Week Nine: Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles

The Dallas Cowboys will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night for sole place of the NFC East.

The Eagles enter this game using big plays on offense to score, although they still use their screens effectively, and Westbrook is still a big part of the offense.

Donovan Mcnabb comes into this game 80-133 for 1008 yards, nine TDs, and one interception. His big play threats include DeSean Jackson, who has 20 catches for 501 yards, and four TD's. Every one of Jackson's TDs have been on receptions of 50 yards, or more. Jackson is also a run threat on reverses and in the kicking game.

Running back Brain Westbrook will play in Sunday night's game after missing last week's game against the Giants with post concussion syndrome. Backup LeSean McCoy still gets a chunk of the carries in Sunday night's game. McCoy is the team's leading rusher with 71 carries for 294 yards, and two TDs, including a 66-yard TD run last weekend against the Giants.

The Eagles love to blitz, and they'll do a lot of it in this game as they want to throw Tony Romo off his game, and force him to make mistakes. They'll also want to shut down the Cowboys' three man rushing attack.

Linebacker Akeem Jordan leads the team in tackles with 46, and also has two interceptions on the season. Trent Cole has come into his own as a blitzer, and he leads the Eagles with six-and-a-half sacks this season, and has 31 tackles. Defensive Tackle Jaqua Parker also has three sacks of his own.

Asante Samuel leads the Eagles secondary with six passes defended, and five interceptions. Samuel is a solid corner who loves to jump routes, and he'll most likely draw the assignment of Miles Austin, who has been great the last three games. Sheldon Brown will play opposite Samuel, and is also a good corner as he has three interceptions this season.

The Cowboys enter Sunday night's game with a balanced rushing attack, and the seventh ranked passing game in the NFL.

Tony Romo has been stellar in his last three games (62-99, 918 yards, and eight TDs), and will try to keep the pace up against the Eagles pass rush. Romo has the ability to move around the pocket, and create plays off the run so the Eagles pass rush will have to stay at home.

Smash, Dash, and Tash will try to run around the Eagles 12th ranked rushing defense. Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice have only individual 100-yard games this season between them, but they all have at least 30 carries on the season, more than 200 yards each, and eight TDs combined.

Miles Austin leads a receiving core that has improved in recent weeks. Austin had 61 yards last week against the Seahawks, but it was still a team high, and his six TDs ties him for second in the NFL. Patrick Crayton has just five catches for 48 yards in the last two games, but has contributed with TDs in each game returning punts, and would like to keep that streak alive. Tight end Jason Witten always plays well against the Eagles, and will be looked for a lot.

Roy Williams is the only receiver who hasn't been producing. Although he had a TD last week, Williams said that Romo hasn't been throwing good balls to him. However, Williams leads the team in drops, and is a below average route runner. However, this week's controversy should provide him with enough motivation to play well.

The Cowboys defense will also blitz a lot in this game as they're 10th in the NFL in sacks after a slow start. DeMarcus Ware has at least one sack in his last three games. Keith Brooking is having an outstanding season, and leads the team with 50 tackles, and also has two sacks this season. The Cowboys have the 13th ranked rushing defense in the league, and will have to stop McCoy and Westbrook from going off in this game if they want to win, the Eagles don't run a lot, but they will if it's successful.

Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, and Mike Jenkins will have to try to limit DeSean Jackson's big play potential, as well as Jeremy Maclin, who also had a TD last week against the Giants. The Cowboys have improved in their pass defense during their bye week, but have yet to see how their two minute defense has improved; they may get a chance in this game.

This will be a close game as both teams know each other well, and know their strengths, and weaknesses. The Cowboys have been a bit more consistent the last few weeks, and have played great since their bye week, and have the advantage with their run game. If the Cowboys can run the ball effectively they can control the clock, and that will go a long way in the fourth quarter. 27-24 Cowboys.