Eagles-Cowboys Scouting Report

Recent history: Dallas won both regular-season games this season, including last Sunday's 24-0 rout at Cowboys Stadium. Dallas leads the series, 57-44.

OFFENSE

Eagles

357.9 yards per game (11th)

Cowboys

399.4 yards per game (2nd)

Quarterback

Eagles

Donovan McNabb's receivers dropped at least five passes last Sunday, but he also missed some throws good QBs have to make. He hasn't played nearly as well vs. 3-4 defenses this season (.583 completion percentage, 7 TDs, 6 INTs in 5 games) as he has vs. 4-3s (.617, 15 TDs, 4 INTs in 9 games).

Cowboys

The biggest difference in Tony Romo this season is he isn't turning the ball over. He had a better interception rate than Donovan McNabb this season (1 INT every 61.1 attempts compared to McNabb's 1 every 44.3) and fumbled just six times after putting it on the ground 23 times the previous two seasons.

Pick: Cowboys

Running back

Eagles

The Eagles ran the ball a season-low 10 times last Sunday, but the truth is their ground game hasn't been very effective for the better part of the last month. Over their last four games, they've averaged just 3.5 yard per carry. In his last five games, rookie LeSean McCoy has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry.

Cowboys

Marion Barber and Felix Jones, who combined for 182 yards vs. the Eagles last week, are very different runners who keep a defense off-balance. If the Eagles let the fleet-footed Jones get to the outside like they did on his 49-yard TD gallop last week, they're going to have problems.

Pick: Cowboys

Receiver

Eagles

Eagles receivers dropped at least five balls. For the second straight game, the Cowboys did an effective job on big-play WR DeSean Jackson. In 2 games vs. Dallas, Jackson has just five catches for 76 yards. He also aggravated a groin injury last week, which could effect his ability to kick it into high gear.

Cowboys

The Eagles know they need to do a better job jamming TE Jason Witten at the line than they did Sunday. He caught six passes for 76 yards and a TD. Cowboys have had success with wide-receiver screens in both games vs. the Eagles. Sunday, they got the ball to Miles Austin on the outside on a pair of screens.

Pick: Eagles

Offensive line

Eagles

This unit has committed five false-start penalties in the seven-plus quarters since Jamaal Jackson went down. His replacement, Nick Cole, held his own last week vs. Pro Bowl NT Jay Ratliff. LT Jason Peters shut down LB DeMarcus Ware. But RT Winston Justice struggled with red-hot LB Anthony Spencer.

Cowboys

RT Marc Colombo, who has missed the last seven games with a broken fibula, is expected to return this week, though his replacement, Doug Free, has played very well. LT Flozell Adams has done a good job against the Eagles' top pass-rusher, Trent Cole, holding him to two sacks and four hurries in their last six meetings.

Pick: Cowboys

DEFENSE

Eagles

321.1 yards per game (9th)

Cowboys

315.9 yards per game (9th)

Defensive line

Eagles

The Cowboys attacked the left side of the Eagles' defense with their first three runs Sunday, gaining 58 of their 179 rushing yards and setting the tone for the day. With Sean McDermott dialing down the blitz, the front four wasn't able to get pressure on Tony Romo. RE Trent Cole had zero sacks or hurries.

Cowboys

Pro Bowl NT Jay Ratliff was neutralized pretty effectively by C Nick Cole and wasn't much of a factor Sunday. Nickel end Stephen Bowen had a good game. His inside rush set up the first sack of Donovan McNabb by Bradie James. DEs Marcus Spears and Igor Olshansky did a good job on a handful of run plays.

Pick: Eagles

Linebacker

Eagles

The Eagles were most effective vs. the run with Jeremiah Trotter at MIKE in their base package rather than Akeem Jordan. But Trotter can be exploited in the passing game because of his lack of speed. The Eagles' problems last week prompted Sean McDermott to dust off his benched 265-pound SAM 'backer, Chris Gocong.

Cowboys

Perhaps the biggest reason for the improved play of the defense has been OLB Anthony Spencer. With offenses focused on blocking LB DeMarcus Ware (team-high 11 sacks) and NT Jay Ratliff, Spencer is getting a lot of one-on-one opportunities and is winning many of them. He has six sacks in the last six games.

Pick: Cowboys

Secondary

Eagles

Tony Romo has sliced and diced this group pretty well in the first two meetings, completing 66.1 percent of his passes and averaging 9.09 yards per attempt. While the Eagles had 25 interceptions this season, they also gave up 27 TD passes. They've had far too many communication breakdowns.

Cowboys

Donovan McNabb has completed just 54.5 percent of his attempts and thrown just one TD in eight quarters vs. Dallas this season. The Eagles' passing game feeds off big plays to DeSean Jackson, but the Cowboys have thus far prevented those. Jackson has just five catches for 76 yards and no TDs in the first two games.

Pick: Cowboys

Special teams

Eagles

DeSean Jackson led the NFL in punt-return average (15.2), but has been stymied by the Cowboys, returning three punts for 18 yards in the first two meetings. Punt-coverage unit has done a good job in both games vs. the Cowboys' dangerous return man, Patrick Crayton. PK David Akers has made 24 of his last 26 FGAs.

Cowboys

The kicking game has been a major factor in the field-position battle in the first two games, as the Eagles have started just three of 22 possessions beyond their own 25. Punter Mat McBriar has a 44.1-yard net average in the two games and KO specialist David Buehler had four touchbacks in five attempts last week.

Pick: Cowboys

Domowitch's prediction: Eagles 31, Cowboys 30

KEY MATCHUPS

1. Eagles MLBs Jeremiah Trotter and Akeem Jordan vs. Cowboys RBs Marion Barber and Felix Jones: Stopping the run is at the top of the Eagles' things-to-do list. They were much more effective vs. run last week with Trotter at MIKE in their base package. Advantage: Cowboys

2. Eagles WR DeSean Jackson vs. Cowboys CB Mike Jenkins: Cowboys effectively neutralized Jackson in the two regular-season games. And now he's playing hurt. Advantage: Cowboys

3. Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott vs. Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett: Garrett has kept the Eagles off-balance in both wins this season with unpredictable play-calling. McDermott has to figure out a way to get his defense off the field on third down. Advantage: Cowboys

HOT AND NOT

Hot

Eagles: TE Brent Celek. Had seven catches for 96 yards last week and is averaging 17.7 yards per catch over the last 4 games.

Cowboys: WR Miles Austin. Had seven catches for 90 yards last week and is averaging 106.8 receiving yards per game over the last six games.

Not

Eagles: SS Quintin Mikell. Was responsible for a blown coverage on one Cowboys TD pass and missed a tackle on Felix Jones' 49-yard TD run.

Cowboys: WR Roy Williams. Didn't have a catch last week vs. Eagles. Has just two catches for 28 yards in last three games.