Cowboys open as 3 point road underdogs against the Eagles

[America's Cowboy]

That's not how it works.

Shhh, you are destroying his Eagles excitement.

 

[VaqueroTD]

 

[plymkr]

Good. I like being the underdog. We seem to play better when the media is not talking about how great we are.

 

[plymkr]

Before the season started I had the statement games as

NYG
NYJ
SF
LAC
PHI
SEA
PHI
BUF
MIA
DET

10 out of 17.

I had Dallas splitting those and finishing 12-5.

I like the word “statement game”. All the games are big. But you nailed it with some games are statements.

 

[Sydla]

Challenge every big circus catch from Devonta Smith. He had another one yesterday in a key spot that was clearly not a catch on 4th down.

 

[nhcowboysfan]

Why can't the players (I'm thinking guys like Dak, Micah) get themselves up for a big game? This was a bit before my time but did the coaches have to get Troy Aikman or Michael Irvin or Emmitt Smith "ready" to play the 49ers?

I am sorry that they were before your time. They were an absolute pleasure to watch. And to your point, they did show up - and not just the triplets. Those Jimmy Johnson teams had a "swagger" to them, some say "cockiness." I believe a more apt description is "confidence." Social media wasn't around then, but if it was Michael Irvin, Charles Haley, and a handful of others would be stating all week to the teams in their division, the Packers, the 49ers, "We're going to beat you" and then they would go out and do it. When they stepped on the field they believed they were better than the team across from them and with rare exception, they proved it.

 

[Dakota]

This game is crucial. Winner probably ends up winning the NFCE but more importantly it positions them well for the top seed in the NFC. I don't think there are any teams that want to play in philly in the post season. Just the weather alone can be a factor. I heard Hurts has some sort of knee injury he has been dealing with. I hope it is serious.

 

[EversonIWasAYoungBoy]

home team gets automatic 3 points. so they must think the teams are pretty evenly matched. Although I don't like our running game agains their front 7. if we can't average at least 3 yards on first downs. we will be playing right into their hands.

Not how it works

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Not how it works

that's how vegas works....there are no rules, but traditionally, this is how sets the odds. home team gets about 3 points.

 

[Rayman70]

Fine. Let the Eagles bask all week. They are feeling warm and fuzzy . We are exactly where we need 2 be. Starting to get our bearings at the right time of year. Eagles may have peaked too fast. A bad team almost beat them, IN Philly.

 

[EversonIWasAYoungBoy]

that's how vegas works....there are no rules, but traditionally, this is how sets the odds. home team gets about 3 points.

Except it’s not. Teams like the Cowboys skew the line because there are so many people who will take them no matter what. Vegas makes the line to get 50/50 action.

You want a predictor of who Vegas thinks will win you look at the ML

 

[aikemirv]

Getting up for big games is not the problem. They get plenty up for the games

It's their inability to execute in those games that's the problem

Exactly - they have no answer for San Fran. They have done much better with Philly however. Our only hope IMO is to not have to face San Fran in the playoffs. Maybe Philly or Detroit can knock them off

 

[Jarntt]

The “automatic 3 points“ (no more and no less) for being at home is just not how it is done any more. It’s so high tech now And that is an oversimplification of how lines are now determined. If I’m picking the game at 3 I’m picking the Eagles. We absolutely can win this game and it wouldn’t be a surprise if we did, but if I had to choose I go Philly. Let’s hope Tyron is back.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Except it’s not. Teams like the Cowboys skew the line because there are so many people who will take them no matter what. Vegas makes the line to get 50/50 action.

You want a predictor of who Vegas thinks will win you look at the ML

I don't disagree. vegas normally start at -3 for home team, then factors in bunch of other stuff, including matchups, potential betting, etc. they have teams focused on this to make sure they get to 50/50 line. if it starts to skew then they adjust during the week to get it back to 50/50 or as close as possible.

 

[Blast From The Past]

I predicted Dallas would win both LA games and then have a SF like performance vs Philly. Then this board would explode with Doom n gloom like post SF game. I’m sticking to that prediction. Coaches haven’t shown they are able to have this team ready for big games. I hope they prove me wrong…..

Realistically most teams having the success the Cowboys have just had in a game come out on the opposite spectrum the following game. So yeah I expect less of a win this week and if we do win it will be close. Let us see what this team and coaching staff are made of.

 

[Titleist]

So Eagles are favored by almost a touchdown.

You know the game is being played in PHI right? This would be a pick-em game at a neutral site.

 

[Cmac]

Competing against Philly, win or lose will be far more acceptable than a beatdown. Looking lost on the field ain't acceptable.

 

[Proximo]

Each NFL team plays 17 regular season games. How do you ascertain which are “big games” and which are just games?

The traditional CZ formula is quite simple, actually.
If the Cowboys lose, it was a big game.
If the Cowboys win, it was not a big game. In fact, it may have been meaningless if we won.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Fine. Let the Eagles bask all week. They are feeling warm and fuzzy . We are exactly where we need 2 be. Starting to get our bearings at the right time of year. Eagles may have peaked too fast. A bad team almost beat them, IN Philly.

They aren't basking though....they are pretty concerned (and rightfully so) about how they are playing. Won't get any advantage with an "overconfident opponent"

We are usually the team that is prone to overconfidence.

The -3 point thing won't even be registered (probably not even known) to most players. Players/Teams would perceive being an underdog/favorite by what the media is throwing out there, and I think this game universally will be portrayed as an even steven matchup talent wise.

 

[Rayman70]

They aren't basking though....they are pretty concerned (and rightfully so) about how they are playing. Won't get any advantage with an "overconfident opponent"

We are usually the team that is prone to overconfidence.

The -3 point thing won't even be registered (probably not even known) to most players. Players/Teams would perceive being an underdog/favorite by what the media is throwing out there, and I think this game universally will be portrayed as an even steven matchup talent wise.

if we ever had a real chance 2 defeat them, its next week. Hurts is gimpy, Jalen Carter is hurt, may or may not play. Eagles just gave up a ton of points to SAM HOWELL and a bad team. They can be had. Ask the Jets. A team that we beat handily btw.