Cowboys (2-5) at Eagles (2-4-1)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia TV: NBC
Danny Sheridan’s line: Eagles by 3 1⁄
2
Cowboys’ keys to victory: If QB Andy Dalton (concussion) can’t go, Ben DiNucci, a rookie out of James Madison, will make his first NFL start. Dallas will need to lean on the running game, feeding Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, while taking shots downfield to WRs Amari Cooper and Michael Gallop. On defense, Dallas will need to be physical up front.
Eagles’ keys to victory: With the Cowboys just as banged up as Philadelphia, the Eagles will need to establish a physical running game led by RB Miles Sanders, who should return from a knee injury, and Boston Scott. Philadelphia will need to put QB Carson Wentz in a position to be successful with easy throws.
Matchup to watch: Eagles CB Darius Slay vs. Cowboys WR Cooper. The Eagles’ biggest offseason move was the addition of Slay, a former All-Pro who still is among the best. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman grew tired of watching Cooper abuse his secondary and added a shutdown corner who has given the Dallas star fits during their matchups. In four matchups versus Philadelphia, Cooper has 25 catches for 422 yards and three TDs.
Who wins? The Cowboys are the one team in the NFL dealing with as many injuries as the Eagles. Philadelphia is getting healthy at the right time, Wentz is confident and the Cowboys could be relying on a third-string rookie quarterback to right the ship. Philadelphia smells another division title, and a rout on “Sunday Night Football” could be the catapult to another playoff run.
Eagles 31-10