If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Two weeks ago the Eagles faced the Cowboys are the Linc. It did not go well.
Sunday is the rematch in Big D. But the teams' situations have reversed.
Now it's the Eagles who are fighting to keep their playoffs hopes alive.
Back then, the Cowboys were on life support. But they used that win over the Birds and the addition of Amari Cooper to infuse new life into the team. Then they went on national TV and stunned just about everyone by completely shutting down Drew Brees and the high-flying Saints.
The Eagles task for the most part is the same as it was then.
Job 1 has to be to clamp down on Cowboys' premier running back Ezekiel Elliott. They couldn't do it last time, he gouged them for 150 yards, and it cost them the game.
Dak Prescott is not going to beat you. But when Elliott gets rolling, it takes the pressure off Dallas' signal caller.
Last Monday night Adrian Peterson bolted for 90 yards against a stunned Eagles defense, but the Birds bounced back and basically completely shut down the run after that.
Of course, the Cowboys are not the Redskins.
On offense, Carson Wentz needs to control the game again. Doug Pederson needs to keep feeding Josh Adams. When he falls back into his penchant for throwing the ball, Wentz usually has a big day - but the Eagles lose.
This one just might be decided by the kickers. Expect lots of field goals as TDs will likely be scarce as two good defenses face off against each other.
THE PICK: Make it Eagles 23, Cowboys 21. Another week, another playoff game. This is what the Birds are facing from here on. A loss in Dallas would put a serious crimp in their post-season hopes.
LAST WEEK: So nice of our old friend Mark Sanchez to pay us a visit. Of course, it wasn't planned that way. Sanchez got pressed into service when the Redskins incredibly lost their second starting QB to a broken leg. Sanchez threw in another butt fumble just for good measure as the Eagles got the win. The victory raised the Eagles' mark to 6-6. I rode them to another win as I try to crawl back to the .500 mark at 5-7.
GAME BY GAME: Eagles 28, Redskins 13 (My Pick: Eagles 27, Redskins 17)
Eagles 25, Giants 22 (My Pick: Eagles 23, Giants 17)
Saints 48, Eagles 7 (My Pick: Saints 37, Eagles 23)
Cowboys 27, Eagles 20 (My Pick: Eagles 29, Cowboys 16)
Eagles, 24, Jaguars 18 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Jaguars 23)
Eagles 18, Falcons 12. (My Pick: Falcons 27, Eagles 13)
Buccaneers 27, Eagles 21 (My Pick: Eagles 23, Buccaneers 13)
Eagles 20, Colts 16 (My Pick: Colts 23, Eagles 17)
Titans 26, Eagles 23 in OT (My Pick: Eagles 26, Titans 13)
Vikings 23, Eagles 21 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Vikings 13)
Eagles 34, Giants 13 (My Pick: Eagles 19, Giants 17)
Panthers 21, Eagles 17 (My Pick: Eagles 26, Panthers 17)
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