The Cowboys take on the Eagles at Cowboys stadium today for the NFC East Title and a chance at the number 2 seed in the playoffs. Both Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb will be called upon to come up big in these two team's most important game of the season. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Both the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles have come on strong recently. The Eagles have won six straight since back-to-back losses against the Cowboys and Chargers in early November dropped them to a 5-4 record. The Philadelphia offense has averaged 31 points a game during the streak. Philly is 3rd in the NFL in scoring at 28.6 points a game.
Dallas has also been playing well recently, having won their past two games after an 0-2 start to December. The Cowboys have played extremely well in the last two weeks, beating the undefeated Saints in their own house and shutting out the Redskins in Washington to clinch a playoff birth.
Who says Tony Romo never wins a big game?
History
These two teams met earlier in the season, in Philadelphia, with Dallas winning 20-16. The Cowboys held the Eagles to their second-lowest point total of the season, and Tony Romo had 307 yards and the game winning TD to Miles Austin in the fourth quarter. Dallas held DeSean Jackson in check, as he had only two receptions for 29 yards, his 2nd lowest output of the season.
Of course, who can forget the 44-6 drubbing last season in Philly that ended the Cowboys' playoff hopes? Dallas sure hasn't, as Demarcus Ware said this week that it was a game "he would never forget."
Overall, these two teams have split the last six meetings (3-3) with each team going 2-1 at home. Dallas has a chance to sweep the season series for the first time since 2005.
Stats
Both team are in the top 10 in the NFL in total offense (per game) with Dallas at 3rd (394.4) and Philly at 10th (366.5). The Cowboys are 6th in passing (266.1) while the Eagles are 9th (259.9). Philly is not as good rushing the ball, at 21st (106.7), and Dallas is 8th (128.3).
On defense, the Eagles are 7th in yards allowed per game (310.9), while Dallas is 12th (321.7). The Cowboys are stout against the run, 5th in league (94.1), and have the longest current streak without allowing a 100-yard rusher (17 games). Philly is 8th against the run (99.7) and 13th against the pass (211.1). Dallas is 21st in the NFL in pass defense (227.7).
Dallas is 3rd in the NFL in points allowed (16.7), while Philly is 16th (20.9).
Prediction
Minnesota is completing demolishing the New York Giants, so the 2nd seed in the NFC is likely off the table. But this game still decides who will be the NFC East champs and, when these two teams likely play again next week in the playoffs, home field advantage is going to important.
While both offenses are capable of putting up 30+ points in any given week, I think that this matchup will more closely resemble what we saw Nov. 8 in Philadelphia. Both team's sport extremely talented defenses and I don't see a high scoring game in this one.
The Cowboys defense does what it has done all season - bend but not break against an explosive Eagles offense. Tony Romo comes up big again late, but this time it will be Jason Witten with a huge game and game-winning touchdown.
Cowboys 17 Eagles 10
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