We all wonder how much the day's events dictate how the Eagles play against Dallas on Sunday. What happens if the Eagles are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention? Or if they are still alive at kickoff? How does that uncertainty affect the team in the days ahead as it prepares for the regular-season finale against Rival No. 1? We don't know the answers. The players were peppered with those kinds of questions on Wednesday. In the midst of everything that is going on -- Christmas, the aftermath of the tough loss to Washington, a handful of players who have expiring contracts after this season -- the Eagles said the right things about their intentions for this game. They want to beat Dallas. They need to beat Dallas. They hate Dallas just as much as you hate Dallas and as much as I hate Dallas. Dallas sucks. There, got that out of the way.
With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Eagles take on Dallas at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field knowing they need a lot of help to again control their playoff destiny. At 8-6-1, the Eagles are coming in to this game hoping to turn the tables on Dallas after the Cowboys 41-37 victory in Week 2 of this season. Certainly, the offense must be more productive than it was on Sunday in the 10-3 loss to the Redskins. The Eagles failed to mount much of a challenge until their final drive of the game, when a pass to wide receiver Reggie Brown ended six inches short of the end zone.
Surely, Dallas studied the ins and outs of the Eagles' performance against Washington and took note. The Redskins were physical with the Eagles, banging rookie DeSean Jackson around, sending him to the locker room for a spell with hurting ribs and eventually contributing to the kid's tough game. They saw that Reggie Brown had a decent game, nothing special, in his return to the wide receiver rotation. They saw L.J. Smith catch seven passes, but also drop a couple that could have led to big plays. They saw Brian Westbrook shake free only once, down the sideline, when a long catch and run gave the Eagles a first down in the red zone. They saw the Eagles struggle to keep drives alive, converting just 3 of 14 third downs. In general, Dallas saw the Eagles do very little of anything special. Dallas has a pressure-based defense led by DeMarcus Ware, who is just 2 sacks shy of an NFL record for most sacks in a single season. The Cowboys are fast and talented and they live off of big plays. Donovan McNabb has to drop back and get rid of the ball quickly and accurately. The Eagles must have better production and balance offensively and they must convert third downs after the poor 3-of-14 performance last Sunday.
Defensively, the Eagles have their hands full against an explosive Dallas offense. The Cowboys have outstanding players at all of their skill positions and they run the ball effectively with Marion Barber and Tashard Choice. Barber has been banged up and is a question mark for this game, however. Pressuring quarterback Tony Romo is the key. The Eagles need to force some turnovers and give their offense a short field with which to work. Trent Cole has racked up six of his nine sacks in the last seven games and has produced four sacks in six career games against the Cowboys. However, in the Week 2 meeting, Cole made just one tackle while he and his defensive mates failed to register a sack in a 41-37 shootout loss. After registering a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2007, and earning his first-career Pro Bowl appearance, Cole has been receiving a great deal of attention from opposing offenses, yet he still has been effective at pressuring the quarterback and stuffing the run. Cole is one of the game's premier pass-rushing ends whose presence on the edge helps out an already-formidable secondary that features a pair of Pro Bowl selections. Cole leads the team in hurries (19), ranks tied for first in sacks (9.0) and tackles for loss (9), and third with three forced fumbles. Cole has to lead the charge to pressure Tony Romo. And standing in his way will be veteran Flozell Adams, a premier tackle in his career and the key to Dallas' offensive line. The Eagles, which stand among the league leaders with 44 sacks, can't let Romo get comfortable.For now, I just want to beat Dallas. I ache to beat that team. I sure hope the players, every one of them, feels the same way. Sunday is a tremendously important game. The Eagles need to beat Dallas -- any time, anywhere, no matter the circumstances. It is a matter of professional pride. So, anyway, I want to see how much the Eagles have for Sunday. I hope they bring everything. Andy Reid is going to coach to win. There isn't going to be a time to "look at the kids," no matter what the playoff picture looks like. The Eagles are going to play to beat the Dallas Cowboys and to do so they are going to need every ounce of energy and focus. It is going to be a physical, nasty game against a team the Eagles and their fans, genuinely dislike. So no mater the playoff picture; go Eagles and beat them Cowboys.
With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Eagles take on Dallas at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field knowing they need a lot of help to again control their playoff destiny. At 8-6-1, the Eagles are coming in to this game hoping to turn the tables on Dallas after the Cowboys 41-37 victory in Week 2 of this season. Certainly, the offense must be more productive than it was on Sunday in the 10-3 loss to the Redskins. The Eagles failed to mount much of a challenge until their final drive of the game, when a pass to wide receiver Reggie Brown ended six inches short of the end zone.
Surely, Dallas studied the ins and outs of the Eagles' performance against Washington and took note. The Redskins were physical with the Eagles, banging rookie DeSean Jackson around, sending him to the locker room for a spell with hurting ribs and eventually contributing to the kid's tough game. They saw that Reggie Brown had a decent game, nothing special, in his return to the wide receiver rotation. They saw L.J. Smith catch seven passes, but also drop a couple that could have led to big plays. They saw Brian Westbrook shake free only once, down the sideline, when a long catch and run gave the Eagles a first down in the red zone. They saw the Eagles struggle to keep drives alive, converting just 3 of 14 third downs. In general, Dallas saw the Eagles do very little of anything special. Dallas has a pressure-based defense led by DeMarcus Ware, who is just 2 sacks shy of an NFL record for most sacks in a single season. The Cowboys are fast and talented and they live off of big plays. Donovan McNabb has to drop back and get rid of the ball quickly and accurately. The Eagles must have better production and balance offensively and they must convert third downs after the poor 3-of-14 performance last Sunday.
Defensively, the Eagles have their hands full against an explosive Dallas offense. The Cowboys have outstanding players at all of their skill positions and they run the ball effectively with Marion Barber and Tashard Choice. Barber has been banged up and is a question mark for this game, however. Pressuring quarterback Tony Romo is the key. The Eagles need to force some turnovers and give their offense a short field with which to work. Trent Cole has racked up six of his nine sacks in the last seven games and has produced four sacks in six career games against the Cowboys. However, in the Week 2 meeting, Cole made just one tackle while he and his defensive mates failed to register a sack in a 41-37 shootout loss. After registering a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2007, and earning his first-career Pro Bowl appearance, Cole has been receiving a great deal of attention from opposing offenses, yet he still has been effective at pressuring the quarterback and stuffing the run. Cole is one of the game's premier pass-rushing ends whose presence on the edge helps out an already-formidable secondary that features a pair of Pro Bowl selections. Cole leads the team in hurries (19), ranks tied for first in sacks (9.0) and tackles for loss (9), and third with three forced fumbles. Cole has to lead the charge to pressure Tony Romo. And standing in his way will be veteran Flozell Adams, a premier tackle in his career and the key to Dallas' offensive line. The Eagles, which stand among the league leaders with 44 sacks, can't let Romo get comfortable.For now, I just want to beat Dallas. I ache to beat that team. I sure hope the players, every one of them, feels the same way. Sunday is a tremendously important game. The Eagles need to beat Dallas -- any time, anywhere, no matter the circumstances. It is a matter of professional pride. So, anyway, I want to see how much the Eagles have for Sunday. I hope they bring everything. Andy Reid is going to coach to win. There isn't going to be a time to "look at the kids," no matter what the playoff picture looks like. The Eagles are going to play to beat the Dallas Cowboys and to do so they are going to need every ounce of energy and focus. It is going to be a physical, nasty game against a team the Eagles and their fans, genuinely dislike. So no mater the playoff picture; go Eagles and beat them Cowboys.
Who to watch:
- LT Tra Thomas vs. LB DeMarcus Ware
- CB Asante Samuel vs. WR Terrell Owens
- RB Brian Westbrook vs. LB Bradie James
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