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DALLAS COWBOYS +3 @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Dallas (5-3) at Philadelphia (4-4) @ 9:00 PM. EST. * ABC Network.
The playing surface at Lincoln Financial Field will likely look a great deal like paradise for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
After one-week plus of endless chatter about Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens and his suspension from the team in the days leading up to Monday Night's tilt against the rival Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles can finally begin to move on in earnest. Philadelphia will be attempting to resuscitate its NFC East title and playoff hopes, after falling into sole possession of last place in the division with a 17-10 loss in Washington last Sunday. That game was played one day after Owens was suspended indefinitely, and the Eagles made the wideout's season-long banishment official the following afternoon.
Dallas, meanwhile, will be seeking to build on an encouraging first half of the 2005 season that saw Bill Parcells' squad go 5-3. A major positive sign during that run was a 33-10 rout of the Eagles in Week 5, and on Monday the Cowboys will be going after their first home-and-home sweep of Philly since the 1998 season. Dallas' Week 9 bye was preceded by a 34-13 win over the Cardinals, the third win in four games for America's Team.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cowboys hold a 50-39 advantage in their all-time regular season series with the Eagles, and were 33-10 home winners when the clubs met at Texas Stadium in Week 5. Prior to that contest, Philadelphia had won nine of 10 head-to-head games against Dallas dating back to the 2000 campaign. The Cowboys have lost six straight games in Philadelphia since a 34-0 win at Veterans Stadium in 1998.
In addition to their regular season advantage, the Cowboys have a 2-1 edge in the postseason series. The Eagles were 20-7 winners in the 1980 NFC Championship, while Dallas won NFC Divisional Playoff games over Philadelphia following the 1992 and 1995 seasons.
The Eagles' Andy Reid has a career record of 10-3 against the Cowboys, and is 3-2 all-time against Dallas' Parcells. Parcells has a 11-10 mark against Philadelphia in his career, including 9-7 while with the New York Giants from 1983 through 1990.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Philadelphia may ultimately prove to have little staying power in the NFC East and playoff races, but you have to figure the Eagles will strap it up in a big way on a Monday night game against their hated division rival. Add to the already bitter rivalry the fact that the Cowboys embarrassed Philadelphia in Week 5, and that the Birds are looking to announce their dominance following the much-publicized T.O. dismissal, and it is difficult to believe that this will be the Cowboys' night. Look for the Eagles' defense to play its best game of 2005 to date, for McNabb, Westbrook and company to be efficient on the other side of the ball, and for Philly to earn a much-needed triumph.
What's the team's psyche after a turbulent few weeks?
•"They have been strong and they are ready to move on and concentrate on football,'' Reid said. "I think they are as tired of the questions as you are of asking them.''
The Cowboys are wary of facing the Eagles after such an emotional week, figuring the rest of the team is eager to prove it can win without Owens.
•"Those guys are champions,'' Cowboys tight end Dan Campbell said. "They've done this for five, six years now. They've got guys that are not used to losing. They've got champions on their team. Anytime you've got champions on your team like that, those guys are not going to go down easy. Those guys are going to be ready to go. They've got too much pride.''
The Cowboys proved they can play on the same level as the Eagles. Now they're looking to put the four-time NFC East champions in a deeper hole at the bottom of the division standings.
•"They feel they have something to prove,'' Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman said. "The fact we beat them earlier in the season and the fact they're trying to salvage the team, we're definitely going to get their best shot.''
Dallas defensive tackle La'Roi Glover put it best:
"They still got No. 5,'' Glover said, referring to five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb.
•"This particular game is going to be more like a playoff atmosphere. It's a game that we definitely got to have and a game that we want and look forward to,'' McNabb said. "We remember what happened down in Dallas. It's going to be a tough game, but we've got to be the ones who come out on top.''
Dallas is coming off a bye week following an easy win against Arizona. The Cowboys won eight straight games after a bye from 1993-99, but are 2-3 following a week off since 2000. They've lost two games by a total of four points this season, and won three others by a combined margin of 10 points.
•"They've got a good offense and a lot of weapons,'' Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "Bledsoe is playing better than I've seen him play in a long time. It's going to be a challenge.''
I think this one comes down to a late FG and Dallas getting it.
DALLAS COWBOYS +3 @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Dallas (5-3) at Philadelphia (4-4) @ 9:00 PM. EST. * ABC Network.
The playing surface at Lincoln Financial Field will likely look a great deal like paradise for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
After one-week plus of endless chatter about Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens and his suspension from the team in the days leading up to Monday Night's tilt against the rival Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles can finally begin to move on in earnest. Philadelphia will be attempting to resuscitate its NFC East title and playoff hopes, after falling into sole possession of last place in the division with a 17-10 loss in Washington last Sunday. That game was played one day after Owens was suspended indefinitely, and the Eagles made the wideout's season-long banishment official the following afternoon.
Dallas, meanwhile, will be seeking to build on an encouraging first half of the 2005 season that saw Bill Parcells' squad go 5-3. A major positive sign during that run was a 33-10 rout of the Eagles in Week 5, and on Monday the Cowboys will be going after their first home-and-home sweep of Philly since the 1998 season. Dallas' Week 9 bye was preceded by a 34-13 win over the Cardinals, the third win in four games for America's Team.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cowboys hold a 50-39 advantage in their all-time regular season series with the Eagles, and were 33-10 home winners when the clubs met at Texas Stadium in Week 5. Prior to that contest, Philadelphia had won nine of 10 head-to-head games against Dallas dating back to the 2000 campaign. The Cowboys have lost six straight games in Philadelphia since a 34-0 win at Veterans Stadium in 1998.
In addition to their regular season advantage, the Cowboys have a 2-1 edge in the postseason series. The Eagles were 20-7 winners in the 1980 NFC Championship, while Dallas won NFC Divisional Playoff games over Philadelphia following the 1992 and 1995 seasons.
The Eagles' Andy Reid has a career record of 10-3 against the Cowboys, and is 3-2 all-time against Dallas' Parcells. Parcells has a 11-10 mark against Philadelphia in his career, including 9-7 while with the New York Giants from 1983 through 1990.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Philadelphia may ultimately prove to have little staying power in the NFC East and playoff races, but you have to figure the Eagles will strap it up in a big way on a Monday night game against their hated division rival. Add to the already bitter rivalry the fact that the Cowboys embarrassed Philadelphia in Week 5, and that the Birds are looking to announce their dominance following the much-publicized T.O. dismissal, and it is difficult to believe that this will be the Cowboys' night. Look for the Eagles' defense to play its best game of 2005 to date, for McNabb, Westbrook and company to be efficient on the other side of the ball, and for Philly to earn a much-needed triumph.
What's the team's psyche after a turbulent few weeks?
•"They have been strong and they are ready to move on and concentrate on football,'' Reid said. "I think they are as tired of the questions as you are of asking them.''
The Cowboys are wary of facing the Eagles after such an emotional week, figuring the rest of the team is eager to prove it can win without Owens.
•"Those guys are champions,'' Cowboys tight end Dan Campbell said. "They've done this for five, six years now. They've got guys that are not used to losing. They've got champions on their team. Anytime you've got champions on your team like that, those guys are not going to go down easy. Those guys are going to be ready to go. They've got too much pride.''
The Cowboys proved they can play on the same level as the Eagles. Now they're looking to put the four-time NFC East champions in a deeper hole at the bottom of the division standings.
•"They feel they have something to prove,'' Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman said. "The fact we beat them earlier in the season and the fact they're trying to salvage the team, we're definitely going to get their best shot.''
Dallas defensive tackle La'Roi Glover put it best:
"They still got No. 5,'' Glover said, referring to five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb.
•"This particular game is going to be more like a playoff atmosphere. It's a game that we definitely got to have and a game that we want and look forward to,'' McNabb said. "We remember what happened down in Dallas. It's going to be a tough game, but we've got to be the ones who come out on top.''
Dallas is coming off a bye week following an easy win against Arizona. The Cowboys won eight straight games after a bye from 1993-99, but are 2-3 following a week off since 2000. They've lost two games by a total of four points this season, and won three others by a combined margin of 10 points.
•"They've got a good offense and a lot of weapons,'' Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "Bledsoe is playing better than I've seen him play in a long time. It's going to be a challenge.''
I think this one comes down to a late FG and Dallas getting it.