Adrian Fedkiw
It’s Dallas week and despite the injuries to Tyron Smith and Sean Lee along with the suspension of Ezekiel Elliott, the Philadelphia Eagles surely won’t be feeling sorry for the Cowboys.
A win on Sunday gives the Birds a stranglehold of the NFC East, they’d be four games up with just six to play.
EAGLES PASSING GAME VS. COWBOYS PASS DEFENSE
PHI- 104.5 PASSER RATING (3/32), 240 YPG (14/32)
DAL- 96.4 PASSER RATING ALLOWED (23/32), 221 YPG ALLOWED (14/32)
Carson Wentz has throw at least four touchdowns in three of his last five games and has 17 in all during that span. Three of those scores have gone to Alshon Jeffery, whose rapport with Wentz is seemingly growing each week. Jeffery caught six passes for 84 yards and two scores against the prolific secondary of Denver, just the second time all season he’s recorded four-or-more receptions in a game.
Ajayi used as a decoy on that drive, PA fake holds Miller up just enough for Wentz to float that beautiful pass to Jeffery for the TD! pic.twitter.com/8CUk7yrGIX
— The Bitter Birds (@AdrianFedkiw) November 5, 2017
There was a little bit of a scare Thursday when Jeffery was limited in practice with an ankle injury, but he told reporters after practice that it was something he’s been dealing with and he’ll be ready to go against Dallas.
Another one who will be ready to go Sunday is Zach Ertz, who missed the Denver game due to and hamstring. But with him sidelined, the duo of Brent Celek and Trey Burton combined for five receptions, 80 yards and a score. The absence of Lee should open up the field more for the Eagles at the tight end position.
Wentz with his 3rd TD of the half and his 22nd of the season, insane! pic.twitter.com/IjkNOwJmoU
— The Bitter Birds (@AdrianFedkiw) November 5, 2017
The Cowboys have a solid defensive line, led by the DeMarcus Lawrence, who leads the NFL with 11 1/2 sacks. But he’s at left defensive end and left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai won’t have to worry about him. Big V will be going against Tyrone Crawford. Inside the Eagles will have to worry about David Irving, a menace with six tackles in five games after being suspended the first four. He has really long arms and a nice swim move.
EAGLES RUNNING GAME VS. COWBOYS RUN DEFENSE
PHI- 4.4 YPC (10/32), 136.8 YPG (3/32)
DAL- 4.3 YPC ALLOWED (24/32), 104.7 YPG ALLOWED (12/32)
With just four days to absorb the Philadelphia Eagles playbook before he played the Denver Broncos, Jay Ajayi spent most of his first day as an Eagle with running backs coach Duce Staley in a meeting room learning the scheme and protection assignments.
When Staley exited the room, he confidently stated “we’re good, we’re good.”
Clearly!
Ajayi saw 17 snaps in his Eagles debut against the Broncos, including eight carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. One of those totes went 46 yards to the house. Expect a much healthier dose of the Jay Train this Sunday as he’s had another two weeks to learn the playbook.
Hop aboard the Jay Train, 46 yds to the house!! pic.twitter.com/6K2YG16F6u
— The Bitter Birds (@AdrianFedkiw) November 5, 2017
It also helps the Eagles tremendously that Lee isn’t going to play. When Lee plays, the Cowboys stifle running backs to just 3.5 yards per carry compared to 5.5 when he doesn’t. Jaylon Smith did not fare well when Lee exited last Sunday.
This play is a great example of what Dallas misses when Sean Lee is out. I have no idea what Jaylon Smith is doing here. He’s responsible for the B gap and once he takes his first few steps vertically into that pile of trash he took himself out of the play. pic.twitter.com/uv7wTscWXv
— The Bitter Birds (@AdrianFedkiw) November 17, 2017
Corey Clement has taken the snaps away from Wendell Smallwood. Clement scored a trio of touchdowns against the Broncos and is a much better pass protector than Smallwood.
Clement with a quick chip on Miller before darting in for the TD from 15 yards out on the screen. pic.twitter.com/EhJHA2xPhP
— The Bitter Birds (@AdrianFedkiw) November 5, 2017
COWBOYS PASSING GAME VS. EAGLES PASS DEFENSE
PHI- 81.2 PASSER RATING ALLOWED (9/32), 221 YPG ALLOWED (14/32)
DAL- 96.0 PASSER RATING (9/32), 212 YPG (20/32)
The Cowboys star left tackle Smith will miss his second straight game due to a groin and back injury and the Cowboys coaching staff needs to do a lot better of a job of helping keep Dak Prescott upright. Smith’s backup Chaz Green allowed six sacks to Adrian Clayborn alone and Dallas yielded eight sacks total. Despite surrendering sack after sack, Green continued getting no help. There should’ve been running backs chipping on his side, you could’ve placed a tight end on his side or even roll the pocket away from Green.
None of that happened and Dallas was embarrassed.
Byron Bell will get the start at left tackle on Sunday and I would certainly expect him to get help coupled with a quick passing game to neutralize the pass rush.
A person with knowledge of the situation tells me Cowboys LT Tyron Smith will not play Sunday (groin). Byron Bell will start instead.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) November 16, 2017
Dez Bryant has always given the Eagles fits and has topped the 100-yard mark against the Birds in three of the last four meetings, with the lone exception being Week 17 last season when the Cowboys played their starters minimally with the NFC already wrapped up. He also has five total touchdowns during that span, but Prescott is going to have to get protected in order to get maximum use of Bryant.
And how about Ronald Darby, who will finally return to action after dislocating his ankle in the Eagles’ Week 1 meeting against the Washington Redskins. We’ll see how the coaching staff works him back into the lineup.
COWBOYS RUNNING GAME VS. EAGLES RUN DEFENSE
PHI- 3.6 YPC ALLOWED (5/32), 66.4 YPG ALLOWED (1/32)
DAL- 4.8 YPC (1/32), 143.6 YPG (2/32)
Elliott will serve the second of his six-game suspension on Sunday and withdrew his appeal on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott is withdrawing his appeal, per a source. Elliott will serve his six-game suspension and return to the Cowboys on Christmas Eve against Seattle.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2017
Another way that Dallas can attempt and help with the Eagles’ pass rush is by establishing a running game, which it didn’t really do effectively last week until the second half when the Falcons had already established a healthy cushion. Elliott’s backup Alfred Morris carried the ball 11 times for 53 yards, but the offensive line struggled generating open running lanes for him to run through in the first half.
The problem with trying to run the ball against Philly, it has the best run defense in the NFL.
PREDICTION:
When you look at all facets of the game, this is a huge mismatch on paper. But they don’t play games on paper, do they? This game has a similar feel to the game in 2013 when Kyle Orton started for Tony Romo in a winner-take-all showdown for the NFC East in Week 17. The Eagles needed a late Brandon Boykin interception to squeak out a 24-22 victory, but there was a lot of confidence heading into the contest with Romo out. Well, in this one, Zeke, Lee and Smith are all out. So will this game be closer than people think? I still say no, especially if Dallas can’t establish a run game early. I’ve got the Eagles in a laugher.
34-13 Eagles
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