Just call it The Rematch.
Every great game needs a nickname, and the Sunday night showdown on national TV between the Eagles and Cowboys just two weeks after the Birds blew out Jerry Jones’ minions on Thanksgiving Day should be a classic.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of reasons not to like the Eagles this week.
First there is the standard NFL axiom that it is very difficult to beat a team twice in the same season.
Dallas has the revenge factor going, looking to avenge the humiliating beatdown on their own turf that soured their Thanksgiving.
Dallas - and most importantly QB Tony Romo - comes into this game well-rested. Part of their problem on Thanksgiving is that they had just played Sunday night. Romo usually does not even practice until Thursday because of his cranky back. He also was nursing sore ribs in that game. This time he’ll be ready to roll.
Then there is the weird Seattle factor. The last seven teams that have played the Seahawks have lost the following week.
All of that adds up to a much closer game than Round One, a 33-10 Eagles romp.
I still like the Birds.
Why? Because these days Dallas lives and dies with DeMarco Murray and their running game. The Eagles front seven on defense is playing some of their best ball of the year. I think they can contain Murray, than go after Romo with a vengeance.
On offense, once again the Eagles will merely ask Mark Sanchez not to lose the game, not make any careless throws that lead to turnovers.
Same goes for LeSean McCoy. He will have extra motivation going into this game, looking to get back on track after what he admitted was his worst game of the year vs. the Seattle, including a killer fumble on the first play of the second half. A huge game from McCoy, mirroring the 159-yard effort he put up in the first go-round with Dallas, will pave the way to an Eagles victory.
One other thing. This Eagles team is not built to come from behind. With Sanchez at quarterback, you want them to get a quick start, build an early lead, allow their up tempo offense to unsettle Dallas, and control the game. If they fall behind, that means more emphasis on Sanchez and the throwing game, which usually means trouble.
How important is this game? It’s entirely possible the loser does not make the playoffs.
The Pick: Make it Eagles 30, Cowboys 26. The Birds get the early lead and hold off the Cowboys. Cody Parkey is your MVP, with three field goals.
Season Record: I was very disappointed in the Eagles effort last week, and the fault lies on offense, and that puts it in the lap of Chip Kelly. Basically, the Eagles were no match for the vaunted Seattle defense. So far Kelly has shown a clear ability to beat the teams the Eagles are supposed to beat. But he’s consistently come up short in matches with the better teams in the league. That needs to change. The Eagles now sit at 9-4, but a win vs. the Cowboys is crucial to them controlling their own destiny in terms of the playoffs. A loss likely means they will need help. I’m now sliding toward mediocrity, with an 8-5 mark after wrongly thinking the Eagles would handle Seattle at home.
Game by Game: Seahawks 24, Eagles 14 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Seahawks 23)
Eagles 33, Cowboys 10 (My Pick: Cowboys 29, Eagles 26)
Eagles 43, Titans 24 (My Pick: Eagles 34, Titans 23)
Packers 53, Eagles 20, 21 (My Pick: Packers 33, Eagles 24)
Eagles 45, Panthers 21 (My Pick: Eagles 33, Panthers 17)
Eagles 31, Texans 21 (My Pick: Eagles 29, Texans 19)
Cardinals 24, Eagles 20 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Cardinals 23)
Eagles 27, Giants 0 (My Pick: Giants 31, Eagles 26)
Eagles 34, Rams 28 (My Pick: Eagles 35, Rams 19)
49ers 26, Eagles 21 (My Pick: 49ers 33, Eagles 29)
Eagles 34, Jaguars 17 (My Pick: Eagles 31, Jags 16)
Eagles 30, Colts 27 (My Pick: Colts 29, Eagles 23)
Eagles 37, Redskins 34 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Redskins 23)
Comments