By Mark Halpern
When you speak of rivalries in sports, you know certain matchups are always played more competitively than some other games during the season. In sports, you have the Yankees/Red Sox, Lakers/Celtics, Bruins/Canadiens, and Cowboys/Eagles.
No love is lost, as both teams must play flawless football to win this game. When the Cowboys faced off against the 49ers and had to leave slumped over their horses in shame, something happened. It was like what Admiral Yamamoto said on his Battleship (after Pearl Harbor), and Kyle Shanahan possibly said on the field: “All I fear we have done is awoken a sleeping giant.” Since the 49er game, Dallas is 2-0 with wins over the Chargers and, just recently, the Rams (AKA the city of Los Angeles), in which the defense stopped the passing attack fast.
What was very important about shutting down Kupp and Nacua is it proves this secondary is elite (not that we didn’t know this before.) The Cowboys’ Defense has an even more enormous task than stopping the Rams’s wide receivers. Now, they have to do it again, but on a much more challenging level. Jalen Hurts has had a good season primarily because his two top wide receivers, A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, are better than Kupp and Nacua. Brown has had an outstanding year and has broken the record for the most consecutive games with 125 plus yards and a touchdown. Brown has the size and speed to beat you underneath or over the top. Smith is more like a slot receiver who can play the outside. It’s different from his size that does it. It’s his speed and route running that makes defenses have headaches trying to control him. Like last week, I expect Gilmore to be shadowing Brown most of the game and will have the same type of over-the-top help (a reason Kupp really couldn’t get going), and the defensive line has to bottle up D’Andre Swift, who has had a good year. The line will likely do its job in stopping the run, but the key will be getting pressure on Hurts. Hurts is talented with his legs, and his arm is also good. If you have watched his play over the past few weeks like I have, you have to notice that he, when he is under pressure, makes very careless mistakes, which is why Washington almost beat them twice. So, the defense needs to get pressure on hurts and force some great turnovers. Hurts is also dealing with some leg injury.
The offense has to replicate the game they had against the Rams. Dak, besides the INT, was excellent, throwing 4 TDs, running the offense, and converting on third down. Time of Possession will be essential in this game, as both team’s Offensive and Defensive lines are good. The time either line gives Dak, or Hurts will be crucial. I expect the Eagles to blitz like they have been, but this offense is different. It’s the new age one. Dak has been much better this year with keeping the interceptions down and making more intelligent plays. Dak is getting everyone involved to ensure they are getting the right squad on the field. There has been a minor regression in the running game, not because anyone is hurt. It is because teams know if Pollard and company start running and moving the ball, the passing game will open wide up, and then Dallas owns you.
I don’t expect this to be a high-scoring event, but not a low one. If you love to watch a good battle, then watch the trench game between both team’s offensive and defensive lines. I look for the Cowboys to win and return them to the NFC East 24-20.
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