4 questions that could define the Eagles-Cowboys game

Per week in the past this installment of Eagles vs Cowboys seemed to be a giant sport. Direct playoff implications, the largest face to face because the 2013 season finale which was primarily a play-in sport. And on Christmas Eve? Big.

Now although the sport is low stakes for the Eagles with Jalen Hurts out for the sport. There’s nonetheless one thing to play for, an Eagles win would clinch the NFC East, the #1 seed within the NFC, and provides the Eagles their first sweep of the Cowboys since 2011. However a loss to Dallas wouldn’t change the trajectory of this season, they solely must win considered one of their three remaining video games to lock up the highest seed. In the meantime the Cowboys have an especially slender path to successful the division that requires them to win out and the Eagles to lose out, so it is a should win sport for them to keep away from beginning the playoffs on the street. However even when they win out they nonetheless need assistance.

So one might be forgiven about not getting labored up about this sport. Bragging rights are good, however the standings don’t care how or when the Eagles win another sport, simply that they win another sport. That provides a component of gamesmanship. Which creates some intrigue of its personal.

How significantly do the Eagles deal with this sport?

The second Eagles-Cowboys sport final 12 months, in Week 18, was performed beneath related circumstances. The Cowboys had already received the division, the one factor left to type out was playoff seeding positioning, which wasn’t totally within the Eagles arms, there have been eventualities the place shedding meant they might play the Buccaneers, and eventualities had been successful meant they might play the Buccaneers. And naturally they might play the Buccaneers. So that they rested everybody of consequence that they may, which is strictly what they need to have carried out. The Cowboys didn’t and rolled to probably the most empty calorie 51 level efficiency possible.

May we see a repeat efficiency? It may work within the Eagles favor to deal with this sport the identical approach.

I might add that with Jalen Hurts anticipated restoration time to have him again in time for the Giants, it might be affordable to play starters for a few possessions in that sport to maintain Hurts sharp, then pull everybody. However sure, the funniest and finest long run consequence could be deal with the Saints sport as should win and the divisional video games as preseason video games.

The Eagles must not fully implode to get the 1 seed. The Cowboys are all however locked into the 5 seed. Don’t overthink this, let everybody benefit from the holidays with out further fear.

Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen vs Dan Quinn, now or later?

One thing that has actually impressed me this season is that the following time Nick Sirianni is outcoached would be the first. The Eagles have had some bizarre video games, trailing the Colts till the top, unable to get out of first gear towards the Bears for approach too lengthy, and the loss to the Commanders. however at finest the opposition coaches held the Eagles coaches to a draw and the remainder was determined by the gamers (and referees). There have been issues the coaches may have carried out higher, however Sirianni and his employees have earned their 13-1 file.

Within the first Cowboys sport Sirianni schooled the Cowboys. Micah Parsons would possibly win Defensive Participant of the Yr, however the Eagles sport plan erased him. Having Lane Johnson provides the Eagles a bonus over anybody, however the Cowboys moved Parsons all around the area and it didn’t matter.

With totally wholesome groups, that is the place the chess match could be. Dan Quinn countering what the Eagles did within the first sport. Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen countering his counters. Quinn countering that, the Eagles countering the counters, and so forth.

As an alternative we’re getting Gardner Minshew. Minshew is a wonderful backup however clearly not the working risk that Hurts is, which is able to change how the Eagles offense operates, and the way the Cowboys protection responds. And that will profit the Eagles.

As a result of why put something on tape? It’s fairly possible that the Eagles will play the Cowboys for a 3rd time within the playoffs. Because it stands at present, the Eagles would get the bye. The Vikings and 49ers will play both the Giants, Commanders, or Seahawks. The Buccaneers and Cowboys want plenty of unusual issues out of their management to occur to not meet because the 4 vs 5 seeds. It’s not in any respect onerous to see the Vikings, 49ers, and Cowboys advancing within the first spherical. Which might arrange Eagles vs Cowboys within the divisional spherical.

Nick Sirianni has carried out a fantastic job of holding his group centered on the week in entrance of them. With Jalen Hurts effectively, harm, this week he needs to be fascinated with the longer term and deal with this like a preseason sport. The Cowboys received’t. As we noticed final 12 months, it’s not of their nature. Allow them to do their factor and save your ammo.

Can Dallas Goedert have a giant sport?

On paper, that is each a nasty sport for Goedert, and one for alternative.

It’s a probably dangerous matchup as a result of the Cowboys protection has been efficient towards tight ends this season. They’ve given up the thirteenth most receptions, however simply the sixth fewest yards and only one landing, they usually’re seventh in DVOA towards TEs. They’ve performed a bunch of dangerous tight ends all through the season, however one of the best they’ve confronted they’ve stored in verify. They held Goedert to 2 catches for 22 yards on 6 makes an attempt, TJ Hockenson to 4 catches for 48 yards when he was with the Lions and 5 catches for 34 yards with the Vikings, and final week even with issues falling aside Evan Engram wanted 8 catches to get to 62 yards.

However there needs to be alternatives for him to outplay what the Cowboys have given up.

Leighton Vander Esch is out for this sport after struggling a pinched nerve towards the Jaguars. Micah Parsons didn’t observe Tuesday and Wednesday with sickness, Mike McCarthy says the group is coping with a bug, although thus far Parsons is the one participant to have been hit onerous sufficient to overlook time. No Vander Esch and a restricted Parsons would assist create some possibilities for Goedert. And judging by how this season has gone, the ball ought to come his approach.

The Eagles offense has persistently fed their go catchers once they go hungry. After AJ Brown had 155 yards within the season opener and Devonta Smith had none, Smith led the group in receptions the following week. After Smith had 169 yards in Week 3, Brown had 95 yards in Week 4, which was greater than Smith and Dallas Goedert mixed. The week after that, Smith and Goedert mixed for 18 receptions. In Week 8 Brown had 156 yards and three TDs, the following week Goedert had his solely 100 yard sport of the season. Brown and Smith are coming off a mixed 307 yard efficiency. If the sample holds, Goedert needs to be in for greater than his fair proportion of targets. And final 12 months when Gardner Minshew began towards the Jets, Dallas Goedert had 6 catches for 105 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

I don’t assume the Eagles are purposely denying one of many Smith/Brown Goedert trio so as to encourage them to have a giant sport the next week. However contemplating the egos of go catchers and the way they at all times need the ball, it isn’t the worst tactic and it’s working for them.

Critically although if the pattern continues this week it’s not as a result of Dallas Goedert hasn’t caught a go in six weeks, however as a result of the match up permits it.

Can Gardner Minshew outplay Dak Prescott?

Let’s be trustworthy. If the Cowboys beat the Eagles with Gardner Minshew, we’re going to low cost it. And there’s nothing mistaken with that. A group shedding on the street with their backup QB is a standard prevalence within the NFL. When the Eagles beat the Cowboys with Cooper Rush beginning for Dallas, it was completely honest for the Cowboys, their followers, and the media to devalue the win. And if the Jalen Hurts-less Eagles lose, it’ll be completely honest to devalue the Cowboys win.

However I like Gardner Minshew’s possibilities on this sport.

In some areas, there isn’t actually even a drop off from Hurts.

Dallas has a wonderful go rush, however they’re not getting a serious benefit with this QB change. Minshew’s profession sack fee is 7.0%, whereas Hurts is 6.9% for his profession and seven.6% this season. Minshew’s common time to throw in 2020, the final season he performed important time, was 2.77 seconds, which was beneath common however not too lengthy to be a difficulty, he was faster than Kirk Cousins, the identical as Dak Prescott, and 0.05 seconds behind Aaron Rodgers. This season Jalen Hurts’ time to throw common? 2.77 seconds, beneath common however faster than Josh Allen, mainly the identical as Jared Goff, and 0.06 behind Dak Prescott.

Minshew won’t remind anybody of Hurts, however he’s not tripping over himself on the market both. Although we solely have one actual sport as an Eagle to guage Minshew, and he was pretty good.

And for what it’s value, his teammates raved about his observe on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Dak Prescott is having the worst season of his profession. He’s already thrown 11 interceptions, two shy of his profession excessive, and his 3.9% interception fee—worst within the league—is over a full share level greater than his subsequent worst season. His 6.9 yards per try are the second worst of his profession and down over a yard from the earlier three seasons.

Minshew and a vanilla offense will be sufficient towards the Cowboys. If it isn’t, it’s nothing to fret about. However whether it is, we’ll all have a merry Christmas.