NFL Game of the Week: Cowboys vs. Eagles

This goes beyond football. For a lot of fans, this rivalry is personal. It divides houses, families and friends.

Dating back to 1960, the Dallas Cowboys (5-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (7-1) have met 128 times. For a large majority of the matchups, these two teams and fans always felt there was more at stake than an increase in the win column. It simply means more.

After last season featured a backup quarterback and a starter in both games (Cooper Rush vs. Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew vs. Dak Prescott), the two teams will finally meet while playing their best football with the whole country watching.

Let's break this matchup down further.

Away From Home

The Cowboys and Eagles have lost three games this season, all of which have been on the road.

Dallas’ two losses both were incredibly disappointing performances as they were upset by Arizona 28-16 and dominated by San Francisco 42-10.

Philadelphia’s only loss came in Metlife Stadium via a shocking upset at the hands of the Jets 20-14. A turnover-heavy game (four total) resulted in the Eagles’ first loss of the 2023 campaign.

The Philadelphia crowd will be rocking, and a fast start to the game will be vitally important for Dak and the Cowboys.

In their last game with both teams healthy in Philadelphia, the Eagles sprinted out the gates to a 10-0 lead in the 2019 meeting to decide the NFC East. Dallas eventually lost, ending their season.

Star Receivers

A.J. Brown is on a historic run. The former Tennessee Titans receiver has racked up six straight 100-yard receiving games.

With two more performances of 100-plus yards, Brown will tie the record held by Calvin Johnson and Adam Thielen (eight games).

Brown now faces a Dallas defense without Trevon Diggs, who is out for the rest of the year after suffering a torn ACL in practice. But make no mistake about it, this Dallas passing defense is a force.

The Cowboys moved DaRon Bland from nickel corner to the outside, and Bland has set the franchise record for most pick-sixes in a single season, and he still has 11 more games to add to his current total of three.

Stephon Gilmore will likely draw the primary matchup with Brown, and it is quite clear he is still playing at his all-pro level from years ago this season. Gilmore is allowing a 46.3 passer rating when targeted this season, which ranked third in the NFL.

As for Dallas, CeeDee Lamb has been more involved in the passing attack. Lamb put up 117 yards against the Chargers followed by 158 yards in a matchup with the Rams.

Trench Warfare

The winner of this game could very well be decided by the performance of the offensive and defensive lines.

While the Philadelphia pass rush may be the better overall unit, the Cowboys have the best pass rusher on the field in this game Sunday.

Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons has continued to be a game wrecker, tallying 43 total pressures through seven games (fourth in the NFL).

However, the Eagles have had the former Penn State edge rusher’s number, limiting No. 11 to only half a sack through three matchups.

Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick changed the game on Christmas Eve in 2022 in Dallas with two sacks and a forced fumble.

Look for one of these two playmakers to force Hurts or Prescott into a poor throw, resulting in a turnover.

Rocco Pellegrino is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email rdp5387@psu.edu