In a stroke of pure scheduling genius, the Eagles travel to Dallas on Sunday to face the much-hated rival Cowboys in what is easily the most important game of the season. The victor gets the NFC East title, and if the Eagles win, they’ll get a first round bye as well. Dallas would need Arizona and Minnesota to lose to get the same placement.
A lot has been made about the Cowboys ineptitude in December, and while the numbers don’t lie, this really is anyone’s game. While December started out in a typical fashion for the Cowboys, the team is riding on a wave of confidence after two straight wins.
They played well enough to give the Saints their first loss of the season in a 24-17 win, and they followed it up by blanking the Redskins 17-0 last week. There is a lot riding on this game for Dallas and they would like nothing more than to shut up their critics and prove that they can win late into the season. Like the Eagles, Dallas has already punched their ticket to the post-season, but now it’s all about the division and playoff seeding.
We all love to hate Tony Romo, mostly because he’s an easy target, but his recent play has sparked the Cowboys winning streak. In the last two games, he has thrown for an average of 300 yards with two touchdowns and just one interception. Romo seems to be learning that to win, he needs to control the team rather than throwing them on his back.
The Cowboys have a potent offense, and there are three guys in particular the Eagles need to contain. Running back Marion Barber didn’t put up big numbers against the Eagles earlier this season, nor has he lit up the field in the past few weeks, but he does have the potential to be a huge playmaker. If the Eagles can contain him, then Romo will have to rely on the passing game.
One of his favorite targets has been tight end Jason Witten, who is knocking on the door of his second 1000-yard season. The Eagles have too often ignored tight ends in their defensive schemes, and Witten is a guy that will make them pay. In the teams’ previous meeting, his 7 receptions for 49 yards are not exactly gaudy, but as proven many times in the past, he’s not a guy you don’t want to sleep on.
Wide receiver Miles Austin has had a breakout season this year. The Birds did a great job neutralizing him earlier this season, but his one catch at the end of the game was for a 49-yard touchdown and the deciding score. During Dallas’ current win streak, he has 16 receptions for well over 200 yards and a single TD.
One sure way for the Eagles to exploit one of the Cowboys’ weaknesses is to do what Andy Reid likes to do best – pass the ball. While Dallas ranks at #5 against the run, they are 21st against the pass.
With all of the Eagles receiving weapons, there is the potential to run up the score very quickly. If DeSean Jackson is covered, Donovan McNabb’s options are endless – Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, Brent Celek, or even Brian Westbrook. Although the team has done an excellent job in the past several weeks in mixing up the plays, this may be the week where the willingness to pass can be exploited.
I am sure I am not the only one who is absolutely thrilled about this game. Football doesn’t get any better than facing your biggest rival for the division title on the last Sunday of the year. If the Eagles win, they’re watching football on the couch like the rest of us during the first week of the playoffs.
This is a tough match-up, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I like the Eagles chances in this game. The Birds are playing better ball right now than just about anyone. Either team has a shot at getting the win, but it’s going to come down to who makes the least amount of mistakes and how those mistakes are capitalized on. This will not be an easy game for either team.
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