Pass Rush Could Be Deciding Factor for Eagles in Dallas
It begins. Cowboys week for the Eagles. Eagles week for the Cowboys. But in this case, because they meet on Thanksgiving, the buildup for one of the most highly anticipated all-time matchups between the 8-3 Dallas Cowboys and the 8-3 Philadelphia Eagles will only last a few days.
So we won't waste any time before breaking it down. And of all the factors to consider heading into Thursday's tilt in Dallas, the most intriguing and important one has to be that matchup between the Eagles pass rush and the Cowboys pass protectors.
Philadelphia's Bringing It Like Nobody Else
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Against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, the Eagles had five sacks, including three as they were putting the game away in the second half. It marked the sixth time in the last eight games they had at least four sacks, which says a lot considering that they had accomplished that feat only once in their previous seven games, dating back to last December.
| Previous 35 games | 2.0 | 17.0 |
| Last 8 games | 4.4 | 24.5 |
And as that table indicates, it hasn't just been about the sacks. The Eagles have had at least 25 pressures in three of their last four games, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger was the second-most pressured pivot in football in Week 12 (two Monday games excluded).
And for what it's worth, they actually sacked Mettenberger on seven total occasions, with two Vinny Curry sacks being wiped out due to defensive penalties.
Despite a slow start to the year, the Eagles have already equaled their team sack total from last season.
| 1. Eagles | 35 |
| 2. Bills | 31 |
| 3. Vikings | 24 |
| 4. Colts | 23 |
| 4. Jaguars | 23 |
They have four players who rank among the top 50 in terms of sacks, including outside linebacker Connor Barwin, who leads the NFC with 12.5. All of those have come since Week 4, as have all six of Curry's sacks and six of edge-rusher Trent Cole's 6.5. Barwin and Cole had a combined four sacks on Sunday and have 8.5 in the last three weeks.
PFF grades Barwin, Cole and situational rusher Brandon Graham among the top 10 best pass-rushers at that position, while Curry and Fletcher Cox are ranked among the top 13 rushers at the 3-4 defensive end spots.
The scariest part of what happened against Tennessee is that Philly rarely had to make sacrifices in coverage by sending extra rushers. The Eagles blitzed Mettenberger on only eight of his 44 dropbacks, according to PFF, and all five of their sacks came on four-man rushes.
Dallas Is at Times Impenetrable
"The Titans aren't anything like the Cowboys, aren't close to the same caliber of opponent," noted Mike Sielski of The Philadelphia Inquirer Monday, "and are so dissimilar in style that defensive coordinator Bill Davis said he wouldn't watch a minute of Sunday's game film."
Exactly, so throw out what the Eagles did to Mettenberger in Week 12. Instead, consider the trouble they had getting to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers one week earlier. In that game, Rodgers was pressured on only 10 of 39 dropbacks and sacked only once.
With all day to work, the highest-rated passer in NFL history torched a shabby Philadelphia secondary.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo might not be the highest-rated passer in NFL history, but he is in fact the third-highest-rated passer in NFL history, behind only Rodgers and Denver Broncos pivot Peyton Manning.
| 1. Aaron Rodgers | 106.4 | Philly's Week 11 opponent |
| 2. Peyton Manning | 97.8 | Some other guy |
| 3. Tony Romo | 96.9 | Philly's Week 13 opponent |
Romo has been sacked 20 times this year, which is two below Rodgers' total. Had Mettenberger attempted as many passes as Rodgers this season, he'd have been sacked more than 30 times.
But on top of that, Romo's offensive line is on a roll. The man was untouchable down the stretch in a close victory over the New York Giants Sunday night, especially on the game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
Romo was pressured only seven times all day, according to PFF. And in their previous two games against the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cowboys surrendered only 15 pressures altogether.
| 1. Bengals | 55 | 86.0 |
| 2. Ravens | 58 | 83.5 |
| 3. Cowboys | 59 | 84.6 |
| 3. Browns | 59 | 85.4 |
| 3. Packers | 59 | 85.2 |
Just to caution excited Eagles fans, a veteran improviser like Romo simply would not have been sacked here:
But Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox was able to take Mettenberger down a split second after that.
The Dallas line, which features three 23-year-old recent first-round picks, is as good as it gets. Earlier this year, left tackle Tyron Smith became the first offensive lineman in a decade to win an Offensive Player of the Week award, while rookie right guard Zack Martin is ranked by PFF as the second-best pass-blocking guard in football. The first-round pick is yet to give up a sack.
Something Has to Give
Romo remains mobile and is well protected, but he is 34 and he does have a bad back. That's something the Eagles have to find a way to exploit. Because they're either going to do the exploiting or be exploited.
If given time to pick apart that vulnerable Philadelphia secondary, Romo will have a field day, just as Rodgers did two weeks ago. Even Mettenberger completed seven passes of 20 yards or more against a D that has become painfully susceptible to big plays.
| 1. Eagles | 49 | 13 |
| 2. Giants | 46 | 11 |
| 3. Jaguars | 42 | 9 |
| 4. Bears | 42 | 6 |
| 5. Cardinals | 41 | 7 |
So while it's important for both teams to maintain offensive balance and avoid turnovers, the key matchup Thursday at AT&T Stadium will take place when Romo is dropping back against that Philly front seven.
What happens in those moments will likely decide who wins this game, and maybe even this division.
Brad Gagnon has covered the NFC East for Bleacher Report since 2012.
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