FRISCO, Texas — Sunday will dictate the postseason hopes of the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. If the Washington Football Team beats the Carolina Panthers in week 16, both the 5-9 Cowboys and 4-9-1 Eagles will be eliminated from the NFC East race. The Birds come to town for a timeless division rivalry.
Both teams have undergone personnel changes since their last week eight meeting. For Philadelphia, second-round draft pick, Jalen Hurts has started the previous two games in place of Carson Wentz. He can beat teams on the ground and through the air, igniting the offense with two immediate impact performances. The Alabama and Oklahoma product is just the fourth quarterback in league history to tally five combined touchdowns (both rushing and passing) with zero interceptions in two NFL starts.
Cowboys’ cornerback, Trevon Diggs, was asked about the anticipation of picking off his former crimson tide teammate. Diggs laughed, “That’s always the main goal, to always create turnovers and stuff. But with him especially, him being one of my good friends and all. It’s time to turn it on.”
The Dallas defense has improved over the last couple of weeks and have forced seven takeaways, contributing to their two-game win streak. But the squad has struggled against dual-threat quarterbacks, with no containment along the perimeter and exposed gaps leading to wide open lanes for mobile QB’s. In week six, Kyler Murray finished with ten carries for 74 rushing yards, and a touchdown. In week 13, Lamar Jackson racked up 13 carries for 94 yards on the ground, and a touchdown. Both accumulated more than seven yards per carry against the Cowboys’ underwhelming defense.
Hurts had 106 rushing yards against the Saints in week 14 and Dallas will have to create pressure on Jalen Hurts and set the edge to prevent him from escaping and extending drives using his legs.
On Hurts, Mike McCarthy praised the rookie during his virtual conference call “You have to be impressed with what Jalen has accomplished the last two and a half games. At the end of the Green Bay game, not only did he make plays with his feet with the quarterback runs through the zone-reads, but the quarterback draw, the quarterback power. There’s also the quarterback toss back. They’ve run almost every quarterback run potentially in their offense these last two games, and he’s done very well with it. He’s also made a number of huge plays in the passing game, both play extension. He’s done a good job with the vertical ball. So, you have to be nothing but impressed with his productivity these last two and a half games.”
The Eagles’ offense under Doug Pederson still uses a west coast approach spreading out the ball and employing two tight end sets. Multiple tight ends provide more bodies in the run game to open up lanes and given how the Cowboys’ run defense has struggled, there will certainly be design runs dialed up for the silver and blue.
Dallas got several reinforcements back in the secondary against the 49ers in week 15. For the first game this year, the club’s top four cornerbacks were on the gridiron at the same time: Anthony Brown, Chidobe Awuzie, Trevon Diggs, and Jourdan Lewis. They will certainly be needed in coverage against Hurts’ weapons in the passing game and in run support, to prevent gained yardage.
Despite the health of the secondary, several key starters are question marks vs. Philadelphia. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch suffered a sprained ankle against the 49ers and has not practiced this week, likely missing the rivalry game on Sunday. Nose tackle Antwaun Woods (ankle) and safety Xavier Woods (ribs) have not been participants in practice this week and could also be out in week 16.
The Eagles’ secondary is banged up and Andy Dalton and company will look to take advantage. Philly’s one-gap, Schwartz 4-3 front provides the pressure on defense and like the Birds, the Cowboys’ offense has changed since the last matchup. Ben DiNucci replaced Andy Dalton in the last face off after he suffered a concussion and struggled with constant pressure in the pocket behind a banged up offensive line. Dallas’ offensive line has had the same consistent front five the past few weeks and the unit has found their groove, as has Dalton. He has been more confident in the pocket with trust in his blockers and has released the ball quicker with solid accuracy.
The roller coaster of a season with the embattled NFC East will be determined on Sunday.
