The NFC East has been the worst division in the league this season. Sunday Night Football this week pits two bitter division rivals against each other. It is normally a very intriguing game, but the Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1) and Dallas Cowboys (2-5) have been very injury-riddled. Dallas is down to their third-string quarterback Ben DiNucci and the Eagles are still without a number of offensive weapons.
Cowboys
DiNucci stepped in for Andy Dalton last week after Dalton got concussed on a dirty hit to the head. The rookie seventh-rounder was sacked three times on six dropbacks in his only action in his career. Some good news on the injury front is that cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, linebacker Sean Lee, and center Joe Looney could all return to action. Awuzie has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury, while Looney sprained his MCL after Week 4. Lee will make his season debut if he is cleared after getting surgery to repair a sports hernia prior to the season. Head coach Mike McCarthy said that even if Looney is good to go, rookie Tyler Biadasz will continue to start at center.
The Cowboys’ receiving corp is fully healthy which will be one way the Cowboys could stay in this game. Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup could open things up for the offense. Their offensive line, however, is the worst in the league which won’t open much up. They have scored just 13 points total over the last two weeks since Dak Prescott went down.
Eagles
On the Eagles’ side of things, Miles Sanders will be out again, leaving Boston Scott and Corey Clement as the running backs. Sanders is likely to be ready to go against the New York Giants after the Eagles’ Week 9 bye. Alshon Jeffery was expected to go, but he is out again. Offensive tackle Jack Driscoll is out with an ankle injury. Lane Johnson, who he had filled in for, has been cleared. Cornerbacks Cre’von LeBlanc and Craig James have been ruled out. LeBlanc would have covered Lamb in the slot, but those duties will now be on Nickell Robey-Coleman. James has been mainly a special teams player, but probably the Eagles’ best one.
Carson Wentz will be happy to get one of his weapons back as Jalen Reagor returns off the injured reserve. Tight end Dallas Goedert could be ready to return which will also be huge. Left tackle Jason Peters is expected to return, but Jordan Mailata has played well in his place. It will be imperative not to mess with his progress, so Mailata should still start. The Cowboys are ranked in the bottom third in pass defense and the third-worst against the run, so the Eagles should be able to generate a lot of offense.
Game Info
Date: November 1, 2020
Start Time: 8:20 P.M. est
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
TV Info: NBC
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Points Spread: DAL +11 (-110) | PHI -11 (-110)
Moneyline: DAL +390 | PHI -540
Over/Under: O 43 (-110) | U 43 (-110)
This line is very large and for a reason with a struggling and beat-up Dallas team heading to Philly. But it is still a divisional game and they almost always play each other close. However, the Cowboys are so beat-up and just straight-up bad that the Eagles should be able to stomp on them. It’s a tough one to call, but the over should be hit.
Prediction
The Cowboys keep this semi-close early on, but the Eagles ultimately pull away led by the impressive play from Wentz. Reagor makes his presence known with a big game in the air attack.
Final Score: Cowboys 17 Eagles 34
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