Why the Eagles will beat the Cowboys

By foxsports
Published

It’s the game of the week on the NFL on FOX. It has Joe Buck and Troy Aikman written all over it. It’s the Philadelphia Eagles visiting the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys.

Suddenly, somehow, the Eagles have life at 6-8 after pasting the Jets. It’s going to be a bloodbath on Christmas Eve. And when teams are evenly matched, when the issue is in doubt, I always ask myself one important question.

Which quarterback and coach do you trust?

Give me Andy Reid, Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles to beat the Cowboys.

The dream is still alive for the “Dream Team,” and the Eagles smell opportunity after a disastrous start to the season. Defensive end Jason Babin stressed the hunger when I spoke to him this week on SiriusXM NFL Radio. And at this stage of the season, health is a big issue, too. Cowboys running back Felix Jones missed practice yet again on Wednesday. This is a huge deal. Stud rookie running back DeMarco Murray is out for the season. Sammy Morris, just picked up off of the scrap heap, is a heartbeat away for the Cowboys. That’s a scary proposition.

So is Tony Romo in a big game.

Now, for the sake of fairness, Romo has been great down the stretch this season. But why is it that with all of his touchdowns, yards and wins, I still see visions of his incompletion on a third-and-5 to Miles Austin late in the loss to the Giants? That sadly is on Romo’s résumé, and it helps stain his reputation. Babin has 18 sacks and will mesmerize the Dallas offensive line. Trent Cole will get to Romo, too. And corner Nnamdi Asomugha doesn’t forget how Rob Ryan ripped him after he signed with Philly over Dallas. He will have a pick, just like he did in the first matchup.

My issues with Cowboys coach Jason Garrett’s game management and play selection have been well documented. I’ve written about it on several occasions. He has cost his team wins against Arizona, Detroit and New England.

And let’s remember the last time these clubs played. It was on a Sunday night in late October in Philadelphia, and the Eagles bashed the Boys 34-7, fueled by a 24-0 lead at halftime. It sparked one unnamed columnist to claim that it would prove to be the beginning of the Eagles’ stranglehold on the NFC East.

LeSean McCoy gashed the hapless Cowboys defense for 185 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Vick completed 75 percent of his passes while throwing for 279 yards, two touchdowns, no picks and a gaudy quarterback rating of 130! For good measure, he rushed for 50 yards. While I have no idea if DeSean Jackson will bother to show up, I can tell you that tight end Brent Celek, coming off of a 156-yard game against the Jets, and receiver Jeremy Maclin will aid Vick in his domination on Sunday.

They once booed Santa Claus in Philadelphia. Now they boo Reid. Wouldn’t it be wonderfully delicious and ironic when Reid saves Christmas in Philly? Eagles roll up 34 points on the overmatched Ryan defense. Eagles 34-24 over Dallas.