Given the way that the Dallas Cowboys have played this season, it’s a Christmas miracle that they even have a shot to make the playoffs.

A win against the hated-rival Philadelphia Eagles this week clinches the NFC East for the Cowboys, locking them into the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs. A loss in Philadelphia doesn’t eliminate Dallas from playoff contention, as the Eagles would still have to beat the New York Giants or have the Cowboys lose to the Washington Redskins to secure their playoff bid.

Luckily for Dallas, the only teams they’ve consistently played well against this year reside in the NFC East. The Cowboys enter this contest 4-0 versus the NFC East with a +74 point differential, meaning Dallas, on average, has beaten their NFC East opponents by three scores, or 18.5 points. Take away the NFC East and the Cowboys have a 3-7 record with a +16 point differential, which is mostly due to their blowout win versus the Rams and their four losses by four-or-less points.

While a blowout is possible, a closely contested battle from two evenly matched division rivals seems much more likely. With that in mind, let’s dive into a full breakdown of Sunday’s contest between the Cowboys and Eagles.

3 Eagles to fear

Fletcher Cox

Any discussion about Eagles to fear starts with Fletcher Cox, who is a destroyer of offensive lines. If Aaron Donald didn’t exist, Cox would be widely regarded as the best interior defensive linemen in football.

While Cox hasn’t been quite as dominant this season as in years past, he’s still been one of the best interior defenders in football, posting the fourth-most total pressures among interior defensive linemen, per PFF. Cox can rush the passer and stop the run with equal efficacy.

Much like Donald last week, Cox has the ability to single-handedly wreck an opposing offense’s game plan, so stopping Cox should be of the utmost importance for the Cowboys offense this week.

Zach Ertz

With all the injuries to Philadelphia’s receiver corps, the Eagles have transitioned into a TE-heavy attack, as 64% of their offensive snaps since Week 10 have used 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 WRs, 2 TEs).

Zach Ertz has become Carson Wentz’s primary weapon in the passing game since then. In his last six games, Ertz has five games with 10+ targets, four games with 90+ receiving yards and four games with at least one touchdown.

The Cowboys should treat Ertz as a big wide receiver rather than as a tight end, as Ertz is simply too athletic and too good of a route runner for the Cowboys LBs in coverage. The Cowboys would be wise to shadow Ertz with Byron Jones in high leverage situations (third downs), something they have done in the past.

Brandon Brooks

Brandon Brooks is one of the biggest guards in the NFL, but is also one of the most skilled. Through the first 3 weeks he's shown some impressive variance in his sets & hands.



- Snatch & trap

- 'Flash' technique

- Jump set



This after tearing his Achilles 8 months ago pic.twitter.com/J0qppO23Yy — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 26, 2019

Many fans may be surprised to hear this, but Brandon Brooks has been the Eagles’ best player, by far, this season, which is why he was appropriately rewarded with a four-year, $56.2M extension in November.

At a massive 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds, Brooks is a road-grader in the run game who can create horizontal and vertical displacement on opposing defensive linemen with ease. He engulfs defensive linemen at the point of attack and can also climb to pick off scraping LBs at the second level.

Despite his size, Brooks his also dominant in pass protection, as he’s given up just 18 total pressures this season. Brooks is one of only three guards to play in at least 935 snaps but give up less than 20 pressures (Dallas’ Zack Martin and New England’s Joe Thuney being the others).

The Cowboys interior defensive line was dominant last week against the Rams but will have a much tougher test against Brooks and company this week.

3 Eagles to attack

Ronald Darby

There’s no other way to put it, the Eagles secondary is bad, and there are no signs that they’re going to get better.

One of the biggest reasons for the secondary’s woes has been the subpar play by cornerback Ronald Darby – who, despite only appearing in 10 games, has allowed the 17th-most receiving yards and eighth-most receiving touchdowns (six) this season among all NFL cornerbacks, per PFF. Moreover, QBs have a 115.7 passer rating when targeting Darby in coverage this season.

Darby has been particularly suspect against vertical routes this season, as he’s allowed two touchdowns an a 102.8 passer rating when targeted on go routes this season.

Isaac Seumalo

If Lane Johnson plays, the biggest weak link on the Eagles offensive line is left guard Isaac Seumalo, who has allowed a team-high 37 total pressures this season. Seumalo isn’t a terrible player by any means, but he is the player who Cowboys can attack with their interior rushers, specifically Maliek Collins and Michael Bennett.

Seumalo tends to have trouble against interior defenders who sequence off power moves well – something that Collins (example) and Bennett (example) have proven capable of this season.

Jalen Mills

Much like Darby, Mills has struggled mightily in coverage this season, as QBs have a 110.7 passer rating when targeting Maddox in coverage. Moreover, Mills has given up four touchdowns this season but has just two pass-breakups.

Last time the Cowboys faced Mills (Week 7), he gave up six catches on eight targets for 74 yards while also accumulating an interception. As long as Dak Prescott can avoid the INT, Dallas should prosper by targeting Mills early and often Sunday afternoon.

Matchups to watch

Fletcher Cox vs Zack Martin

It just doesn’t get any better than Fletcher Cox vs Zack Martin in terms of one-on-one matchups in the NFL, as two titans who are top talents at their respective positions will square off regularly Sunday afternoon.

In the run game, both players’ outstanding power at the point-of-attack is buoyed by elite technique, which enables them to consistently get the better of their foes.

Cox is one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles while Martin may be the best guard in the NFL in terms of pass protection, as he’s given up zero sacks and just 16 total pressures this season. If Martin can keep Cox from wrecking shop in the Cowboys backfield, it will give Dak Prescott the time he needs to pick apart this porous Eagles secondary.

Zack Martin straining and sustaining his block while absorbing heavy blows from Fletcher Cox. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/Jlu58siGWS — John Owning (@JohnOwning) October 23, 2019

In Week 7, Zack Martin was able to get the better of Cox, which is a big reason why Dallas was able to have offensive success. If he can do the unthinkable and slow Cox down for a second straight time, it will just further drive home that he’s the best player on the Cowboys roster.

Jason Peters vs Robert Quinn

This matchup was going to be Lane Johnson vs DeMarcus Lawrence, but with Johnson’s iffy game status, it’s best to stay safe and discuss a matchup where both players are healthy.

Jason Peters missed the first matchup between these two teams, but will be good to go this weekend, where he will face Cowboys DE Robert Quinn on the lion’s share of his snaps. Peters has long been one of the best tackles in all of football, but as he’s gotten older, he’s developed a few chinks in his armor.

In 2018, Jason Peters only allowed 3 total sacks, per PFF. #Cowboys DE Randy Gregory registered two of them.



Wish DAL had RG this week. pic.twitter.com/bEbw3lvGhP — John Owning (@JohnOwning) December 19, 2019

Last year, Dallas’ speed-rushing right defensive end, Randy Gregory, was able to expose those chinks in Peters’ armor, as registered two of the three sacks Peters gave up all of last season. Gregory was able to stress Peters’ pass set with his speed before taking advantage with inside counters once Peters overset to combat the speed.

Quinn would be wise to mimic that gameplan while adding his own flavor to it (his flavor = a lot of cross chops); however, he needs to be careful in the run game. Quinn has more often been a liability than an asset against the run this season.

Given how often Philadelphia likes to attack the edges with their run game, it’s paramount that Quinn’s sets a strong edge and is mindful to not just recklessly attack upfield, which leaves giant voids in Dallas’ run defense.

Concept to watch: Screens

It doesn’t take Vince Lombardi to figure out that screens will play a big part in Sunday’s action, especially when Philadelphia has the ball.

The #Cowboys need to do a much better job against screens this week vs PHI than they did last week vs LAR. DAL gave up 58 yards & 4 first downs on LAR's 4 screens, meaning LAR averaged 14.5 yards per screen while successfully picking up a first down each time. pic.twitter.com/EyjwCg7NtA — John Owning (@JohnOwning) December 19, 2019

The Cowboys defense has proven to be one of the worst units at defending the screen, allowing the second-most total yards on screens (465) in the NFL, per Sports Info Solutions. Even last week, in a blowout win against the Rams, the Cowboys gave up 58 yards and four first down on four screen passes, meaning Los Angeles averaged 14.5 yards per screen while successfully picking up a first down each time. Name a screen and the Cowboys have probably struggled to stop it this season, as they been gouged by screens to RBs, WRs and TEs all season.

Unfortunately for them, they have to face one of the best teams at executing screens in the NFL. The Eagles, specifically the offensive line, do an excellent selling screens to goad defenders into attacking the backfield. Moreover, Philadelphia possesses one of the more athletic offensive lines in the NFL and because of that, they thrive at making blocks in space.

Obviously the RBs are a big part of the screen game as well. The #Eagles called 9 screens against Washington on Sunday, with a handful of different targets on the other end. It's going to continue to be a big part of what they do offensively #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/cLRyqYM9bI — Fran Duffy (@fduffy3) December 16, 2019

Screens are a huge part of Philadelphia’s offense, especially with all the injuries at the wide receiver position, as the Eagles called nine total screens against Washington. The screens are well designed and disguised well.

Moreover, given how simplistic Dallas is with their coverage calls, expect Philadelphia to have a couple of screens dialed up for some of Dallas more common coverages, specifically Cover 3.

Because of this, it will be incredibly important that the Cowboys linebackers are quick to recognize and trigger against screens. The defensive line needs to fight the urge to attack the QB with reckless abandon, as they must stay disciplined and aware while rushing the QB in order to quickly recognize and rally to the screen when called.