Eagles vs Cowboys promises to be a thriller
What could be more exciting than an Eagles vs Cowboys grudge match on Christmas eve? That’s exactly what we have in store on Saturday as the 13-1 Philadelphia Eagles take the trip to Jerry World to try and cement their place at the top of the NFC East. They’ll likely have to do so without MVP candidate, Jalen Hurts, making this matchup even more intense.
How to watch Eagles vs Cowboys
What: Eagles vs Cowboys
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
When: Saturday December 24th, 4:25PM EST
How: FOX, NFL Gamepass
Eagles vs Cowboys betting odds
- Moneyline: Eagles +200 | Cowboys -250
- Against the spread: Eagles +5.5 | Cowboys -5.5
- Over/Under: 46.5 points
Eagles vs Cowboys betting preview
The Philadelphia Eagles may have only scraped past the Bears last time out, but they’re now riding a five-game winning streak and look untouchable as far as the NFC playoff race goes…but that’s when Jalen Hurts is in the picture. The dynamic quarterback suffered a shoulder sprain on Sunday and is doubtful for Saturday’s contest.
This is huge for the Cowboys, who are coming off of a disappointing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and need every bit of luck they can get if they are to catch the Eagles in the race for the #1 seed. The Dallas offense ranks 6th in the NFL in yards per game over the last 3 weeks and without Jalen Hurts around to keep up, there’s going to be an awful lot of pressure on the Philadelphia defense.
The Eagles defense has really come alive in recent weeks, especially against the run. Both Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry were stifled in their attempts to gash through the Eagles D, which bodes well for their matchup against Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott. Stopping the run and putting pressure on Dak to throw the ball has to be the gameplan here.
The good news for the Eagles is that Dak Prescott’s resurgence has hardly been notable. He’s tossed 5 interceptions over his last 3 games and he’s thrown at least 2 in three of his last four appearances. Considering that the Eagles rank 1st in the NFL in opposing INT’s thrown, this unit should be unfazed by what Dak has been able to do through the air. Reed Blankenship has been a great spot-starter, adding some real stability on the back end and allowing the front four to do what they do best, which is also a worry for the Cowboys.
Both teams rank inside the top-3 in sacks per game, but that’s hardly a surprise. The two rivals have long been known for building their teams through the trenches, although there will be a particular spotlight on the versatile Micah Parsons after his comments on Jalen Hurts last week. One has to wonder whether or not this Eagles team will be playing with some extra venom to avenge their QB.
The Elephant in the room here is obviously Gardner Minshew. He’s only started two games since signing with the Eagles last season. One was a brilliant effort and the other was a slightly disappointing week 18 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. However, given the context of the game, I think we can excuse a bad day at the office.
He’s seen game action three times this season, but his first start is going to come on the road against Dallas. With such a strong offensive line, a returning Dallas Goedert, and a potent offense, it’s hard to imagine him really struggling.
Eagles vs Cowboys Betting pick
Sure, the Eagles are without Jalen Hurts, but this will be one of the very few times this year we get to bet the Eagles with a points cushion. I’m not overly sold on Minshew’s ability to win the game outright, but I think this team is too talented to drop more than a score to the Cowboys and a QB who has suffered some real turnover woes as of late.
Pick: Eagles +5.5
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Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
