Cowboys at Eagles: Writer predictions for backup quarterback showdown

The Cowboys find themselves in an odd position. They have been eliminated from the playoffs and essentially admitted defeat by shutting down CeeDee Lamb for the year, but they also have a golden opportunity to play spoiler against the Eagles this week in a game that will see Kenny Pickett make his first start in over a year, with Jalen Hurts ruled out with a concussion.

Despite all that, the Cowboys are underdogs. Philadelphia’s 7.5-point spread is the third-largest margin for Week 17. Optimism is low for the Cowboys, even after covering the spread in each of their last five games. Do our writers agree with the pessimism?

When Philadelphia has the ball

All eyes on Saquon

The Eagles are rolling with Kenny Pickett at quarterback this week, but the Cowboys’ number one defensive priority is Saquon Barkley. The former Giants running back leads the league in scrimmage yards and accounts for 38% of their total offensive production on the year.

Two of the Eagles’ three losses this year have seen Barkley held to less than 100 rushing yards and less than 120 total scrimmage yards. Taking Barkley out of the game is easier said than done, but consider this: Barkley has been held to under 80 scrimmage yards just three times all year, and one of them came against Dallas. Mike Zimmer’s plan seemed to work last time around, and he’ll need to repeat that this week.

When Dallas has the ball

Avoid third down

The Eagles defense has been playing lights out recently. They come into this game ranked first in yards per game, fifth in points per game, third in EPA/play, and inside the top four in both EPA/dropback and EPA/rush. There’s not much this defense hasn’t been good at lately.

If there’s an area where they’re potentially susceptible, though, it’s in facing teams that move the chains early. As great as this defense has been, they’re hardly seeing the field; only the Dolphins defense has played fewer snaps on the year. Their sixth-best third down defense has a lot to do with that. If the Cowboys can get in a rhythm and move the chains early, they might be able to test this defense in ways they haven’t been tested much this year.

Now onto the predictions from your BTB writers…

Tom Ryle (9-6):

The Cowboys surprised me last week, but I don’t see how they can work enough magic to win against a team that still has their top offensive weapon in Saquon Barkley and a tough defense. I could see it staying close until half before the Eagles pull away.

Eagles win 38-23.

Matt Holleran (9-6):

The Cowboys have been playing much better football of late, but this test against the Eagles will be their toughest matchup in weeks. Even with Jalen Hurts unable to play, Dallas will have their hands full trying to slow down the high-powered Eagles offense.

The Cowboys have done a good job of keeping games close and competing in the second half, but I think they take a big step backwards this Sunday. The defense can’t stop the run and the offense does not do much without CeeDee Lamb.

Give me the Eagles, 31-16.

Jess Haynie (10-5):

I haven’t believed in the Cowboys’ current mojo as much as I should, but CeeDee Lamb probably took a lot of it with him. Even with the Eagles being without Jalen Hurts, their defense will have an easier job of shutting Dallas down than it did the last time.

Philly 27, Boys 20.

Mike Poland (8-7):

The Cowboys recent form makes this harder to breakdown. But another problem figuring out which team has the upper hand this week is the Eagles quarterback position. The Eagles went out and signed Ian Book to the practice squad this week due to Jalen Hurts being ruled out.

Kenny Pickett has been dealing with a rib injury all week so we have no idea how effective he will be on Sunday. That being the case it changes the outlook of this game considerably. The one saving grace is the Eagles running game, where they rank first in the NFL. Plus they still have Saquon Barkley healthy who not only leads the league in rushing but is set to break the 2,000 yard barrier in rushing.

This is a tough call, but let’s stick with home field advantage and say the Eagles win, 27-23.

Dana Bartholomew (11-4):

This game was already going to be a tough one for the Cowboys as they face the NFC East division leaders on Sunday. Now that CeeDee Lamb will be out the rest of the season, the game looks even tougher.

While I think the Cowboys defense will be able to hold their own, I don’t think it will be enough for a Lamb-less offense with Cooper Rush at the helm to overcome. While Jalen Hurts’ game status may sway the score, I still reluctantly pick the Eagles to win this week.

Eagles win, 24-10.

Brian Martin (9-6):

Not only is there no reason for the Dallas Cowboys to even try to win this game, but without CeeDee Lamb their hopes of doing so are probably slim to none.

Because of that, I’ll take the Philadelphia Eagles 27-9.

RJ Ochoa (11-4):

It seems like the Cowboys have ordered the code red on this game so to speak as they are understandably shutting CeeDee Lamb down for the season. While Philadelphia has little to play for due to very opposite reasons, I think that Dallas will be in control for a lot of this game but that it will ultimately end with the Eagles winning and everybody getting what they want.

Give me Philadelphia, 27-24.

David Howman (10-5):

Everyone thinks the Cowboys are waving the white flag after the CeeDee Lamb decision, but I don’t see it. We just watched them play their most competitive game of the year a few hours after being eliminated from the playoffs. They’re certainly not laying down against the Eagles, of all teams. Not when Mike McCarthy has a couple of grudge matches in this one, against both Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio.

Losing Lamb hurts, but I think it’ll lead to some added creativity from McCarthy. Meanwhile, I think Mike Zimmer will force several big mistakes out of Kenny Pickett. I think we see some big plays from KaVontae Turpin, Donovan Wilson, and even Hunter Luepke in a fiercely competitive rivalry game and, call me crazy, I think Dallas does the thing.

Cowboys win 29-24.

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