There are few rivalries better in the National Football League than the Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles. What makes this iconic Cowboys vs Eagles series even more historic is when the two teams meet with a lot at stake in their head-to-head matchup.
That’s precisely the case entering Week 9. Philadelphia boasts the best record in the NFL, but it holds just a one-game lead over Dallas in the NFC East. An Eagles’ victory would not only mean another statement win, it would also create much-needed breathing room in the division. However, a Cowboys’ win would be just as significant when stacking up Super Bowl contenders.
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Let’s dive into our bold predictions for Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles matchup.
A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb combine for 240=plus receiving yards
Without Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys’ secondary has encountered a few more challenges when lined up against top receiving corps. On Sunday, Dallas has to take on one of the best receiver tandems in the NFL, with A.J. Brown having a historic campaign and DeVonta Smith capable of a 100-yard performance at any time.
We’ll often see veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore lined up on Brown. The 6-foot defensive back isn’t quite as athletic as he used to be, but his instincts are as sharp as ever. Entering NFL games today, Gilmore has allowed just a 50% completion rate and 57.0 QB rating when targeted (34 attempts). However, he surrendered 106 receiving yards and a score to the New York Jets and 63 yards to the Los Angeles Chargers. With Brown playing like Terrell Owens right now, this profiles as a matchup Philadelphia will exploit.
Fortunately for Dallas, it should feel the same way about CeeDee Lamb. With the majority of his snaps coming from the slot this season, Lamb will likely draw a lot of matchups avoiding Darius Slay. That’s great news, especially against an Eagles’ secondary that has allowed the eighth-most yards after catch (935) and the seventh-most passing yards per game (247.5). Lamb and Brown could each eclipse 125 receiving yards.
Haason Reddick, Jalen Carter combine for 3-plus sacks
Since getting the cast on his hand removed, Eagles’ edge rusher Haason Reddick has compiled nine quarterback hits with seven tackles for loss in five contests. He’s playing exactly like the player who set career-highs in sacks (16) and QB hits (26) a year ago.
If that wasn’t enough of a reason for Philadelphia to feel confident about its ability to win in the trenches on Sunday, there’s another. Rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter is on track to play in Week 9, avoiding an absence from a nagging back injury. While Carter has only played a handful of games, he’s been one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL this season.
All of that bodes well in this matchup. Cowboys’ right tackle Terence Steele has been one of the worst pass-blocking tackles in football, per PFF, drawing five penalties with 16 pressures allowed in 277 snaps. On the inside, Cowboys’ center Tyler Biadasz is responsible for 11 pressures surrendered. These matchups are in the Eagles’ favor, providing Carter and Reddick with a chance to disrupt the Cowboys’ offense completely.
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Entering the season, Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard seemed like a potential All-Pro candidate. After a breakout year in 2022, Dallas turned its offense over to the young ball-carrier, committed to him as the featured back in a more balanced offense. In his first three games, Pollard rushed for 264 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry with 2 touchdowns and 48 receiving yards. It’s been pretty quiet ever since.
From Weeks 4-9, Pollard averaged just 3.46 yards per carry and 39.8 rushing yards per game. His best performance came last Sunday with 53 yards and a 4.4 ypc average against the Los Angeles Chargers, but even that performance is a disappointment compared to expectations.
Here’s the bigger problem for Pollard. Philadelphia leads the NFL with the second-highest ESPN run-stop win rate (34%). Meanwhile, the Cowboys running back is getting the football behind an offensive line that has been inconsistent in its ability to open up lanes and limit penetration in the backfield. Philadelphia has held five teams under 80 total rushing yards this year and we expect that trend to continue against Dallas.
Philadelphia Eagles deliver statement win over Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are one of the best teams in the NFL and when the matchup is right, they dominate. Among five victories by Dallas this season, four have been decided by at least 20 points. An early lead allows the Cowboys’ pass rushers to pin their ears back and wreak havoc, with pressure forcing quarterbacks into mistakes that Cowboys’ defensive backs have turned into pick-sixes.
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It’s hard to see that happening here. Philadelphia’s offensive line has the fourth-highest pass-block win rate in the NFL, looking just as sharp as it did a year ago. If the Eagles can slow down Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys don’t have the talent or depth to play tight coverage on Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert at the same time. Combine that with Dallas’ ineffective ground game and Philadelphia’s advantage when trying to create pressure all lead to a belief the Eagles come out with a victory.
- Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 34, Dallas Cowboys 24