Eagles vs. Cowboys: Five bold predictions for Monday Night Football
· Yahoo Sports
It's been a rough go for the Philadelphia Eagles so far, a strange campaign by many accounts. Some argue they have reached a point where another close loss won't feel much different from a blowout. They need something to change, and Monday night's matchup with the Dallas Cowboys presents another opportunity to find answers.
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The challenge is figuring out where those answers will come from, especially with Philadelphia still searching for offensive consistency. Tanner McKee has a chance to help stabilize things, but the Eagles need more than competent quarterback play to turn their season around. Dallas has its own weaknesses, giving Philadelphia a chance to make this game competitive. Whether that translates into a victory is another question entirely.
Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper both catch six passes
Makai Lemon caught five passes against the Jacksonville Jaguars, establishing a career high in a game when DeVonta Smith was also unavailable. The circumstances are similar heading into Monday night, with Smith and Dontayvion Wicks ruled out and Philadelphia needing its remaining receivers to shoulder more responsibility.
That puts Lemon and Darius Cooper in position to become more involved in the passing game. Cooper has shown he can contribute when targeted, while Lemon has the quickness and hands to be a useful option underneath. Six catches apiece would be a substantial contribution from both players, but Philadelphia needs that kind of production to keep its passing attack functional despite the absences.
The Eagles finish with more rushing yards than Dallas
Philadelphia's ground game has struggled to find its footing, but the Cowboys have struggled even more to generate production on the ground. Entering Week 7, the Eagles ranked 28th in rushing, while Dallas ranked 30th. Javonte Williams has found the end zone seven times, yet his overall rushing production has remained surprisingly limited.
Predicting a 100-yard rushing performance from Philadelphia feels overly optimistic given its recent struggles. However, the Eagles don't necessarily need a dominant day to win this particular battle. If they can find more consistency on early downs and take advantage of Dallas' own problems, they have a reasonable chance to finish with the higher rushing total.
The Eagles offense finishes without a turnover
Predicting where Philadelphia's offense will generate its production has become increasingly difficult. The Eagles have struggled to sustain drives, and the absences at receiver add another challenge for McKee as he prepares to lead the offense. In this situation, protecting the football may matter as much as creating explosive plays.
The prediction is that McKee throws one touchdown pass without an interception and the Eagles finish the game without a turnover. Philadelphia doesn't need him to force the ball into tight windows or attempt difficult throws simply to manufacture offense. A disciplined performance that keeps Dallas from gaining extra possessions could keep the Eagles competitive into the fourth quarter.
The Eagles score touchdowns in both the third and fourth quarters
Philadelphia's second-half offensive struggles have become a major concern, making a productive finish an important step toward changing the direction of its season. Dallas offers a chance to break that pattern, especially if the Eagles adjust at halftime and find better matchups for their available playmakers.
The prediction is that Philadelphia gets off to its usual slow start before finally finding its rhythm after halftime. Two second-half touchdown drives would give the offense something tangible to build on, even if the early possessions remain frustrating. The bigger question is whether that improvement arrives soon enough to change the outcome. In this case, the theory is it may not.
The late charge isn't enough, and the Eagles lose anyway
The Eagles manage to make the game interesting late, but their rally comes too late to overcome another sluggish start. Two first-half field goals leave Philadelphia searching for answers, and the offense only finds its rhythm after Dallas establishes control.
The prediction is that the Eagles finish with 20 points after scoring touchdowns in both the third and fourth quarters, but the Cowboys have already done enough damage to protect their lead. Dallas reaches the high 20s or 30 points, handing Philadelphia a fifth consecutive loss and dropping it to 2-5. Even if the Eagles show some offensive life, a late surge won't mean much if they spend too much of the game trying to dig out of a hole. Prediction: Cowboys 30, Eagles 20
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles vs. Cowboys: Five bold predictions for Monday Night Football