The Dallas Cowboys will try to exercise the demons of last year's season ending 44-6 beat-down in Philadelphia, 7:20 p.m. tonight (Nov.8) on NBC. (photo from stadiumsofprofootball.com)
This is the game most Cowboys' fans marked on their calender when the season schedule came out earlier in the year. Cowboys' coaches and players have also reiterated several times, from the start of training camp to numerous times this season up to this week, that this is an extremely important game mentally for this team. This game will tell us whether or not Dallas has the back-bone to tough it out for a win against a divisional rival on the road. This is no playoff game, but this is about as close as it gets during the regular season.
What's on the line:
As it turns out, not only can this be a retribution game for Dallas but with both teams at 5-2 and at the top of the division, this is a game with 1st place in the NFC East on the line. Dallas is 2-1 on the road for the season, with their only loss at Denver. Philadelphia is 3-1 at home on the year as they lost in week 3 to the New Orleans Saints. The Eagles are also 2-0 thus far this season against the NFC East with big wins over both the Giants and at the Redskins. A win can build confidence for the Cowboys, while also setting things up nicely for Dallas for the rest of the season.
History:
Along with their demoralizing loss to end last season, Dallas has not had much success on the road against the Eagles since the turn of the century. Philadelphia has dominated as the Cowboys are 2-7, dating back to the 2000-2001 season, in Philadelphia.
Much has been made of Cowboys' QB Tony Romo's struggles in Philly but the statistics tell another story. Romo is 1-1 at the Eagles and has career numbers of 41-64 (64 percent) for 507 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and two fumbles in two career games there. Now these aren't gaudy numbers by any stretch of the imagination but let's take a look at his three games at home against the Eagles: 48-95 (50.5 percent) for 668 yards, four touchdowns, six interceptions and a fumble. All-in-all Romo has played pretty mediocre on the road against the Eagles (253.2 yards per game, 1.5 TDs, 1 int and 1 fumble) and fairly poor at home (222.6 yards, 1.3 TDs, 2 ints and .3 fumbles per game). My point is that Romo hasn't played particularly well at either stadium, but his best games against the Eagles have come on the road.
The Stats:
The Dallas offense is 2nd in the NFL is yards per game at 411.1, and 6th in points scored at 28.1 thanks to their recent offensive surge. Philadelphia is 10th in the league in total defense at 296.9 yards allowed per game and 8th in points allowed with 19.
The Philadelphia offense is ranked 15th in the NFL with 344.4 yards per game, but is 3rd in the league in scoring with 29 points a game. The Dallas defense comes into the game ranked 22nd in yards allowed with 342.1, but 10th in points allowed at 19.4.
Both teams have top 10 offenses and defenses, and each team's points scored and points allowed per game are within a point of each other. This will be a close game.
Prediction:
The Dallas Cowboys need a win in this game not only to improve their record and break a tie in the NFC East but also to prove to themselves, the rest of the league and their fans that this is no longer a fragile team. I believe this will be a defensive minded game with both offenses held in check for the majority of the contest. The Eagles (like the Cowboys) have many weapons on offensive and will use them to exploit a Cowboys' defense that, this season, has not played well in close fourth quarter situations.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, the Eagles will take over late and win a close one, 20-17.
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