Eagles at Cowboys -- Week 13
Where: Cowboys Stadium (turf, indoors/outdoors)
When: Sunday, Dec. 2, 7:20 p.m. (NBC)
Spread: Cowboys by 10
Forecast: indoors/ outdoors (clear, temperatures in the mid 60’s)
Records: Cowboys (5-6); Eagles (3-8)
Past results: Two most recent meetings – Nov. 11, 2012: Cowboys 38, Eagles 23; Dec. 24, 2011: Eagles 20, Cowboys 7 Series record: Cowboys hold a 60-47 advantage.
What matters: Injuries seem to matter for both teams more than anything else. While one might argue that this game is a matchup of two coaches on the hot seat, injuries have piled up for both teams and will likely keep key players out of the lineup. For the Eagles on offense, Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson are all expected to miss the game. The Cowboys have been so beat up defensively, with four starters -- Barry Church, Sean Lee, Kenyon Coleman and now Bruce Carter all on injured reserve. Jay Ratliff and Orlando Scandrick will likely miss the game, too. For the Eagles, you have to wonder just how much fight the players have in them, especially after seeing defensive end Jason Babin released this week, signaling the organization is already thinking ahead. The Cowboys haven’t been good in December but are still just one game behind in the NFC Wild Card race.
Who matters: Whoever the Cowboys can line up at middle linebacker … he will matter in this game. It’s strange to think the inside linebacker position is the one spot that probably has fans the most excited about the 2013 season. But until Lee and Carter can get healthy again, the Cowboys must figure out what to do about those middle spots this year. Dan Connor was signed to be a backup and now he’s starting, alongside Ernie Sims who was out of football a month ago. Brady Poppinga was also on the street before signing this week. And none of them will actually be making the defensive calls as Anthony Spencer is donning the helmet with a headset, a rather rare occurrence for an outside linebacker.
Key matchups: In the last meeting between the Cowboys and Eagles on Nov. 11, rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne had all sorts of problems guarding Philly receiver Riley Cooper, who caught a touchdown pass over Claiborne. The first-round pick from LSU was also flagged for five penalties, one of which negated an interception. With DeSean Jackson out and Cooper expected to play more, it’s likely the two will face each other again quite often. Claiborne said he expects the Eagles to test him “plenty of times” early and often but vows to be ready.
Injuries of note: The Cowboys have been so banged up, especially on defense but should finally get a few key players back to the field this week. Running back DeMarco Murray (sprained foot) has missed six straight games but should be ready. Sean Lissemore also missed six games with an ankle injury but should be back. But the Cowboys will still likely be without Jay Ratliff (groin), Orlando Scandrick (hand), Charlie Peprah (foot) and Ben Bass (ankle).
Inside stuff: If the Eagles indeed start quarterback Nick Foles and running back Bryce Brown as expected, it would mark the first time since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 that one team has faced an opponent with a rookie starting quarterback and a rookie running back in three consecutive games. The Cowboys faced Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson with the Browns, then Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris last week against the Redskins.
Stat you should know: The Cowboys haven’t faced many teams this year worse at taking care of the football than themselves. They rank 29th in the NFL in turnover margin at -11 but the Eagles are worse at -17, good for 31st in the league. The Cowboys took advantage of that in the first meeting this year, winning the turnover battle 2-0. Not only that, but the Cowboys scored twice on the turnovers – a fumble recovery by Jason Hatcher in the end zone and a 47-yard interception return for a score by Brandon Carr. The Cowboys also tacked on a special teams score – a 78-yard return by Dwayne Harris, marking the first time in franchise history to score touchdown returns via punt, interception and fumble in one game.
Looking ahead: The Cowboys are back on the road for the first time in a month when they travel to Cincinnati for a Dec. 9 game with the Bengals. It’ll be the second game in December, a month the Cowboys have not had a winning record in since going 3-2 in 2001, a season they were 5-11.
Prediction: Cowboys 30, Eagles 23
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