Sunday night football action features the NFC East rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles (5-0, 2-0 home) against the Dallas Cowboys (4-1, 2-0 away). The Cowboys handed the Eagles a 51-26 thrashing the last time these two teams played each other in early January.
The rivalry kicks off at 8:20 p.m. EST inside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is a 6.5-point favorite, and the over/under total is 42.0 points.
What to Know – Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys come in with the possibility that starting quarterback Dak Prescott could return to action after missing the last four games with a thumb injury. Dallas has done just fine in his absence, winning all four contests.
Credit to backup Cooper Rush for the quarterbacking play. Rush hasn’t done anything spectacular since taking over, but he has yet to turn the ball over and has thrown four touchdown passes. He has passed for 839 yards while completing 61.0% of his throws.
Starting running back Ezekiel Elliott has accounted for a majority of the carries out of the backfield, rushing 81 times for 305 yards. Change-of-pace back Tony Pollard’s numbers are actually better, averaging 5.6 yards per carry on 44 attempts and 248 yards.
While the passing game has lacked without Prescott, playmaker CeeDee Lamb continues to see the majority of the targets and leads the Cowboys with 28 receptions, 341 yards, and a pair of TDs. Noah Brown has taken over a starting role at wide receiver and is putting up career numbers, hauling in 19 receptions for 279 yards and a score.
What to Know – Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia is the only remaining unbeaten team in the NFL and has a favorable schedule over the next month and a half. The Eagles have done it with both an efficient, balanced offense and a stingy defense.
Jalen Hurts stats might not show it, but the third-year quarterback is having a successful season leading the Eagles. Hurts hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 3, but his ability to challenge a defense with his arm or legs is paying dividends. The former Alabama and Oklahoma star has thrown four touchdowns and rushed for six scores.
The rushing attack ranks fifth in the NFL, churning out 160.0 yards per game. Miles Sanders leads the Eagles’ ground game with 414 yards and three touchdowns on 87 carries.
The addition of former Titans’ star wide receiver AJ Brown has given Hurts a major weapon to utilize in the passing game. Brown leads the team in targets (45), receptions (28), and yards (436). DaVonta Smith looks sharp opposite of Brown is his second year as a pro, tallying 353 yards and one TD.
The Pick is In
The status of Prescott will be all the talk on Sunday, but Rush has done all he needs to do over the four games he’s started under center.
Philadelphia and their home crowd are going to make it tough for whoever is under center, and the Eagles’ offense keeps Philadelphia undefeated with a comfortable victory.
The Pick: Philadelphia Eagles -6.5
