NFL Picks Week 16: Philadelphia Eagles Will Damage Dallas Cowboys' Playoff Hopes

The Dallas Cowboys should be afraid of the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday because not only does Philly have something to play for, but they will ruin their rival's chances of making the playoffs.

The Eagles dominated the Cowboys 34-7 back in Week 8, and destroyed Dallas 44-6 in the final week of the 2008 season to keep Jerry Jones' team out of the playoffs.

Jones actually said he was scared of the Eagles earlier this week, according to USA Today:

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"There is obviously a thrill to dream about what can be out here, the success," Jones said during one of his regular weekly radio appearances this week. "But I'm also, because it is the Eagles, after the butt-kicking they gave us up in Philadelphia, I'm scared."

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The Cowboys owner should be scared, because the Eagles have a history of beating his team in important games.

Despite the fact the Eagles are 6-8, they can still make the playoffs if they win their final two games and get some help. The season isn't over in Philly.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has thrown 18 touchdown passes with just two interception since the Week 8 loss to the Eagles, but in a high-pressure game against a defense with elite players in the secondary, there is no guarantee Romo's recent success will continue on Sunday.

His 66.7 QB rating against the Eagles in Week 8 was his lowest of the season, and he completed just 18 of his 35 passes in that game.

Without rookie running back DeMarco Murray, who has been lost for the season with an injury, Romo will have to play very well for the Cowboys to defeat their division rival.

Veteran running back Sammy Morris ran for 53 yards on 12 carries last week, but against an Eagles defense that allows just 113 rushing yards per game, Morris could have trouble finding the same success he had against the Buccaneers.

Especially since last week was Morris' season debut, and now he's being thrown into the playoff race fire.

On defense the Cowboys have to stop Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, and very few teams have been able to do that. McCoy is a legitimate NFL MVP candidate, and has been tremendous for Philly this season.

McCoy ran for a career-high 185 yards against the Cowboys back in October, and added two touchdowns in that game as well.

He has scored eight touchdowns in his last four games, and can win games by himself. Dallas must contain him but they also must worry about quarterback Michael Vick, who threw for 274 yards with two total touchdowns last week.

The Eagles have Vick and McCoy ready  and healthy to face the Cowboys on Sunday, and still have plenty to play for.

They will beat Dallas this week, and take another step toward making the playoffs themselves.

There would be no better way for Philly to end a disappointing season than to make a real playoff push and destroy the playoff dreams of the Cowboys along the way.

After all, it wouldn't be the first time the Eagles have beaten the Cowboys in an important December game.