Remember when Eagles-Cowboys was something special, a weeklong frenzy leading to a crescendo on Sunday?
Things have changed. Let's face it, Sunday's late-afternoon matchup will feature two not very good teams, both of which are struggling to keep the heads above water and their coaches employed.
Both feature offensive lines that are for the most part a rumor. Neither is likely to run the ball much, the Cowboys because they don't have a healthy running back, the Eagles because ... well, we all know the reason for that.
That makes this a matchup of two besieged quarterbacks. Tony Romo vs. Michael Vick. While we have been calling for Reid's head - and urging him to take Vick with him on the way out - Romo is also under attack in Dallas. This Cowboys team is only going as far as he carries them, and to date this season that has not been very far. Both QBs are susceptible to making poor decisions and turning the ball over.
Vick has had the almost uncanny ability to turn an Eagles TD drive into a killer turnover inside the other team's 10-yard line.
It says here that Romo's offensive line gives him just enough protection to fend off the Birds. Don't look for a lot of excitement from these two blundering squads; both teams are struggling to put points on the board. The Cowboys are averaging about 19 points per game, the Eagles only about 16. Last Monday night, against one of the worse defenses in the league, the Eagles again bumbled and stumbled their way to a grand total of 13 points. Vick will likely spend the afternoon running for his life, with Demarcus Ware in hot pursuit.
The Pick: Make it Cowboys 23, Eagles 17. One more nail in the coffin of Eagles coach Andy Reid, and one step closer to seeing what Nick Foles can do. Don't be surprised if Vick struggles again early or turns the ball over if we see Foles earlier than expected. Reid has no more room for error, and can't wait for Vick to cure his turnover-itis.
Last Week: I didn't expect the Eagles to be able to outduel the Saints, and they didn't. Struggling against the worse defense in the league allowed Drew Brees to carve them up as an early Thanksgiving turkey.
Season Record: The Eagles' death spiral continues. They've lost four in a row to plummet to a miserable 3-5. I had the Saints, which lifts me to 5-3. Another loss, especially if it's done in ugly fashion in front of a surly home crowd at the Linc, just might force Jeff Lurie's hand to make a change.
Game by Game: Eagles 17, Browns 16 (My Pick: Eagles 27, Browns 13)
Eagles 24, Ravens 23 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Ravens 23 - On the Money!)
Cardinals 27, Eagles 6 (My Pick: Eagles 29, Cardinals 13)
Eagles 19, Giants 17 (My Pick: Eagles 19, Giants 17 - On the Money!)
Steelers 16, Eagles 14 (My Pick: Steelers 24, Eagles 16.)
Lions 26, Eagles 23 (My pick: Eagles 19, Lions 17)
Falcons 30, Eagles 17 (My pick: Eagles 29, Falcons 17)
Saints 28, Eagles 13. (My pick: Saints 37, Eagles 19)
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