Dallas Cowboys Gameday News And Notes

It's gameday again, and this is one of the games that fans of both the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles circle on their calendars. These are two teams and fan bases that don't exactly pay any attention to the whole brotherly love thing when they confront one another. This is a good, old fashioned, nasty rivalry.

By now you know that both teams go into this needing a win. You have probably been reading all about it here at BTB. Here's a look at what the rest of the world is saying about the matchup.

First of all, it is going to be a chilly game at Lincoln Financial Field. The forecast for the game is for an afternoon high in the low to mid forties, dropping down into the thirties by kickoff. Pretty good football weather, actually.

NBC did a good job picking this one for Sunday night, because it is generally seen as the most significant game of the weekend. 

It’s only Week 8, yet the future of one contender/pretender could be decided in the NFC East. The loser of Dallas’ visit to Philadelphia will be at a distinct disadvantage in the wide-open division.

More links about the game at the Linc after the jump.

Rob Ryan's comments about the Eagles are getting a lot of play in the Philadelphia media. The article at philly.com just grabs a bulletin board quote or two. You can go back and read OCC's transcript of Rob's press conference to see everything in context if you want.

Also at philly.com, there's a look at the matchup between the Eagles' suddenly potent running game and Dallas' stingy rush defense.

Flipping it over, one article thinks that the biggest worry for the Eagles' defense is all-everything tight end Jason Witten.

"The tight end has a knack of getting open," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Friday. "He knows how to do that."

And doesn’t Reid know it.

It’s no secret that tight ends have enjoyed some banner games in the past few years against his team, but Witten leads the pack.

Then, of course, there is the newest Cowboys star, rookie running back DeMarco Murray to worry about.

And there's the matchup between Nnamdi Asomugha and Miles Austin.

Maybe it's just easier to look at the matchup top to bottom (from the DMN view). And of course the mothership has a writeup. Or you can get the take from the official Eagles website. And there is always the view from San Antonio.

There are lots of reports about cutting Tashard Choice to make room for rookie Bruce Carter. Here's one for a sample.

At lot less noticed is the return of Jason Hatcher from injury, which may be a factor.

Oh, and have you heard about this new kid Sean Lee? Victor Butler, Keith Brooking and some guy named Jason Garrett have some very nice things to say. And I had to grab this quote:

But it was his interception of Tom Brady that really stood out. With that pick, Lee joined Donnie Edwards as the only linebackers to intercept Brady and Peyton Manning.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the truth of something is verified by how loudly some deny it? That was what I was thinking about when I saw this article from Philadelphia about how the Cowboys-Eagles matchup just isn't what it used to be (because, of course, the Cowboys don't matter any more).

I found a very interesting take out of Chicago on where the Cowboys are this season, and where the team was at the same point in the first Super Bowl championship season. (Taken from a new book "Breakthrough ' Boys" about that 1971 season.)

Finally, during the week there were some guests from over at Bleeding Green Nation that bristled when some comparisons were made here between the 2011 Eagles and the 2010 Cowboys. Funny, somebody in Washington said much the same thing.

Lots of good stuff out there this week. Here is hoping that the Cowboys have a good game and bring home a win.