Sports

Week 17 - Dallas Cowboys: Philadelphia Eagles Preview

What could possibly be better than two bitter division rivals playing on the last weekend of the NFL season with the division title on the line? If our Philadelphia Eagles win, they also would get the #2 seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. Should the Dallas Cowboys win, they will have swept the season series and there is a strong possibility that the Eagles would have to go right back to that new stadium for a first round playoff game. This game has it all!

The Cowboys already beat the Eagles earlier this season, 20-16 in Philly. But don’t forget how the Eagles stomped the Cowboys on the last weekend of last season 44-6. That game kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs, so you know it hurt.

As simplistic as it sounds, this game will be won or lost on the lines. It’s an old football cliché, but it’s true for this game. If the Eagles revamped offensive line can’t win the battle at the line of scrimmage, the Eagles don’t have a prayer of winning the game.

The Eagles line has been in a state of flux all season with various injuries, but it was beginning to jell in the last six games, not coincidentally all wins. Now, center Jamaal Jackson was lost for the season with a knee injury. That means that right guard Nick Cole, who has never started any of his 23 NFL games at center, will slide over to take his place. That also means that slow-footed Max Jean-Gilles will be replacing Cole at RG. Funny, but didn’t the Eagles spend a ton of money on a free agent guard? Stacy something? Oh well, that must have been my imagination.

That would be a major adjustment for the Eagles under normal circumstances, but these are not normal circumstances. The Eagles have to face the Cowboys and the best nose tackle in the NFL, Jay Ratliff. In the first meeting, Ratliff had two sacks, two hurries and eight tackles. He is not your typical NT. He totally dominates in the middle. The Eagles will have to give Cole help with Ratliff, but Jean-Gilles is a bit on the slow side. That, in turn, will lead to more one-on-one matchups for the Cowboys outside linebackers on the Eagles offensive tackles. Winston Justice and Jason Peters have played well during the winning streak, but now they’ll have to deal with Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware.

The Cowboys are ranked 12th overall defensively and 5th against the run. Ratliff has a lot to do with that. If the Eagles O-line can’t open up some holes for the running game, the Cowboys defense will be able to tee off on QB Donovan McNabb. Plus, the Eagles have only averaged 3.4 yards per carry against 3-4 defenses this season.

So that might just mean that Andy Reid will go completely pass-happy against the Cowboys 21st ranked pass defense. McNabb wasn’t able to exploit the Cowboys in the first matchup this season and, in fact, the Cowboys were able to completely shut down his #1 target. In the November 8th game, DeSean Jackson was held to only 2 catches for 29 yards. Now, Cowboys cornerback, Mike Jenkins, is talking smack about how they won’t let Jackson get by them for long gains this game, either. The Eagles O-line needs to give McNabb time to set up in the pocket to find Jackson and his other receivers or this one will get ugly for the men in green.

Normally a game in December or January against the Cowboys would be almost a guaranteed win. Not so much anymore. The Cowboys, and especially QB Tony Romo, have seemingly exorcised their late season demons. The Cowboys went 2-2 in December and Tony Romo’s stellar play was a major reason why. Entering 2009 Romo had been 5-9 as a starter after December 1, with 14 TDs and 19 INTs. Now, Romo has averaged 309.8 yards per game, with seven TDs and only one INT in the last four December games. The yards and TDs are nice, but it’s the INTs that really stand out.

That shows that Romo is maturing as a quarterback. His interceptions are way down and his sacks are up this season. That shows that he’s willing to pull the ball down rather than take unnecessary chances. Still, he’s dangerous when he’s running around creating plays with his feet. The Eagles need to contain Romo with their pass rush. He was sacked four times against the Eagles in November, but still threw for 307 yards and got the win. I’m sure defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has a few new blitzes ready for Romo this time around.

The Cowboys offense is ranked 3rd overall, 8th rushing and 6th passing. That means that they keep things balanced. Are you paying attention Andy? (Eagles are ranked 10th overall, but 21st rushing and 9th passing. Obviously not.)

Dallas uses a three-headed monster at runningback, with Marion Barber for the tough yards, Felix Jones as the outside threat and Tashard Choice as the overall guy. It seems to be working, as the Cowboys are 2nd in the league in yards per carry (4.8). Luckily the Eagles are doing a good job of stuffing the run this season (ranked 8th).

When the Cowboys try to throw the ball, they will have one big problem. That would be defensive end, Trent Cole. He uses and abuses Cowboys left tackle, Flozell Adams, on a regular basis. Cole has 12-1/2 sacks this season, but the Cowboys have only allowed 10 sacks in their last 5 games. Something has to give here.

When Romo gets time he will be looking to wide receiver Miles Austin and tight end Jason Witten. Austin is the deep threat, averaging 8 catches for 110 yards over the last 5 games and Witten works the underneath. I’m sure Asante Samuel will get burned for a long gainer while biting on a pump-fake going for an interception, too. He’s exciting and frustrating all at the same time. The bigger problem for the Eagles will be covering Witten. The Eagles haven’t been able to cover TEs all year and Witten is one of the best.

On special teams we have the #1 (Jackson) and #2 (Cowboys Patrick Crayton) punt returners in the NFL. Throw in the fact that Eagles kick returner Macho Harris fumbled twice in the last game and this could be a very exciting game for the special teams.

Andy Reid’s teams always play better later in the regular season. Wade Phillips is just a figurehead for Jerry Jones and has a terrible late-season record. Both have their teams playing well going into this game though.

The Eagles have more on the line in this game, since they can actually get a first round bye as the #2 seed with a win. The Cowboys could also win the division with a win and have a possible rematch next week in the playoffs against an Eagles team they would have beaten twice already.

Both teams have plenty of motivation. Both teams are looking for revenge. Both teams are playing at a high level right now. I want the Eagles to win, because I want a home playoff game. Is that enough?

Normally I would assume that Andy Reid blows this one, just like he does in most of his big games (1-5 in NFC Championship games and the Super Bowl), but there isn’t as much pressure on the team here. Both teams are already in the playoffs, so there isn’t the same amount of pressure as there is in the playoffs. I see the Eagles winning a close one 23-20. I mean, I could use a little break anyway.

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