Eagles-Cowboys scouting report

Recent history: The teams split last season's games, the Eagles making the playoffs by routing Dallas in the regular-season final, 44-6. The Cowboys lead the series, 55-44.

Eagles: 344.4 yards per game (15th)

Cowboys: 411.1 yards per game (2nd)

Eagles: Donovan McNabb is coming off his best game of the season. Using screens, slants and other quick-developing plays to counter the Giants' pass rush, he had just six incompletions in 23 attempts, and four of those were batted balls. He's thrown just one interception in 133 attempts this season.

Cowboys: Tony Romo has eight TDs, zero interceptions and a 9.27 yards-per-attempt average in the last three games. But he put up those numbers vs. defenses that are ranked 18th, 28th and 31st vs. the pass. Romo is adept at keeping plays alive with his feet, which makes it important to keep him in the pocket.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: Brian Westbrook returns after missing the Giants game with a concussion. He and rookie LeSean McCoy give the Eagles two versatile backs who can line up anywhere in the formation. FB Leonard Weaver's impressive rushing performance last week will give the Cowboys yet one more thing to think about.

Cowboys: Marion Barber and Felix Jones give the Cowboys a lethal thunder-and-lightning combination. Barber is tough to bring down and does most of his damage between the tackles. Jones is a dangerous perimeter runner who is averaging 7.8 yards per carry.

PICK: COWBOYS

Eagles: WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are threats to score from anywhere. Eagles have a league-best nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, including six by Jackson. As a result, TE Brent Celek is getting opportunities in the middle of the field. His 37 catches are tied for most in the NFC for a TE.

Cowboys: After catching just 18 passes in his first three seasons, WR Miles Austin has come out of nowhere to catch 21 for 482 yards and five TDs in his first three starts. He's got size, blazing speed and is a yards-after-the-catch threat. He and TE Jason Witten are Tony Romo's go-to guys.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: LG Todd Herremans' return has helped stabilize this unit a bit, but there still are problems. While they only allowed two sacks last week, Donovan McNabb had four passes batted down. LT Jason Peters, who gave up both sacks vs. the Giants, will have his hands full trying to cope with DeMarcus Ware.

Cowboys: This massive unit, which averages 327 pounds, has played much better in its second second season under o-line coach Hudson Houck. Getting LG Kyle Kosier back was big. He missed 13 games last year with a foot injury. LT Flozell Adams is playing better with Kosier next to him.

PICK: COWBOYS

Eagles: 296.9 yards per game (10th)

Cowboys: 342.1 yards per game (22nd)

Eagles: DTs Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson anchor a tough run defense that is sixth in the league in yards allowed per carry (3.68) and has given up just one rushing TD in the last five games. With Victor Abiamiri out, Jason Babin has been used as a DT in the nickel and has had sacks in each of the last two games.

Cowboys: Converted DE Jay Ratliff, a 6-4, 305-pounder, plays the run well, but also is an effective interior pass rusher. He had 7 1/2 sacks and 31 QB pressures last season and has two sacks this season. Igor Olshansky and Marcus Spears both are solid, block-occupying, 3-4 ends.

PICK: EVEN

Eagles: The Eagles must stop a ground game that is averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry. That task will be made considerably more difficult if injured SLB Chris Gocong (quad, hamstring) can't play vs. the two-tight end sets the Cowboys frequently use on first and second down.

Cowboys: OLB DeMarcus Ware is one of the league's most feared pass rushers. He has Ferrari speed off the edge, but also has the strength to overpower tackles. Cowboys will line him up on both left and right side. Offseason addition of Keith Brooking, a solid run defender and potent inside blitzer, has solidified this unit.

PICK: COWBOYS

Eagles: Eagles have replaced rookie FS Macho Harris with bigger, stronger Sean Jones. Because of his size, Jones is better equipped to move up in the box and play the run. He also matches up better physically with opposing tight ends. Eagles have given up five TDs to TEs in the last four games.

Cowboys: Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins are physical corners who, with the exception of a Week 2 clunker vs. Giants when Steve Smith and Mario Manningham combined for 20 catches, 284 yards and two TDs, have played very well. They have to limit the Eagles' big-play damage in the passing game to give the Cowboys a chance to win.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: Eagles' punt-coverage unit is one of the best in the league. It has held opponents to just 3.9 yards per return in the last six games. Their kickoff coverage hasn't been quite that good, but they've only given up two KRs of more than 34 yards. PR DeSean Jackson has averaged 13.0 yards in the last three games.

Cowboys: PR Patrick Crayton has a TD return in each of the last two games. KR Felix Jones is only averaging 20.8 yards per return, but had a 98-yard TD return vs. Eagles last year. Kickoff specialist David Buehler has an NFL-high 17 touchbacks in 42 KOs. But 12 of those 17 have come at home.

PICK: EAGLES

1. Eagles LT Jason Peters vs. Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware: Ware will line up on both ends, but probably will spend the majority of time on Peters' side. He's one of the league best pass rushers. Peters has been up and down. He gave up both of the Eagles' sacks last week. Advantage: Cowboys

2. Eagles WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin vs. Cowboys CBs Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins: Newman and Jenkins are good corners, but they're going to need help from their pass rush to neutralize the two young speedsters. Advantage: Eagles

3. Eagles FS Sean Jones vs. Cowboys TE Jason Witten: One of the main reasons Jones has replaced Macho Harris is because of the problems the Eagles have been having vs. opposing TEs. Witten's got 37 catches, but just one TD. Advantage: Cowboys

HOT:

Eagles: WR DeSean Jackson. Tied Timmy Brown's franchise record last week with his sixth 50-plus-yard TD of the season. He's averaging 20.9 yards per catch.

Cowboys: QB Tony Romo. Has eight TDs, no interceptions and a 9.27 yards-per-attempt average in the last three games.

NOT:

Eagles: LT Jason Peters. Gave up both of the Eagles' two sacks last week and also was called for a holding penalty that negated a touchdown.

Cowboys: WR Roy Williams. Has just 14 receptions in six games. Has just six catches for 70 yards in the last three games.

Eagles 31, Cowboys 20