Despite their 6-8 record, the Eagles are improbably still very much alive in their quest for a second straight NFC East title. With two weeks in the regular season remaining, there are four results which much go the Eagles' way for Andy Reid and co. to move on to the playoffs, two of which are in the Eagles' control. The Eagles, of course, must win both of their remaining games and then hope that the New York Giants lose this week to the New York Jets and then defeat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 at MetLife Stadium, creating a three-way tie atop the division at 8-8 that would send the Eagles into the postseason based on their superior division record.
But that is stuff of dreams and first, the Eagles must take care of business on Christmas Eve in Dallas this Saturday. For their part, the Cowboys will be more than motivated to win at home. For one, they currently sit atop the division and have a chance to clinch the division title if outside results go their way. Second, the sting from their 34-7 loss to the Eagles in Week 8 has yet to wear off. In that game, the Cowboys were dominated on both sides of the ball despite the pre-game predictions of dominance by Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. But since that game, the Eagles have only won three of the subsequent seven games, while the Cowboys have won five, which is why the Eagles are have such precarious playoff possibilities.
The reason for the Eagles' glimmer of hope is their performance over the past two weeks. On offense, the return of Michael Vick has brought the team's leader back into the fold to steer the offense. Defensively, the pass rush has been ferocious – namely Jason Babin who has produced back-to-back three-sack performances – and the team has forced a slew of turnovers, something that had been missing earlier in the season. So the Eagles hope to build upon that momentum and carry over that strong play to Saturday's 4:15 PM EST kickoff – by which time they should know whether the New York Jets have delivered the Eagles an early Christmas present.
Key Matchups
OT Jason Peters vs. LB DeMarcus Ware
Jason Peters and DeMarcus Ware are two of the most athletically gifted players in the league. Standing 6-4 and weighing 260 pounds, Ware is one of the quickest edge rushers in the game. With 16 sacks through 14 games this season, he is enjoying the second-best season of his career. Jason Peters, too, has been dominant this season. The 6-4, 340 pound former tight end is one of the swiftest linemen in the game. He uses his lateral quickness to stonewall speed rushers and lock them in front of him with his long arms. In his last meeting with Ware and the Cowboys, Peters did not allow a single sack and received the highest grade on the entire team according to Pro Football Focus. Ware, in that game, got to quarterback Michael Vick four times and notched 11 tackles. Surprisingly, both Peters and Ware were able to put together incredibly productive days in spite of one another. With both teams playing for their shot at the NFC East, be prepared to see an epic battle between the two dynamic trenchmen.
Eagles DTs vs. RB Felix Jones
With rookie back DeMarco Murray on injured reserve, the Cowboys will go with fourth-year back Felix Jones as their lead tailback. Since losing Murray, Jones has rushed for 214 yards in just two games, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. More troublesome for the Eagles is the fact that the Cowboys average 5.9 yards per rush up the middle in on the season, good for first in the NFL. The Eagles, on defense, allow 5.7 yards per carry over the middle, the second-worst in the league. With a hungry Felix Jones itching to prove he can be an every down back in this league, the front of the Eagle defense will be put to the test Saturday night. The Eagles will also need to keep an eye on 4-year-old Sammy Morris, who has been brought in to back up Jones. He rushed for 53 yards in a limited role against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday.
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