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In a sampling of expert picks made for Sunday's game, not a single one comes down in favor of the Cowboys.
Everybody knows that the Eagles will beat the Cowboys on Sunday. At least that's what our selection of experts believe, as they go 60-0 in favor of Philly.
In fact, the mere suggestion that the Cowboys could at least cover the spread, and possibly come away with an upset win, draws derisive sneers even from a lot of Cowboys fans.
Upsets happen every week in the NFL, why not on Sunday in Dallas? And if not an upset, perhaps a close game? Case Keefer from the Las Vegas Sun at least likes the Cowboys' chances of covering the spread:
Dallas Cowboys plus-4. Line is a couple points inflated coming off a bumbling performance where the Cowboys allowed eight sacks in a 27-7 loss to the Falcons as 3.5-point underdogs. The Eagles rank 18th in the NFL in sack rate, making it unlikely they can generate the same type of pressure.
Outside of that, the published opinions polled below leave no doubt whatsoever about the outcome of the game.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Dulac): Eagles 40, Cowboys 38
The Eagles are running away with the NFC East, holding a three-game lead on the Cowboys, and could all but clinch the division title with a victory in Dallas. The Cowboys had their three-game winning streak end in Atlanta. The Eagles have won a league-best seven in a row.
We saw with the Cowboys’ loss to Atlanta last week just how much it hurts not to have Ezekiel Elliott or a healthy Tyron Smith. Philadelphia is much better than Atlanta.
Week 11 offers a handful of legit GOTW candidates, but it's hard to top two playoff-strong teams in a great division rivalry on the Sunday night stage. One has the best record in the NFL. The other is a marquee franchise. And if the game itself isn't delicious enough, can't wait to hear Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth chew over the Jerry Jones-Roger Goodell acrimony. Cowboys a very tempting home 'dog but are seriously diminished by absence of RB Ezekiel Elliott and LB Sean Lee. Take Philly, but hedge on home-'Boys with that added half-point on the line.
So, uh, who's playing left tackle for Dallas? Can we call ole Flozell Adams? Pat Donovan has to be around somewhere. The Cowboys will have their hands full this Sunday night -- well, unless whoever is at LT fails to get his hands on the Eagle version of Adrian Clayborn. Even in the strength-on-strength department, Fletcher Cox has given All-Pro Zack Martin fits in the past. Then again, Martin has answered. Which is why Dallas must run behind the right guard and center Travis Frederick. Buck it up in there. When Philly does the same, will Jaylon Smith get caught on the wrong side of the scrum, or can he read plays a la Sean Lee? Anthony Hitchens' play will be a factor in this huge NFC East matchup, especially if Carson Wentz looks Corey Clement's way.
It’s desperation time for Dallas, and sometimes desperation is the difference. The Cowboys find a higher gear and secure a hard-fought win, delaying (but not preventing) the inevitable clinching of the division by the Eagles.
If the Eagles win this game, they are basically division champs. They would be essentially five games ahead of the Cowboys. Dallas didn't look good last week in losing to the Falcons and the injury that sidelined left tackle Tyron Smith showed up in a big way. The Eagles have a good pass rush and I think that will be a problem here. Eagles keep on rolling.
The debate in Dallas is about who the team misses most: Ezekiel Elliott, Tyron Smith, Sean Lee or Dan Bailey. That all four could miss this one makes the outlook pretty bleak. The Eagles are due for a good test of how they handle success, but odds are they won’t get it in this one. Dak Prescott better brace himself.
The Cowboys are reeling, and the Eagles coming to town isn’t going to make life any easier.
The timing could not be worse for the Cowboys (5-4) to be hosting the Eagles (8-1). In last week’s debut of the Ezekiel Elliott-free version of Dallas’s offense, Dak Prescott was decidedly mortal, producing 176 passing yards on 5.87 yards an attempt (the fifth lowest mark of his career). Losing Elliott to a six-game suspension meant not only a major downgrade in the running game, but also the elimination of the star running back as a threat on play-action passes. Knowing that Dallas would be passing, Atlanta went hard after Prescott on every play, and feasted with eight sacks. Now Dallas will be dealing with a Philadelphia defense led by Fletcher Cox that is infinitely more terrifying than Atlanta’s, while Dallas’s defense, which had shown some improvement, will be stuck trying to slow down Carson Wentz and the Eagles’ offense. It looks like Dallas is headed back to .500.
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