Kinta moving laterally in which he’s not very effective at throwing the ball while on the move, do not allow him the room to step up in the pocket and get into a rhythm for if he does get comfortable in the pocket, he throws a very accurate ball and had a strong arm for those sideline routes (Kinta has a very similar throwing style to Titans K Collins)
#3) DE/LB’s must stay discipline in their lanes to contain the cutback running ability of F Jones/T Choice who like to start one-way and then cut back, Watch for their RB’s out on screens too
#4) Get off the field on 3rd Down and reduce those Defensive penalties to keep drives alive
Special Teams
Cowboys kicking game is a little shaky and their return teamsd took a hit with injury to D Bryant, but they still have K Ogletree & Jones to return kicks & Punts who are speedy and dangerous in the open field..
The team who is most paitient offensively and is the most efficient in the Red-Zone converting those opportunities into 7 Pts and not 3 pts wins the game
Exactly green. If anyone thinks that last year’s games have anything to do with this year’s game they clearly do not pay attention to football. If that’s the case, didn’t we smoke the Cowboys at the end of the season before last 44-6? Well that game was no indication of the whooping we would take from them 3 times in a row. So yeah, they beat us last year but that has nothing to do with their ability to beat us this year. Both teams are different now.
Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has surpassed Peyton Manning in the overall lead for Pro Bowl voting.
Vick has 729,838 online votes to Manning’s 691,146. Manning led in the previous report issued by the league.
Online voting continues through Dec. 20 with the Pro Bowl team selected by a combination of voting by the fans, the players and the coach.
Behind Vick and Manning are New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (623,074), Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (591,598) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (547,340).
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P Manning has no business being in the top #5 for the Pro-Bowl
It’s probably his worst seasoi, worst O/L and weakesat team the COlts have fielded in the last 6-7 years..
I am tempted to list all you guys name right here followed by a big ol’ 🙂 , but I am not. I am just going to say I lov yall, Get ’em. You guys bringing the courage I like that, flexing that karma like you own it, manning up like the fans this team needs in the trenches.
No one here is scared of the cowboys, its our time. Hey Jroc brother I will stand with you for two game victories in dallas and one raw hide whipping of the visitors in philly.
Scorp on the the counter hype mission, Get ’em. Hell I want Vick to win Super bowl MVP how about that. Okay got to go for now i am working myself up into a wicked frenzy like one of those ancient Galic brezerker warriors……Ow ow ow owwwwww arrrrrrrr…………………………………………………..