Eagles at Cowboys Week 16 game predictions

I was going to start this post with some reasons why we shouldn’t feel good about the Philadelphia Eagles’ chances to beat the Dallas Cowboys today. It’s only natural to worry about misplaced confidence in this team, right?

But I guess I’m ready to be hurt again because I actually believe the Eagles are going to beat Dallas.

Part of that belief comes from the Cowboys not being very good. So they’ve beaten Brandon Allen and Nick Mullens the past two weeks. Now their defense is suddenly OK? I think not. The truth is they’ve benefited from an unnaturally high volume of takeaways (seven total and five of which were fumble recoveries) that shouldn't be as sustainable moving forward.

The Cowboys’ defense has been consistently bad at stopping the run this season. No team is worse off in terms of yards per rush attempt allowed. The Eagles should be able to have success pounding the rock with Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard, who was elevated from the practice squad, as well.

Jalen Hurts’ mobility figures to be especially valuable to the Eagles in this matchup. There’s also reason to feel good about his ability to move the ball with his arm after posting 338 passing yards last weekend. Perhaps Hurts can connect with DeSean Jackson, who’s back this week, on some big shots down the field.

Flipping it around, the Eagles’ defense has their work cut out for them defending the likes of Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup. Those guys are obviously going to be more threatening than they were in the last meeting with Ben DiNucci under center. Andy Dalton gives the Cowboys at least some level of competency at quarterback.

It’s going to be critical for the Eagles to force pressure when they can. Dalton likes to get rid of the ball quickly; he has the league’s sixth fastest time to throw. Philly’s going to need their defensive line to come up really big against an injured Cowboys offensive line that’s missing Tyron Smith, La’el Collins, and Zack Martin. Missing Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat hurts ... and it’s not great that Fletcher Cox has been banged up ... but the Eagles should still have enough to force Dalton into a big mistake or two.

I find it hard to believe the Cowboys are really about to win three games in a row. The Eagles aren’t good, sure, but neither is Dallas. The feeling here is the Eagles win and the Carolina Panthers find a way to upset the Washington Football Team to set up an NFC East title game in Philly next week. Feels destined to happen.

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Score prediction:

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My predictions:

Score prediction: 31 to 28, Eagles win.

Bold prediction: Darius Slay becomes the first Eagles cornerback to log an interception since Sidney Jones in Week 17 last year.

Your predictions:

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