IGNORE THE NOISE
Birds can’t afford to underestimate Dallas in crucial matchup
PHILADELPHIA — In addition to devising an effective game plan for their game tonight against Dallas (8:20 p.m./NBC), the Eagles need to do something else that's just as important:
Block all the other clamor about the Cowboys.
The Cowboys (3-5), for those who haven't been paying attention, are falling apart.
Losers of their last two games, including their first with wide receiver Amari Cooper, who cost them a firstround draft pick, they now are dealing with numerous key injuries/illnesses that have weakened their offensive line and linebacking corps. They also are on the road after a Monday night game — rarely a winning prescription — against an opponent who's had an extra week to prepare.
What's more, perhaps their most famous former quarterback, Hall-of-Famer and FOX broadcaster Troy Aikman, has called for an organizational reboot.
“Go through the list and this team, over a long period of time, has been what it's been," Aikman said in an interview with 1310 The Ticket. “It hasn't always mattered who the head coach has been. So to me, if you're asking me, I'd say there has to be a complete overhaul of the entire organization.”
Aikman went on to say he's heard from sources inside the building that “there's a lot of dysfunction.”
None of this bodes very well for the Cowboys … unless the Eagles look at all of that and perhaps come to the conclusion that they don't need to show up to win tonight.
That's certainly not in Chris Long's thoughts.
“That thought never crossed my mind until you asked me the question,” Long said. “I look at Dallas as a really good football team that could come in here easily and beat us.
Unless we're on our ‘A' game, that's what's going to happen.”
Coach Doug Pederson would prefer a selective noise filter.
“I think you block it out, but I think you have to be aware of it because you get a team that — and I would say we're both kind of in the same boat,” he said. “Both teams are looking to win football games, and whether you call it desperation, whether you call it must-win, both teams are kind of in that same situation.
“You can throw out all the articles, you can throw out the records, you can throw out just about everything when it comes to games like this, especially in your division.”
An argument can be made that the season will ostensibly be over for the loser of this game. Most Eagles fans probably would agree.
Even in a thoroughly mediocre NFC East, which might be conquered this season with as little as eight wins, this early November game is as important as they come.
The Eagles all expect the Cowboys' best. And when they're at their best, they're pretty darned good.
They have one of the league's top and most dynamic backs in Zeke Elliott and have recently added Cooper to help with the uneven performances of thirdyear quarterback Dak Prescott.
Even though they no longer have Hall of Fame-bound tight end Jason Witten, and their offensive line is no longer an elite unit, they can still do damage.
“There's some tough outs there,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “Cole Beasley is playing really good football. I guess I mentioned the running back. I think Prescott has elevated his game.
“Like I said, they certainly present some challenges. They've been hot sometimes this year, too, as an offense. They've had some times where they haven't been, but they've had some times where they heated up that it was hard for defenses to stop them. It's going to be a good challenge for us.”
The Cowboys' defense has been better, holding opponents to 3.6 yards per carry on the ground while spreading their 23 sacks among 14 players.
“It's a good group, really good group, active group,” Pederson said. “Third down, they're — of course this is a total defense, they're like third in the NFL, total defense. These guys get after you, especially on third down, and it's very active, meaning a lot of games, a lot of stunts.”
They should be able to handle all of that, so long as they focus on what matters.
“I think we will,” defensive end Brandon Graham said. “We need the win just as much as them.”
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