Cowboys Sweep Of Eagles Will Gain First-Round Bye
Zach Buchanan - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 14, 2007 6:32 PM
GAME SET
WHAT: Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (12-1)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:15 pm (CST)
WHERE: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
TELEVISION: Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver)
BIG ISSUE: Another week, another goal to accomplish for the Cowboys. This week, with a win over the Eagles at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys can obtain a first-round bye in the playoffs, which means one less game to play on the road to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys beat the Eagles handily in Philadelphia earlier in the season, 38-17, so facing them in the comfy confines of their home stadium should provide an extra advantage. They still must not underestimate the 5-8 Eagles, though, especially after eeking out a nail-biter against 6-7 Detroit last week.
The playoff picture for the Eagles looks pretty bleak. They are three games out of the top wild-card spot, held by the Giants, with three games to play, and with a cluster of teams vying for the final wild-card spot, a playoff berth seems unlikely since they are still two games behind the 7-6 Vikings and a game back of Detroit, New Orleans, Arizona and Washington. Still, the Eagles would love nothing more than to put a damper on the Cowboys' magical season, especially against former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens, who remains on strained terms with the club.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Cowboys may still rank fourth in the league in rush defense allowing only 90.7 rushing yards a game, but they have looked more and more vulnerable to rushing attacks as the season has progressed. Although not allowing a 100-yard rusher yet, three times in their last five games the Cowboys have allowed a running back to gain more than 90 yards rushing.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips will be the first to tell you the Eagles are better than their 5-8 record. In their eight losses, the Eagles have lost six of those games by eight points or less, meaning they were one possession away from winning when the clock hit zero. If those games had gone the other way, you're looking at an 11-2 team ahead of the wild-card-leading New York Giants for second place in the division.
ONE-ON-ONE: Last week it was suggested no one would stop Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, then lo and behold, the Lions did, holding him to just three catches. Owens faces an even tougher match-up this week against Eagles corner Lito Sheppard, who has seven interceptions in his last eight games against the Cowboys, only going two games without registering a pick. Owens had his way against Sheppard last time the two met in Philly, catching 10 balls for 174 yards and a touchdown. It will be interesting to see if the Eagles turn Sheppard loose on Owens or if they choose to double him all over the field as the Lions did.
As Eagles running back Brian Westbrook goes, so go the Eagles. Westbrook is just as much a threat as a receiver as a runner, leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,752 rushing and receiving yards. Westbrook gashed the Cowboys for 155 total yards earlier in the year - a bunch late, though - so inside linebackers Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, and safety Roy Williams need to make sure all those out-of-position mistakes they made against the run last week have been corrected.
SUPPORTING ROLE: It looks like Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman will be ready to play, but after sitting out Wednesday's practice with knee and toe injuries, he may be limited to being the nickel corner. That means corner Jacques Reeves, who started every game until last week, may again be thrust into the starting lineup. Reeves started in the first game against the Eagles and played a big part in holding Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to less than 300 passing yards and only one touchdown.
With starting tight end L.J. Smith already ruled out for Sunday's game, the Eagles will likely rely on a combination of Matt Schobel and rookie Brent Celek to fill the void. It shouldn't be a tough void to fill, since Smith has been largely ineffective all season due to nagging injuries, but if the Eagles have seen the Detroit-Dallas game tape (and they have), they know that Dallas surrendered 60 receiving yards to little-used Lions tight end Sean McHugh - and it could have very well been more - so Schobel and Celek could see a decent amount of passes coming their way.
HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys attributed last week's run defense woes to lack of preparation for the run and being out of position, which most likely contributed quite a bit. This week, simply being in position won't cut it against Westbrook and the Eagles. The Cowboys will have to make textbook tackles against the Eagles' run game in order to force McNabb to throw. Once the Eagles are forced to take to the air, the Cowboys can focus on getting pressure on McNabb, who, despite all his protests to the contrary, is not the same mobile threat he once was. He has been sacked 30 times already this year.
The Cowboys can expect two things from the Eagles, according to quarterback Tony Romo: All out blitzing or everyone dropping back into coverage. Nothing in between. The Cowboys know how to beat the blitz, as evidenced by Romo's lob touchdown pass to running back Marion Barber against the Lions last week, but if they drop a slew of defensive backs into coverage, likely doubling Owens and tight end Jason Witten, the Cowboys will punish them with Barber and backfield mate Julius Jones by running the ball.
HEALTH WATCH:
Eagles
Two players are listed as out for Sunday's game: Starting tight end L.J. Smith (knee) and backup running back Correll Buckhalter (concussion). Despite practicing fully Friday, starting free safety Brian Dawkins (back) and starting offensive tackle Jon Runyan (knee) are listed as questionable. Starting wide receiver Reggie Brown (shin) and starting defensive tackle Mike Patterson (ankle) practiced fully on Friday and are listed as probable. Despite only having limited participation in Friday's practice, starting running back Brian Westbrook (knee) is also listed as probable.
Cowboys
Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) was finally spotted running routes at practice without pads this week, but is still listed as having not practiced all week and out for Sunday's game. Starting corner Terence Newman (knee/toe) had limited participation Friday and is listed as questionable, although Phillips seems optimistic about his ability to play. Starting wide receiver Patrick Crayton (ankle) and starting right tackle Marc Colombo (ankle) both had a full practice and are listed as probable.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 14, 2007 6:32 PM
GAME SET
WHAT: Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (12-1)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:15 pm (CST)
WHERE: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
TELEVISION: Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver)
BIG ISSUE: Another week, another goal to accomplish for the Cowboys. This week, with a win over the Eagles at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys can obtain a first-round bye in the playoffs, which means one less game to play on the road to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys beat the Eagles handily in Philadelphia earlier in the season, 38-17, so facing them in the comfy confines of their home stadium should provide an extra advantage. They still must not underestimate the 5-8 Eagles, though, especially after eeking out a nail-biter against 6-7 Detroit last week.
The playoff picture for the Eagles looks pretty bleak. They are three games out of the top wild-card spot, held by the Giants, with three games to play, and with a cluster of teams vying for the final wild-card spot, a playoff berth seems unlikely since they are still two games behind the 7-6 Vikings and a game back of Detroit, New Orleans, Arizona and Washington. Still, the Eagles would love nothing more than to put a damper on the Cowboys' magical season, especially against former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens, who remains on strained terms with the club.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Cowboys may still rank fourth in the league in rush defense allowing only 90.7 rushing yards a game, but they have looked more and more vulnerable to rushing attacks as the season has progressed. Although not allowing a 100-yard rusher yet, three times in their last five games the Cowboys have allowed a running back to gain more than 90 yards rushing.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips will be the first to tell you the Eagles are better than their 5-8 record. In their eight losses, the Eagles have lost six of those games by eight points or less, meaning they were one possession away from winning when the clock hit zero. If those games had gone the other way, you're looking at an 11-2 team ahead of the wild-card-leading New York Giants for second place in the division.
ONE-ON-ONE: Last week it was suggested no one would stop Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, then lo and behold, the Lions did, holding him to just three catches. Owens faces an even tougher match-up this week against Eagles corner Lito Sheppard, who has seven interceptions in his last eight games against the Cowboys, only going two games without registering a pick. Owens had his way against Sheppard last time the two met in Philly, catching 10 balls for 174 yards and a touchdown. It will be interesting to see if the Eagles turn Sheppard loose on Owens or if they choose to double him all over the field as the Lions did.
As Eagles running back Brian Westbrook goes, so go the Eagles. Westbrook is just as much a threat as a receiver as a runner, leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,752 rushing and receiving yards. Westbrook gashed the Cowboys for 155 total yards earlier in the year - a bunch late, though - so inside linebackers Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, and safety Roy Williams need to make sure all those out-of-position mistakes they made against the run last week have been corrected.
SUPPORTING ROLE: It looks like Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman will be ready to play, but after sitting out Wednesday's practice with knee and toe injuries, he may be limited to being the nickel corner. That means corner Jacques Reeves, who started every game until last week, may again be thrust into the starting lineup. Reeves started in the first game against the Eagles and played a big part in holding Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to less than 300 passing yards and only one touchdown.
With starting tight end L.J. Smith already ruled out for Sunday's game, the Eagles will likely rely on a combination of Matt Schobel and rookie Brent Celek to fill the void. It shouldn't be a tough void to fill, since Smith has been largely ineffective all season due to nagging injuries, but if the Eagles have seen the Detroit-Dallas game tape (and they have), they know that Dallas surrendered 60 receiving yards to little-used Lions tight end Sean McHugh - and it could have very well been more - so Schobel and Celek could see a decent amount of passes coming their way.
HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys attributed last week's run defense woes to lack of preparation for the run and being out of position, which most likely contributed quite a bit. This week, simply being in position won't cut it against Westbrook and the Eagles. The Cowboys will have to make textbook tackles against the Eagles' run game in order to force McNabb to throw. Once the Eagles are forced to take to the air, the Cowboys can focus on getting pressure on McNabb, who, despite all his protests to the contrary, is not the same mobile threat he once was. He has been sacked 30 times already this year.
The Cowboys can expect two things from the Eagles, according to quarterback Tony Romo: All out blitzing or everyone dropping back into coverage. Nothing in between. The Cowboys know how to beat the blitz, as evidenced by Romo's lob touchdown pass to running back Marion Barber against the Lions last week, but if they drop a slew of defensive backs into coverage, likely doubling Owens and tight end Jason Witten, the Cowboys will punish them with Barber and backfield mate Julius Jones by running the ball.
HEALTH WATCH:
Eagles
Two players are listed as out for Sunday's game: Starting tight end L.J. Smith (knee) and backup running back Correll Buckhalter (concussion). Despite practicing fully Friday, starting free safety Brian Dawkins (back) and starting offensive tackle Jon Runyan (knee) are listed as questionable. Starting wide receiver Reggie Brown (shin) and starting defensive tackle Mike Patterson (ankle) practiced fully on Friday and are listed as probable. Despite only having limited participation in Friday's practice, starting running back Brian Westbrook (knee) is also listed as probable.
Cowboys
Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) was finally spotted running routes at practice without pads this week, but is still listed as having not practiced all week and out for Sunday's game. Starting corner Terence Newman (knee/toe) had limited participation Friday and is listed as questionable, although Phillips seems optimistic about his ability to play. Starting wide receiver Patrick Crayton (ankle) and starting right tackle Marc Colombo (ankle) both had a full practice and are listed as probable.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:26 AM
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