The battle for second.
Cowboys vs. Eagles on a Monday night used to mean something. This year it’s a battle for second place. Dallas and Philadelphia are both 2-4, and the winner gets sole possession of second in the NFC East. The Giants were leading the division at 4-2-1 as of Week 7.
The Eagles are in freefall. They’ve dropped four straight, and they’ve been outgained by 650 yards, the worst margin in the league and the franchise’s worst six-game start since 1999. Against Carolina, they punted on their first five possessions, a first under Nick Sirianni. Lane Johnson retired four games into the season, and the offense under first-year coordinator Sean Mannion hasn’t found its footing. Then came the Jalen Hurts news. He’s on injured reserve, and Tanner McKee is the starter. The team has said little about Hurts, so I’m sticking to what’s confirmed.
Dallas has its own problems. The Cowboys have lost two straight and rank third-to-last in yards allowed per game. The offense has stalled too. Dak Prescott threw two interceptions against Green Bay, and Dallas converted just 4 of 13 third downs. Over two games, the Cowboys have scored 29 points total.
The most interesting wrinkle is how Dallas has been playing. Prescott has thrown 60% of his passes short over the last two games, and Dallas is 0-5 under Brian Schottenheimer when he reaches that mark. The problem is that short passes are exactly what Philadelphia defends well: the Eagles rank third in the league in success rate allowed on short throws. If the Cowboys keep nibbling, they’ll be playing into the Eagles’ hands. They need to get the ball downfield to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
On the other side, McKee is making his first extended run as a starter since his Stanford days, and he’s doing it behind a patched line with Jordan Mailata as the lone veteran anchor. The early returns on Mannion’s under-center play-action game are rough: five attempts against Carolina, zero completions, two sacks.
Saquon Barkley could change that. He’s questionable but was a full participant Saturday, and the Eagles ran for just 57 yards in the two games he missed. If he plays, McKee gets easier downs. If not, it’s a long night.
There’s also a fun subplot: Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker spent the last two seasons coaching defensive backs in Philadelphia. He knows the building and the people he’s facing.
The Eagles are without DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Nolan Smith, and Michael Carter II. Edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt are questionable, which matters because Prescott was under pressure all night against the Packers. Dallas will be without Dee Winters, KaVontae Turpin and Drew Shelton, but should get linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Cobie Durant back, a real lift for a defense that needs one. Official statuses won’t be confirmed until pregame inactives.
Third downs and turnovers are the obvious wild cards. Both offenses are sloppy, so one takeaway in the wrong spot could decide the game. Red-zone execution matters too, since Philadelphia hasn’t scored more than two touchdowns in a game since Week 2. I’d also watch how aggressive each coaching staff gets. Sirianni is facing questions about his future, and Parker’s defense is under constant scrutiny, so the temptation to gamble or play scared will be real.
Five things to watch:
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Whether Barkley plays and how the Eagles use him early.
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How many deep shots Dallas takes.
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Whether Philadelphia’s depleted pass rush can get home on Prescott.
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How McKee handles his first pressure of the night.
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Whether Overshown and Durant actually stabilize Dallas’s defense.
The bottom line: Dallas has the healthier roster and the more functional offense, so the favorite label makes sense. But the Cowboys have lost games they should have won all season, and a stalled offense doesn’t fix itself against a defense built to stop what it’s doing. Philadelphia’s route is narrower: a healthy Barkley, a clean game from McKee, and a defense that keeps Dallas in short throws. In a game between two flawed teams, the one that gives the ball away less probably wins.