3-3. The Dallas Cowboys stand on a record that is decidedly average, but with a future that is wide open to them. They sit one game off the lead in the NFC East, currently held by the New York Giants at 4-2. The good news for Dallas is they are 1-0 in the division while the Giants are 1-1 and the Cowboys are 3-1 against the NFC while the Giants are 3-2. Dallas is also 1-0 against Washington which has an identical 3-3 record, but it looks like the 'Skins are fading. So the Cowboys are in good position to do something in the NFC East if they can close the one-game gap with the Giants. In a freak of the schedule, the Cowboys won't get an opportunity at the Giants until December 11th, and then again in the last game of the year.
But while we're looking at the teams ahead and tied with us in the NFC East, this week we better have our eye on a team in the rear-view mirror. The preseason NFC East favorite, the Philadelphia Eagles, have stumbled out of the gate in 2011 to a 2-4 record. It's been a little bit of a mess in Philly so far, and the "Dream Team" has met reality. But take caution, the Eagles have the talent to get this thing together and become a force the rest of the year.
More below...
Philadelphia's last game was a win in the division over the Redskins, that snapped a four-game losing streak. And just like in Dallas, some of those losses were excruciating (at least for Eagles fans). And just like Dallas, the Eagles have played some very good teams, losing to Atlanta, New York (Giants), San Francisco and Buffalo. So both Philly and Dallas have managed to lose games in crushing fashion to some of the better teams in 2011.
The Cowboys are coming off their blowout of the Rams, who Philly crushed on the first weekend of the 2011 season. The Eagles aren't coming off their Redskins win, they're actually coming off a bye week. And no team in the NFL has been better when coming off a bye. The Eagles have won 12 consecutive games after a bye, and is an NFL-best 18-4 (.818) after a bye.
So even though the Eagles are 2-4, they are a dangerous team that is murder after a bye, and they're playing at home. The Cowboys better dump the Rams game from memory, and concentrate on their hated rival. With a win, the Cowboys continue a drive for the playoffs while damaging an NFC East rival. Lose, and the Eagles catch Dallas in the standings, and all the momentum built from the Rams game will evaporate.
This is a huge game of importance. But aren't they all?
Series Notes:
DALLAS COWBOYS (3-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-4)
SERIES
|
COWBOYS |
EAGLES |
|
|
SERIES LEADER |
56-44 |
|
|
STREAKS |
3 of past 4 |
|
|
COACHES VS. OPP. |
Garrett: 1-1 |
Reid: 15-10 |
|
LAST WEEK |
W 34-7 vs. Rams |
Bye: (Wk. 6: W 20-13 at Redskins) |
|
LAST GAME |
1/2/11: Cowboys 14 at Eagles 13. Dallas TE Jason Witten catches 4-yard TD pass from QB Stephen McGee with 55 seconds remaining to lift Cowboys to victory. |
|
|
LAST GAME AT SITE |
1/2/11 |
|
|
BROADCAST |
NBC (8:20 PM ET): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya (Field reporter). Westwood One Radio: Dave Sims, James Lofton, Hub Arkush (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 94 (WW1), 92 (Dal.), 93 (Phi.). XM: 227 (WW1), 225 (Dal.), 226 (Phi.). |
|
STATS
|
PASSING |
Romo: 140-217-1,756-10-6-93.4 |
Vick: 123-200-1,573-9-8-84.4 |
|
RUSHING |
Murray (R): 49-324-6.6-1 |
McCoy: 105-569-5.4-6 (T3L) |
|
RECEIVING |
Witten (TE): 36-449-12.5-3 |
Maclin: 37-489-13.2-3 |
|
OFFENSE |
415.5 |
441.7 (3L) |
|
TAKE/GIVE |
-1 |
-8 |
|
DEFENSE |
300.5 (1C) |
341.2 |
|
SACKS |
Ware: 8 (2L) |
Babin: 7 |
|
INTs |
Lee: 3 (T2C) |
Coleman: 3 (T2C) |
|
PUNTING |
McBriar: 49.8 (3C) |
Henry (R): 41.8 |
|
KICKING |
Bailey (R): 65 (14/14 PAT; 17/18 FG) |
Henery (R): 49 (16/16 PAT; 11/14 FG) |
NOTES
COWBOYS: In past 10 road games, QB TONY ROMO has completed 260 of 385 (67.5 pct.) for 3,031 yards (303.1 per game) with 17 TDs vs. 6 INT for 99.4 rating. In starts with 10+ att. when he has 100+ rating, team is 29-6 (.828)…RB DE MARCO MURRAY rushed for a franchise-record 253 yards with 1 TD last week, 2nd-most rushing yards in game by rookie in NFL history (ADRIAN PETERSON, 296)…Among NFL TEs, JASON WITTEN ranks 2nd in rec. yards (449) & 3rd in catches (36). Since start of 2007, leads NFL TEs with 401 catches & 4,578 yards. WR-PR DEZ BRYANT is averaging 17.8 yards per catch (339 yards, 19 catches)…LB DE MARCUS WARE has 9.5 career sacks vs. Phi., 2nd-most vs. any opponent. Had 3 sacks in last meeting & has recorded 3+ sacks in game 7 times. Has 14 sacks in past 9, incl. 1 last week vs. StL. Has sack in 8 of past 9. Since start of 2006, has 80 sacks, most in NFL. LB SEAN LEE ties for lead among NFL LBs with 3 INTs. Is only LB in NFL with 2+ INTs (3) & 2 FRs (2)
EAGLES: QB MICHAEL VICK has rush TD in 4 of past 6 at home. With 54 rushing yards in Week 6, Vick (5,002) became 1st QB NFL history with 5,000 career…RB LE SEAN MC COY has 918 scrimmage yards (131.1 per game; 685 rush, 233 rec.) in past 7 division games. Is tied for 2nd in NFL with 8 TDs (6 rush, 2 rec.). Leads NFL with 36 rush 1st downs & 45 total 1st downs…WR-PR DE SEAN JACKSON had career-long 91-yard TD catch in last meeting & career-high 210 rec. yards. Incl. playoffs, has 28 TDs (21 rec., 4 PR, 3 rush) in career & averages 45.2 yards per TD (1,265 yards). WR JEREMY MACLIN has 36 catches (7.2 per game) in past 5. Had 5th career 100-yard receiving game in Week 6 vs. Was. (101). Eagles are 4-1 when he has 100+ rec. yards…S KURT COLEMAN had 3 INTs in Week 6 vs. Was., highest single-game total in NFL this season. CB ASANTE SAMUEL has NFL-best 37 INTs since 2006. DT CULLEN JENKINS ties for lead among NFL DTs with 5 sacks.