Eagles-Cowboys: What we're watching
Each week, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch will tell you the things he will be keeping his eyes on during that week’s game.
Eagles-Cowboys: What we're watching
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Each week, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch will tell you the things he will be keeping his eyes on during that week’s game.
Get Heat on Jess’ Boyfriend. In their Week 2 meeting, Tony Romo enjoyed excellent protection. The Eagles had zero sacks and zero hurries. The result: Romo completed 21 of 30 passes, three for touchdowns. In the Cowboys’ recent losses to Baltimore and Pittsburgh, Romo threw five interceptions. Most of those were the result of pressure. The guy has played turnover-free football in just 6 of 38 career starts.
Keep McNabb Safe. The Eagles have allowed just 22 sacks this season, the fewest in the Andy Reid era. But they’re going up against the league’s best pass-rush. The Cowboys have a league-best 58 sacks, 25 in the last four games alone. Linebacker Demarcus Ware, who will be spending much of the day dancing with left tackle Tra Thomas, has eight of those 25.
Control Jason Witten. Witten had seven catches for 110 yards in the Cowboys’ Week 2 win over the Eagles. But the Eagles have done a much better job of neutralizing tight ends in the second half of the season. Last week, they held the Redskins’ dangerous Chris Cooley to four catches for 28 yards.
Red Zone, Not Dead Zone. David Akers is second in the NFC in field goal attempts (36). That’s not a good thing. It means a lot of offensive drives are withering in the red zone. Eagles are 24th in the league in red-zone offense (46.7) and have converted just two of their last 12 red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.20In case you were wondering, the Cowboys have the fifth best red-zone defense in the league (43.4).
Shorten Field With Return Game. Last week, the Eagles started nine of their 12 possessions at no better than their own 20. Five began inside their own 10. Return men DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps were non-factors. Jackson has been a non-factor on punt returns for a while now. He’s averaged just 5.5 yards per return in the last 6 games. He’ll have some opportunities Sunday. Cowboys are 23rd in punt coverage.
Andy Reid will prevent the Eagles from taking down Dallas. He will call his usual predictable game. He'll start off with a short pass left or right on the first two downs, then a short run into the line, then a punt. He will pass 40-45 times, never establish a running game, or even try to, and another season will mercifully end. But hey, we could be in Detroit, right?— bdfromyeadon- That's right, we'll just exist here in "Just Good Enough" Land. No more Super Bowls, no last places. Just Mediocrity.— atp2007
- how sad an Iggles-Cowboys final season game match up will more than likely be meaningless.......Reid gots tu GOES, brother.....— cheeks4two
Comment removed.- Doesn't the putrid stench, of death, matter anymore? Eagles are Hx Braman's in France, thoroughly amused. R U there, Jeff???— mccormickbom
- AOEFE When's the last time the Eagles had a "BOOM!! There goes the BOOM!!" Running Back???? Jeff and Joe count up all your Custom Eagles Jersey proceeds...Andy have another creme filled pastry...— MJPD345
- AOEFE When's the last time the Eagles had a "BOOM!! There goes the BOOM!!" Running Back???? Jeff and Joe count up all your Custom Eagles Jersey proceeds...Andy have another creme filled pastry...— MJPD345
- I don't think they'll beat Dallas— Gold
- I don't think they'll beat Dallas— Gold
- The Eagles are dead. They have lost their desire to win. They need a leader right now and they do not have one. They need a take charge player and they do not have one. They need a play caller that knows what the situation is at all times and they do not have one. They need someone that understands clock management and they do not have one. all in all they need a lot of things and they do not have them. WHAT THEY REALLY NEED TO DO IS TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND TO EACH MAN THEY CAN SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ANDY REID SHOULOD TAKE A DOUBLE LOOK IN THE MIRROR. HOW CAN YOU HAVE BUCKHOLDER AND ONLY RUN HIM ONCE ??? 16 CONSECUTIVE PASS PLAYS, COME ON ANDY. WAKE UP.— Leo46
- I will watch the game and then start counting just who should not be back in 2009. No PO's, so let us see who has the guts to play hard even though they are out, or will be before the game even starts. None of those 3 teams will lose and the Birds know it. Andy says he never watches scores. He won't have to.— KGKoons
- Dallas will win and I will have my Dallas jersey on at the game. Yeah!— jagmanna
- We all know what will happen here. In the slight chance that the teams that need to lose actually do lose on Sunday, the Eagles will come out and show the ineptitude on offense they have displayed last week, throwing for at least 4 interceptions. If they are eliminated prior to the game, they will come out and find a way to beat Dallas, just when it means absolutely nothing except for losing more places in the draft next year.— ghostrider5525
- game over man,, game over!— osi is hurt boohoo
- Really? Does anybody really care at this point? This team painted themselves into a corner with no margin for error. Now, they need a miracle of almost biblical proportions to save them from themseleves. No, Andy, finish the job. Take this season all the way into the ground. Good night. Goodd-bye.— pog
call fat Andy's first 4 plays: 1st down: 3 yd out pass to westbrook 2nd down: screen play to westbrook 3rd down: buckholder draw play (wont see him rest of game) 4rth dwn: punt— daveH- I'll enjoy the game regardless, just because I like football. Seriously, I watch at least 10 games a week. Just set up that fav list, and boom...So, Although the game most likely won't mean anything, it's still fun to guess which Eagles are going to show up. A blow out in either direction will make or break my day... However, I am hoping Andy Reid pours on the pass and we get crushed. I think it's the only way he's going to be on his way out of here. We get crushed because we refuse to run the ball again, and this city will be burning A.R. pictures everywhere. Have fun with it, and don't light anything of importance on fire!!— MFPhils
- c'mon people--bad seaso....no playoffs....whatever...this is dasslas we are talkin about LET'S BEAT THEM AND LET THEM FINISH IN LAST PLACE!! E-A-G-L-E-S— almar169
- Comment removed.
We'll be looking for you, jagmanna.- Comment removed.
