PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – The (5-2) Dallas Cowboys are heading to Philly to take on the (7-1) Eagles. This NFC East rivalry never fails to bring out the best in both teams.
Last season they tied the series 1-1, in both cases both starting quarterbacks did not play against each other due to injury. In the first matchup QB Dak Prescott was out with a broken thumb and when Dallas played Philly on Christmas Eve Jalen Hurts did not play.
This go around both quarterbacks are completely healthy and ready to play each other.
“We know them well and they know us well. I’m excited.” Prescott said following the LA Rams game.
This very well might be the battle of the quarterbacks. Both are coming off stellar performances in week 8. Prescott is coming off a win to the Rams. He threw for 304 yards, four touchdowns, and had a 133.7 rating. Hurts is coming off a win to Washington. He threw for 319 yards, four touchdowns, and had a 135.7 rating.
“I feel like I’m in a rhythm.” Prescott said.
The eagles have two weapons on offense with AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. Brown is coming off a 130 yard game and two touchdowns. He’s had 125+ yards per game in the last six games. The big matchup here is going to be Brown vs DaRon Bland. If Brown lines up on the right side Bland will be defending him. Bland has four interceptions so far this season, three of which were returned for a touchdown. He has a 23.0 rating which is first in the league.
The Cowboys secondary held Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua to just seven receptions and under 65 yards for both of them combined. They had 17 targets but QB Matthew Stafford couldn’t get it through Bland or Stephon Gilmore.
The one area the Cowboys will have to look out for is defending the tight end position. They struggle defending that position, ranking 30th in the league.
Micah Parsons and Co. will be looking to take down Jalen Hurts. Parsons already has six sacks this season. Dallas’s pass rush has the highest quarterback pressure rating in the league with 46.7. This forces quarterbacks to make bad decision because they are under pressure and Hurts already has thrown five interceptions this season. Philly has given up the ball 13 times while Dallas has 13 takeaways this season.
Offensively, Prescott’s go to guy WR CeeDee Lamb is coming off a 158 yard game and broke 4,000 career receiving yards.
“Dak and CeeDee are definitely seeing connection.” Head coach Mike McCarthy said after Sunday’s game against the Rams.
Eagles cornerback James Bradberry hasn’t been having the best season so that might be an area that Prescott wants to take advantage of on Sunday.
These two teams will kick off on Sunday in Philly at 3:30 PM.
