Eagles vs. Cowboys: What's the Game Plan for Philadelphia?

The Philadelphia Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night in their fourth prime-time game of the year as they try to get revenge for their loss in Week 2.

The Eagles are coming into Week 9 fresh from their bye week, looking to improve their 3-4 record. They are only one win behind first place in the division, but they cannot afford to fall to 1-3 in the NFC East with a loss to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia lost its last game to the Carolina Panthers before heading into the bye week. The break came at a good time for the Eagles, as injuries started to mount up quickly. With the players rested and recovering, Philadelphia can start the second half of its season on a new foot.

Dallas comes into the game with a 2-5 record, losing all five of its games so far without Tony Romo. Jordan Hicks knocked the quarterback out of the game, and neither Brandon Weeden nor Matt Cassel has proved capable under center so far.

Let's take a look at the offensive and defensive strategies Philadelphia should utilize against Dallas this weekend in Arlington, Texas.

Offensive Game Plan

The Cowboys are not necessarily vulnerable to either the run or the pass. They rank 12th in pass defense and 13th in rush defense. However, it is important for Philadelphia to stay committed to the run for the sake of its own offense.

In the first meeting with Dallas, Philadelphia ran the ball 17 times for only seven yards. DeMarco Murray received the majority of the carries, gaining only two yards on 13 attempts. The Eagles offensive line was in shambles to start the season but has since gained chemistry and confidence.

Overall, the Cowboys surrender 103 yards on the ground per game. At the same time, Philadelphia has averaged 154.7 rushing yards in its three wins so far this season. Chip Kelly will need to stay committed to the run to control the tempo of the game and to take pressure off Sam Bradford.

Murray ran with conviction late in the game in Week 2 and will surely want to prove his worth against his former team. He struggled to start the season but began to turn it around a few weeks ago, posting his first 100-yard rushing game in Philadelphia against the New York Giants.

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Despite Murray's personal vendetta, Kelly should rely on the legs of the undervalued Ryan Mathews this weekend. The former San Diego tailback carried the ball only six times in Philadelphia's game before the bye week but gained 97 yards in his limited action.

Even more impressive is how he looked carrying the ball. Mathews runs with a combination of speed and power, showing great explosion once he sees the hole. Additionally, the tailback showed the ability to make the big play as he ran for a career-long 63-yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Panthers.

On the season, Murray leads the team with 88 carries, despite missing a game due to injury, and Mathews ranks second with 56. However, the Fresno State product averages 6.1 yards per carry compared to Murray's 3.5.

Kelly and the Eagles need to rely on their running game against Dallas this weekend and utilize the running back who is proving to be the most dangerous in their talented backfield.

Defensive Game Plan

The Cowboys have lost all five games so far without Romo, largely because of the struggles of Weeden and Cassel. Weeden started as Romo's replacement, but then Cassel took over despite not being any better.

Dallas is only gaining 218 yards per game through the air, ranking 24th in the league. Last week, Dallas could only score 12 points against the Seahawks, and that was a direct result of Cassel's poor play. The replacement quarterback completed only 13 passes for 28 yards.

Overall, the former starting quarterback has completed only 57.7 percent of his passes and has only one touchdown compared to three interceptions this season. In order to capitalize on the Cowboys' situation at quarterback, Philadelphia should pressure Cassel as much as possible.

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So far this season, the Cowboys have surrendered 13 sacks, while the Eagles have taken down opposing quarterbacks 15 times. Fletcher Cox leads the team with five sacks, but Connor Barwin, Jordan Hicks and Cedric Thornton all recorded sacks when they played the Cowboys in Week 2.

Consistent pressure on Cassel will force the shaky quarterback to make poor decisions Sunday night. Capitalizing on mistakes is one of the strengths of this Philadelphia defense, as it leads the league with 19 turnovers through seven games. The Eagles have forced eight fumbles on the year, and two of those came against Dallas. One of these lost balls resulted from Hicks' strip sack of Romo that forced the quarterback out of the game.

Billy Davis' ability to dial up the pressure will not only help Philadelphia's defense dominate but make life easier for Kelly's offense. Giving Bradford and company a short field to work with will relieve some of the pressure and likely lead to the Eagles scoring more than the 10 points they did in Week 2.

Players and Matchups to Watch

Dez Bryant vs. Eagles Secondary

The Cowboys have one clear playmaker on the offensive side of the ball. Dez Bryant is without a doubt their most explosive weapon, and he is surrounded by complementary pieces. Philadelphia will need to limit the wide receiver's production before turning its focus to the other threats.

Bryant did not play when these teams played earlier this season, but now he is back following an injury. He missed five straight games after injuring his foot on opening weekend. Bryant returned last week against the Seahawks but failed to establish his presence in the game.

However, the Oklahoma State product has a history of playing well against Philadelphia. When these division rivals faced off last year in Week 15, Bryant burned the Eagles for three touchdowns and 114 yards.

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Philadelphia signed Byron Maxwell this offseason to cover big-play receivers on a weekly basis. However, Terrance Williams scored a 42-yard touchdown on the disinterested cornerback earlier this season. Maxwell has not lived up to the expectations, so will the Eagles turn to him to cover Bryant?

Most likely, Davis will employ a similar game plan to what he did when the Eagles faced the Giants a couple of weeks ago. In order to slow down Odell Beckham Jr., Philadelphia used a combination of Nolan Carroll and safety help to blanket the receiver. Carroll did a good job of staying with the explosive athlete, while safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Walter Thurmond provided cover over the top to limit the big play.

Expect Philadelphia to turn to a similar tactic this weekend against Bryant.

Prediction

When the Eagles play in Dallas, a lot will be on the line for both teams. The Cowboys needs to stop their free-fall, while Philadelphia cannot afford to suffer another divisional loss.

Although Dallas dominated Philadelphia in the first meeting, the Eagles look like they are the more composed team of the two, which is not saying much. Philadelphia is heading in the right direction following a terrible start, while Dallas is imploding after winning its first two games of the season.

Additionally, Philadelphia comes into Sunday night well-rested following the bye week. Both the coaching staff and the players know they are only one win behind the Giants for first place in the NFC East. The Eagles will need to make a strong push the second half of the season in order to win the division.

One of the main reasons for Philadelphia's rough start was the poor play of Bradford. The quarterback has failed to adjust to the system in his first season with the Eagles. He has thrown 10 interceptions already through just seven games.

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

While Philadelphia's defense thrives on creating turnovers, the Achilles' heel of the offense is its inability to protect the football. Bradford will continue his streak and turn over the ball once or twice this weekend.

The turnovers will put Davis' defense in a poor position, and Dallas will score some points. However, without Romo, the Cowboys will not be able to consistently move the ball. Meanwhile, Philadelphia's tailbacks will carry the burden on offense and deliver enough for the Eagles to dictate the flow of the game.

The Eagles will leave Texas with their second divisional win of the season, as they win an ugly game against the Cowboys Sunday night.

Prediction: Eagles 21, Cowboys 10