After they took the first step on the road back to a potential playoff run against the Redskins, the Eagles now prepare for another division test as they welcome in the Dallas Cowboys for the first of three straight home games. Despite their 2-4 record, the Eagles are very much alive in the NFC East hunt, especially with 10 games, including four in the division, remaining. And after a restful bye week, the Eagles could be set to welcome back to the lineup Pro Bowlers Trent Cole and Jason Peters, who have missed the last two games with, respectively, a calf injury and a hamstring injury. But the biggest sign of optimism for the Eagles moving forward is the performance of their defense against the Redskins. After allowing 100 yards to opposing running backs in each of the first five games, the Eagles stuffed what had been a productive Redskins rushing attack to the tune of 28 yards combined for their running backs. And that wasn't all; after forcing only five turnovers total through five games, the Eagles hauled down four interceptions in Week 6. But against Washington, the Eagles feasted on a run-based offense. This week, they'll face the task of defending a Cowboys offense that is fourth in the league in passing.
As for those Cowboys, the silver lining to their 2-3 start is that it's not as bad as last season, when a team with Super Bowl expectations lost its first six games. Now, the Cowboys, like the Eagles, are very much in the thick of the division race. Also like the Eagles, the Cowboys have had trouble holding leads – they led in the fourth quarter of all three losses. While Tony Romo is more than comfortable running the offense through a talented trio of pass catchers in Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, he may have to do so even more with Felix Jones likely out of the matchup, leaving rookie DeMarco Murray and (devoted Michael Vick fan) Tashard Choice as the only running backs. The Cowboys defense, meanwhile, has been a revelation under new coordinator Rob Ryan. They rank first in the league in run defense, allowing just under 70 yards per game, and fifth in overall defense. An intimidating front seven that includes perennial standouts DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff and Anthony Spencer has taken another leap thanks in part to the emergence of Sean Lee, the NFL's Defensive Player of the Month for September. With the Cowboys expected to get a win at home against the St. Louis Rams, the Week 8 matchup at Lincoln Financial Field has all the makings of a crossing-roads game for both sides.
Key Matchups
OLB DeMarcus Ware vs. The Eagles' LT
Three different players have played left tackle for the Eagles over the last three games. Last week, it was Todd Herremans, who showcased his versatility and value to the Eagles as he seamlessly slid from right tackle to left tackle. The week before, King Dunlap stepped in and played one of his best games against the Buffalo Bills. The week before, and the three weeks before that, perennial Pro Bowler Jason Peters was the man for the job. The bye comes at a good time for the Eagles in part because it could allow Peters enough time to recover from the hamstring injury that kept him out of two games. All due respect to Herremans and Dunlap, but the team would be happy to welcome back Peters with Ware lining up on the other side. Ware is one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the league and is off to another hot start with 7.0 sacks through five games. Ware has victimized the Eagles to the tune of 11.5 sacks in 13 games, including playoffs.
WR Dez Bryant vs. Who?
One of the most interesting subplots to the game will be how defensive coordinator Juan Castillo employs his trio of Pro Bowl cornerbacks against the Cowboys. After Castillo said that he would like to allow Nnamdi Asomugha to play more right cornerback, would he still employ Asomugha against Jason Witten? Asante Samuel is likely to stay on his customary left side, but in, 6-2, 218, and Miles Austin, 6-2, 215, the Cowboys have two physically imposing pass-catchers who can stretch the field and make plays in the red zone. Meanwhile, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been dangerously close to an interception in two straight games and has said that he expects to get on the interception board soon.
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