Prior to last week’s annihilation of the New York Giants, the Eagles weren’t considered by many to hold a true “identity” as a team. After all, they’d beaten up on several teams, but also found themselves on the losing end of a dismal matchup with the Raiders, and struggled finding an overall consistency. However, with their Week 8 performance, the Birds captured a great sense of both offensive explosion and defensive dominance, defeating the Giants to place themselves atop the NFC East. This week, the Eagles (5-2) will once again face a division rival, but this time around, the winner of the contest will gain sole possession of the division lead, and position themselves as prime contenders for solid season stretch runs, and quite possibly even the postseason. Of course, there is plenty of football left for almost any team to compete at a high level and push for success, but as we edge the season midway point, the standings are beginning to shape. Tomorrow night’s game with the Dallas Cowboys (5-2) is arguably the most important game of the week in regards to the entire slate of NFL competitions, for it will grant one team a motivating victory and top spot in the NFC East, and the other a big loss, dropping them from the top of the division. No matter the outcome, this Week 9 showdown between two high-powered squads is sure to deliver an evening filled with highlights, tension, and pure fun.

Week 9 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys

2008 Record: 9-7

Last Meeting Between Teams: Week 16, 2008: PHI-44 DAL-6

Evaluation: Dallas has long been an organization centered around acquiring top, big-name players and creating a team of superstars, so to speak. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones has always been in support of making controversial moves to improve his franchise. Ever since his reign began in 1989, the seemingly stubborn California native has executed questionable transactions, from firing legendary head coach Tom Landry to–just over the last few seasons–harboring possibly three of the league’s most arrogant players, in outspoken WR Terrell Owens, former suspended criminal CB Adam “Pacman” Jones, and DT Tank Johnson, who had several “run-ins” with the law. Despite these efforts to cram cocky, yet talented players on the Dallas roster, Jones has failed to bring his team to a playoff victory since 1996. Last year, inconsistency and perhaps a bit of over-confidence were named as strong factors in the Cowboys’ collapse to miss the postseason, especially in the final game of the season in which the ‘Boys needed to beat the Eagles, but embarrassed themselves, crumbling and losing by a humiliating score of 44-6. In the offseason, Dallas did rid of Owens and Adam Jones, and despite not adding too many significant names to the mix, has been mostly on track thus far, winning 5 of their first 7 games and proving that they have a young and high-potential offense, as well as a stout defensive unit. The Cowboys are certainly capable of knocking the Eagles from the top of the division, but so are the Birds. Tomorrow’s game will probably depend on which team turns the ball over the least, and which team capitalizes on it’s opportunities.

Key Matchups:

• OLB Akeem Jordan (PHI) vs. TE Jason Witten (DAL): Because the Eagles will primarily place MLB Will Witherspoon closer to the defensive front to contain Dallas’ running attack, one of Jordan’s biggest responsibilities will be to cover Witten. This season, the young LB has done an excellent job of pass coverage, as he has already notched 2 interceptions. However, Witten is simply one of the best Tight Ends in the entire league, and will need to be shut down. As we witnessed in almost all of the Eagles’ first few games, the team had trouble keeping opposing TEs under wraps, but lately they’ve done a quality job. As long as the athletic Jordan can stick to Witten, the defense should have a lot less to worry about in regards to holding the Cowboy offense.
• TE Brent Celek (PHI) vs. OLB DeMarcus Ware (DAL): Just as Jason Witten must be stopped for the Eagles to have success on defense, the Cowboys will have focus on Philly’s own dangerous TE–Brent Celek. The 3rd-year player leads the team with 37 receptions, and is on pace to experience a 1,000-yard receiving campaign. Ware recently earned a contract extension from the Cowboys for his hard work on the defensive side of the ball, and the aggressive LB is clearly the life of the Dallas D. Not only will Celek have to break free on catching routes to succeed, but he will also have to do a nice job blocking Ware in situations where a blitzing play is called and the 6′4″, 262 lb. beast is sent in to rush the Eagles’ passing game.
• WR Jeremy Maclin (PHI) vs. CB Terence Newman (DAL): The Eagles will likely have their number 1 WR, DeSean Jackson, double covered for most of the game, and therefore the rookie Maclin might see more of an opportunity to shine. He will be matched up with the veteran Newman on the majority of his snaps, and this player battle might turn out to be one of the most significant of the bunch. Of course, playing in his 7th season in the league, Newman still possesses decent speed and coverage techniques, but he has been overcome quite a few times this year. Especially with the acceleration and awareness that Maclin has displayed incredibly so far, this matchup may just turn dramatically in favor of the Eagles, but you can never take anything for granted.
• Defensive Line (PHI) vs. QB Tony Romo (DAL): While the factor of pressure on Romo is absolutely important, there isn’t a need to list a specific player in this situation, as the entire Eagle defensive line will need to prove their dominance. The Birds have exploited Romo’s tendency to throw inaccurately and make crucial mistakes when put into uncomfortable positions before, and of course they will attempt to do so again. If the DEs, particularly Trent Cole, can edge Romo in and out of the pocket, and the DTs can place pressure up the middle of the line, then  there is almost a guarantee that at least one mistake will be made by the Cowboys’ passer. After all, if any Quarterback is constantly surrounded by opposing defenders, he is bound to make a bad decision at some point in time.

What to Watch For…

• Although starting RB Brian Westbrook is expected back in the lineup after missing last week with a concussion, the first taste of reserve acquisition P.J. Hill may be offered versus the Cowboys. If Westbrook is relieved quite often, as planned, then we are sure to see some more action from rookie backup LeSean McCoy, and probably even FB Leonard Weaver because of his great performance against the Giants. But with short-yardage situations a common factor in these types of hard-fought games, we might get a glimpse of Hill on the field, at least acting as a decoy if not anything. The undrafted rookie is a powerful runner, and at 5′10″, 218 lbs., is the largest Running Back on the roster. We might instead see 3rd-string Eldra Buckley take these types of carries, but the thought of Hill making his debut on the field seems possible this week.
• One Cowboy playing tomorrow evening will be facing his former team. That player is backup CB and emergency kick/punt returner Allen Rossum, who began his career in 1998 with the Eagles. Rossum was only signed by Dallas midway through October after being released by the 49ers, and isn’t expected to see much playing time, but the fact that he used to be a Bird–and was brought into the NFL via the Draft by the Birds–is something interesting to ponder as gameday approaches.
• Because OLB Chris Gocong is tending to a pair of leg injuries, rookie 7th-round Draft pick Moise Fokou is in line to make his first career start vs. the Cowboys. Gocong is listed as “Doubtful” to play, and therefore Fokou has been taking repetitions in practice as the first-team Outside Linebacker, opposite Akeem Jordan. The rookie out of Maryland has primarily been a special teams player so far this season, but saw a bit of playing time last week when Gocong exited the game. In addition to Fokou’s likely start, it is also expected that Sean Jones will start at FS for the second week in a row. Macho Harris continues to recover from an ankle sprain he sustained a few weeks ago, but is listed as “Questionable” and judging by staff comments, it doesn’t seem very accurate to assume Harris will participate in Week 9.

Injury Report (Eagles):

RB Brian Westbrook (concussion) Questionable

WR DeSean Jackson (sprained ankle) Probable

WR Jeremy Maclin (foot pain) Probable

WR Kevin Curtis (surgery; sprained knee) Out

OT Jason Peters (lingering effects of sprained ankle) Probable

OG Max Jean-Gilles (strained shoulder) Probable

OG Nick Cole (knee pain) Probable

OG Todd Herremans (surgery; foot stress fracture) Probable

DE Chris Clemons (shoulder, elbow pain) Probable

DE Darren Howard (ankle pain) Probable

DE Victor Abiamiri (sprained knee) Doubtful

DT Brodrick Bunkley (knee soreness) Questionable

OLB Chris Gocong (strained quad muscle, strained hamstring) Doubtful

CB Dimitri Patterson (strained quad muscle) Questionable

FS Macho Harris (sprained ankle) Questionable

Projected Team Lineups:

As confident or nervous as you may be about this game, whenever the Eagles and Cowboys meet to face off in yet another classic rivalry battle, there is definitely a load of excitement, and with the Eagles riding at the top of the division and a chance to take it for themselves, there is no reason to be looking down upon Sunday night.