How The Cowboys Can Beat The Eagles
The Cowboys must do everything that they can to control the clock, and keep the football away from the Eagles’ offense.
With Tony Romo out of the lineup, DeMarco Murray must become the focal point of the Dallas offense. When Murray gets the football, he’s been one of the most effective rushers in the league, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. However, the Cowboys have too often gotten away from their feature back and opted to go with a pass-heavy attack.
Defensively, the Cowboys need their pass rushers to step up and win the battles against the Eagles’ offensive line. DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher, and George Selvie need to get to Nick Foles, get him out of rhythm, and force him to make errant throws like they did earlier in the season.
Why The Eagles Will Win
The Dallas defense has gotten significantly worse since the first meeting earlier in the year while the Eagles’ offense has improved considerably.
Nick Foles is no longer a second-string quarterback trying to establish himself. He’s one of the top quarterbacks in the game this season, with 25 touchdowns and just two interceptions to this point. He’s gotten seven more starts under his belt since then, and he’s got a much better feel for what he has to do to run this offense efficiently.
Chip Kelly has also shown a strong ability to recover from his mistakes, and bounce back from bad losses. This is such a huge game for Chip Kelly, one that he can really use to cement his status as one of the better up and coming coaches in this league. To take a 4-12 team and turn them into a 10-6 squad with a division title and the third seed in the NFC in just one year would be quite an accomplishment. There’s no doubt in my mind that Kelly will have the team well-prepared for this one.
On the other side, while I have confidence in Kelly’s abilities to get his team in gear, I feel the complete opposite about Jason Garrett and the Cowboys. Anyone that has seen Dallas play over the last month has seen just how dysfunctional this organization is. Everything from baffling play calling, to phasing out DeMarco Murray, double-digit blown leads, backbreaking turnovers in the final quarters. The Cowboys have found just about every embarrassing way to lose imaginable.
Final Thoughts
The Cowboys are a very talented football team.
The explosive talent of Murray, Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten always makes Dallas a threat. Kyle Orton is a capable quarterback, but he’s not as talented as Romo and its difficult to expect him to come off of the bench cold and have a great rapport with his guys.
The Eagles are just a team on the rise right now. They’re hitting their stride on both sides of the ball, and I believe its time for this group to claim their first division title since 2010 and make a long awaited return to the playoffs.
Pick: Philadelphia 31, Dallas 17
I can’t stand the suspense.
As the great Marvin Gaye once sang (in reference to this match-up I am certain):
LETS GET IT ON!
Great analysis Denny. What does this team do to avoid another Minnesota mishap? If not for that game, I would expect an Eagles win in blowout fashion. Hopefully what Cary Williams said about that being a wake up call was true. I just hope they come into this game knowing that Orton is no pushover.
Key Match-Ups
DE Cedric Thornton vs Cowboys Doug Free
I believe Thornton will have a big game
Also the Eagles ILB (Kendrick’s & Ryans)
Versus C Frederick and both the Cowboys Guards
Trent Cole will be going against the Cowboys Best OL
In LT T Smith on passing situations..
Pressure needs to come from the middle and against RT Free
Don’t fall asleep on Cowboy’s 4th WR Beasley out of the Slot,
A little quick Receiver that is the type that have given the Eagles Problems this Year (Eddie Royal & Donnie Avery come to mind) and is a sneaky fast WR who has the knack of coming up with big catches on 3rd Down to keep the chains moving..
11:00 climbed the Eildon Hills
14:00 golfed
18:00 off to pub to watch early games
01:30 Birds dismantle Cowboys
Good day
It’s nice enough to golf over there Vinnie? What course?
I golfed yesterday here in south jersey, but it looks like winter is coming again next week.
Just the tiny Melrose Golf club. There are little 9 hole courses all around the Scottish Borders. I’m a member. ($30/month!!) Right at the end of my street…I just walk on. So I’m not hitting the Old course (yet) if that’s what you mean…just staying ready to play some coastal links courses this coming spring/summer.
The course stays open year round, but I’ve only played 2x this month as it is getting chilly.
That looks like a nice little course. A few drive-able par 4s… I’m jealous Vinnie… I wish I was getting ready to play the Old course. Hopefully next year I’ll get over there.
37-10 Birds. Keep your fingers crossed. They have far exceeded my expectations, & the coaching staff, that I’ve thoroughly ripped in the beginning, has really done a great job, preparing, this team on a weekly basis. Kelly needs to get much credit, for his ways of keeping these guys in shape, especially Cole & the offensive line. Usually by now he’s broken down & MIA, & the line is beat up unmercifully. Kudos too, to Bill Davis, for getting this defense better every week, with bad-mediocre secondary. We might have one of the best, younger front 7, in the NFL. But I’m not happy with just getting here. We must prevail, & carry on to the playoffs, or IMHO, even though it exceeds my expectations, this season is a failure. Just saying. Just imagine what we can do next year, with a better secondary, & another WR weapon? This year ain’t done yet, so let’s see what happens.
4th and 2 at the 33 in a rainstorm and Coughlin sends out the FG unit for a 50 yarder. Obvious it was going to miss, and it did.
I still can’t imagine how these coaches keep their jobs continually rolling out these terrible decisions.
Hey TS…how is Newton doing?
1 for 7 with a pick???????????? Must be some kind of a mistake.
But he made that nice run for a 1st down. OOPS pick! BWAHAHAHA!!!! If it weren’t for their DF, they wouldn’t be $#!T! Noway Coughlin keeps his job after this year.
Damn why can’t we play at 4!
No doubt…….I’m going to be a mess by 1:30am!
Can somebody explain to me why Atlanta receivers can’t catch a ball? They could win this game if only…
NO wins at home this week – we would face them next week should we beat Dallas?
We would face New Orleans at the Linc…
What’s up gcobb brothers and sister, it is time to whoop some cowgirls ass
No huddle no mercy!!!!
Let’s Go EAGLES!!!!!!
its going down!! Sweet revenge and merciless busting of chops to those turncoat, Cowgirls fans who sully our fine city of Philly! We gonna whoop dat azz tonight!!!
You don’t even live in Philadelphia and my guess is you probably have never even been here before.
My best friend is a Saints fan and we’ve been to many games together both in Philly and NO (Including the Eagles/Saints Jerome Brown tribute game at the Vet)….we’ve been chatting….but I won’t be able to travel to Philly for the game should the Birds game…..oh well, Skype it up…..
Its a “team game”.
Now terrified of GB….not because of the “team”
Orton 5 of 5……looks like its going to be all about turnovers…….
1st and 10 from the 12, Cowboys blitz 5 and Foles steps up in pocket, defenders everywhere and hits Ertz for the first down at the 30….best play of the year?
Nope…3rd and 7 with a 6 man blitz…Foles again steps up and hits Ertz for a first down…… better,
We never, ever saw a calm cool Vick do this.
12 of 16 for 197 and 2 tds???? LOL
Oh, and 17 pts in 1st half….right on his average………
This shit is off the chain.
The issue with the birds is that they are relying too much on turnovers….without them this game might be different….Eagles D is still sieve like sand turnovers……
If Foles do another bullshit 3 and out the Eagles need to go with Vick!!!
This guy is playing like a bitch again!!!
Really.
They going to lose if Foles stay in the game!!!!!!
He’s holding the ball staring in space!!!!
Get him the hell outta here!
They are licking their chops with Foles in the game!!!
Kelly needs to make some adjustments the cowboys pass rush is too much….
Foles is missing Avant…who would be his fall back when others were not open… now he has D.Johnson who sucks…. Cooper is absent this game…. need to start using the tightends more
Foles look like shit!!!!
The Cowboys are doing nothing different….Chip don’t have to change shit!!!!
Foles is holding on the ball because his check downs are covered…..Get Vick in the Game now!!!!!!!
Songs is hard watching Foles get sacked….should hook up with TS….the two of you could moan “Neeeeeewwwwwwton” as you fumble around.
BTW Eagles are still winning charlatan.
We will win the game BUT Kiffken knows Kelly well.
watch Lane Johnson….dude sucks!!!!!! he doesnt block anyone
offensive line blows tonight… thank Lane Johnson and Herremans
yes, so because the line is shaky you need a qb that can make something happen when the play breaks down.
Foles looks like Doug pederson tonight
The Eagle would be up 2 touchdowns if Vick was in the game.
First and goal and not one run by McCoy?
Brilliant commentary. Brilliant. Nobel prize worthy
I meant Pulitzer Prize of course
How can you have Mike Vick on the team and run with Foles?
Chip is the worst…. this is the NFL go for the FG you need points donkey…. and you dont run McCoy…. Eagles will lose because of him…. even if they win they will get killed by the Saints…
Chip the worst? Over react much?
There’s no way Dallas should be in this game!!!!!
McCoy running is why the Eagles are in contention.
Foles is shit with out check downs and screens!!!
Why put in a guy no one knows for the wild cat with Vick right there?
What the hell is going on?
Songs, go kill yourself, you POS, scumbag!!!! Up yours, we won!
Playoffs?
Playoffs?
Playoffs!
Just want to say the Vontaze Burfict naysayers are idiots.. he leads the league with 171 tackles.. What a free agent signing !!
Yeah, AND? Who gives a f^#@ about Burfict! The Birds are in the playoffs, Mr. MENSA, stop trolling! He was undrafted for nothing you tool, troll!
*wasn’t*
Dcar is god even when hes wrong hes right.. the sixers guru