NFL Sunday: Eagles and Cowboys Play for the NFC Least Lead
By Jason Lisk
Philadelphia hosts Dallas this afternoon in a game that looks like it will help decide the chase for the #4 seed in the NFC, as the winner of the NFC East. The NFC East is currently the only division without a winning team. These two teams even have almost identical results.
The Eagles and Cowboys have played five common opponents in their six games. They have both lost to Kansas City, Denver, and San Diego, and have beaten the Giants and Washington. This one will break the tie.
Expect plenty of offense. Both teams are in the bottom twelve in points allowed this year. Both are in the top four in points scored, so it looks like it will fall on the offenses to carry one to a playoff spot. The Cowboys will also now be without DeMarcus Ware for awhile, hardly a blow that an already porous defense needed.
Nick Foles has stepped in for an injured Michael Vick and continued to prosper in Chip Kelly’s offense. He has already thrown six touchdown passes this year, and while the Eagles lose a running threat, Foles has also taken far fewer sacks than Vick. The offense looks just as potent, if not moreso, in the game and a half that Foles has been the signal caller.
Tony Romo is playing as well as ever. With DeMarco Murray out, he may throw it 50+ times in this one, between the fast paced offensive matchup and the specific matchups, because the clear matchup advantage was already the Dallas receivers, with not only Dez Bryant but the emergence of Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley, to go with Jason Witten and Miles Austin.
Other games today:
NY Jets v. New England. Will we actually see Gronk? The Patriots again won a close one, covering over their flaws, but they just lost Jerod Mayo right after losing Vince Wilfork for the year.
Miami v. Buffalo. Miami needs to win this divisional game at home, coming off the bye, against a backup quarterback, if they want to be considered a playoff contender.
Carolina v. St. Louis. Carolina, likewise, needs to win this one at home against a team they should beat. St. Louis is coming off a good road win at Houston, and the Panthers have not always played to potential.
Detroit v. Cincinnati. The battle of the big northern cats, with the winner still in first place in their division as we approach the halfway mark. Calvin Johnson is expected to play a bigger role after being limited a week ago.
Atlanta v. Tampa Bay. The first game A.J. (after Julio). These teams are both on life support at a combined 1-9.
Jacksonville v. San Diego. There are not many chances for Jacksonville to get a win. Catching San Diego traveling across country after a Monday Night game may be one of their best opportunities.
Washington vs. Chicago. The Redskins don’t look like they are turning it around. This is probably the last chance to show something and begin a move. The 2013 version of Jay Cutler looks very capable of taking advantage of the Washington defense.