OFFICIAL GDT - Cowboys @ Eagles!!!

[Underdog]

Cowboys At Eagles
Division Rivals Square Off With First Place On Line

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GAME SET
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (5-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
WHEN: Sunday, 7:20 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
TELEVISION: NBC (Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth)

BIG ISSUE: So much for that no-drama season the Cowboys were having. Eagles week pretty much eliminated that. The Cowboys have to worry about the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in a knock-down, drag-out battle for first place. But there has been some talk about the Tony Romo-Roy Williams connection, which hasn't taken off so far this year. Williams expressed some frustration about not producing to meet expectations, ultimately causing some comparisons to Terrell Owens. Media-driven controversies undoubtedly doomed the Cowboys at the end of last season, not to mention a collapse in Philadelphia with a playoff berth at stake. The Cowboys have no choice but to relive the 44-6 drubbing as they try to avenge that embarrassing loss.

Look at the Eagles now, and one question comes to mind - how did they lose to the Oakland Raiders? Since that shocking loss, the Eagles have rolled off two double-digit wins over NFC East opponents, beating the Redskins 27-17 and dropping the Giants 40-17. Now they face their third division rival in the Cowboys. The Eagles have been a largely untested team this season, though. Besides the Giants, who have lost three in a row after a 4-0 start, the Eagles have only faced one other team with a winning record - the undefeated Saints, to whom they lost 48-22 (although quarterback Donovan McNabb did not play). The Cowboys will be a much bigger test, being a team that has actually won multiple games in a row before coming to Philly.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Eagles will be the real test for the Cowboys' passing game. Philadelphia is third in the league, and second in the NFC, in interceptions with 14, lead by corner Asante Samuel's five. And the Eagles aren't riverboat gamblers in the secondary, to use a favorite Dave Campo phrase. They've only allowed one passing play of more than 40 yards this season, tied for first in the league.

Sunday's game against the Cowboys marks the third consecutive contest the Eagles have against an NFC East opponent. Philadelphia has won the first two, but how often does a team go three-for-three in that scenario. The last team to do it was actually the Cowboys in their 13-3 season in 2007, beating the Eagles and Giants on the road and then the Redskins at home.

ONE-ON-ONE: Eagles running back Brian Westbrook has normally dominated this section in past games, but the mantle of biggest offensive threat has been passed to second-year receiver DeSean Jackson, who leads the team in touchdowns (four) and receiving yards (501). Jackson also leads the league with six catches of 40 or more yards, four of which he scored on. Although the Cowboys have been mum on how they'll combat Jackson, chances are cornerback Terence Newman will shadow Jackson like he did against Carolina's Steve Smith. Newman won't be left on an island too much, though, and will likely have safety help over the top.

This game will be the first since the Denver game that Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams has faced someone who's actually racking up sacks. That person on the Eagles is defensive end Trent Cole, who's accumulated 6.5 sacks through seven games. Adams has been playing very well as of late, and has gone two consecutive games without a penalty, which had almost become his trademark. While Cole is having his standard monster season in the Eagles' 4-3 scheme, Adams has gotten plenty of practice recently against the 4-3, which was also run by Seattle, Atlanta, Carolina, the New York Giants and Tampa Bay all run.

SUPPORTING ROLE: With all the discussion about wide receiver Roy Williams' comments earlier in the week, it's high time for he and Romo to shut them up with their performance on the field. Both players have spent extra time after practice throwing with each other to improve their timing, and both of them, along with head coach Wade Phillips and owner Jerry Jones, agree that things will eventually click. Against the Eagles, eventually needs to become now. The stocked Philadelphia secondary will have a better chance of containing Miles Austin and Jason Witten in the passing game, and Williams needs to have a productive game to present a threat the Eagles must worry about.

While it wouldn't surprise anyone if Eagles running back Brian Westbrook plays despite being listed as questionable after missing the last week with a concussion, rookie running back LeSean McCoy is likely to have a big role either way. McCoy leads the Eagles in rushing yards (294) and rushing touchdowns (2), and is learning to become a potent receiving threat much like Westbrook. Despite the similarities though, the Cowboys can't treat McCoy like Westbrook, a back with whom they're very familiar. Instead the Cowboys defenders will have to be on their toes against a budding offensive performer who only has seven games of NFL tape for opponents to study.

HEADSET GAMES: What happened to that Cowboys rushing attack that lead the league in rushing through three games? Since then, the Cowboys have averaged just shy of 107 yards rushing per contest. There are a few explanations for the drop-off. One - the Cowboys have had some injury problems with their top two backs, Marion Barber and Felix Jones. Two - the running game has taken a backseat to an emerging passing attack. But against the Eagles, who boast the tenth best passing defense in the NFL, the Cowboys will have to establish the run game first and foremost. The Eagles aren't exactly generous on defense their either, but a good run game will open up passing lanes and allow the Cowboys to control the clock in what will probably be a close one to the end.

The Eagles are middle-of-the-road when it comes to protecting their quarterback, giving up 17 sacks in seven games (14th most), but McNabb remains one of the most difficult quarterbacks to get on the ground. The Cowboys' pass rushers cannot afford to get content with getting to the quarterback, because just getting their hands on him doesn't guarantee a sack. The Cowboys front seven must remember to finish their tackles, because McNabb won't pull a Brett-Favre-against-Michael-Strahan and lie down for them.


HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys

There aren't many injuries to report on the Cowboys' injury report. The only player out is return man Allen Rossum, who will miss with a hamstring injury. The four remaining players on the injury report - starting running back Marion Barber (thumb), starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff (knee), starting safety Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb) and starting outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (foot) - are all listed as probable.

Eagles

The Eagles also only have one player ruled out for Sunday night - backup wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) - but their injury report is considerably longer than the Cowboys'. Starting defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee) and starting middle linebacker Chris Gocong (quadriceps, hamstring) both face quite an uphill battle to play after being dubbed doubtful to play. Starting defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley (knee), starting safety Victor "Macho" Harris (ankle), backup corner Dimitri Patterson (quadriceps, hand) and starting running back Brian Westbrook (concussion) are all listed as questionable. Beyond that, rookie safety Chris Clemons (shoulder, elbow), starting guards Nick Cole (knee) and Todd Herremans (foot), backup defensive end Darren Howard (ankle), starting wide receivers DeSean Jackson (foot) and Jeremy Maclin (foot), backup guard Max Jean-Gilles (shoulder) and starting tackle Jason Peters