Bullz-Eye's NFL Game of the Week
10/05/2006
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We’ll be dissecting one big NFL match-up every week throughout the season, whether it's a long-standing rivalry, a divisional clash or a game with playoff implications.
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This week’s match up: Dallas (2-1) at Philadelphia (3-1)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 8
Time: 4:15pm ET FOX
RESULT: Eagles 38, Cowboys 24
Why to tune in:
Not sure if the general public knows this or not, but Terrell Eldorado Owens is facing his old team on Sunday. In case you haven’t been beaten over the head already by all of the Owens-Eagles media hype, let me say once again that Eldorado (seriously, that’s his middle name) is in fact going back into Philly. Back into the city in which he destroyed the beloved Eagles just a season ago and left a wake of nothing but utter hatred from fans. For a city that booed and threw snowballs at Santa Claus, I’d hate to see the verbal and possible physical barrage that Owens will face come this weekend. There is, however, also a game on Sunday, and it does pit two teams that have the inside track for the NFC East crown. The Eagles botched their only NFC East contest of the season at home against the Giants 30-24 (in a game they led 24-7 heading into the fourth quarter). Dallas has won two straight after losing its opener in Jacksonville and QB Drew Bledsoe has played considerably well in the Cowboys’ two victories.
When the Cowboys have the ball:
How bad do you think Brian Dawkins, Jeremiah Trotter and Michael Lewis want to see Owens come across the middle? More than likely they won’t get their chance since Bill Parcells is going to want to run Julius Jones right at a rush defense that has been hit or miss this season. The Eagles are allowing 94 yards on the ground compared to 244 through the air. Those numbers are okay, but the Eagles have only faced one really potent offense this season and that was the Giants, a loss. The Cowboys are running the ball extremely well right now and should take a cue from the Giants, who were able to get the Eagles best run stuffer off the field enough in their win to have a margin of success against Philly on the ground. New York neutralized LB Jeremiah Trotter by using three wide receiver sets (Trotter doesn’t play many passing downs) and then running the ball right at the middle of Philly’s defense. With Trotter on the field, it’s extremely difficult to move the ball on this D, but Dallas has enough wide outs to pull off what the Giants did and could certainly copycat their approach. Although most of Philadelphia’s focus will be on Owens, the Eagles better watch for Terry Glenn on the other side of the field. Hardly noticed on Sundays with Owens now in the fray, Glenn was able to burn the Titans last week for two scores and is the Cowboys leading wide receiver.
When the Eagles have the ball:
Statistically speaking, no team is having a better offensive season than Philadelphia. Not entirely statistically speaking, there is no other quarterback that is having a better season than Donovan McNabb. McNabb currently has a QB rating of 106.0 and has played near flawless football in all four of Philadelphia’s games this season. WR Donte Stallworth has given the Eagles reason to quickly forget about what Owens brought to the table in the passing game, but Stallworth has been hobbled of late because of a hamstring injury. Stallworth didn’t play against the 49ers two weeks ago and was limited in a Monday night game against the Packers earlier this week. Of even greater concern, though, is RB Brian Westbrook’s knee injury. Westbrook is listed as day-to-day while dealing with a bone bruise, but he is expected to play against the Cowboys. Of course, he was expected to play against the Packers but was scratched just before game time. Dallas brings a healthy and stingy defense to town and, thanks to LB DeMarcus Ware and SS Roy Williams, the Cowboys are ranked ninth against the run. Opponents haven’t been able to pass much on Dallas either, so if McNabb is again without Stallworth, he may have to run for his life to win this game.
Prediction:
If there is one quarterback right now that could single handedly bring his team to victory, it would be McNabb. However, if Stallworth and Westbrook can’t go for the Eagles, it’s going to be like a person walking into a gunfight with a licorice whip. Even if Stallworth and Westbrook play, they can’t be too effective if they are still dealing with their respective injuries. Philadelphia loves to throw the ball and after seeing Correll Buckhalter fumble twice on the goal line against the Packers Monday night, head coach Andy Reid won’t have any choice but to pass if Westbrook is out. And that, my friends, plays right into the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, who have defended the pass well this season. Look for the Cowboys to bang the ball at the Eagles defense with Julius Jones and Marion Barber and then take their shots downfield with play action passes to Glenn and TE Jason Whitten.
Do I think the Eagles are the better football team? Some days I do…but not this Sunday, even with the revenge factor of Eldorado coming back to town – Cowboys 27, Eagles 20.
Questions or comments on this game? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.