Cowboys appear to be the staff that might beat Eagles

The Eagles are undefeated, however the Cowboys might be the one to notch one within the loss column for them this 12 months.

The Philadelphia Eagles gained on Thursday Evening Soccer towards the Houston Texans and improved to 8-0, their first such begin in franchise historical past. At current, the Eagles are the definitive favourite out of the weaker convention, they usually seem head-and-shoulders above of their postseason competitors. However is that actual, or optical phantasm?

And if illusionary, who may lastly notch an L for them?

It might be phantasm. Earlier than the season, the Eagles were determined to have one of the easiest schedules of the 32 groups within the NFL.

This 12 months, they’ve two wins towards above-.500 groups: The Vikings (a really convincing, 24-7 win) and the Cowboys, who on the time had been with out Dak Prescott. The present cumulative file of their opponents is 25-36, a successful proportion  of .409.

Now, the Eagles deserve some credit score. They’ve beat up on these groups and have the league’s second-best scoring differential (11.3). Plus, within the NFL, any staff can win on any given Sunday with the correct mix of circumstances, and the Eagles have saved that from taking place. However a deeper take a look at a few of the stats and staff makeups signifies the Cowboys might be destined to be the staff to provide them the L.

Cowboys have the suitable traits to provide the Eagles an L

If anybody provides the Eagles an L, it’ll be a divisional rival. They get to see the Eagles twice per 12 months and are most accustomed to them. The Cowboys and Commanders dirty their first alternatives towards Philly this 12 months, whereas the Giants have two swings on the plate.

The Cowboys, although, had been with out Dak Prescott, shedding 26-17 in Philly in Week 6.

One essential factor, too, is the Eagles hadn’t gone full-Pollard simply but, both. Operating again Tony Pollard obtained 11 rushes, only a hair over his 10.12 per sport common this 12 months. Final week, the Cowboys noticed a touch of what they might get from him after they gave him 14 dashing makes an attempt and he rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

The Eagles are the right opponent to let Pollard (and Ezekiel Elliott, too) prepare dinner towards. They’re twenty ninth in yards per try given up on dashing.

Moreover, let’s not neglect how good the Cowboys protection is. The Eagles had 268 whole yards towards the Cowboys of their first matchup, the bottom of the season, 89 fewer than their second-worst yardage sport of the 12 months.

To not point out the Week 16 matchup is in Dallas and the third sport in a three-game stretch of street journeys. The season will probably be winding down by then, the Eagles will in all probability be safe of their playoff standing, and the Cowboys may have every little thing to show.

In 2009, the Cowboys handed the 13-0 Saints their first L of the season. They might do the identical to the 14-0 Eagles in Week 16 this 12 months.