Eagles Face Cowboys With Key Injuries and Losses

The Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday, October 26, for a Week 7 matchup. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN and ABC. DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Cowboys as 4.5 point favorites with a total points over/under of 43.5.

Philadelphia enters the contest with a 2-4 record following four straight losses. The Eagles are dealing with major absences on the offensive side. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is out after blood clots were found in his calf and lungs. Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are also sidelined. Running back Saquon Barkley, guard Landon Dickerson, and linemen Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt are all listed as questionable to play.

Dallas holds a 4-2 record but has lost its last two games. The Cowboys scored more than 30 points in three consecutive games before managing just 29 points against the Buccaneers and Packers. Their offense has struggled to handle blitzes, resulting in Dak Prescott completing 20 of 38 passes for 194 yards and no touchdowns when facing extra rushers in those two contests. The team rushed for only 98 combined yards in that span despite the return of star guard Tyler Smith.

The defensive approach of the Eagles presents a different challenge than what Dallas faced last week. Per Tru Media, the Buccaneers and Packers blitzed on 38.8% of Prescott dropbacks. The Eagles have blitzed only 24.1% of the time, ranking fourth-lowest in the NFL. Vic Fangio’s defense has rarely employed such a high blitz rate since taking over as coordinator. This strategy may force Dallas to rely more on the passing game, where Prescott has shown effectiveness against standard coverage.

The Eagles’ defense allows opponents to complete 60.4% of passes for an average of 7.0 yards per attempt. However, the unit has given up eight touchdown passes while forcing only three interceptions. The defense has been helped by 14 opponent drops, the second-most in the league. Quarterbacks have found comfort in the pocket, with the Eagles recording a sack, hit, or hurry on only 32.9% of dropbacks. This lack of pressure could allow Prescott to target CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens effectively.

The Cowboys’ running game has been inefficient, with Javonte Williams averaging 3.7 yards per carry. The offensive line has struggled to clear lanes, a problem that may persist against a Philadelphia defense that allows only 4.0 yards per carry. Conversely, the Eagles may find success on the ground. Opponents have rushed for at least 165 yards against Dallas in five of six games this season. If Barkley returns, the Eagles could exploit the Cowboys’ porous run defense, which has allowed an average of 4.7 yards per carry.

Tanner McKee is expected to start at quarterback for Philadelphia. In his previous two starts, he dropped back to pass an average of 44 times. The Eagles may rely on a pass-heavy attack, particularly if Barkley sits out. McKee’s top targets are expected to be Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, and Dallas Goedert. The Cowboys will look to pressure McKee, who is 16 for 45 for 179 yards and no touchdowns when under duress in his career. The Eagles’ compromised offensive line may make it easier for Dallas to generate that pressure.

The Cowboys have questions on both sides of the ball, with their defense struggling to contain opponents and their offense vulnerable to blitzes. The Eagles have a damaged roster but a defense that has shown inconsistency. The game will likely come down to whether Dallas can protect Prescott against a lower blitz rate and whether Philadelphia can maintain offensive balance without its star quarterback and receivers.