What a bittersweet week it has been for Eagles fans. The Birds continue to soar, sitting atop the NFL with a 13-1 record, but unfortunately, MVP candidate and first time pro-bowler Jalen Hurts sustained a shoulder sprain against the Bears, putting his status for Saturday in question. However, if there’s one thing we know about the Birds, it’s that they know how to win with a backup Quarterback. That becomes incredibly important this weekend, as we look to take on the detestable Dallas team in Jerryworld. How can we shut down Dakota and torch this defense? Let’s find out.
Cowboys’ Strengths
Explosive offensive talent
Say what you want about the Cowboys, but there’s no debating Dak has a lot to work with on offense. Ceedee Lamb has proven himself a bonafide number one wide receiver, with the speed to torch defenses over the top and some of the best hands in the entire NFL. Him and a recovering Michael Gallup form a scary one two punch on the outside, and that’s not even to mention the army of Dalton Schultz lookalikes the Cowboys seemingly have at tight end. You can’t forget Tony Pollard either, who if not for Zeke eating up carries like he does cap space, would be considered a top 5 running back in this league. There’s a lot of guys to keep track of here, and Kellen Moore definitely knows how to put them in positions to make plays.
Pass Rush
The Cowboys still possess the best pass rush in the entire NFL. Micah Parsons, while seemingly a bit streaky lately, is a game-wreaking edge player who requires constant attention. Demarcus Lawrence would be a number one pass rusher on most teams, and having him on the other side of Parsons is a cheat code. Osa Odighizuwa and Neville Gallimore can provide some interior pressure, but the stars of the show are on the edges. You simply MUST gameplan against them, or they’ll find ways to make game-breaking plays at the worst moments.
Defensive Coordination
While there have been some blips in the radar with the Cowboys’ defense recently, there’s no doubt that Dan Quinn is one of the best coordinators in the league. He led the number one defense for the first half of the season, and his creativity with coverage looks and d-line stunts tends to overwhelm certain offenses. It’s a scary unit as a whole, and giving it the respect it deserves is a must for an offense that wants to move the ball.
Eagles’ Strengths
Offense
Jalen Hurts had two weird interceptions on Sunday, but as a whole, this offense is bafflingly elite. I’d like to give a shout out to the offensive line, as all 5 players were either Pro Bowlers or Pro Bowl alternates, which is absolutely bonkers. It’s so fun to watch an offense that supports its quarterback so well, and this week comes with the readdition of top 3 tight end Dallas Goedert to pair with AJ and Smitty (HEY NFL, GOEDERT WAS SNUBBED) and a predictably elite running game. Things could get weird if Jalen is unable to play, but honestly, I think Minshew can hold his own here.
Defense
Last week was the week of pass rush. Currently, the Eagles lead the league in sacks, and have FOUR (FOUR!!!!!!) players on pace to hit ten sacks, which would be an NFL record. Haason Reddick has been stellar this year, and deserved his pro bowl without a doubt. Less recognized but equally deserving is Josh Sweat, who in my eyes has cemented himself as a number one type of guy on the edge. Oh, and remember Javon Hargrave? HE HAS TEN SACKS!!!! NFL, what are we doing?
Slay, Maddox, and Bradberry are pretty good too. And TJ Edwards. And CJ. How did only one of these guys make the pro bowl? Either way, Gannon has been much better in coordinating this loaded unit.
Cowboys’ Weaknesses
Offensive Line?
It’s sort of strange to see this as a weakness for the Cowboys, as they’ve always had a top-tier O-line, but with the injury to Terrence Steele the reality is that this unit is shaky. Tyler Smith has shown some inconsistencies at left tackle, and while Tyron Smith and Zack Martin are still performing at a high level on the right side, Mcgovern and Biadasz are not always enough to keep pressure out of Dak’s face on a consistent basis. There’s room to disrupt the passing game here, if targeted correctly.
Defensive Backend
There’s a reason Zay Jones had three touchdowns last game, and it has to do with the fact that the Cowboys cornerback depth is pretty garbage. It’s pretty clear that Kelvin Joseph is not at CB2, and after his benching, the next man up is.. DaRon Bland. Yikes. I hate to make a prediction in the team analysis section, but I have a feeling Devonta Smith will be leaving ankles all over the field this saturday. The same can probably be said for AJ Brown, who like it or not is a mismatch against Trevon Diggs.
Turnovers
It’s pretty crazy how Dak Prescott missed five games and still leads the league in interceptions. Not all are his fault, but he’s stated himself he will not cease the aggressive, gunslinging playstyle that lead to the turnovers on offense. Hey, the Birds will take it. The reality is that winning the turnover battle is key to staying on top in football games, and if Dak refuses to stop handing the ball to the defense, opposing squads will continue to shift momentum and win games against them.
Eagles Weaknesses
Hurts’ injury
Losing the MVP (yeah, I said it) is always going to be a tough thing to overcome. The last time we saw Minshew was against the cowboys last year, and he looked… suspicious to say the least. I think that he has the ability to win this game, as long as he doesn’t try to push the envelope and lets his supporting cast shoulder the load.
Keys to Victory
Attack the secondary
Minshew is a really, really good backup, and becoming timid throwing the ball is the last thing this offense needs. Attack the weak Dallas secondary, and points will be scored.
Force turnovers
A strong pass rush and creative coverages will lead Dak to putting the ball in harm’s way, and open up chances for the offense to pile on the points.
Score Prediction
Dallas is a good team, but I have faith in the coordinators and roster talent to make up for the loss of Jalen Hurts. It won’t be an easy one, but I think a Birds’ victory is in the cards.
Score: 31 – 27 Eagles
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Noah Berger is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Noah, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
