Eagles News: Cowboys play the QB they got against the QB they wanted

Cowboys liked Carson Wentz from the start, but are happy with Dak Prescott - ESPN

Because of the time together in Mobile, Alabama, the Cowboys did not need to conduct a private workout with Wentz. He did, however, visit the Cowboys' Valley Ranch facility before the draft for a formal interview.

Despite playing at North Dakota State, the Cowboys weren't scared off by the small-school stigma. While the production was there, he only started 23 games in college, including seven as a fifth-year senior because of a broken wrist.

"We grilled him for hours and had a chance to be around him, saw his work habits, his work ethic," quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson said. "He's a very impressive guy."

The Cowboys liked Wentz so much that he was the highest-rated quarterback on their draft board.

How the Cowboys will beat the Eagles with their offensive line - SB Nation

When I look at NFL matchups for a weekend, I want to watch the best offensive line. Most often, it’s the best offense against the best defense.

This week it’s the Dallas Cowboys high-powered offense, lead by their rushing game, against a stout Eagles defense, lead by their big guys up front. A quick breakdown of the stats to show y’all just how close this matchup is on paper.

The Eagles defense is third in points per game; Cowboys are seventh in scoring

The Eagles defense is fifth in yards per game with 307; Cowboys are third in total yards with 401.5

The Eagles are third in sacks, with 20; Cowboys are third in sacks allowed, with 9

Where the Cowboys have a statistical advantage is on the ground, and they will rely on this against the Eagles. Dallas averages the most rushing yards per game at 161.2 with a 4.8 yard per carry average. The Eagles are all middle of the road in defensive stats, including allowing 4.5 yards per carry. This is where the Cowboys will attack the Eagles.

Why aren't the Philadelphia Eagles better on third down? - Penn Live

Beyond the failure to work into third-and-shorts, neither coach has pinpointed an exact cause for the struggles. They have hinted at reasons on various occasions, though.

Pederson has a tendency to steer the conversation to third downs when discussing the maturation of rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, so perhaps the first-year coach believes the key to improvement rests on the shoulders of the redhead from North Dakota.

"The other thing that we're seeing and that we're getting him, is situational football: just knowing down and distance," Pederson said Wednesday. "If it's third down, if it's second down, [if it's] first or second down, what are defenses trying to do? Who do we have in the game personnel wise? Those are all things now that we're trying to bring into his game, and he understands that."

Eagles must stop Cowboys' Beasley - Daily News

Jenkins is a former corner. He moonlighted in the slot in nickel packages last year for Schwartz's predecessor, Billy Davis.

"I'm looking forward to it," Jenkins said. "I think it's the best position for me. But similar to last year, it will come down to what the matchups are and how we want to match up with their personnel.

"It's a fluid package. At any given time, you could see Jaylen Watkins, Jalen Mills, myself, really anybody else down in the middle based on how we want to match things up."

Jenkins was matched up against Beasley quite a bit in the two games against the Cowboys last year, including the nine-catch, 112-yard, two-touchdown fiasco.

"He played against (Beasley) last year, so that helps," said Carroll. "He has a familiarity as far as who he's going against. He knows the (Cowboys') scheme inside-out. He's played corner before, so he has that versatility."

From the archives: Remembering the Eagles-Cowboys 'Bounty Bowl' - Daily News

But this was a day when the postgame interviews were a hundred times more scintillating than the play on the field, when the accusations were flying faster than the Eagles were scoring, and when a plump, 5-9 former Eagle and current Cowboys placekicker named Luis Zendejas threatened to deck a portly, peaceful man named Buddy Ryan.

It was a day when a livid Jimmy Johnson, the Cowboys' rookie coach, charged in an emotional postgame outburst that Ryan had put bounties of $500 on Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and $200 on Zendejas, whom Ryan released just three weeks ago.

Hey, they played a football game, and Wrestlemania IV broke out.